This BB is a great resource! Thanks to all who have responded to this Volvo newbies questions.

I've been looking my car and service manual (Haynes) over for items needing attention and have to ask; What in the heck are Beam Width Motors and how do they affect the headlights? Sounds like something that would be more at home on my stations TV and radio antennas. Just gotta laugh at some of the complexity. Diagnostics for the seat motors? Set the Beam Width motors for 44 long Scotty!

BTW, I LOVE my 855t!

Regards,
Erwin in Memphis

Beam width motors do not exist in any US Volvo car. Maybe elsewhere however?

Diagnosing seat motor problems is nothing new for Volvo but I'll settle for manual seats anyday if I had a choice. Usually the simpler, the better as it's one less thing that won't break.

Hi Erwin, Re beam motors - if your vehicle is heavily loaded at the rear, perhaps towing, the motors will allow you to manually tilt the headlights down to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. The control is a wheel on the dash.

Thanks for the response. Turns out this is a feature I don't have, nor will I really miss. Using a 10mm socket on a rachet, I have been playing around with the manual headlight height adjustments though, and have reached a point where the low beams are now adequate whereas before they were just plain scary.

Regards,
Erwin in Memphis