For context, yes, I swapped my 9004 halogens for some LEDs on my US market 945. The final paragraph pertains specifically to high wattage halogens, so I welcome thoughts on that, as well as my question about the monitoring system. Also, I'm aware of the possibility of converting to E codes. I'd rather see how good I can get it short of that, before modifying my car in that manner (not to mention the cost).

The company selling the LEDs (Hikari) has offered to send me the resistors to counteract the bulb out warning. It seems counterintuitive to me, however, to have a more efficient light source only to burn off that efficiency to satisfy the warning system. Additionally, I'd greatly prefer to not clutter my engine bay with heat sinks and more wiring (and potential points of failure). While I know I could remove the warning bulb, or possibly disable the system in another way, I was wondering if it would be possible to retain the system for the rest of the bulbs. One knows immediately if there is a low beam out, but the system is useful for other bulbs. I have no issue checking my lighting with regularity - I'd still like to retain the system for the small bulbs if possible.

Having written that, I'll add I'm not married to the LEDs. In my (USA, non-factory fog) Cibie housings, the lighting is a drastic improvement, but the cutoff is not sharp, and the lights might potentially be too bright for my tastes. The test will be driving at night in the rain, which may not be for months. I have used this brand in the past with really good results, and went with their lowest advertised lumen product (12,000 lumens). With the way I have them adjusted (may not be perfect, mind you), they seem to be lighting up the road surface immediately in front of the car more than I would like. That's probably more due to the housings than the aiming, I'd say. I've plenty of experience with aiming, but this car has a weaker cutoff, which has me uncertain, so I'm erring my aim on the low side. I'm also not super pleased with the 6000k color temperature. It's fine (feels like it keeps me awake), but just a little too white for my tastes in an older car. The factory xennons on our V60 seem less white than these. But this is what the market demands. So anyway, I know higher output (80/100W) 9004 halogens are available from Hella. I'm open to giving them a try, but don't want to overload the factory wiring. And I certainly don't want to alter the electrical system in my car. I feel I can do a good job, but not better than Volvo. Years ago, I had an e28 535i, and swapped to H1/H4 Hellas, with 90/130 bulbs, and ran it with the stock wiring day and night with no issues - at least none I was aware of. But I'd rather not risk it now that I know better. So if anyone has tried 80/100 halogens in the Cibie housings, I'd love to know your thoughts.

-Wilson