Twaz

Hello everyone,
I'm wondering if there is a difference between the headlight housing and lens for the different years of the w211.

I'm asking because I have a 2004 E with Xenon headlights, and about a month ago someone hit the front end which went through their insurance. Only one headlight was replaced with a new one since only one was damaged (stupid, I know, since now I have one new and one old. I tried fighting insurance for it but no dice).
I finally got the car back from the dealership for the bodywork a few days ago and noticed a pretty big difference. It looks like they put the "clear" lens in the replaced headlight, while my original passenger side headlight has the "frost".

Was there a certain year that came with the clear lens and a certain that came with frost?

And is there a difference between the actual housing?
I ask this because while I know one headlight would be brand new and the original used, I notice that the chrome on the inside of the new headlight is shinier and appears darker if that makes sense.

I pretty much want to know if they put a newer year headlight on my car. If so, they would need to replace it. I already know that the lens is different just by eyeing it.

Thanks for the help

Craftysince86

facelift (07-09)


pre facelift (03-06)


difference is where the turn signal is, pretty obvious.

and the "frost" is just wear on your headlights, they need to be sanded and buffed or painted to get back to the original clarity as the new one you have. im sure the dealer did not give you a facelift headlight because the harness' are not plug n play between bracketed years

Twaz

Thanks for the reply Crafty.

2 things:
First, I'm glad you posted the pictures. The replaced headlights I have are definitely not 07+ with the horizontal lines. But you see how the 03-06 you posted has a slightly "brighter" and whiter color overall than the 07+? The 07 has a bit of darker reflection within the headlight. Is that just cause it's newer or is it possible they gave me a different headlight assembly than the original?

Second, before posting I did numerous searches about the lens as well because I thought the "frost" was due to just being older. However, there was a post with differences in lenses where one was CLEAR and the other had a ring of fine lines around it. Seen here:

Do you know which headlights came with the completely clear lens and which came with the other? Because as my car sits now the original headlight has the rights/frost and the new one is completely clear. Thanks in advance.

Twaz

/clear.jpg

Craftysince86

Not sure honestly as far as the two variant lenses on the projectors , I would assume the dealer would have given you the correct headlamp be abuse they are so **** about asking for vin numbers when selling you replacement parts

Craftysince86

Oh wait now that I think about it, I think that Mercedes actually did a re make on the headlights, people were complaining about the light output on the headlights so they changed something on them not sure what exactly.

desired_speeds

maybe the old lens got cloudy over time compared to the new one?

Duc1098E500

Here you go peeps. I have done retrofits with numerous vehicles myself but this is what I believe Twaz is talking about.

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...highlight=e500

Duc1098E500

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...highlight=e500

Not my car.

djrabbi

I did retrofit on my car. I had bi-xenon so projector lens was "frosty' but if you put aftermarket lens (clear), makes lighting a lot more sharper

Duc1098E500

Only drawbacks into doing a retrofit is your headlight housing will rob 30-40% of your light output.

djrabbi

I had better output.. A LOT beter lol

Duc1098E500

Nice! You said bi-xenons meaning your high beams are in your low beam housing too? Or did you just change your lens from frosted to clear. I'm assuming our lenses are 3"?

djrabbi

Bi xenon is from factory so yeah hi and lo are together. Yup 3" lens

Duc1098E500

hmmm weird I thought e55's are just low beams???

Twaz

So was there certain w211 headlights that had the "clear" lens as opposed to the "frosted" with the tiny rings around it? If so, which years had the change?

Because I definitely have one headlight inner lens that is crystal clear and one with the rings/frosted. Just trying to figure out if the dealership put in a newer or even aftermarket headlight instead of the original that they were supposed to replace.

It's bad enough I have one brand new headlight and one that is several years old and not nearly as clear/shiny/new looking. Now I need them to address the lens.

Thanks in advance everyone.

djrabbi

All Factory lights are frosted either Mercedes/Audi/BMW. I doubt your lens is clear, may look clear from outside but once everything is apart and you compare, whole different story.

Dexion

Look for the DEPO aftermarket W211 Xenon Headlamps that are on Ebay, those are good quality and afaik they are clear lenses not frosted.

ghaffar23

not without performing a retrofit. I retrofitted a set of Audi RS6 Bixenon's with ZKW 3" clear lenses. VERY NICE. Cleans up the front end as well. And mine is a W210. Look in my Sig.

Dexion

Ah so the depos are pretty much stock lamps than.

Twaz

Hey guys,
went to the dealer to see if they can swap out the lenses (put the original lens on the new headlight so it'd match), and after 20 min they said there's no way to just swap out the lenses because the "chrome" ring around it needs to be snapped in.

Pretty much they said there's no physical way of doing it without opening up the front headlight seal (which they will not do).

Is there any way to swap out lenses without completely dismantling the headlight?

djrabbi

No you cannot! You can't do that with ANY headlight

Twaz

damn, so how did you swap out your lenses? baking and resealing?

It's crazy you'd think they would have made a way to do this easier

djrabbi

Yes you have to take them apart completely........ SA at MB probably laughed when you asked him lol

daytonabeach

Yes you can

http://www.oemxenonshop.com/Mercedes...placement.html