Good News if you think MB's HIDs are terrible
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Good News if you think MB's HIDs are terrible
MB finally realizes their factory HIDs are sorely lacking (mine aren't nearly as good as my BMW's lamps.) The best news is that the ballast and bulbs can be retrofitted to existing cars with the current HIDs.
Announced by Daimler AG today:
"Achieving light colour which is as close as possible to daylight is one of the biggest safety benefits in the field of headlamp technology. Mercedes-Benz is now one of the first automotive manufacturers to offer xenon headlamps boasting a significantly brighter light output.
From December, production of the E-Class and S-Class will make use of new xenon burners from the company Osram, featuring a colour temperature which has been increased by some 20 percent.
Achieving a figure of 5000 Kelvin, the new xenon light is even closer to daylight and is therefore even brighter – a clear innovation, in the true sense of the phrase.
This light colour is in keeping with normal human perception patterns, and as such conveys an impression of greater brightness to the eyes, thus reducing the strain on the driver. Studies have shown that the closer the colour of artificial light comes to daylight, the less the strain on the eyes. This is a crucial safety benefit, especially if we take into account that only 20 percent of journeys take place at night – yet it is when 40 percent of fatal accidents occur.
After the E-Class and the S-Class, further Mercedes-Benz model series will be gradually fitted with the new xenon burners in 2011. All previous Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with xenon headlamps can also be fitted with this additional safety feature, as the new xenon burners will be available from branches and dealers as Mercedes-Benz original parts."
Announced by Daimler AG today:
"Achieving light colour which is as close as possible to daylight is one of the biggest safety benefits in the field of headlamp technology. Mercedes-Benz is now one of the first automotive manufacturers to offer xenon headlamps boasting a significantly brighter light output.
From December, production of the E-Class and S-Class will make use of new xenon burners from the company Osram, featuring a colour temperature which has been increased by some 20 percent.
Achieving a figure of 5000 Kelvin, the new xenon light is even closer to daylight and is therefore even brighter – a clear innovation, in the true sense of the phrase.
This light colour is in keeping with normal human perception patterns, and as such conveys an impression of greater brightness to the eyes, thus reducing the strain on the driver. Studies have shown that the closer the colour of artificial light comes to daylight, the less the strain on the eyes. This is a crucial safety benefit, especially if we take into account that only 20 percent of journeys take place at night – yet it is when 40 percent of fatal accidents occur.
After the E-Class and the S-Class, further Mercedes-Benz model series will be gradually fitted with the new xenon burners in 2011. All previous Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with xenon headlamps can also be fitted with this additional safety feature, as the new xenon burners will be available from branches and dealers as Mercedes-Benz original parts."
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From: The Great Pacific NW
2008 Mercedes Benz E63 AMG, 2017 Porsche Macan S
Interesting....I thought my xenons were too obnoxious....I get flashed all the time (and yes, they're aimed correctly).
I think 5,000 kelvin (vs. 4,300) will give you a slightly bluer light?
I think 5,000 kelvin (vs. 4,300) will give you a slightly bluer light?
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From: SOCAL
E500 & ML500
Actually 5K is a little more closer to pure white, while 6K is white with a slight blue tint. Then 8K has a purple/blue hue to it.
Then anything above that begins to turn purple (less light output).
I have a 6K HID drop in kit in another car, and I think 5K would be next purchase once I change bulbs.
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Here's the link: http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-9...=1288318131004
The new bulbs will be non coated like the current D1S-35 W 4300K bulbs with the built-in igniter.
Bulbs out there that are 5k (and more) are coated (blue) and that also reduces lumens (brightness.) MB is saying these new bulbs are still clear (non coated) but now a true daylight 5k. They will be both brighter and cooler. That's a breakthrough.
Other cars like Audi and BMW also use the 4300k stock non coated bulbs but their projector design make for a cooler and brighter light. The projectors in a new Porsche are also better this way. My BMW lights are much brighter and seem closer to 5k than my current (2009) HID adaptives on my AMG.
The MB HID projectors are really not as good as Audi, Porsche and BMW in respect to their brightness. But now they should look a lot better. The best thing is that this can be retrofitted onto existing cars with factory HIDs. Good if you're like me and want bright (not blue coated) daylight temperature bulbs. (But if you don't have factory projector HIDs all ready, they can't install.)
I didn't know this either, but apparently the bulb in conjunction with ballast type will create different output. I also thought all ballasts were the same.
Here's an old thread that talks about the differences (see p 2) https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...cs-56k-no.html
Here are before and after pics from the Daimler AG press release:
The new bulbs will be non coated like the current D1S-35 W 4300K bulbs with the built-in igniter.
Bulbs out there that are 5k (and more) are coated (blue) and that also reduces lumens (brightness.) MB is saying these new bulbs are still clear (non coated) but now a true daylight 5k. They will be both brighter and cooler. That's a breakthrough.
Other cars like Audi and BMW also use the 4300k stock non coated bulbs but their projector design make for a cooler and brighter light. The projectors in a new Porsche are also better this way. My BMW lights are much brighter and seem closer to 5k than my current (2009) HID adaptives on my AMG.
The MB HID projectors are really not as good as Audi, Porsche and BMW in respect to their brightness. But now they should look a lot better. The best thing is that this can be retrofitted onto existing cars with factory HIDs. Good if you're like me and want bright (not blue coated) daylight temperature bulbs. (But if you don't have factory projector HIDs all ready, they can't install.)
I didn't know this either, but apparently the bulb in conjunction with ballast type will create different output. I also thought all ballasts were the same.
Here's an old thread that talks about the differences (see p 2) https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...cs-56k-no.html
Here are before and after pics from the Daimler AG press release:
Super Member
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From: Northern California
09' E350 AMG Sport, 09' C300, 03' Honda S2K
I have to agree that MB uses one the poorest HID projector lens, HId on my C class was not nearless as bright, and the beams are not nearly as wide as my TSX and s2k The S2k still from today have been proven to be the best HID porjectors lens money can buy. MB HID lenses are just poor design, Koito and Stanley are probably one of the best out there and MB doesnt either of them.
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Since they're going into assembly on the E and S Class starting with December production, we probably won't know until later when the dealers get new parts price lists and it's in the system. I'm assuming some time after the new year.
I'm stopping in at my dealer's next week, and I'll ask just in case they might have any info. This was only announced publicly just 2 days ago.
I'm definitely going to upgrade and when I do, I'll post here. My HID headlamp on the driver's side is a different color than the other one and so I've been ready to replace bulbs and check out the ballasts and the projector (projector could be discolored, etc..)
I'm stopping in at my dealer's next week, and I'll ask just in case they might have any info. This was only announced publicly just 2 days ago.
I'm definitely going to upgrade and when I do, I'll post here. My HID headlamp on the driver's side is a different color than the other one and so I've been ready to replace bulbs and check out the ballasts and the projector (projector could be discolored, etc..)
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
usually caused by refraction at the cutoff. if the whole beam is color shifted,
it is likely the bulb. i suppose it could be the projector lens but those are
usually designed for focus/spread instead of color
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
if the light differential involves blue, white, yellowish vertical segments, this is
usually caused by refraction at the cutoff. if the whole beam is color shifted,
it is likely the bulb. i suppose it could be the projector lens but those are
usually designed for focus/spread instead of color
usually caused by refraction at the cutoff. if the whole beam is color shifted,
it is likely the bulb. i suppose it could be the projector lens but those are
usually designed for focus/spread instead of color
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Judging off of that picture, I like the 4300 the best. It's crisp and white, yet still retains some warmth. When lights get too blue-ish, they lack a warm glow that's pleasing and effective to my eyes at least, I also find the "too white/blue" to lack in actual illumination, and be an annoyance to others on the road.
5K seems like it will be the perfect and ideal balance.
5K seems like it will be the perfect and ideal balance.
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
"All previous Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with xenon headlamps can also be fitted with this additional safety feature, as the new xenon burners will be available from branches and dealers as Mercedes-Benz original parts."
If you buy a car without factory OEM bi-xenons, any retrofit from the OEM halogen to OEM xenon is an expensive proposition plus it needs to be Star activated to function, etc...
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From: Canada
2007 E550, 2007 GL450
X2. Furthermore, factory HID systems come with levelling, which involves sensors placed underneath the cars and the motors to level the lights, as well as washing systems. Both the levelling and washing functions are mandated for HID systems in Germany. So a true retro-fit would be very expensive. Just changing the lenses to projectors and adding ballasts is only half the system IMO.
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From: Northern California
09' E350 AMG Sport, 09' C300, 03' Honda S2K
MB dont need to change the lightbulb, they need to go with a new vendor for their projectors, they need to go Koito projectors. It is the projectors that are pooly design, not the bulb. Comparing with my s2k 4300 k and MB 4300k are just not the same as bright output.
Thread Starter
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
MB dont need to change the lightbulb, they need to go with a new vendor for their projectors, they need to go Koito projectors. It is the projectors that are pooly design, not the bulb. Comparing with my s2k 4300 k and MB 4300k are just not the same as bright output.
MB would probably never use Koito as a parts supplier when there are plenty of excellent German and Euro manufacturers. And anyway Koito has been banned in Europe by Airbus, and that was even long before their testing scandal later in 2010. So I kinda doubt any German or European manufacturer will ever be using any Koito products.
