Aftermarket HID Conversion Kits & required setting XENON=PRESENT thread
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From: VA
THE C350
how much flickering and do they cut off completely? if you want to leave them in until you do version code turn the lights on before you put the key in the ignition wait 30sec then you can start the car and avoid flickering. this works most of the time but some hid kits still won't work until you do the setting.
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From: VA
THE C350
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,101
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Hi all,
I just got a 6000K 35W HID kit installed in my car...and it works perfectly at night.
Im in Canada and by law we are supposed to have running lights during the day....but when its bright outside, no lights come on and I get an error on my dash.
Will the Xenon = Present setting fix this?
Thanks.
I just got a 6000K 35W HID kit installed in my car...and it works perfectly at night.
Im in Canada and by law we are supposed to have running lights during the day....but when its bright outside, no lights come on and I get an error on my dash.
Will the Xenon = Present setting fix this?
Thanks.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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C32 AMG
Well after 1 hour of going back and forth with the service advisor and the Va bch mb dealership about this and finally showing him this page he finally admitted they could do it. Be careful of those service guys that say it can't be done! It can!
All in all it took the tech about 10 min to complete. Then the *** charged me $120.
All in all it took the tech about 10 min to complete. Then the *** charged me $120.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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C32 AMG
im sure you need more than just a reader to change the settings. and from what i can find, the scanner needed to do this yourself is very expensive.... best to prolly take it to the dealer.
just an opinion, no facts here.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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From: VA
THE C350
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C32 AMG
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From: VA
THE C350
he spent over 30 minutes trying to figure out why the star wouldn't talk to my car then did the setting change and told me to have a nice day and would not accept money as a tip or to the dealer. but it took me about a month of searching for a dealer to do it.hey dlwiser i saw you are in the va,md,dc group. where do you live? just wondering what dealer fought with you on this.
Last edited by samaritrey; Nov 2, 2009 at 06:08 PM.
Member
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C32 AMG
I fought with three dealers and an indy who wanted over 100 to just see if it was possible then more $ for doing it. then i went in to my favorite dealer and talked with my long time sa. he hooked me up with the shop foreman who told me to go get my car and park it right next to the sl 65 black in the shop. he unplugged the star from it and into my c320. lol i gained some hp that day. he spent over 30 minutes trying to figure out why the star wouldn't talk to my car then did the setting change and told me to have a nice day and would not accept money as a tip or to the dealer. but it took me about a month of searching for a dealer to do it.
hey dlwiser i saw you are in the va,md,dc group. where do you live? just wondering what dealer fought with you on this.
he spent over 30 minutes trying to figure out why the star wouldn't talk to my car then did the setting change and told me to have a nice day and would not accept money as a tip or to the dealer. but it took me about a month of searching for a dealer to do it.hey dlwiser i saw you are in the va,md,dc group. where do you live? just wondering what dealer fought with you on this.
. It was Phillips MB down here that gave me the hassle. They said it would be at least $60 to try and fail, more if it worked..... ended up being a tit over $120.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: VA
THE C350
you could have gone to my dealer in Arlington had lunch at one of the nice restaurants and drove home and still be ahead. oh well it is done now and you can enjoy your bix or whatever you have.
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From: VA
THE C350
a coke lol i had a dealer that was doing warranty work for me and i told them that i could not get my car to them for a few days. my sa said that he would come and pick it up even though my dealer at that time was over an hour away. then when they brought my car back i got my cookie as usual and the sa remembered i loved Vanilla Coke so he got a case and left it in my front seat. now that is service. he got a nice "Holiday Gift that year" aka Christmas. lol
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4
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From: Bay Area
clk500
Originally Posted by crazyfox 
thanks for the pic! i will go and talk to the dealer who said it can't be done! C.C Chan (Service adviser from Richmond auto mall) just wait me there! i am coming!
thanks for the pic! i will go and talk to the dealer who said it can't be done! C.C Chan (Service adviser from Richmond auto mall) just wait me there! i am coming!
!! 
Hi I was wondering what picture is crazyfox talking about? I have reading through so many pages but I just can't find it. I have been arguing with so many bay area dealerships for the longest time trying to get my xenon set to present!!
I have the menu location list that "steve_bris" posted in the #1109
Is there anything else that I need to bring with me to the dealer so I can get them to set it? I have the oem bi-xenon headlights, they have been waiting for be installed (which I can do myself) and xenon=present for the past 3 months. No bay area dealerships wants to do it for me.
any help? Thanks!
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
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From: VA
THE C350
Hi I was wondering what picture is crazyfox talking about? I have reading through so many pages but I just can't find it. I have been arguing with so many bay area dealerships for the longest time trying to get my xenon set to present!!
I have the menu location list that "steve_bris" posted in the #1109
Is there anything else that I need to bring with me to the dealer so I can get them to set it? I have the oem bi-xenon headlights, they have been waiting for be installed (which I can do myself) and xenon=present for the past 3 months. No bay area dealerships wants to do it for me. any help? Thanks!
I have the menu location list that "steve_bris" posted in the #1109
Is there anything else that I need to bring with me to the dealer so I can get them to set it? I have the oem bi-xenon headlights, they have been waiting for be installed (which I can do myself) and xenon=present for the past 3 months. No bay area dealerships wants to do it for me.
any help? Thanks!
i am sure someone in your area knows of a kick *** dealer that will hook you up! lol i could give you two that i have found that will do it but they are on the east coast so that is one long drive to get a setting changed 
GL 
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Port Arthur, TX
2006 E 350
My $65 Ebay HID's...
Hi All,
just wanted to say firstoff a big thanks to all the members who have been active in the discussion of aftermarket HID's. The numerous posts were a lifesaver! My $65 Ebay HIDS are in, without a flicker, and no error codes. The biggest problem I ran into was the confounded metal retaining clips for the bulbs. Once those were in (I finally adjusted their attitude after repeated colorful metaphors and references to their lineage), the rest was a piece of cake. Thanks again to all. Will post pictures after tonights test drive!
just wanted to say firstoff a big thanks to all the members who have been active in the discussion of aftermarket HID's. The numerous posts were a lifesaver! My $65 Ebay HIDS are in, without a flicker, and no error codes. The biggest problem I ran into was the confounded metal retaining clips for the bulbs. Once those were in (I finally adjusted their attitude after repeated colorful metaphors and references to their lineage), the rest was a piece of cake. Thanks again to all. Will post pictures after tonights test drive!
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
Likes: 22
From: VA
THE C350
Hi All,
just wanted to say firstoff a big thanks to all the members who have been active in the discussion of aftermarket HID's. The numerous posts were a lifesaver! My $65 Ebay HIDS are in, without a flicker, and no error codes. The biggest problem I ran into was the confounded metal retaining clips for the bulbs. Once those were in (I finally adjusted their attitude after repeated colorful metaphors and references to their lineage), the rest was a piece of cake. Thanks again to all. Will post pictures after tonights test drive!
just wanted to say firstoff a big thanks to all the members who have been active in the discussion of aftermarket HID's. The numerous posts were a lifesaver! My $65 Ebay HIDS are in, without a flicker, and no error codes. The biggest problem I ran into was the confounded metal retaining clips for the bulbs. Once those were in (I finally adjusted their attitude after repeated colorful metaphors and references to their lineage), the rest was a piece of cake. Thanks again to all. Will post pictures after tonights test drive!
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Port Arthur, TX
2006 E 350
Pics of the HID install
Here are the pics as promised...Now I am just waiting on my super white led city lights and license plate lights. I was a bit worried about the 8000k not illuminating the road enough after reading some more posts, but after several spirited test drives last night I am very happy with both the overall look, color, and illumination. I didn't have to make any adjustments to the beam level, and noone on the road flashed me!
Last edited by tjhance; Dec 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM. Reason: Additional Comment: By the way, the glare is not that bad, my cellphone camera just sucks...
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
2007 C230 Sport
can you let me know what kind of lights you're ordering? i have some city lights but i'm not 100% happy with them. they seem super dim compared to the HIDs. also, i've not gotten a license plate light yet. help a brother out?
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Port Arthur, TX
2006 E 350
Sorry for the delayed response, I was out to lunch. I just ordered the fogs. Seems I got the bug! I swore after I traded my ridiculously modded Jetta in for this W211 that I would leave it alone. That's workin out real well...
The city lights I got off of Ebay from this guy http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/easylife_go/ here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT
The license plate lights I got off of Ebay from this guy http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/goodstuffs4u0904/ (best price, most were $75+, these were $32 shipped. Here is the auction link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT
So far both of these guys have had great communication, and both items are shipped, so hopefully I can post some pics next week.
The city lights I got off of Ebay from this guy http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/easylife_go/ here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT
The license plate lights I got off of Ebay from this guy http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/goodstuffs4u0904/ (best price, most were $75+, these were $32 shipped. Here is the auction link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT
So far both of these guys have had great communication, and both items are shipped, so hopefully I can post some pics next week.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Port Arthur, TX
2006 E 350
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
2007 C230 Sport
Lol - Kobe1980, I just ordered the fogs, but I am curious - do you think the HID's in your highbeams work better than the regular bulbs. The only reason I ask is that I do a considerable amount of driving on the highway at night. And no matter how cool it would look, I refuse to compromise safety at high velocity
that's a tough question. i've not really done an exhaustive comparison. so that being said, my 2 cents is that the HID high beams not only look cool as hell, but they also work pretty well. when i've used them my field of vision is great. i mean by definition the HID stands for 'high intensity discharge', so for the 'high' beams they should work just nicely.
and they seem to. i really think they are better. but it's just hard for me to say definitely because i didn't have the original bulbs in for too long - i didn't follow the 'scientific method' if you know what i mean. :-p
also, i got lasik surgery a few years ago. i mention this because the type of lasik i got is actually supposed to improve my night vision. and it does.
and i'm with you as far as not compromising safety. i got my lasik surgery after i hit a couple curbs in the volvo s40 i had at the time. my vision wasn't the greatest. now, it's like having new eyes. i see details in the road most people would never see. and, it's painful to hurt one's car on the road. and i don't need to hurt anyone or myself either. definitely safety first.
but like i said by nature these bulbs are brighter and they seem to throw off a nice clean beam so i really want to say they're better.
