Change headlamps to HID
03-22-2016, 01:55 PM
#1
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2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
Change headlamps to HID
My C 230K was the first to have retrofit HID headlights back in 2003. It was the test vehicle for Performance 4 Benz. Since then all my Mercedes have had HID from the factory, until now.
My 2006 CLK 350 came with halogen headlights, which I hate.
Please help me with the needed parts.
I can get the HID headlights from a couple of eBay sellers:
$199 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Driver-Side-...ZWVe2v&vxp=mtr
$529 set http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bi-Xenon-HID...lWsdTc&vxp=mtr
$492.96 set http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bi-Xenon-HID...tWsP-7&vxp=mtr
eBay also sells the ballast parts, not sure all I need.
There are also several eBAY sellers with used OEM HID headlights, and one that has brand new for $693 per side.
Any help would be appreciated
My 2006 CLK 350 came with halogen headlights, which I hate.
Please help me with the needed parts.
I can get the HID headlights from a couple of eBay sellers:
$199 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Driver-Side-...ZWVe2v&vxp=mtr
$529 set http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bi-Xenon-HID...lWsdTc&vxp=mtr
$492.96 set http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bi-Xenon-HID...tWsP-7&vxp=mtr
eBay also sells the ballast parts, not sure all I need.
There are also several eBAY sellers with used OEM HID headlights, and one that has brand new for $693 per side.
Any help would be appreciated
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03-29-2016, 04:04 PM
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2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
So with my knees very bad I got the following quotes for the install, MB dealer $500, MB repair shop $330, and stereo shop $185. Great guys at 702 Motoring, didn't take that long.
But I call bull on Plug and Play. First the drivers side turn was all that was working on that lamp, the high beam on the passengers side. Tried the original halogen back on the drivers side and the passenger HID and turn signal started working.
I finally told them to take the positive off the battery, waited 10 seconds and every thing worked!!!!
Well worth it though. But the instructions should say disconnect the battery positive EVERY time. Photos to come later as car is dirty from 78 MPH winds with a light rain.
But I call bull on Plug and Play. First the drivers side turn was all that was working on that lamp, the high beam on the passengers side. Tried the original halogen back on the drivers side and the passenger HID and turn signal started working.
I finally told them to take the positive off the battery, waited 10 seconds and every thing worked!!!!
Well worth it though. But the instructions should say disconnect the battery positive EVERY time. Photos to come later as car is dirty from 78 MPH winds with a light rain.
03-29-2016, 05:32 PM
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2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
It took about 45 minutes to take off the bumper and halogen headlamps. Another 45 minutes to diagnose problems, and maybe 10 minutes to install the bumper.
03-29-2016, 05:32 PM
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08 CLK 350 sport, 11 BMW 328i, 99 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, 06 Suzuki DRZ400SM
Stereo shop did it? Nice that it worked out for you. Looks perfect. They did a great job!
Last edited by Hoserbenzo; 03-29-2016 at 05:36 PM.
04-06-2016, 05:49 PM
#13
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Maybe I am looking for the cheap way out but why not change your existing low beam lamp with this one I found on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/H7-100W-Supe...KT2XjA&vxp=mtr
It will fit inside your existing headlight without conversion at a fraction of the cost. ($12.95 for the pair) They also have a high beam one and fog light as well.
It will fit inside your existing headlight without conversion at a fraction of the cost. ($12.95 for the pair) They also have a high beam one and fog light as well.
Last edited by Timewarpone; 04-06-2016 at 05:52 PM.
04-06-2016, 06:21 PM
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2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
There is no halogen that even comes close to a good HID lamp. If you drive at night the extra vision of a HID set up can save you from an accident.
04-06-2016, 06:50 PM
#15
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I have not gone by the way of "Cheap" yet. I was wondering if the ones on ebay were any good. If something is to good to believe then it usually is. (To good to believe).
04-06-2016, 09:07 PM
#16
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When upgrading to HID lights, you don't just want to drop them into the halogen-style projector fixtures. Those lenses have beam patterns that are optimized to scatter the halogen light around and which with HID bulbs, will not only give you poor lighting, it will blind other drivers. You need to replace the fixtures with projector-style lenses and then use an HID kit.
04-06-2016, 10:11 PM
#17
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2003 C230 K , 2001 ML320
If upgrading to better halogen I would go with the SYLVANIA SilverStar® ULTRA High Performance halogen headlight.
Back before HID and LED I put some eBay special higher wattage headlight bulbs, and they burned out in the middle of the night on a trip. Fortunately I had kept the original bulbs, but not easy to change when dark!
Back before HID and LED I put some eBay special higher wattage headlight bulbs, and they burned out in the middle of the night on a trip. Fortunately I had kept the original bulbs, but not easy to change when dark!
04-06-2016, 10:53 PM
#18
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Good lesson - don't use over-wattage bulbs. As for the Silver Star bulbs, they are supposedly brighter, but they also have the caveat of burning our faster.
04-06-2016, 11:17 PM
#19
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Maybe I am looking for the cheap way out but why not change your existing low beam lamp with this one I found on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/H7-100W-Supe...KT2XjA&vxp=mtr
It will fit inside your existing headlight without conversion at a fraction of the cost. ($12.95 for the pair) They also have a high beam one and fog light as well.
It will fit inside your existing headlight without conversion at a fraction of the cost. ($12.95 for the pair) They also have a high beam one and fog light as well.
You drive a Mercedes... don't do stupid things like this, or really ANY vehicle.
Blue tinted bulbs are ****. If you don't believe that look up Daniel Stern and read. You will be amazed at the info.
Going cheap is normally half assed way of doing things from experience.
If you are tight for cash look on ebay for OEM projectors. I scored OEM projectors off a crashed clk55 for $108. I then took them completely apart, painted them, polished the outer lenses, got ZKR clear projector lenses and changed the HID bulbs. I have superior lighting over OEM projectors IMHO.
If you like DIY projects do a projector retrofit. Check out hidplanet's forum and your mind will be blown with how much information is out there and how many people can help you out in the process...
Lighting is something that one shouldn't go cheap with.
-Nigel
