Volvo XC40 Headlights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

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

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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — aftermarket LH TYC 20-11036-06-2 / RH TYC 20-11035-06-2

Accuracy note: Covers the Volvo XC40 (2017-) 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 20-11036-06-2 (halogen H7/H9, electric levelling, no motor); TYC 20-11888-05-2 (halogen H7/H9, electric levelling, motor included); Alkar 2791503 (halogen H7/H9 with W5W and PY21W, electric levelling, motor included); Van Wezel 5930961 (halogen H7/H7, no motor, electric or none); Abakus 773-1121L-LDEM6 (halogen H7/H9 with PY21W, no bulb); Abakus 773-1140LMLD-EM (LED, chrome, no bulb)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	TYC 20-11035-06-2 (halogen H7/H9, electric levelling, no motor); TYC 20-11887-05-2 (halogen H7/H9, electric levelling, motor included); TYC 20-0451-05-2 (halogen H7/H7, electric levelling, no motor); Van Wezel 5930962 (halogen H7/H7, no motor, electric or none); Abakus 773-1121R-LDEM6 (halogen H7/H9 with PY21W, no bulb); Abakus 773-1140RMLDAEM (bi-xenon D3S with LED, H9 and HY21W, motor, dynamic bending light).
Bulb types	dipped H7, main H9, bi-xenon D3S, indicator PY21W, sidelight W5W.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Halogen is the standard fit, with bi-xenon and LED units listed for higher trims; no DRL is stated on any unit, and the fog-light TYC 20-5403-08-2 and 20-5404-08-2 units are not headlights for this car.

A Genuinely Important UK Rule Worth Knowing Before You Buy — Volvo XC40 Headlights

If your XC40 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 XC40 Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Volvo LED Headlight Upgrade on 2015 to 2018 V60/S60/XC60 Error free! (sister (Volvo V60/XC60, different platform))

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Weak: no XC40 headlight video found in 3 searches; XC40 is CMA, this is SPA-era.

Volvo XC40 Headlights: What It Does

Precise beam angling to light the road without dazzling oncoming traffic is the Volvo XC40's headlight unit's core job, housing the main and dipped beams — or LED/matrix modules on higher trims. Because it often also integrates the daytime running light and front indicator, both the part number and repair complexity increase accordingly.

Volvo XC40 Headlights: Generations & Headlight Type

Older/pre-Thor's Hammer generations	Halogen or Xenon depending on trim, in a conventional headlight shape
Current generation, all trims	Genuine "Thor's Hammer" T-shaped LED daytime running light signature, first introduced on the second-generation XC90 in 2015 and now a defining Volvo design cue; automatic high beam and active bending lights are included
Reliability note	Thor's Hammer units are LED-based sealed assemblies rather than serviceable bulbs — documented failures include water ingress once seals age, and Volvo's own warranty terms have reportedly excluded this as "wear and tear"; full unit replacement can run into four figures per side

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Volvo XC40 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.