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+--- Thread: XC40 D3 dipped headlights aim low (/showthread.php?tid=1314)
XC40 D3 dipped headlights aim low - Gekkofrog - 05-09-2026
**Problem solved**
Adjusted the headlight level with the 6mm white level screws located on the headlight.
One on top of the headlight is for main beam
There is another hidden white hex bolt down the panel side of each light, requires a socket extension. This bolt is for the dipped beam.
Anti clockwise - beam up
Clockwise - beam down
Hello all!
Vehicle is a 2020 Volvo XC30 D3 Inscription Plus (RHD)
My vehicle is equipped with the standard LED lights with auto high beam function and cornering lights. I have not changed any settings relating to the lights since having orbit.
Last year after my car went for its MOT and software update (Craig Moncrieff Edinburgh by the way are great!) I noticed the dipped beam was low but only after a month or so after its MOT (car wasn’t driven in the dark until then). I’m not saying the garage has done anything but I’m wondering if there has been an issue with software that anyone could enlighten me on? (Current update 3.7 Sensus) but unsure if there were any config changes to lights.
My dipped beam headlight aim is excessively low. The light throw is around 20ft in front of the bonnet when on dipped beam and when on auto high beams it comes in around 10ft in front of the car appearing as if it’s angled down excessively. If I switch it back to conventional dipped beams it moves back to the 20ft position. I can confirm this wasn’t the case before the car went into
When I start the car it does the usual calibration and the lights move up and down and everything appears to be normal until starting to move.
High beams are fine with no issues. I’ve checked both suspension level sensors and they appear to be working and I’ve got no codes for any faults. (I do have a new level sensor loaded in the parts cannon!)
I’ve seen people have had issues with the high beam function and state there is an adjustment screw but I’ve only seen that for people with high beam issues and nothing on dipped beam.
I’m sure it’s not a mechanical failure if the components (no codes, self level adjustment appears to function as normal. I can’t see anything on the ECU tab to recalibrate the level sensors or adjust the headlight throw.
Thanks for any input you have. It’s driving me insane as well as being irritating and unsafe. Luckily I drive my other car mainly at night because this is the wife’s motor!
Cheers
RE: XC40 D3 dipped headlights aim low - Terence - 05-10-2026
The question is that why did it have to be adjusted? If it has worked fine before and suddenly requires to be adjusted by screw I think that you have fixed the symptom, not the problem
RE: XC40 D3 dipped headlights aim low - Gekkofrog - 05-10-2026
(05-10-2026, 02:25 PM)Terence Wrote: The question is that why did it have to be adjusted? If it has worked fine before and suddenly requires to be adjusted by screw I think that you have fixed the symptom, not the problem
Hi Terence,
My thoughts exactly! I’ve done some digging but nothing concrete but I’ve come across bits of information saying when a software update doesn’t finalise properly it can make the lights go into a default setting. I’ve got them adjusted again, switched the car on and off and it goes back to how I’ve set it.
Either that or someone has manual adjusted them but I can’t imagine anyone doing that.
RE: XC40 D3 dipped headlights aim low - damachone - 06-28-2026
On my vehicle I had a similar problem - I had to replace the rear height sensor connecting arm.
Afterwards the headlights still pointed too low.
There is a calibration option in Orbit - for my vehicle (a 2017 S90), go to ECU Tools tab, select VDDM, then look for the procedure on the right. You need to be parked on level ground with the vehicle unloaded (and nobody sitting in it) to calibrate.
This worked for me - if you can't find the calibration option I'd suggest an email to support.
As an aside, I noticed that the height sensor brackets are quite flexible and can easily.be knocked out of alignment, so it's quite possible that they look normal but still need re-calibrating.
If they've been bent too far it might be necessary to bend them back down (so they are closer to the suspension arm) - but I'd try calibration first.
I have another post about this in the chassis forum.
Hope that helps