finalheaven

I have a 04 C230 Sedan, not the second half but the first half editions. I have been wanting Xenon lights, but however what are all those options i have been reading in the forums. Halogen projecters? Clear Headlight set?

Im not sure what i want, or what is compatible with my car. I just know that i want Xenons and the Clear Headlight Set if, it makes the car look better. I won't be installing this on my own or anything, so can someone please give me a price range including the installation cost?

Thanks in advance. I have tried to search, but it confused me even more.

finalheaven

Also, i think while searching i have seen some, white fog lamps as well? I would love to get this as well? Does it also have clear fog headlight sets too? How much would this all cost me???

CitronC230K_03

the clear halogens and BIX will both fit your car. clear halogens are about $400 from what i understand. BIX will cost about $1300 roughly. they will both work. i say go the extra mile, save up and get the BIX. they look a hell of alot better and are functional, and well worth the money.

finalheaven

Clear Halogens are also White/Xenon type of lights? What's the difference between the two and does the prices include installation costs?

Also what about some of the white fog light pics that i have seen?

CitronC230K_03

clear halogens will be just as bright as the lights you have now. instead of the lenses being foggy like you have now they are clear like the CLK halogens. the BIX have projector beams and are HID lights. they are brighter than halogen lights and both high beam and low beam are HID.

CitronC230K_03

the fog lights are clear to match the clear lenses of the headlights. thats all.

finalheaven

Aren't these clear fog lights? Also, by purchasing clear bi-xenon headlamps do i get the clear fog lights as well? Also sorry for keep asking but those prices do include installation charges? I have 1300 ready but would rather try to save money if possible.

CitronC230K_03

no you will have to install them yourself, unless Steve is coming out to your area he will install. the 2005 Clear halogens lights i believe come with the clear fogs from Steve as well.

CitronC230K_03

plus when the fog lights are on they dont look any different then the other fog lights from 01-04 halogen lights. just when they are off you can see the difference. they do look better IMO though.

finalheaven

How difficult is it to install them for myself? And if steve does it, how much would it cost?

CitronC230K_03

it requires the removal of the front bumper. which isnt that hard if you know how.

www.buellwinkle.com

he has instructions there. im not sure how much Steve would charge. it may be included in the price, but i cant say for sure. ive never had anything installed by him, just bought many things from him and installed myself.

plus i cant speak from experience about the install of the headlights, my BIX are factory installed.

finalheaven

How do i get in contact with Steve?

jlm003

A very important thing that has been left out from previous comments is that if you go the Bi-Xenon route you also have to go to a Mercedes dealer and have them reprogram your on-board computer to recognize the the new lights. Without this step, THEY WON'T WORK!

Also from what I've seen from previous post regarding the mod, some MB dealers refuse or at the very least will charge you for the reprogramming. I suggest that even before you go the Bi-Xenon route, check with your local MB dealer(s) if they are willing to do the programming and if so, how much.

I think that if Steve installs them, then he does the programming as well???

I ordered my car with them and not only was it a $750 option but I also have the headlight washers and clear fog lights as part of the package. Also, they're covered by the 4yr/50,000mi warranty to boot...

finalheaven

Yea, sadly i had reasons that stopped me from getting the xenon lights. Now, however i really want them, and have the money to do so. I don't mind that i don't get headlamp washers, nor the fog lights (although preferred) but with all the cars now having xenon, i would like them as well. I would rather pay for someone doing everything for me, installation and programming and pay once, instead of learning how to do it myself and making a huge mistake.

Do you know how much the dealerships charges, if they do it at all?

JW230K

finalheaven...lemme try and help citronc230k_03 clarify things for you...

there are the clear halogen headlamps and the clear bi-xenon headlamps.

the clear halogens are the ones found on the 2005 C models and are basic halogen headlamps (the same on your car now, except with a clear cover and not the "frosted" cover on your car now). The clear halogens can be purchased for between $400 - $650 (pair) on ebay. You might be able to find them cheaper somewhere else.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33710
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33710

the clear bi-xenon headlamps will cost you $1200 (pair) if you purchase them from Steve. He also sells the clear fog lamps for $150 (pair). Here is a set I found on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=36476

Another option for the clear foglights is to buy the clear foglight glass covers and just replace them yourself. The fog lights use a glass cover that can be easily removed (once the bumper is removed) from the foglight casing. Your stock fogs use a frosted glass cover now. I believe the clear glass can be purchased at any MB dealership parts dept for $22 each. Here are the part #'s....

A 203 826 01 90 ......Clear Foglight Lens (Driver Side)
A 203 826 02 90 ......Clear Foglight Lens (Passenger Side)

Below is a link to pics of the stock fogs modified with the clear glass cover (left) and a oem clear fog light that can be purchased for $150 from Steve (right).

http://groups.msn.com/mbenznl/europa...o&PhotoID=2380

None of these prices include installation. I installed mine myself and it was fairly simple as long as you have patience and can follow directions. You can find the installation instructions at http://www.buellwinkle.com/howtobumper.html
You can also have them installed by some members on this forum for $150. Mark_Cummins in Huntington Beach will install it for $150.

I believe if you purchase the bi-xenons from Steve, he will install them for free...but you need to double check on that. He will not install anything that you don't purchase from him. He is making a trip down to SoCal in the end of September. You can contact him or Wanda at s_krabbenborg@ hotmail. com.

Here's some info from Steve's website http://www.mbenznl.com/products/xenon203.shtml

finalheaven

Oh alright, then i'll try to contact Steve to do it for me. Another question that was brought up was though, does he program the car with xenon for us? or do we need to find a dealership that will? If so, how much will that cost me?

JW230K

Yes this is correct...the computer settings need to be set so that XENONS = PRESENT by the dealer. And yes...if Steve installs them for you, he can program the settings himself. I can refer you to someone on the forum to help you have the xenon setting turned on by a friend who works as a tech at a MB dealership (for a $20 fee to the tech). That is what I did. You can search the forum for other creative ways people have "convinced" dealers to turn their xenons to present for free. Just pm me once you decide on it.

finalheaven

I do not want to risk installing the Bi-Xenons myself at all. And since steve will be in Cali in sept, i think i will just wait for him. 1200$ to have it installed and ready to go seems like a very good offer. I just wish that included the fog clear lights too.

And thanks a lot for your help.

CitronC230K_03

email him. he should be able to set Xenon=Present when he installs them.

BigSis

SURE, Steve is able to set xenons present! He has his own Stardiag, remember?

Greetingz,

BigSis

CitronC230K_03

and its a good thing British Airways returned it to him.

ML55CLA45

[QUOTE=finalheaven]Yea, sadly i had reasons that stopped me from getting the xenon lights. Now, however i really want them, and have the money to do so. I don't mind that i don't get headlamp washers, nor the fog lights (although preferred) but with all the cars now having xenon, i would like them as well. I would rather pay for someone doing everything for me, installation and programming and pay once, instead of learning how to do it myself and making a huge mistake.
QUOTE]



i have the headlight washer system too.... IMO... its nice... but really unnessecary!!! its fun to push the button at a stop light... and see how many peoples heads turn... in amazement... ahhhhs... or WTF?? owe and it does make the inside of your car smell like windshield washer fluid for a breif period of time...

CitronC230K_03

plus it makes one hell of a mess all over the hood. i rarely use mine. only when my car is dirty and to show people what are behind the little doors.