I have a 2006 XC70 - and the headlights behave the same in the off position and in the on position - except that in on the highbeams stay on. What's the point of the off position? I had a service tech tell me that in the off position the tail lights should be off and the headlamps low (reduced output). I haven't put a meter on them but everything appears the same in off and on. There is a little bulb beneath the headlight bulb and that's on but overwhelmed by the headlight bulb. The tech also said when in the on position the lights stay on for a brief period after the ignition is shut off.

Does anyone have any experience here? Is this something that can be programed into the system?

Thank you in advance for any tips offered on this subject.

For some reason the headlights are on all the time. At night the light sensor on HID's will change from a normal bulb to xenon but it sounds like you have the normal lights. The only difference in the on or off setting on the switch is the lack of high beam in the off.

As to the lights staying on you have to pull back on the stalk as if you were going to flash some one and it will keep them on for a short time.