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Hi. Permit me to offer some observations.
If you want to change from the ca 1980 quad round headlights to the newer '85-on headlights for the appearance, then go ahead.
But don't try to install such '85-on, plastic-lens, OEM-in-USA headlights if you like to have good lighting on dark roads. These lamps are horrible, with no useful illumination of the road. Of course, it's normal to be skeptical of a statement like this -- do a search on this forum, and you'll find a ton of posts backing this up.
However, if you're going with the '85-on style, you can try to purchase "euroheadlights" -- these are lamps (an easy swap with the USA crap) that are used in Europe, and they are many times better in terms of their roadway illumination. The downside is their cost -- hundreds of dollars for their "DJAuto"-made, aftermarket headlights, and many, many hundreds of dollars for the genuine Volvo/Cibie-made headlights that are OEM in Europe. The latter's illumination pattern is noticeably better than the former, but even that poorer choice is much, much better than the putrid USA headlights.
What is ironic, however, is that your quad-round headlights are potentially the very best performing headlights of any of these with only a modest investment. Swap out the sealed beams and buy a set of Cibie e-codes (these are European spec units, using replaceable halogen bulbs such as H4) -- see www.danielsternlighting.com for a source, and a lot of useful information. And with either the euroheadlights or e-codes (whichever way you choose to go), you'll find they are so superior that you will probably be very satisfied with the basic wattage bulbs (60/55 watts). If you ever have the desire for higher wattage, though, use a dedicated heavy-gauge wire harness with relays (see that website for details) because Volvo's standard wiring is too light a gauge.
Bottom line, though: for the worst lighting, go with USA-market, '85-on style, plastic headlights. For the best lighting and least cost, just put e-codes in your quad round headlight buckets. There are few things in this world that are win-win, but this is one of them.
How do I know all this? Because since the early 1970's, into all of my cars I have always installed Cibie e-codes right away -- I just wouldn't drive a car without them. Over the years, I had dual 7" rounds, the quad 5-1/4" rounds (the best), and in other make cars quad rectangulars -- all in e-code.
However, when I finally got a Volvo with the '85-on style, I couldn't install e-codes anymore (they're only a replacement for sealed beams) so I had to consider the euroheadlights. Costing a lot of money, I first opted for the less expensive DJAuto lamps. These were indeed much better than the plastic, USA-market lamps, but their quality was horrible, with pieces (mounting studs) falling off, and adjusting screws binding -- the optics were also blotchy. So for my second '85-on Volvo, I hinted to my daughter (a business lawyer) and on a business trip to Europe, she bought and had shipped to me (for my birthday) a set of genuine Volvo/Cibie headlights. These are magnificent -- smooth (not blotchy) illumination pattern, and the quality is jewel-like.
Best regards,
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