RawBenz

I've noticed the passenger side headlight is brighter than the driver's side.

Does anyone have this problem?

How can it be fixed?

Ive tried different globes etc.
They are 6000k.
The Passenger xenon still remains brighter than the driver side xenon.

The genuine mercedes globes were removed and 6000k aftermarket white globes installed. This problem never happened until recently.

CarHopper

How have you established it is brighter? Standing in front of your car looking at the lights? Or, is it while your driving the passenger light sits higher / lights up more?

Could just be the way your headlights are aligned. I believe my passenger headlight alignment sits a little higher than my driver. Probably to keep from blinding oncoming traffic.

RawBenz

Passenger side is designed to be higher by mercedes.
I stood in front during the day and at night and there's a considerable difference.
One is white and bright the other looks standard but it's the same globe/colour/6000k
The driver's side looks a lot dimmer.

CarHopper

Do you have the headlight package? Or are these aftermarket HIDs that you're getting the 6000k from?

RawBenz

I'm in Australia, so they all come with the upgraded headlights/xenons/projectors.
Its only the driver's side projector that has the issue. All parkers etc seem to be as bright as usual.

CarHopper

Sweet as. Probably an issue with the ballast/unit that is powering the headlight bulb. Please excuse my vagueness, been up a long time but just cant sleep.

Obviously wait for others to chime in, however, my guess is either the whole headlight unit would have to be replaced if the unit that is sending power to individual bulb cannot be replaced.

RawBenz

Thanks mate.
I've asked someone else and they've said it's prob the ballast too.
Can this be replaced on its own? Or will the entire headlight need replacing?

CarHopper

I'll see if I can't poke around for that answer. What year is your c63?

CarHopper

Okay, so here is what I have... I just entered in info for a facelift model by the way.

1669002800 - Control module
SEDAN, w/bi-xenon, w/active light Left

OR

2189009103 - Control module
SEDAN, w/bi-xenon, voltage converter Left

The difference being whether or not you have active headlights.

After copying those over I realized in Australia your driver headlight is right side. However, it appears as though the part numbers are the same for both the left and right side.

Here is a link: CLICK

CarHopper

Hang on, that is the control module and not ballast.

Just google c63 headlight ballast. You'll find what you need. I did a quick search but obviously I end up getting all American companies. See if anything pops up in Australia so shipping is easier.

CarHopper

Andddddddddd just in case you happen to be pre-facelift

CLICK

RawBenz

Thanks mate, it's a 2011 pre-facelift.
Yes it has active headlights.

Did a quick check, pulled the lights out the headlight, but still had them connected. Turned them on.
The passenger side bulb seems to be white/blue and crystal clear.
The driver's side bulb (the side that seems to be dimmer) seems to be more yellowish/white.

I'm going to go try some new bulbs tomorrow.
Then if that doesn't work, i'll take the car to Mercedes and have them do headlight levelling.
If it still has an issue it will be the ballasts, because these headlights rarely fault, the wiring and ballasts seem to be the culprits from what i'm being told by numerous auto-elecs etc

I've noticed the active headlighting hasn't been working properly lately. Could that be related?

If anyone has any info feel free to chime in, would love to hear other opinions

CarHopper

At first it sounded as though you were confident both bulbs were the same, now it seems as though you're not so sure.

Definitely start by getting two new, identical, bulbs in there.

RawBenz

I'll give that a shot.
I've even swapped the passenger bulb into the driver side, vice versa, but still the same issue. :S

I'll try new bulbs and take the car to mercedes to have levelling done.
If it still persists, i'll have to see what else i can do :S

CarHopper

Ah, the swapping takes care of the question of whether or not they are the same bulb.

Sounds like the ballast again to me.

RawBenz

Is it a big job to change the ballast?
Would getting mercedes to do the levelling do the job?

When i connect the bulb to the driver side, turn it on but keep the bulb visible outside the headlight it has a yellow tinge to it, rather than the white/blue crystal that the passenger side has.

Mort

Try cleaning the ground connection. If there is resistance at the ground it will reduce the voltage and the bulb will appear more yellow looking.

RawBenz

So turns out the driver's side (dimmer side) is the good headlight.
Changed bulbs back to genuine Mercedes bulbs and still has the same issue. The passenger side headlight is bright and white without the opal/purple tinge that the driver's side has and all C63 headlights have.

So the headlight with the issue is the passenger side.
I went through a check list:

Changed bulbs to OEM
Did the levelling at Mercedes

Still has the same issue. So we are going to swap the ballasts over from the driver to passenger (if possible). If it fixes it then we know it's the ballasts.

Such a pain in the ***.

RawBenz

Ok so they changed the ballasts over from driver's side to passenger side and still the same issue.

Mercedes has said it needs a new headlight.
The only issue is, getting 1 new headlight is going to look stupid because it's going to have one brand new headlight and one used one with visible wear.

Has anyone else had this issue where even changing the ballasts it still had a problem?

CarPartsDiscount.com

Just chiming in here, we offer a good selection of headlights for your vehicle. We are a US based company but we do ship international.

https://www.carpartsdiscount.com/cat...html?3594=1302