1990 760 -- Headlight Substitute for the Destitute?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dunstin Merry
  • Start date Start date
D

Dunstin Merry

The headlight on my 1990 760 got busted while parked on the street. No
note from the guilty, no nothing. So I have to replace it. But of
course the price on this thing is astronomical (over $300). I'm pretty
poor right now and since my Volvo isn't in the best shape anyway
(body-wise that is, mechanically it's sound), I was hoping to get
suggestions for substituting this headlight with another.

It's just the headlight glass that was shattered--the foglight next to
it is fine as is the turn signal.

Thanks.
 
You can replace the glass on it's own with genuine Volvo headlamps.

Cheers, Peter.

: The headlight on my 1990 760 got busted while parked on the street. No
: note from the guilty, no nothing. So I have to replace it. But of
: course the price on this thing is astronomical (over $300). I'm pretty
: poor right now and since my Volvo isn't in the best shape anyway
: (body-wise that is, mechanically it's sound), I was hoping to get
: suggestions for substituting this headlight with another.
:
: It's just the headlight glass that was shattered--the foglight next to
: it is fine as is the turn signal.
:
: Thanks.
 
Dunstin Merry said:
The headlight on my 1990 760 got busted while parked on the street. No
note from the guilty, no nothing. So I have to replace it. But of
course the price on this thing is astronomical (over $300). I'm pretty
poor right now and since my Volvo isn't in the best shape anyway
(body-wise that is, mechanically it's sound), I was hoping to get
suggestions for substituting this headlight with another.

It's just the headlight glass that was shattered--the foglight next to
it is fine as is the turn signal.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I've seen these occasionally at salvage yards, ebay is another possible
source.
 
Peter Milnes said:
You can replace the glass on it's own with genuine Volvo headlamps.

Cheers, Peter.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry for being ignorant, but there's a difference between the
horribly expensive headlights I've been seeing and headlamps?
 
Hi Dunstin,
I'm sorry for being ignorant, but there's a difference between the
horribly expensive headlights I've been seeing and headlamps?
Click to expand...

The only difference is:
"headlights" is UK English, and "headlamps" is N. American English. They
both cost the same...........
too much!

Andy I.
 
Different across-pond talk that's all. AFAIA all Volvo front light units have
replaceable glass lenses. Try IPD in Portland Oregon http://www.ipdusa.com

Cheers, Peter.

: > You can replace the glass on it's own with genuine Volvo headlamps.
: >
: > Cheers, Peter.
:
: I'm sorry for being ignorant, but there's a difference between the
: horribly expensive headlights I've been seeing and headlamps?
:
: > : > : The headlight on my 1990 760 got busted while parked on the street. No
: > : note from the guilty, no nothing. So I have to replace it. But of
: > : course the price on this thing is astronomical (over $300). I'm pretty
: > : poor right now and since my Volvo isn't in the best shape anyway
: > : (body-wise that is, mechanically it's sound), I was hoping to get
: > : suggestions for substituting this headlight with another.
: > :
: > : It's just the headlight glass that was shattered--the foglight next to
: > : it is fine as is the turn signal.
: > :
: > : Thanks.
 
Peter said:
Different across-pond talk that's all. AFAIA all Volvo front light units have
replaceable glass lenses. Try IPD in Portland Oregon http://www.ipdusa.com

Cheers, Peter.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately for us on this side of the "pond" American law forbids
replacing the headlight lens without the reflector assembly. Very few
car companies bring "unamerican" headlights to Canada, so we suffer
too. Our headlights
for these cars don't look like what you're used to "over there."

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
 
That is why IPD are allowed to sell "European lights" over there as replacements
for the awful lights that American (& Canadian?) law dictates should be fitted.
I think American law states that the headlights should be sealed beam units,
correct this if wrong please.

Cheers, Peter.

: Peter Milnes wrote:
: >
: > Different across-pond talk that's all. AFAIA all Volvo front light units
have
: > replaceable glass lenses. Try IPD in Portland Oregon http://www.ipdusa.com
: >
: > Cheers, Peter.
: >
:
: Unfortunately for us on this side of the "pond" American law forbids
: replacing the headlight lens without the reflector assembly. Very few
: car companies bring "unamerican" headlights to Canada, so we suffer
: too. Our headlights
: for these cars don't look like what you're used to "over there."
:
: --
: Mike F.
: Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.
:
: NOTE: new address!!
: Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
: (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
 
Peter said:
That is why IPD are allowed to sell "European lights" over there as replacements
for the awful lights that American (& Canadian?) law dictates should be fitted.
I think American law states that the headlights should be sealed beam units,
correct this if wrong please.

Cheers, Peter.
Click to expand...

They don't have to be sealed in the sense old lights were sealed, lens,
reflector and bulb all one piece. Now, however the lens and reflector
have to be sold as a unit, the theory being that a replacement lens will
not keep the proper orientation with the reflector. So the early
attempts at this were like sealed beams, but with a replaceable bulb.
Our current cars now have lights just like real European lights, but
with a different lens. On Volvos this lens is held on with the same
clips as yours are, but 1 or 2 of them are glued in place, theoretically
making it impossible to change the lens. However this glue doesn't seem
to accomplish anything except making the reinstall of that clip
annoying. Thus lenses are available aftermarket.

As far as I know the lights that IPD (and the aftermarket lenses) are
all illegal in the US, as is any light without a DOT marking. However,
in practice there's no problem running them.

And in Canada, European headlights have always been legal, however for
cost reasons, the car companies just bring one type to North America.
When we had Ladas in Canada, they had real European lights (they weren't
sold in the US so there were no DOT lights), and I know SAABs in the
late 80s and early 90s had different and better lights in Canada than in
the US.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
 
Thanks for the enlightenment, Mike.

Cheers, Peter.

: Peter Milnes wrote:
: >
: > That is why IPD are allowed to sell "European lights" over there as
replacements
: > for the awful lights that American (& Canadian?) law dictates should be
fitted.
: > I think American law states that the headlights should be sealed beam units,
: > correct this if wrong please.
: >
: > Cheers, Peter.
: >
:
: They don't have to be sealed in the sense old lights were sealed, lens,
: reflector and bulb all one piece. Now, however the lens and reflector
: have to be sold as a unit, the theory being that a replacement lens will
: not keep the proper orientation with the reflector. So the early
: attempts at this were like sealed beams, but with a replaceable bulb.
: Our current cars now have lights just like real European lights, but
: with a different lens. On Volvos this lens is held on with the same
: clips as yours are, but 1 or 2 of them are glued in place, theoretically
: making it impossible to change the lens. However this glue doesn't seem
: to accomplish anything except making the reinstall of that clip
: annoying. Thus lenses are available aftermarket.
:
: As far as I know the lights that IPD (and the aftermarket lenses) are
: all illegal in the US, as is any light without a DOT marking. However,
: in practice there's no problem running them.
:
: And in Canada, European headlights have always been legal, however for
: cost reasons, the car companies just bring one type to North America.
: When we had Ladas in Canada, they had real European lights (they weren't
: sold in the US so there were no DOT lights), and I know SAABs in the
: late 80s and early 90s had different and better lights in Canada than in
: the US.
:
: --
: Mike F.
: Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.
:
: NOTE: new address!!
: Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
: (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
 
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