Volvo V40 Headlights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

Bulb type, unit part numbers, and the faults that actually cause that flickering or dim light you've noticed.

Illustration for editorial purposes

Opens live listings in a new tab.

OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — aftermarket LH TYC 20-B148-05-2 / RH TYC 20-0271-05-2

Accuracy note: Covers the Volvo V40 (2012-2019) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Headlights are sold by side (passenger / nearside = LH, driver's / offside = RH on a UK car) and by lamp type — halogen, xenon (D1S / D3S) and LED or full-LED units are not interchangeable, and DRL, cornering and levelling options change the part number again. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Check the lamp type and traffic side (UK right-hand-traffic units, not LHD) against your VIN, and expect xenon / LED and adaptive units to need levelling adjustment or coding after fitting.

Passenger side (LH / nearside) headlight — aftermarket	TYC 20-B148-05-2 (halogen H7/H7, electric levelling); TYC 20-0272-15-2 (halogen H7/H7, electric levelling); Diederichs 7613281 (halogen H7/H7, levelling); Abakus 773-1109L-LD-EM (halogen H7, electric levelling, no bulb); Alkar 2741511 (halogen H7/H7 with W5W, mechanical levelling); Van Wezel 5940941 (halogen H4, electric or non-levelling).
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	TYC 20-0271-05-2 (halogen H7/H7, electric levelling); TYC 20-B147-05-2 (halogen H7/H7, electric levelling); TYC 20-0271-15-2 (halogen H7/H7, electric levelling); Diederichs 7613280 (halogen H7/H7, levelling); Abakus 773-1109R-LD-EM (halogen H7, electric levelling, no bulb); Alkar 2742511 (halogen H7/H7 with W5W, mechanical levelling)
Bulb types	dipped/main H7, H4 on base units, sidelight W5W.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	some Abakus and Alkar units are dated for older Volvo models and should be matched carefully.

A Genuinely Important UK Rule Worth Knowing Before You Buy — Volvo V40 Headlights

If your V40 has factory-fitted halogen headlamp housings, converting them to fit LED bulbs is treated as a definite MOT failure under the current inspection manual — this isn't a grey area or a minor advisory, since a housing designed for halogen doesn't distribute an LED bulb's light output correctly, which can genuinely dazzle oncoming drivers. If you want a genuine LED upgrade, the correct route is a complete headlight unit designed for LED from the factory, not a bulb swap into an existing halogen housing.

Before you buy: matrix LED, adaptive, and cornering headlight systems often require electronic coding to the car after a unit swap, even for a genuine like-for-like replacement — a headlight that isn't recognised by the car's electronics can trigger warning lights or fail to auto-level correctly. Check whether your specific trim has one of these systems before assuming a straightforward bulb-in, bulb-out job.

Volvo V40 Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Volvo V40 Headlight & Bumper Removal - How To Remove DIY 2012-2019

Watch on YouTube ↗

Headlight unit removal, exact years.

Volvo V40 Headlights: What It Does

On the Volvo V40, the main and dipped beams, whether conventional bulbs or LED/matrix modules on higher trims, sit inside the headlight unit at an angle calculated to illuminate the road without dazzling other drivers. Many modern units also combine the daytime running light and indicator into that same housing, adding a layer of complexity to both part numbers and repairs.

Volvo V40 Headlights: Generations & Headlight Type

Older/pre-Thor's Hammer generations	Halogen or Xenon depending on trim, in a conventional headlight shape without the T-shaped LED signature

Find Volvo V40 Headlights Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

Volvo V40 Headlights: Common Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Headlights Guide for the four bulb technologies and how they differ, UK law on aim and modifications, common faults to check for, how difficult this job is to DIY, and confirming fitment against your VIN.

More Volvo Headlights

The same part, covered across other Volvo models.