Original Headlights NOW LOOK DIFFERENT

[StephenK]

I noticed the other day my headlights look different, they are original for the 2001 S500. When you turn the car on they both have a blueish look to them but within seconds the drivers side one looses the blueish look. I suspect a bulb is going, what is involved in changing the headlamps, is it a DIY or more of a dealer type of job.

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[benz_addict]

mine is like that too dealer quoted me $150 x 2 for the bulb change... is that good?

[StephenK]

I am not sure if that is good or bad, I do recall getting a message in the past about a headlight failure, but it worked, never noticed the change in the lights until this past week.

Curious what is involved in changing it. I know taillight and side light bulbs are an easy replace.

How hard is it to replace the headlights?

[ekogutpl]

its not really that difficult. you pop your hood open and take off the black cover that covers the low beam bulb( the high beam and foglight is under the other cover) and you take off the d2s connector to the bulb and you twist the plastic around the bulb and you take it out( make sure you dont touch the bulb part with your fingers) and you pop in the new one

[THR2008]

just so you know the black cover is in the back not the lining around the bulb. It shouldn't take that long just buy the bulb from online if possible save some $$$ and do it yourself. $300 is a lot for 2 bulbs IMO.

[comforta]

I would take caution if you have large hands because it is a tight fit for the low beam change. I had to replace my low beam light this weekend and I could not successfully replace the bulb. I had tried for about 45 minutes to complete but I ended up going to the dealer to finish the job.

[m4xm1l10n]

bulbs on the w220 is easy to change , now try the SL500 R230

[benz_addict]

But don't you need to be really sensitive when changing the xenon bulbs?? I mean the whole mechanism in there is so FRAGILE with the self leveling motors and etc you push or twist too hard then BAM you broke something and need a new headlight unit. That's my biggest fear.

[m4xm1l10n]

Originally Posted by benz_addict

But don't you need to be really sensitive when changing the xenon bulbs?? I mean the whole mechanism in there is so FRAGILE with the self leveling motors and etc you push or twist too hard then BAM you broke something and need a new headlight unit. That's my biggest fear.

honestly no!!!! trust me , I've done at least a dozen times you can be sensitive but not that sensitive!!!

[my06clk]

Originally Posted by benz_addict

But don't you need to be really sensitive when changing the xenon bulbs?? I mean the whole mechanism in there is so FRAGILE with the self leveling motors and etc you push or twist too hard then BAM you broke something and need a new headlight unit. That's my biggest fear.

On the Bi zenons the bulb mounts to the ballast and the entire assembly is held in by a turn lock device. it's easy t change..

I paid $125 for my bulb at the dealer ( Ouch!! ). no need to change both of them unless the other is bad. I did mine about 9 or 10 mos ago and you could not tell which one was the old bulb. There was no difference in color.

They sell them online, but there is a slight difference on how the bulbs mount between years on the W220. I think there are 2 or 3 variations. The parts guy showed them to me when I purchased mine.

[newton22]

Any experiences with replacing them on a pre-facelift W220? My bulbs seem too plain of a white color compared to other HIDs. I want 6000k bulbs.

[m4xm1l10n]

Originally Posted by my06clk

On the Bi zenons the bulb mounts to the ballast and the entire assembly is held in by a turn lock device. it's easy t change..

I paid $125 for my bulb at the dealer ( Ouch!! ). no need to change both of them unless the other is bad. I did mine about 9 or 10 mos ago and you could not tell which one was the old bulb. There was no difference in color.

They sell them online, but there is a slight difference on how the bulbs mount between years on the W220. I think there are 2 or 3 variations. The parts guy showed them to me when I purchased mine.

+1

[StephenK]

I was going to buy thru the dealer which they seem to be very proud of their parts, I saw these online and can get them wholesale if they are right for the car.

Do you guys think these are correct?

The only pictures I can find are from Advance Auto Parts:

Low Beam Xenon Replacement:
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/Pro...pe=301&PTSet=A

High Beam Replacement:
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/Pro...pe=301&PTSet=A

Are the high beams standard on the 01 S500 Halogen or Xenon???

Would anyone recommend a different product?

Thanks for any feedback.

[StephenK]

Anyone?????

[m4xm1l10n]

All 00-02 S500 came standard with xenon lights , the bio came on 03 up cars , i have no idea if they were available as an option on 00-02 !!! as far as other products out there rather than OEM there is this company called MotoringMax that sells JDM products . I used them many times with excellent results , as well as some of my friends check the link below , the 6000k looks outstanding

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/6000K...QQcmdZViewItem

[StephenK]

You lost me,

what do you mean by

"the bio came on 03 up cars"

[m4xm1l10n]

Sorry bi-xenon!!!!!!!!!!!

[Skylaw]

Originally Posted by m4xm1l10n

All 00-02 S500 came standard with xenon lights , the bio came on 03 up cars , i have no idea if they were available as an option on 00-02 !!!

No. The S430 in '00-02 came standard with halogens. The S500 in those years came standard with HID, which were xenon low beams and halogen high beams. Bi-Xenon was an optional upgrade.

[m4xm1l10n]

Originally Posted by Skylaw

No. The S430 in '00-02 came standard with halogens. The S500 in those years came standard with HID, which were xenon low beams and halogen high beams. Bi-Xenon was an optional upgrade.

You are correct , they were standard on S500 and optional on S430

[StephenK]

Which one is the low beam headlamp. Dealer is telling me probably not the bulb, I plan to switch the passenger side with the drivers side lamp and if the drivers to test the bulbs.

[PlatinumEdition]

damn $300 for bulbs? Ill sell you the stock xenon headlights I have sitting in my garage for $300!

[MR.J]

$300??? damm
i just upgraded my bulbs cost me $150 8000k HID

sad thing i broke the stock bulbs

[StephenK]

I called a Mercedes dealer this afternoon, the man in parts said he did not think it was the bulb and that it was probably a couple of other things in the unit. I decided to switch the bulbs tonight, put the drivers side on the passenger side, thinking that when they are switched if the same bulb turns brown it is the bulb and nothing else.

I switched the bulbs and that is what happened, tomorrow going to get new bulbs.

Will there be a difference in bulb brightness if I only switch the one that is bad?

[trudawg]

it was hard the first time I replaced the bulbs, the second time it took like 10 min

[notoriousALE]

Change them in pairs, you'll be doing the other one shortly, anyway. They will not be the same color, barely noticeable but you'll see it.

Handle them with latex gloves so you don't get fingerprints on them.