Questions
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Joined: Feb 2008
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'07 C230 SS
Questions
Well i'm new to this forum but have been modifying and competitively driving cars for a while now. But yes I am new to this whole mercedes thing but figured it was time to get something a bit more lux/high-class, so here I am.
I have an 07 C230 sport and the first things i want do is:
Get Xenon lights now from some research i have decided it will probably be better for me to get OEM bi-xenon or just stick with my oem 07 headlights, instead of going with cheap ebay or depo headlights. And I decided that i wanna go with 8000k HIDs because I like the darker more bluish color. So my question is because my headlights are non-xenon would putting a HID kit on them look weird or just like a big blob of light? If not, then would I then be better off just getting the 8000k HID kit and hooking it up, until i can afford the bi-xenon headlights? Or just wait and get it all at once?
Also the second mod i would like to do is get a navigation system. From what i have read on here about that it seems that alot of people like to go with the factory command unit, is that really the best option? I assume it would be the easiest to install and get running, correct? Also for those who have aftermarket kits, I know they sometimes bring more options but then can either not fit up right. So I would like to hear those peoples opinions.
I know these are a lot of questions all at once but i figured i'd ask it all at once. Thanks
I have an 07 C230 sport and the first things i want do is:
Get Xenon lights now from some research i have decided it will probably be better for me to get OEM bi-xenon or just stick with my oem 07 headlights, instead of going with cheap ebay or depo headlights. And I decided that i wanna go with 8000k HIDs because I like the darker more bluish color. So my question is because my headlights are non-xenon would putting a HID kit on them look weird or just like a big blob of light? If not, then would I then be better off just getting the 8000k HID kit and hooking it up, until i can afford the bi-xenon headlights? Or just wait and get it all at once?
Also the second mod i would like to do is get a navigation system. From what i have read on here about that it seems that alot of people like to go with the factory command unit, is that really the best option? I assume it would be the easiest to install and get running, correct? Also for those who have aftermarket kits, I know they sometimes bring more options but then can either not fit up right. So I would like to hear those peoples opinions.
I know these are a lot of questions all at once but i figured i'd ask it all at once. Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 340
Likes: 1
From: South Fla.
06' C230SS
don't have much time to respond as i'm about to leave for work - BUT - in the mean time before you get any responses.. try searching the w203 forums for keywords like 'HID' 'Ballast' 'bi-x' 'bi-xenon' 'xenon' 'comand' 'comand 2.0' 'avic' 'navigation'. Happy hunting! 
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
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From: Boston, MA
2005 A4 1.8TQ
I'm in the same boat as the guy before me (need to go to work) but in short - OEM BiX will look awesome and not out of place on your car, a lot of people actually complain about the factory nav (Command), I have a Pioneer Avic-D3 and love it, and it fits well. You just need to get a certain kit and modify it slightly, any good install shop should be able to do it. Hope that helps.
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 92
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'07 GTI & '04 M3
just a few words of caution about 8k bulbs...you will have less light output on the road. i switched from oem to 6k's in my m3 and while the color is way better (in terms of the cool factor), i noticed a diff in light output.
6k's seem to be a good middle ground between increasing the cool factor, but not decreasing light output significantly....which is prob why they are the most popular color....and there are plenty of fogs to mathc the color.
going to 8k's is like going to 20" rims....purely bling...but good luck to ya
6k's seem to be a good middle ground between increasing the cool factor, but not decreasing light output significantly....which is prob why they are the most popular color....and there are plenty of fogs to mathc the color.
going to 8k's is like going to 20" rims....purely bling...but good luck to ya
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2008
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'07 C230 SS
thanks for the speedy responses. and yes i have already searched on here and these where the questions i was left with thanks.
And as for the going 8k is like going 20" rims haha ok well put i see your point and i do agree from the pictures that i had found it did look a bit darker since it was more blue then white, but i noticed that alot of the kits i found brought the 8k bulb kits instead of the 6k but maybe i'm wrong and the 6k are the more popular ones. I'll look into that thanks.
But with headlights i believe i was misunderstood, I meant that I would like to possibly place a HID kit on my stock 07 headlights but I'm not sure if the light pattern will be too scattered or messed up because the headlights are not made to run xenon or if it really isn't too bad and still looks good for just a temporary thing. Hope that clears it up.
And exanimas I actually had looked into if not the factory common navi that i would probably go with the Pioneer Avic-D3 like you mentioned because it does seem to be a good bang for your buck, i also noticed that that unit has the possibility for bluetooth is that something you have to get extra to make it operational or does that just work right out of the box. Also i heard that when using this pioneer unit it will invalidate some of the steering wheel buttons specifically the ones for the phone. And do you have a picture of the pioneer navi in your car i would like to see how it fits and how much modification it took to get it to work/look good, since i have a friend that works at a car audio shop and could probably hook it up for me. Thanks
Again thanks guys i know I sometimes go a bit question crazy but i like to know all the details of what I'm doing before i do anything and some of you seem to really know what your talking about, so I'm here to learn from the wise so one day i too can be wise haha
And as for the going 8k is like going 20" rims haha ok well put i see your point and i do agree from the pictures that i had found it did look a bit darker since it was more blue then white, but i noticed that alot of the kits i found brought the 8k bulb kits instead of the 6k but maybe i'm wrong and the 6k are the more popular ones. I'll look into that thanks.
But with headlights i believe i was misunderstood, I meant that I would like to possibly place a HID kit on my stock 07 headlights but I'm not sure if the light pattern will be too scattered or messed up because the headlights are not made to run xenon or if it really isn't too bad and still looks good for just a temporary thing. Hope that clears it up.
And exanimas I actually had looked into if not the factory common navi that i would probably go with the Pioneer Avic-D3 like you mentioned because it does seem to be a good bang for your buck, i also noticed that that unit has the possibility for bluetooth is that something you have to get extra to make it operational or does that just work right out of the box. Also i heard that when using this pioneer unit it will invalidate some of the steering wheel buttons specifically the ones for the phone. And do you have a picture of the pioneer navi in your car i would like to see how it fits and how much modification it took to get it to work/look good, since i have a friend that works at a car audio shop and could probably hook it up for me. Thanks
Again thanks guys i know I sometimes go a bit question crazy but i like to know all the details of what I'm doing before i do anything and some of you seem to really know what your talking about, so I'm here to learn from the wise so one day i too can be wise haha
Last edited by Endless230; Feb 19, 2008 at 09:07 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 502
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From: SOCAL
03 c240
if you put the hid kit on your factory oem 07 clear lens headlights the light output will be great. there should be no hotspots due to the fact that these are OEM. you will probably be impressed with how great the light output is. although i have the crappy frosted 03 headlights im still impressed.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 340
Likes: 1
From: South Fla.
06' C230SS
just a few words of caution about 8k bulbs...you will have less light output on the road. i switched from oem to 6k's in my m3 and while the color is way better (in terms of the cool factor), i noticed a diff in light output.
6k's seem to be a good middle ground between increasing the cool factor, but not decreasing light output significantly....which is prob why they are the most popular color....and there are plenty of fogs to mathc the color.
going to 8k's is like going to 20" rims....purely bling...but good luck to ya
6k's seem to be a good middle ground between increasing the cool factor, but not decreasing light output significantly....which is prob why they are the most popular color....and there are plenty of fogs to mathc the color.
going to 8k's is like going to 20" rims....purely bling...but good luck to ya
i might be wrong - but i dont think the kelvin rating of a hid bulb causes it to lose output what so ever.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 80
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'07 C230 SS
hey lancemb what hid kit do you have on yours and where did you get it maybe i'll try it out too.. also i hear if you buff your frosted headlight it will tend to clear them up a bit for you just an idea.
also 06c230hwd from what i can tell you are right it doesn't cause it to output i believe it all has to do with the color being emitted because the color itself is a more bluish it will just seem to be darker then a 4300 or 6000 bulb which are alot whiter
I believe this is a good example:
6k xenon
8k xenon
also 06c230hwd from what i can tell you are right it doesn't cause it to output i believe it all has to do with the color being emitted because the color itself is a more bluish it will just seem to be darker then a 4300 or 6000 bulb which are alot whiter
I believe this is a good example:
6k xenon
8k xenon
Last edited by Endless230; Feb 20, 2008 at 12:12 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
2005 A4 1.8TQ
And exanimas I actually had looked into if not the factory common navi that i would probably go with the Pioneer Avic-D3 like you mentioned because it does seem to be a good bang for your buck, i also noticed that that unit has the possibility for bluetooth is that something you have to get extra to make it operational or does that just work right out of the box. Also i heard that when using this pioneer unit it will invalidate some of the steering wheel buttons specifically the ones for the phone. And do you have a picture of the pioneer navi in your car i would like to see how it fits and how much modification it took to get it to work/look good, since i have a friend that works at a car audio shop and could probably hook it up for me. Thanks
If you're looking for pictures, here's my thread https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2644541 .
They're all the way at the bottom. You can see in the lighter pictures that there was a bar going across the dash kit before that they dremeled off (and didn't do an incredible job of). The kit is called MBK100C. Got mine off Amazon (along with a broken one from Buy.com...*******s). Any other questions just shoot me a PM. Later man.
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'07 GTI & '04 M3
The kelvin rating of a bulb has everything to do with light output. The color temperature is not the rating of the brightness...that's a misconception. The higher the color temperatrure, the less usable light output (or lumens) you have.
After the OEM DOT approved color of about 4100-4300k where lumens about peak, they fall steadily as the color temp increases. Look at a black light...the color temp is about 14,000k and has almost no visible light output.
An 8000k bulb has about 1/2 the light output of a 4100k bulb and about 1/3 less light output then the standard halogen bulb your car came with.
Still want 8000k's? Be prepared to see 1/3 less than you do now...
Thread Starter
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'07 C230 SS
well thanks to the ppl who answered my questions i pretty much have everything figured out. Just one last question is there a difference between the euro spec bi-xenons and the US spec ones, also since i know the stock ones come with 4300k is it pretty much just plug and play to just switch that out for a 6000k set. Since i decided i'll probably go 6000k kit and probably end up buy that this week but i just want to make sure that when i purchase the bi-xenons i can use it on them without a problem
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 92
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'07 GTI & '04 M3
well thanks to the ppl who answered my questions i pretty much have everything figured out. Just one last question is there a difference between the euro spec bi-xenons and the US spec ones, also since i know the stock ones come with 4300k is it pretty much just plug and play to just switch that out for a 6000k set. Since i decided i'll probably go 6000k kit and probably end up buy that this week but i just want to make sure that when i purchase the bi-xenons i can use it on them without a problem
as for 4300k to 6000k swap...its just the bulb. the projectors use D2S bulbs, so you just replace them. Just be sure that you don't touch anything on the bulb except for the base....
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'06 CLK500
well thanks to the ppl who answered my questions i pretty much have everything figured out. Just one last question is there a difference between the euro spec bi-xenons and the US spec ones, also since i know the stock ones come with 4300k is it pretty much just plug and play to just switch that out for a 6000k set. Since i decided i'll probably go 6000k kit and probably end up buy that this week but i just want to make sure that when i purchase the bi-xenons i can use it on them without a problem
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'07 C230 SS
But to run 6000k hids on the bixenons would i have to change the whole system right ballast and all not just the bulb, is this correct? and for that to be down would I have to open up the actual headlights?
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'07 C230 SS
haha, but i was just wondering cause till i get some i wanted to just possibly runs some on my stock headlights and see how it works
