not again.....
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From: Canada
2002 C240 Classic
not again.....
okay, i know this issue has been repeated a million times and i've done a search that kept me reading for hour everyones horror stories with aftermarket HID's. well here are the questions.
1.) what is the stock Xenon bulb colour (4300k???), as well as the bi-xenon (both the same?).
2.) if i buy a set of oem xenons, what should i get to have it working (eg. headlight assemblies, xenon bulbs, ballasts....).
3.) are the ballasts the same thing as the igniter/starter. if so, then all i really need are the ballasts, bulbs and assemblies, right.
thanks everyone for the help.
1.) what is the stock Xenon bulb colour (4300k???), as well as the bi-xenon (both the same?).
2.) if i buy a set of oem xenons, what should i get to have it working (eg. headlight assemblies, xenon bulbs, ballasts....).
3.) are the ballasts the same thing as the igniter/starter. if so, then all i really need are the ballasts, bulbs and assemblies, right.
thanks everyone for the help.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Yes, the Xenons and Bi-xenons have the same bulbs. When you get OEM Xenons, you do not have to get anything extra to get it working because all you need to do is to take the whole assembly out and replaced by the new Xenon's assembly. Simple plug and play!! Everything is the same except you will not have auto leveling.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Los Angeles
GL450, Sienna SE
Re: not again.....
Originally posted by antonio
okay, i know this issue has been repeated a million times and i've done a search that kept me reading for hour everyones horror stories with aftermarket HID's. well here are the questions.
1.) what is the stock Xenon bulb colour (4300k???), as well as the bi-xenon (both the same?).
2.) if i buy a set of oem xenons, what should i get to have it working (eg. headlight assemblies, xenon bulbs, ballasts....).
3.) are the ballasts the same thing as the igniter/starter. if so, then all i really need are the ballasts, bulbs and assemblies, right.
thanks everyone for the help.
okay, i know this issue has been repeated a million times and i've done a search that kept me reading for hour everyones horror stories with aftermarket HID's. well here are the questions.
1.) what is the stock Xenon bulb colour (4300k???), as well as the bi-xenon (both the same?).
2.) if i buy a set of oem xenons, what should i get to have it working (eg. headlight assemblies, xenon bulbs, ballasts....).
3.) are the ballasts the same thing as the igniter/starter. if so, then all i really need are the ballasts, bulbs and assemblies, right.
thanks everyone for the help.
2) It comes complete. You should get headlight assembly, xenon bulbs, and ballasts.
3) Yes and no. You need to get the whole thing from MB. Its not a mix and match setup. Basically the difference is self-leveling which is part of the headlight.
Basically if you get OEM MB parts your dealer will gladly change the settings to xenon present. If not they give you a hard time. Hope this helps.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Re: Re: not again.....
Originally posted by BrabusCClass
1) yes they are the same, around 4300K.
2) It comes complete. You should get headlight assembly, xenon bulbs, and ballasts.
3) Yes and no. You need to get the whole thing from MB. Its not a mix and match setup. Basically the difference is self-leveling which is part of the headlight.
Basically if you get OEM MB parts your dealer will gladly change the settings to xenon present. If not they give you a hard time. Hope this helps.
1) yes they are the same, around 4300K.
2) It comes complete. You should get headlight assembly, xenon bulbs, and ballasts.
3) Yes and no. You need to get the whole thing from MB. Its not a mix and match setup. Basically the difference is self-leveling which is part of the headlight.
Basically if you get OEM MB parts your dealer will gladly change the settings to xenon present. If not they give you a hard time. Hope this helps.
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Originally posted by antonio
what about the audi's and bmw's. anyone know their colour temperature?
what about the audi's and bmw's. anyone know their colour temperature?
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From: Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada
'00 ML320 Elegance/'03 C320 4-matic
Nope, BMWs and AUDis also use the same 4300K bulbs. The Stage 2 6000K bulbs are not legal. If you're looking for the shimmering blue look, this is not because of the bulb colour temperature, but rather a side effect of the projector headlamp design. The projector acts sort of like a prism, and hence as the vehicle approaches you, those optics will result in a blue/purple effect.
Changing to 6000K bulbs is not a good idea as you lose 20-25% of the luminal output.
Changing to 6000K bulbs is not a good idea as you lose 20-25% of the luminal output.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C230 Coupe Black/Charcoal C5 C7 Auto
Originally posted by Drew_ML
Nope, BMWs and AUDis also use the same 4300K bulbs. The Stage 2 6000K bulbs are not legal. If you're looking for the shimmering blue look, this is not because of the bulb colour temperature, but rather a side effect of the projector headlamp design. The projector acts sort of like a prism, and hence as the vehicle approaches you, those optics will result in a blue/purple effect.
Changing to 6000K bulbs is not a good idea as you lose 20-25% of the luminal output.
Nope, BMWs and AUDis also use the same 4300K bulbs. The Stage 2 6000K bulbs are not legal. If you're looking for the shimmering blue look, this is not because of the bulb colour temperature, but rather a side effect of the projector headlamp design. The projector acts sort of like a prism, and hence as the vehicle approaches you, those optics will result in a blue/purple effect.
Changing to 6000K bulbs is not a good idea as you lose 20-25% of the luminal output.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Canada
2002 C240 Classic
one question though. do all the mercedes use the same 4300k xenon bulb? the reason i ask is because it seems that the s class and m class have a whiter, more bluer colour. is it just me? (btw, im talking about the regular housing, not projector.)
Member
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From: Bangkok
C200K
you can swap the bulbs between BMW's and BENZ's but remember that one is a D2R (non-projector..unless ofcourse you have the bi-xenons) and the Bimmer/Audi usually are D2S.
As for the colour temp of the bimmer's its pretty much the same when you swap its bulb out and place it in the non-projector merc. After looking REAL close to a BMW e46 3 series xenon projector you will notice engraved swirl marks starting from the center all the way to the outer edges. I asked the bimmer.org forum about this and apparently that sharp v-shape spiral engraving actually acts like a prism letting out more of a specific spectrum of light... in other words bimmer engineers their projector to throw out a soft purpleish tone.
3point
As for the colour temp of the bimmer's its pretty much the same when you swap its bulb out and place it in the non-projector merc. After looking REAL close to a BMW e46 3 series xenon projector you will notice engraved swirl marks starting from the center all the way to the outer edges. I asked the bimmer.org forum about this and apparently that sharp v-shape spiral engraving actually acts like a prism letting out more of a specific spectrum of light... in other words bimmer engineers their projector to throw out a soft purpleish tone.
3point
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From: Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada
'00 ML320 Elegance/'03 C320 4-matic
Originally posted by antonio
one question though. do all the mercedes use the same 4300k xenon bulb? the reason i ask is because it seems that the s class and m class have a whiter, more bluer colour. is it just me? (btw, im talking about the regular housing, not projector.)
one question though. do all the mercedes use the same 4300k xenon bulb? the reason i ask is because it seems that the s class and m class have a whiter, more bluer colour. is it just me? (btw, im talking about the regular housing, not projector.)
You have to look at the cars up close (within a foot) when they are not moving. If you view the lights while the cars are moving towards you, the projectors will cause the lights to appear white/puplish/bluish.
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From: Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada
'00 ML320 Elegance/'03 C320 4-matic
Originally posted by tberry
I DO want to point out that i've seen vehicles with xenon/HID lights OEM like the acura TL/RL/CL and Nissan Maxima's and they dont look that different from colored bulbs at all. If you get HID kit be sure to get some sorta projector housing to get that "effect". Also, from my understanding The audi/BMW xenon headlights start out purple/blueish tint and as they warm up further the turn white (that may explain why i see them really purple sometime and kinda white sometime).
I DO want to point out that i've seen vehicles with xenon/HID lights OEM like the acura TL/RL/CL and Nissan Maxima's and they dont look that different from colored bulbs at all. If you get HID kit be sure to get some sorta projector housing to get that "effect". Also, from my understanding The audi/BMW xenon headlights start out purple/blueish tint and as they warm up further the turn white (that may explain why i see them really purple sometime and kinda white sometime).
