hid or no?
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 720
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Saab 900 SE
the blob on mine and yours look the same yet my camera captured all the light scatter.....
Our housing suck, look at how far it throws and scatters light. Sorry projectors are the only proper way on some cars to do HIDs, and ours is one of them.
Its not an opinion thing, its just it isnt good, I mean it sucks fro any driver in front of me, im making the sun rise in their car because the hids scatter so much light, which is why I ordered OEM Bix.
I know we cant all afford them but even the DEPOs with Bix are a much better solution to just shoving the HIDs in the reflector housing.
Also I greatly respect your opinion, I think your a super cool guy and I think my post come off way more argumentative then thier ment to, I just am pissed personally because when people said the OEM housing did well, I really expected a whole lot more, sure thats on me, but also hearing it so much on here gave alot of false pre tense.
Our housing suck, look at how far it throws and scatters light. Sorry projectors are the only proper way on some cars to do HIDs, and ours is one of them.
Its not an opinion thing, its just it isnt good, I mean it sucks fro any driver in front of me, im making the sun rise in their car because the hids scatter so much light, which is why I ordered OEM Bix.
I know we cant all afford them but even the DEPOs with Bix are a much better solution to just shoving the HIDs in the reflector housing.
Also I greatly respect your opinion, I think your a super cool guy and I think my post come off way more argumentative then thier ment to, I just am pissed personally because when people said the OEM housing did well, I really expected a whole lot more, sure thats on me, but also hearing it so much on here gave alot of false pre tense.
Last edited by AdidasC230; Jun 9, 2010 at 11:35 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
That looks NOTHING like mine did, sorry. Mine didn't capture "all" the light, but it didn't leave that much out, either. Mine is pretty clearly defined.
The 135i with it's adaptive Bi-X and the car that it replaced, a G37 (also with Bi-X) gave me a clear indication of what projector HIDs can be like. Since I've reverted back to halogens on the Benz, I'm not sure what motivation you think I'd have for misleading others on this. My beam pattern was very close to stock. Drew has had the same result I did. You, unfortunately, not.
Again:
This is not a camera trick.
This is it way off in the distance, parked facing uphill. The factory stepped pattern is clearly visible. As is the wide, even lighting. Poor quality photo but it makes my point.
There is an obvious difference between your car and mine. Running the same lights, the same kit, yet entirely different results. I paid $80 shipped for my kit in early 2009 and I fully expected it to not function.. I was completely prepared to toss it in the trash. If it had given me your beam pattern, it would have been trashed the first night. I have and had cars with OEM Xenon. I'm not making stuff up.
The 135i with it's adaptive Bi-X and the car that it replaced, a G37 (also with Bi-X) gave me a clear indication of what projector HIDs can be like. Since I've reverted back to halogens on the Benz, I'm not sure what motivation you think I'd have for misleading others on this. My beam pattern was very close to stock. Drew has had the same result I did. You, unfortunately, not.
Again:
This is not a camera trick.
This is it way off in the distance, parked facing uphill. The factory stepped pattern is clearly visible. As is the wide, even lighting. Poor quality photo but it makes my point.
There is an obvious difference between your car and mine. Running the same lights, the same kit, yet entirely different results. I paid $80 shipped for my kit in early 2009 and I fully expected it to not function.. I was completely prepared to toss it in the trash. If it had given me your beam pattern, it would have been trashed the first night. I have and had cars with OEM Xenon. I'm not making stuff up.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; Jun 9, 2010 at 11:17 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 720
Likes: 0
Saab 900 SE
That looks NOTHING like mine did, sorry. Mine didn't capture "all" the light, but it didn't leave that much out, either. Mine is pretty clearly defined.
The 135i with it's adaptive Bi-X and the car that it replaced, a G37 (also with Bi-X) gave me a clear indication of what projector HIDs can be like. Since I've reverted back to halogens on the Benz, I'm not sure what motivation you think I'd have for misleading others on this. My beam pattern was very close to stock. Drew has had the same result I did. You, unfortunately, not.
Again:
This is not a camera trick.
This is it way off in the distance, parked facing uphill. The factory stepped pattern is clearly visible. As is the wide, even lighting. Poor quality photo but it makes my point.
There is an obvious difference between your car and mine. Running the same lights, the same kit, yet entirely different results. I paid $80 shipped for my kit in early 2009 and I fully expected it to not function.. I was completely prepared to toss it in the trash. If it had given me your beam pattern, it would have been trashed the first night. I have and had cars with OEM Xenon. I'm not making stuff up.
The 135i with it's adaptive Bi-X and the car that it replaced, a G37 (also with Bi-X) gave me a clear indication of what projector HIDs can be like. Since I've reverted back to halogens on the Benz, I'm not sure what motivation you think I'd have for misleading others on this. My beam pattern was very close to stock. Drew has had the same result I did. You, unfortunately, not.
Again:
This is not a camera trick.
This is it way off in the distance, parked facing uphill. The factory stepped pattern is clearly visible. As is the wide, even lighting. Poor quality photo but it makes my point.
There is an obvious difference between your car and mine. Running the same lights, the same kit, yet entirely different results. I paid $80 shipped for my kit in early 2009 and I fully expected it to not function.. I was completely prepared to toss it in the trash. If it had given me your beam pattern, it would have been trashed the first night. I have and had cars with OEM Xenon. I'm not making stuff up.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 812
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From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
the main difference that i have seen between any two kits, even if they are the same brand, are the bulbs. A lot of these lower end kits dont have very good quality control for the bulbs. The bulbs will be set in crooked or the depth isn't in correct. Even if it is off by a millimeter it will affect how the light comes out of the reflector. I have come across about half a dozen low end kits and about half the bulbs were bad. And it was very apparent once they were installed. It's also why i suggested if using a PNP kit, then a D2R/D2S bulb should be used(not a rebased h7). You can get that size bulb from a reputable company like Phillips, where you know the quality is very high. And to fit a d2s in our housing is very cheap and very easy. Just get one adapter mounting plate(10 dollars) and a wiring harness(10 dollars) and its plug and play.
D2R bulbs are what the older TL's with xenon used. The reason why there wasn't any glare is because the D2R has a strips of black paint on the bulbs which limited where the light came out of the bulb to reduce the glare.
D2R bulbs are what the older TL's with xenon used. The reason why there wasn't any glare is because the D2R has a strips of black paint on the bulbs which limited where the light came out of the bulb to reduce the glare.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: So Fla
2007 W203 SS
the main difference that i have seen between any two kits, even if they are the same brand, are the bulbs. A lot of these lower end kits dont have very good quality control for the bulbs. The bulbs will be set in crooked or the depth isn't in correct. Even if it is off by a millimeter it will affect how the light comes out of the reflector. I have come across about half a dozen low end kits and about half the bulbs were bad. And it was very apparent once they were installed. It's also why i suggested if using a PNP kit, then a D2R/D2S bulb should be used(not a rebased h7). You can get that size bulb from a reputable company like Phillips, where you know the quality is very high. And to fit a d2s in our housing is very cheap and very easy. Just get one adapter mounting plate(10 dollars) and a wiring harness(10 dollars) and its plug and play.
D2R bulbs are what the older TL's with xenon used. The reason why there wasn't any glare is because the D2R has a strips of black paint on the bulbs which limited where the light came out of the bulb to reduce the glare.
D2R bulbs are what the older TL's with xenon used. The reason why there wasn't any glare is because the D2R has a strips of black paint on the bulbs which limited where the light came out of the bulb to reduce the glare.
Thank you
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Posts: 8,384
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
OEM Bi-X do not swivel in corners on the W203. They are auto-leveling, though. I wouldn't swap them with a car with Bi-X from the factory - it will raise eyebrows later.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
i'm not sure if this is right but i believe for the auto-leveling to work you would also need the sensors that sit in the front and rear of the vehicle. I know this is how it works on other cars but not sure about the 203.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 389
Likes: 4
2002 E430
the blob on mine and yours look the same yet my camera captured all the light scatter.....
Our housing suck, look at how far it throws and scatters light. Sorry projectors are the only proper way on some cars to do HIDs, and ours is one of them.
Its not an opinion thing, its just it isnt good, I mean it sucks fro any driver in front of me, im making the sun rise in their car because the hids scatter so much light, which is why I ordered OEM Bix.
I know we cant all afford them but even the DEPOs with Bix are a much better solution to just shoving the HIDs in the reflector housing.
Also I greatly respect your opinion, I think your a super cool guy and I think my post come off way more argumentative then thier ment to, I just am pissed personally because when people said the OEM housing did well, I really expected a whole lot more, sure thats on me, but also hearing it so much on here gave alot of false pre tense.
Our housing suck, look at how far it throws and scatters light. Sorry projectors are the only proper way on some cars to do HIDs, and ours is one of them.
Its not an opinion thing, its just it isnt good, I mean it sucks fro any driver in front of me, im making the sun rise in their car because the hids scatter so much light, which is why I ordered OEM Bix.
I know we cant all afford them but even the DEPOs with Bix are a much better solution to just shoving the HIDs in the reflector housing.
Also I greatly respect your opinion, I think your a super cool guy and I think my post come off way more argumentative then thier ment to, I just am pissed personally because when people said the OEM housing did well, I really expected a whole lot more, sure thats on me, but also hearing it so much on here gave alot of false pre tense.
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 333
Likes: 2
From: NYC
2007 C280 4Matic
Mine has a very nice cut off, and in general cars with H7 bulbs take aftermarket HIDs very well.
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
This is my beam pattern. Yes, there is some glare, but I have driven with quite a few people (following, meeting head-on) and all of them said the beam pattern was perfectly fine - not blinding at all.
By the way, these pictures were taken with a Nikon D60, so the quality not lacking.
By the way, these pictures were taken with a Nikon D60, so the quality not lacking.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
i guess it just depends on the person. For me, because my eyes are really really sensitive to light, it would blind me. But almost any small amount of light that directly hits my eyes hurts. So its all dependent on the person.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 812
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From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
I bet its the bulbs. DDM has pretty poor quality control of them. Out of the 5 sets of DDM bulbs i've come across, i would say almost half of the bulbs were bad. Either mis aligned on the base or the intensity and color were way off.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,545
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
I'm not saying the cut-off is in any way perfect, but it is definitely very distinct and not the blob of light that is Nick's. The funny thing is, after driving around for 6 months with the HIDs in and never getting flashed, I was flashed last week with my halogens aimed the exact same way. I will say it was a fluke, but it's still a little funny.
EDIT: For the record, I have the same 55w DDM kit as Matt and Nick. I know that one of Matt's bulbs started melting, and one of mine went bad after less than 6 months. All I can say is, LIFETIME WARRANTY FTW!!!
EDIT: For the record, I have the same 55w DDM kit as Matt and Nick. I know that one of Matt's bulbs started melting, and one of mine went bad after less than 6 months. All I can say is, LIFETIME WARRANTY FTW!!!
Last edited by bdgdl08; Jun 10, 2010 at 12:34 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
your glare is kinda nice though. it doesnt glare out to the left upper area where oncoming traffic would see it. just sort of hits peoples rear view mirrors and i bet it lights signs up like crazy
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,545
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
Yep, the sport grill. You should check the classified section, alot of people buy the CL-style grill and sell their stock one. You can pick one up for fairly cheap.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Wow Drew, did you use my picture? I swear I took a photo of my car that looked just like this - that could be my car. Maybe Nick can now tell us what about this looks like garbage? It looks like an OEM reflector HID setup. Of course, this was not how the 2003+ W203 came with HIDs, but you have to be an enthusiast to know that. Everyone thought my HIDs (identical to Drew's here) were factory.
Also, my beam pattern was slightly better than even Drew's, but you get the point now - something is wrong with your installation or kit - like I said all along. My HID kit in my C230 did not match the 135i's projector set-up in terms of beam pattern. But it was at the very least as effective as the OEM HIDs in my old 02 Acura TL, and I was very happy with them.
Also, there was always a slight variation (really slight) between my left and right bulbs.
Also, my beam pattern was slightly better than even Drew's, but you get the point now - something is wrong with your installation or kit - like I said all along. My HID kit in my C230 did not match the 135i's projector set-up in terms of beam pattern. But it was at the very least as effective as the OEM HIDs in my old 02 Acura TL, and I was very happy with them.
Also, there was always a slight variation (really slight) between my left and right bulbs.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; Jun 10, 2010 at 06:24 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
i dont know if you guys get a whole lot of snow where your from but that small amount glare really sucks when the snow is bad. it shoots light straight upward and reflects off the snow and back into your eyes. Makes it really hard to drive if the weather is bad.
