Hello everyone. I am new to this, so forgive me if I stumble all over myself!

I have a 2003 C320 that I adore. I bought it used from a reputable dealer in the North Dallas area about 18 months ago and have had good luck with the car until now. About 5 months ago my passenger side headlight would not come on and I got the infamous "right side, low beam" message. I assumed it was the bulb and planned on replacing it. Then low and behold, the next time I got in the car...IT WORKED! It has gone back and forth for some time now. Never flickered...it either worked or it didn’t. In the beginning I could turn off the lights manually and turn them back on...and it would work. Or I could turn on the high-beams then switch back...and it would work. It seemed to work MORE often when the car was warm than when I first got in it in the mornings. Then for a few days it would only work if I turned on the lights manually, not allowing the "auto" feature to do its thing. However now...it won’t work at all...AND now my driver’s side light is no longer adjusting/tilting when it turns on like it should. I went on-line and read hours of posts and just gave myself a headache. I had NO idea there are so many options when it comes to lights. Before I continued to look without really knowing what I was looking for, I called my local Mercedes dealer and gave him my VIN#, hoping he could tell me exactly what "type" of lights I have. He told me they are factory installed projector bi-xenon lights. I then told him the issues with my passenger side light and he said...if it’s the bulb that needs to be replaced, it will be around $140... if its the igniter, it will run around $800...or if its the ballast, the whole light assembly will need to be replaced and that will run around $1300...before labor. AND THAT’S JUST FOR ONE SIDE. NOW THE OTHER SIDE IS ACTING UP TOO! I tried to die!! I had NO idea that a non-working light could/would ever cost so much. I asked him if that those particular lights were the norm for my car and he said no...they were "upgrades". GREAT!! Anyway...I am really lost now. I have a Mercedes mechanic that I take my car to for oil changes and basic maintenance and trust him...he quoted ~$1000 to replace the assembly...but I would like to have more knowledge of what is REALLY going on with my car before I spend that kind of money. OR if taking it to a mechanic is necessary...is it something that I could do with some help?

**If replacing the whole assembly is necessary...where might I find one that won't cost an arm and a leg?
**If I already have bi-xenon’s...wouldn’t a new assembly be a "plug and play" issue...no special kits or wiring needed?
**I don’t think its the bulb...because it was still coming on...if its the igniter or ballast...are either of those just simply replaceable, w/out replacing the whole assembly?
**I have read some posts that talk about nice looking projector halogen lights...would that be an option for me...replacing what I have with halogen lights? Would I have to have a kit of some sorts or any re-wiring/re-programing done? What about price...how much would I save?
**And now my driver’s side is no longer adjusting/tilting upward when turned on like it use to...what on earth could be causing that? Will that require replacing the whole assembly too?

I know I must sound completely ignorant to those of you who know your cars inside and out...but please be patient and any help would be sooo very much appreciated.

Thanks again,
Nikie

 

I have a spare rightside assembly? OEM BIX.. if it came with OEM BIX then swapping in another OEM BIX would be plug and play yes..

 

You can replace the ballasts I believe...but you'd have to take apart the assemblies to get to it.. there's a link in the aftermarket OEM upgrade sticky. And if they were "upgrades" hopefully they version coded it (XENON=PRESENT) to have them work fine from then on. I too have an '03 car...but had my dealership XENON=PRESENT when I installed the bixenons.

 

Thanks Mig888 for the quick reply!

I must assume (and we know where that can get you sometimes) that if Mercedes knew of the "upgraded" lights...they must have installed them.
How might I find out if they version coded it (xenon=present)?
Any thoughts on what the problem is with my drivers side not adjusting any longer?
Your spare right-side assembly...is it factory? Are you selling it? For how much?

Thanks again!

 

It's factory yes, and I was selling it for $250 (cuz it's lonely and has a chafed connector but WILL WORK)... if you buy it though, I hope you follow an install guide somewhere here.

Well, if MB installed them yes, most likely it was set. But remember, no 2003 came with CLEAR bixenons..not that I recall. You can take the xenon=present guide to the dealership to check too but they might charge you.

 

AFAIK MY03 C320 didn't have a factory option for PROJECTOR BIX. Something doesn't sound right here. Take pics of your setup and post them.

 

Really...somehow that does not surprise me. I find it very hard to trust the Mercedes dealers here in Ft. Worth...but I had to ask, so I thought I would start with those who are suppose to know!

The car came from New York. It was a lease car that did not sell when brought back to the dealer so they auctioned it and it ended up in Dallas...where I became its new owner. Other than myself...it was my understanding it only had one other owner...or in its case, leasor. It was in pristine condition...or from what we could tell.

Here are pictures of my passenger side headlight. I hope they are clear enough for you to see what you are looking for. (Please try to see past the dirtiness...they are re-doing the road into our subdivision.)

Thank you again!

 

Is it the picture or do they look like they are black inside?

 

Its the picture...they are silver inside.
I took one with the flash and one without the flash.

 

Yeah they look authentic..guess the next thing to do is get it checked for the version coding...if it was true MB dealer installed though, it's STILL a guess on whether they upgraded it right the first time...

 

If they had not upgraded them properly...would it not have acted up sooner?

This morning I got in and just for grins tried turning the lights on before starting the car...and guess what...IT WORKED! They both worked. Both lights came on and leveled just like they are suppose to. I give up! I dont understand it. I hate not knowing if they are going to work or not. I cant help but wonder if its an "electrical" thing or computer thing that is causing it. Regardless, I need to find out. I just dont really know where to start....