C-Kompii

I've just posted this in another Benz forum, but would just like to share this around

Mitte 2002 kommen die neuen 4-Zylinder Motoren in die C-Klasse. Der C 200 CGI Benzindirekteinspritzer kommt dagegen erst Ende 2002. Zudem werden einige Bauteile der C-Klasse modifiziert.

Translation: In the middle of 2002 the new 4-Zylinder engines comes into the C-class. C 200 cgi gasoline direct A splash comes against it only at the end of of 2002. Besides some construction units of the C-class are modified.





Source: Jes Mercedes

This is only a minor facelift, the mid-life face lift is expected at the end of 2003 in Europe.

Looking better!

-G'day-

Edit: C-Coupe pic on the 2nd page

VoyagerDude

Thanks for the pics!
I kinda like the modern looking new headlights. I wonder if we'd be able to fit the on the MY02 C-coupe?

Addy

The headlights are really looking good, looks like it will still fit on existing W203 sedan. I'll definitely replace with these set. Also, seems MB changing all HID from D2R to D2S now

Lynn

No, they won't fit on the coupe. But, if they have projector type HID's for the sedan, they might have them for the coupe.

Mike T.

Those lights look pretty "import scene-ish", if you know what I mean. I can't wait to see the taillights

With projector lights that small, why is the huge lamp area needed? It really looks bad, because the C has such massive principal lights, with all that empty "pseudo-reflector" area.

To me the current lights are FAR preferable. If I ever get a sedan I'll seriously think about mounting early lights in it.

D'oh - I mis-spelled because earlier!

Darkman

Does that mean that the 2003 C-Class sedans are going to get the 4 cyclinder CGI engines too?

Lynn

In Europe and other markets, yes. In North America, probably not.

Mike T.

Since I was in such a rush last time (when I posted above), I thought I should elaborate on my critique of these new lights a bit...in case anyone cares...

My concern is the HUGE piece of chromed backing in the main headlight aperture, with the TINY peep-hole projector orifices for the low beam and turn signal.

To me it looks like a 1990 Volvo 240 DL would if it had only one of those ultra-tiny rectangular sealed beam lights from the 1980s in its huge rectangular headlight aperture, the rest of the area being useless mirrored surface.

In other words, if the designer of the W 203 knew that two ~8 cm diameter holes per side was all that was needed for the low beams and the turn signal, would (s)he have created such a huge area for them to sit in? Somehow, I doubt it. These large apertures were sized to fit conventional reflectors for both the low beam and turn signal.

On the other hand, I was not a fan of the C sedan's heavy-eyelid (drooping eyelid) effect due to the odd shape of the turn signal portion of the light unit. But that was a lot better than this!

The most successful uses of the projector beam that I've seen have been with Pininfarina designs, notably the Peugeot 406 Coupé, whose outboard headlights are projector beam type, and are housed within a common light unit with the conventional driving light reflector and turn signal...but this car's lights are very narrow where the projector beam unit is, so there's no huge extraneous area within the light unit, surrounding the ~8 cm aperture.

This critique would not prevent me from buying a sedan, but I still feel it's an aesthetic change for the worse.

mhh

Not a major issue, but the new lights do look at bit strange. Bi-xenon lights are doing to change the "face" of cars in the future. The days of large headlights to accommodate traditional reflectors will soon be gone.

vinmanc32

Look nice but will take some getting used to. They remind me of the lights used on some of the Japanese cars such as Infiniti and Lexus. From what I remember, they use those projector type beams on their cars.

DtS

In my opinion it look like someone has drilled two big holes in the headlights' reflectors. Current headlights looks much better!

C-Kompii

Similar lights are also used in the new E-Class



And from my observation, it is an option for the new CLK

http://www.geocities.com/jesmb2002/genf/genf1.jpg

-G'day-

Mike T.

I think the headlights in the E Class, though a little odd, look better than the new C ones, mainly because the light apertures seem to be a bit larger, particularly for the turn signal. So the headlight area is not as empty.

JustinTRW

So is the C-class sedan going to look like this for MY2003 or MY2004?


Even though everyone already knows what the current car looks like, I made a composite image for better comparing:

C-Kompii

This is only a minor facelift which will be introduced at the end of the year in Europe together with the new 4 cylinder engine and the 4matic system. Expect this new look early next year in North America, but the major mid-life facelift is not expected untill the end of 2003 in Europe and possibly 2004 in North America.

-G'day-

Jorel C320

Although the lights on the new c-class, does not seem that great, I think we're heading for the right direction. I think mercedes is lagging in the "light department". We might have great shapes but the modern c-class texture of the lens is old. These days, all the light lens's are becomeing clear and our is still hazy. I do agree that the lights on this new one could do a little more retouching, but its definately going to be better in the long run.

young

i agree w/ miket's design analysis. the soft peanut shape seems to have been developed w/ the old style lights in mind. i find it very elegant.

having said that, the new is the way to go. there is definitely a gestalt of the projector lights and mb is finally catching up. if anything the soft peanut may need to go in favor of the new SL type of lights which seem more appropriate.

JustinTRW

The reason I ask is that my C32 AMG will be an early 2003 model, arriving in the fall of this year. Changes are not made mid-model year, so the new headlights would have to arrive for MY2003 or MY2004. MY2003 starts around August of this year, so MY2004 would not start until August of 2003.

Hopefully this information will be officially reached soon, so I can decided whether to wait for my MY2003 car, or purchase one that is available now.

C-Kompii

C-Coupe update!



-G'day-

young

i really like that bug-eyed look! gets a thumbsup from me.

DtS

It looks kinda... ehhmm kinda.. huhh... surprised??

WebGuyNJ

If those lights are plug and play, that'll be sweet!

Iceman's C230

So anyone have info about these new head lamps will fit 2001 or 2002 c230k?? It looks like they might.

Mike T.

I hope this is a Photoshop job of these cars, done as a hoax. In case it's not, I'm glad our C 230 K (which is on the boat by now) is a 2002 model.

Perhaps those that posted these images could point to a source?

MB-BOB

Unless I'm mistaken, projector lamps first bowed on the '89 Nissan 300ZX, so I don't see that there's anything "gestalt-ish" about a 13-year old design.

One of the reasons I picked a Mercedes-Benz was the sales point that the cars are on a 7-year product plan and will not change from year to year. These headlights will date the earlier models far in advance of the 7-year plan. I'm not happy about that and I will feel a bit betrayed.

Add to this insult the fact that these new headlights (if true) are frankly, quite UGLY, and reminiscent of altezza taillights on the IS300 (Puhey!) Hopefully these represent only the HID optional setups, while the standard lights will retain the "traditional" Peanut shape... through 2006, thank you very much.