Volvos

[a_fool_from_edinburgh]

Right recently I was coming up the m77 and i commented that some driver had their lights on despite it being a really sunny day. My girlfriend pointed out it was a volvo and that all volvos always have their lights on!

This was news to me and was determined to prove her wrong - alas ALL volvos I saw had their lights on, I can't stop checking now. I saw one volvo the other day with its lights off but thats it! Every other volvo I have seen has their lights on!

Has anyone else noticed this, can anyone tell me why this is?

[Captain Keyes]

Daytime running lamps. All my friends with Volvos have them, and my Corolla has them too as an optional feature. It's a safety feature that I've heard is supposed to help other drivers see you better, although I'm not sure if they really work that way. It really just saves me from the minor hassle of turning on my headlights at night every time I start my car.

[Kaj.]

There's one thing I've always wondered about Volvo headlights too.

 

Why the little wipers on them? Do they really serve a purpose, or are they there just to make you wonder why they're there?

[Retroactive]

New Volvo's don't have the wipers on the front lamps, as they have jets which clean the lights, and not these silly little wipers.

 

And about the lights, we own (or, my dad owns) a 2006 XC70, and the lamps turn on everytime you start the engine. From what I know, you can't exactly turn the lights off, therefore they'll stay on all the time.

 

Volvo safety issues.

Edited June 1, 2006 by Retroactive

[Mega]

Depends on the country. For ex, in Europe, not in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy. Most of northern countiries yes, and in few (Danemark, Poland), it's optionnal safety feature.

[SIP YEK NOD]

In canada, its required that all vehicles have daytime running lamps. they aren't as bright as even your dim regular headlights, but they are still noticeable in the day and are on as soon as you start your vehicle.

[Dup]

It's out of the drivers control I believe. When buying a Volvo you're buying into some serious gadgetry with automatic wipers etc.

 

If you ride a motorbike you'd be silly not to have your headlights on. It's a big safety issue. I ALWAYS notice a bike coming when they have their lights on. The lights on a bike run a system with a slower alternating current so they appear to blink/flash very quickly and they catch your eye. It's illegal to have them flash to the extreme though.

 

The volvo thing is also a safety measure. It's only the sidelights on most volvos though which are there for visiblity when the light isn't dark enough for full headlights and when it's too dark to be seen soon enough. Becasue Volvos are motorway long journey trekking machines and the weather changes quickly, Volvo beleive they should just be on. I think it's run off sensors though and the lights turn on when the light level falls below a certain level.

[Guybrush Threepwood]

The wipers (and now the little sprayers) are only for xenon lights. The simple explanation is because xenon needs a clear cover.

My mercedes has auto-lights, but it can be turned off you so desire it (through the boardcomputer). Normally on auto-lights it'll be slightly dimmed, but when the sensor notices it's getting dark, it'll turn on the lights. It works like a charm.

Personally, I prefer to always have my lights on. You're not bothering anyone with it, and on certain road-types it only helps with visibility.

And like Dup said, on a motorcycle I always turn 'em on otherwise you'll be invisible to some people. You'll be anyways, because people don't seem to look in their f*cking mirrors when changing lanes. But that's another story.

[Mega]

The xenon feature is not compulsory in the USA, but in Europe it is. A friend of mine imported an FX35 without sprayers and had to put them aftermarket.

[*gta star*]

Its for safety, the lights are always on, my dad had a 740SE years ago, that always had its lights on, they certainly are helpful for visuality.

[Snow Racer]

safety... it tells everyone that the car is ON... moving... be aware and such...

it's also good for cyclists to see the moving car...

there is also a hand sign for idiots that forgot to turn the lights on (in the country where needed)

 

point two fingers at the idiot's car headlights like Y so

[wantfrieswithat9]

I drive a 2006 S60 and my lights have essentially five diff. settings

1) Foglights which can be on at any time high beams aren't on

2) Daytime low-beams which can only be on during the day

3) Xenon low beams that can be on anytime day or night

4) Xenons tilt up for high beam

5) Daytime running lights which are two little bulbs that can barely be seen

 

ill try and find some good pics

Edited June 26, 2006 by wantfrieswithat9

[Putt]

My dad got the Cross Country one and its great!

[mr. Norge]

the lights on the volvo is always on beacouse, in sweden is is the law that the lights always should be on. there is no awitch to turn the lights off. so it is in norway to. it is just beacouse safety... thats all

[norniron]

not being a amwannbe here but this was bumped for no reason as it almost 9 months old

[Mafia Righthand_Man]

Well, you learn something new every day I guess. I've always wondered about the headlight wipers as well. My grandma used to have a Saab which had the little headlight wipers but I never saw them used. I always wondered if they actually worked.