If you have an XC90 and your headlight is broken, you’ll have a surprise by calling the dealership. They will want at least $150 for the bulb, and this is without the installation.
If you go to a local store like advanced auto part, they will charge you about $100 for one bulb. Still too expensive.
Amazon has the SYLVANIA D1S High Intensity Discharge (HID) Bulb for $46. This is the bulb used in XC90 with BI-XENON headlights. It is called BI-XENON because it has both low beam and high beam. It’s totally worth it, and super easy to change.
So look for the Sylvania D1S type on amazon. And here is how to do the magic:
– open your trunk
– There are two metal pins to remove for each headlamp. The smallest metal pin is the one on the inside of the car.
– Pull gently the headlamp out. You will see the “main” electrical wire being connect to the car. Gently pull up the red lock, and pull the cable toward you. If you cannot pull the red lock, you will see that when pushed down, it has its end visible at the bottom. You can either use your fingers to push it up. I had to use a screw driver to push up, then was able to use my fingers to pull it all the way up.
– Turn counterclockwise the main cap
– This is the BI-XENON bulb with a lock mechanism that you can see on the side.
– Turn the lock mechanism counterclockwise, it will end up like this:
– Then gently pull the pull straight forward. The goal is to be able to reach both side of the connectors at the bottom
– On each side of the connector, you will see a little pin in the middle. One side can be pulled with your fingers. For the other side, you might have to use a small flat screw driver. I pulled one side first and very gently moved the connector down a little bit , then did the other side.
Once the connector is disconnected, you can directly put the new bulb in the headlamp case. I had to slightly incline it toward the top, so the bottom could be locked first. Then I gently pushed the top to straighten everything.
– All you have to do is secure the bulb using the locking mechanism, plug back the connector, and you are all done !
I can’t figure out how to get the old bulb out?
If you look at the picture, there is a small tab that need to be pushed upward – It will go up and left as counterclockwise
Can I put an OEM HID headlight from a 2009 model to a 2007 model halogen version xc90 ?
will the connectors match thanks.
Hi – As far as I know, it is not possible. The non HID-XENON XC90 use a different electrical harness than the XC90 which have HID-XENON. Changing the whole harness would not worth it. On the top of that, you would need software reprogramming (that’s OK), but the headlight and its assemblies is about $1,200 per side. On the other hand, you might be able to replace the bulbs with high output LED which might look cool..
Hi, is it possible to use the headlamps of 2005 xc90 volvo on a 2008 xc90?
Hi – I believe they are the same.
It says I should not change them because of high voltage?
hi – where did you see this? What is “it” (it says)?
I also just noticed the same warning message found in the Volvo service manual (pg 219): “Active Bi-Xenon® headlights (option) – due to the high voltage used by these headlights, these bulbs should only be replaced by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician.”
Hi. I have a 2006 xc90 with the xenon headlamps. I noticed that you talked about a bulb that has low beam AND hi beam. I would love to know that I can use these bulbs in my car. My bulbs have been nothing but a pain in the butt and to go from low to hi beam the bulb just manually adjusts up a little. Thanks, Todd
Hi Todd,
Usually the biXEnon do both low beam and high beam (hence the word “Bi” in it).
Those are the ones I used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00265FXTA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1