14cue

hmmmmmmm, so they installed it but didnt set the LAMPS to turn on during the day? how did it sense the light? i mean it does turn on, but goes off once i reach an area with light.

Moviela

These are two differnt functions, DRL and the conversion to xenon lamps. There is an auto position on your headlight switch. When a light sensor thinks it is dark, it turns on the headlights. I have heard people report that the lamps flicker when xenon are installed, but the version coding with star diagnostics is not done. I really don't know why the lamps would turn off for good, unless the front SAM is detecting a fault that could cause damage. These lamps have a 25,000 volt starting voltage, so service should only be done by a qualfied person, even changing the lamp can be dangerous.

DRL can be turned off and on via the steering wheel controls on one of the menus on my car. I am not sure how Canadien cars provide the low power daytime running lights with xenon lamps.

FrankW

that's because you have the headlight set on AUTO.

and you have the error msg because you don't have the xenon to begin with. You'll need to go to your dealer or whoever ur tech is that have the Star-Diagnostic to set the Xenon setting to "present" otherwise the error msg will always be there.

the xenon beam turn on when you use the high beam because it's Bi-xenon. The normal high beam and xenon are both used when you turn on the high beam.

14cue

thanks frank!

i'll get this done asap. they probably wont be able to do it for a few days, i was told by steve3 not to run my car till this is fixed, what should i do? i mean, i cant not drive it, i need to get to work. should i turn it on to high beam at all times till it is fixed so it doesnt flicker?

tifosiv122

Not sure but don't people turn on the lights before they start their car to get around the xenon issue?

Erik

LMing

Bix is the DRL in Canada, so I am not sure how you can manage to make it to trun off in the daytime, you may need a Canadian light module switch. It is different compare to the US one, that is why we don't have DRL menu in the dash, my bix is stock and there is no way for me to trun it off when the engine is on. hope it helps

14cue

yeah, thats true. it's b/c mine didnt come with it, and since the guy that installed it messedup and didnt set them to ON they're turning off. but what i'm wondering now is what i should do since i HAVE to drive it a few days before i get it fixed to avoid burning it out and blowing up the entire unit, should i turn it on high beam, would that avoid the flickering?.

tifosiv122

Have you tried turning on your lights before starting the car?

Erik

14cue

not yet, will that work?
i really just want to avoid damaging it till it is fixed. and ppl keep mentioning "flickering", do they mean this in literal terms or does the ignitor flicker on and off to keep it running?

tifosiv122

I don't know, but if you search you'll find that sometimes people can avoid the flickering by turning on the lights, then the car. For some reason the car doesn't detect an issue or something.

Erik

14cue

turning on the lights first then the car seems to do the trick, but i would still like to get this updated. anyway, i brought it into the shop this morning and they said they dont have the latest software to update the day time lights! wtf is up with that?

so now i have to wait. i called my dealership and they wont touch it. at least they dont flicker, it just shuts off when it dectects light, i wonder if this will damage anything?

tifosiv122

Glad the trick worked. Yeah, generally you're supposed to find a dealer to do it first so you don't get stuck like you are. I'd call every dealer you can find. I'd explain how you are unhappy your 'usual' dealer won't help and that you would be willing to switch and use them all the time if they fix the setting for you (which you will pay for). Of course after they do it, you don't have to use them again, it's just a ploy to get them to help you (not really help, you are paying in most cases).

Good luck,
Erik

Reynaldo

RE: My '03-ML350 'inpiration'-w/ Bi-Xennon Headlamps

Hi,

I brought my vehicle to the dealer 2 wks ago, for a change of a headlamp--which wasn't working(no 'white light'). They decided to change both for me b/c the other one "was also checked & seemed to be about time". Two things I was told(after got off the phone w/ them--inquiring the lack of 'whiteness' of the lights): (1) It'll take about a wk for the lights to work properly...(2) The bulb/lights/whiteness will not be projecting the same as it was first came fr the manufacture. Are they true? If so, how do I get my headlamps(bi-xenon) to project their whiteness/intense purple-ish as it was before--when I first purchased it(brand new)? Would you please be kind to provide me some info on this?
This is second wk now--and the lights still not intense as they were once before. When I first start the engine--I can see the blue-ish-white lights(like it was originally before)...but after 20 or 30 seconds its intensity gone.
Thank-you so much for taking the time to read my message!

Have a pleasant day!

Kind regards,
Reynaldo

Reynaldo

You know--I have exactly the same situation now! When started the car--first ~30 seconds it's really nice blue-ish & intense. I remember my lights('03-ML350, Bi-Xenon) were like that once before--when I bought it brand new...until rencently, one didn't work and the dealer decided to replace both for me(under warranty)...and now, it's not as intense and/or blue-ish as it was before...most definitely--noticeable--is that first 30 seconds...and then gone...no more blue-ish. Can any help me understand? Thank-you!

MBenzNL

Like we said before we sold you the lights and like we said (several times) after you received the lights, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE XENON OPTION SET TO PRESENT IN YOUR EIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Driving the car during anytime of day WITH your canadian light settings and WITHOUT the xenon set to present WILL RUIN THE XENON HEADLIGHTS WITHIN A FEW DAYS!!!!

Switching the lights on before actually starting the car might work BUT IS NOT SAFE as the lights WILL switch off by themselves again AND YOU DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!

so in short: get the xenon set to present NOW (rather then ASAP as that is already too late).

greetingz,

Reynaldo

...When the dealer replaces these xenon bulbs...shouldn't they set it for me though? By the way, what is "EIS"?

14cue

thanks Steve for all your help. my problem now is that my dealer wont touch it. i'm going to bring it in and beg them to do it anyway and see what happens. what a pain in the ***, my fault for bringing it to a ****y auto shop i guess.

Belle the Benz

Here are some screen shots to help
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=126858

LMing

Steve, is there any way to disable the DRL in Canadian model ? or I have to change the switch, my dealer told me i have to change the switch to US spec, please let me know, thank you....

14cue

LMing,

why do you want to disable it? just curious.

LMing

your xenon bulbs has 2000 hours of life time, it's 300 US a pair, and stupid MB use it as DRL. so do the math, lol

14cue

LOL< i figured that much. i dont think you require any switch to do that. i could be wrong but i know mine didnt need it, but that b.c i didnt have Xenons to begin with. anyway, 2000 hrs is plenty and yes MB is a rip off!

14cue

so here is the update, i'm screwed!
i brought it to MB and they wont touch it, they said if they wired it correctly there is not reason why the DRL is off. and really that is teh only thing is wrong with the BIX at the moment, they dont flicker or anything and at night they stay on!

the guy from the shop that did the retrofit says his current software only handles up to 04 modles and he donest use star, but something equivalent to it, is this bull ****?


i cant find anyone that can help me in Vancouver! they either dont know what to do (dont have the software) or simply wont (MB).

this is so frustrating! i had no idea this would turn into such a nightmare, over 2 grand now and they dont work properly, and if i dont get them fixed soon they could damage all together.

LMing

This sounds bad, but like you said if the light doesn't flick and only trun on in the nigh time, I think you should be happy, lol, because I want my bix to be like that~

I guess you need to find the "right" service advisor, try to bring some beers or something, my SA is very kind for me and always willing to help me....

14cue

lol, maybe i should move to Montreal, they're useless over here in the west. i called just about everyone of the dealers here. the only thing left is to find an auto shop that has the software. we should switch cars! :P