Bi-X: W203/CL203 OEM Bi-XENON Upgrade, Auto-Levelling & Programming thread
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From: New York
2005 C230SS 6spd Blk/Blk, 2006 C350 SS 6spd Blk/Blk
Ok. thanks for all the replys. Now that i know its a MUST HAVE, can someone tell me why?
My major hesitation is the cost. I dont want to be buying bulbs every 2 years at $200 each.
My major hesitation is the cost. I dont want to be buying bulbs every 2 years at $200 each.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Los Angeles
2005 C230 Sport Sedan
I'm suprised that the dealership would say not to get it, if anything they would want you to get it so that they can charge you the extra $700 or whatever the price is. But in my opinion, once you have it, it makes worlds of difference. Seriously, lighting that will be better for your eyes and also allow you to see further down the road, you can't go wrong. I've been in my girlfriends civic and her halogens suck big time, I couldn't even tell if the lights on the road was lighting up the path or her car....and even worse in the rain...besides those things, you'll probably kick yourself in the butt if you didn't get it...that and a command system 
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Xenons are a personal preference. If you live in a major metropolitan area that has plenty of street lighting like NYC, you may never notice much of a difference. I've had a friend get them on his Jag and he didn't like them and went back to halogen on his next Jag. If you live in a dark area where lighting is bad or non-existant it would be better. I know the Xenons are brighter and can light about 50% more distance but you can also get Philips Raley 80W bulbs that will do about the same yet not as white. Don't be fooled into colored halogen bulbs, those actually put out less light than plain halogens even though they'll say 100W, they are not. BTW, when you do need xenon bulbs they'll be around $100 each.
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From: New York
2005 C230SS 6spd Blk/Blk, 2006 C350 SS 6spd Blk/Blk
thanks guys, I think i'm sold.
And for $700, i can't go wrong.
Yeah, I don't know why the dealer did not recommend them. Maybe because the car was fully loaded and they figured they shouldn't be too pushy.
And for $700, i can't go wrong.
Yeah, I don't know why the dealer did not recommend them. Maybe because the car was fully loaded and they figured they shouldn't be too pushy.
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by neilsam
Ok. thanks for all the replys. Now that i know its a MUST HAVE, can someone tell me why?
My major hesitation is the cost. I dont want to be buying bulbs every 2 years at $200 each.
My major hesitation is the cost. I dont want to be buying bulbs every 2 years at $200 each.
As for why they are a "must have", the visability with HID/Xenon lights, and in our case BI-Xenon, is like night and day compared to Halogen bulbs. With the auto-leveling feature on the BI-X, you can always feel comfortable with the plain of view that the low beams light up without blinding on coming traffic. Not even to get into the concept of them being Projectors and when you do have a chance to use the High beams, they are both Xenon and Halogen at the same time (hence, the bi-xenon feature). So, when using the high beam, not only do you have the Xenon/HID lighting, you also have the Halogen lighting to give you more than enough light to see the road and everything around.
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by neilsam
thanks guys, I think i'm sold.
And for $700, i can't go wrong.
Yeah, I don't know why the dealer did not recommend them. Maybe because the car was fully loaded and they figured they shouldn't be too pushy.
And for $700, i can't go wrong.
Yeah, I don't know why the dealer did not recommend them. Maybe because the car was fully loaded and they figured they shouldn't be too pushy.
Trust me, when I got my car, I didn't even know that there were people that put on the bi-x afterwards. So, at the time, even though it seemed expensive to order them stock from the dealership, I realized that I actually saved money by having them put on the vehicle when I ordered.
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From: New York
2005 C230SS 6spd Blk/Blk, 2006 C350 SS 6spd Blk/Blk
[QUOTE=drexappeal]HID's/Xenons are gas charged bulbs. You should NEVER have to replace the bulbs. In fact, the ballasts would go out first before the bulbs (if anything).
Thanks for clarifying that. That explains why the parts department said they don't really sell that many bulbs.
Cool, now i'm really excited to get them.
Thanks for clarifying that. That explains why the parts department said they don't really sell that many bulbs.
Cool, now i'm really excited to get them.
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From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
Originally Posted by drexappeal
And if you compare the $700 you're paying the dealership vs. the amount it costs to put them on afterwards, you'll be loving the fact that you made the decision to get them from the dealership.
Trust me, when I got my car, I didn't even know that there were people that put on the bi-x afterwards. So, at the time, even though it seemed expensive to order them stock from the dealership, I realized that I actually saved money by having them put on the vehicle when I ordered.
Trust me, when I got my car, I didn't even know that there were people that put on the bi-x afterwards. So, at the time, even though it seemed expensive to order them stock from the dealership, I realized that I actually saved money by having them put on the vehicle when I ordered.
and double
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From: New York
2005 C230SS 6spd Blk/Blk, 2006 C350 SS 6spd Blk/Blk
Originally Posted by on9
one reason why the dealer might want u to go without the lighting is when they don't have many cars with lighting pkgs on the lot. happened here at a LA dealer
Good point but this is a special order/Custom Build so that can't be it.
I am getting it pretty much fully loaded. They said the lighting package wasn't that important otherwise "ALL Mercedes would have them". They make a point... like the sunroof package and entertainment package, they're just perks (although i can't live without them)
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From: West Covina, CA
2004 C230k (SOLD), 2005 C230k (Lease ended), 2004 Carrera 4 Cab, 2007 530i
xenon bulbs arent that expensive. I bought a set of 6000k from Ebay for $90, been using it for about a yr now. No problem what so ever. When it burns out I still have the stock 4300k to use, or I can just buy another set.
"Once you go xenon, you will never go back !!!" I love that.....
"Once you go xenon, you will never go back !!!" I love that.....
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From: NYC
BLACK 05 C230SS
I just wanted to mention that when I bought my 05 C230 SS that I was not able to purchase one with the xenon package which I wanted so bad and did not want to wait several monthes to get the car built and shipped to NYC. If you can get Xenons get it because they are awesome.
I'll be saving some money and buy a euro spec version from steve and install them. By the way, when you buy the Xenon headlights, do you have to buy a new harness? I've read that you need to get it programmed at the dealer to add that option or it will flicker but do I need a new harness?????
Thanks!
I'll be saving some money and buy a euro spec version from steve and install them. By the way, when you buy the Xenon headlights, do you have to buy a new harness? I've read that you need to get it programmed at the dealer to add that option or it will flicker but do I need a new harness?????
Thanks!
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From: Fresno, CA
'09 A4 S Line
Originally Posted by razorfish228
I'll be saving some money and buy a euro spec version from steve and install them. By the way, when you buy the Xenon headlights, do you have to buy a new harness? I've read that you need to get it programmed at the dealer to add that option or it will flicker but do I need a new harness?????
Thanks!
Thanks!
All you have to do is have the dealer set xenon=present in the Star Diagnose. You can even have it done before the bi-xenons are installed without any problem.
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Originally Posted by neilsam
Hope you guys can help me out since the 2 dealers i went to could not answer my questions about the lighting package. Basically they said "don't get it" because it's more a fashion statement and has no real purpose.
1. Besides being whiter, are these light actually brighter than the traditional bulbs?
2. Do the bulbs last longer than regular yellow bulbs?
3. How much does it cost to replace a bulb if it blows?
Still deciding whether i should order it. If there is anything else i should consider, please let me know.
Thanks in advance.
p.s On a side note, should i order teleaid?
1. Besides being whiter, are these light actually brighter than the traditional bulbs?
2. Do the bulbs last longer than regular yellow bulbs?
3. How much does it cost to replace a bulb if it blows?
Still deciding whether i should order it. If there is anything else i should consider, please let me know.
Thanks in advance.
p.s On a side note, should i order teleaid?
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by r3v1ls
Heys while we're on this topic, wut's the difference between regular Xenon and Bi-Xenon?
Bi-Xenon are projector headlights. With Bi-Xenon headlights, your low and high beams are HID. There is a flap that changes the angle of the HID beam, to allow more light out, as well as a second halogen beam (h7 bulb) that comes on when using the high beam.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Originally Posted by drexappeal
Xenons in the C are just regular HID, no projectors. High beams do not change angle to improve lighting.
Bi-Xenon are projector headlights. With Bi-Xenon headlights, your low and high beams are HID. There is a flap that changes the angle of the HID beam, to allow more light out, as well as a second halogen beam (h7 bulb) that comes on when using the high beam.
Bi-Xenon are projector headlights. With Bi-Xenon headlights, your low and high beams are HID. There is a flap that changes the angle of the HID beam, to allow more light out, as well as a second halogen beam (h7 bulb) that comes on when using the high beam.
Xenon
Bi-Xenon
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by FrankW
simpler put
Xenon
Bi-Xenon
Xenon
Bi-Xenon
The BI-X really completed your ride! Those pics are nice!
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From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
Originally Posted by drexappeal
Frank,
The BI-X really completed your ride! Those pics are nice!
The BI-X really completed your ride! Those pics are nice!
if you only knew the "real" story !!
Frank & I were probably the last of the Mohicans to finally get the Bi-X on our cars...
- still want to know who stole our Bi-X donation collection box that had $0.67 !!?!?!?!!!
but heck yeah ! they really give the car the right look !
Carlos
Saprissa@aol.com
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by Saprissa
haha !!
if you only knew the "real" story !!
Frank & I were probably the last of the Mohicans to finally get the Bi-X on our cars...
- still want to know who stole our Bi-X donation collection box that had $0.67 !!?!?!?!!!
but heck yeah ! they really give the car the right look !
Carlos
Saprissa@aol.com
if you only knew the "real" story !!
Frank & I were probably the last of the Mohicans to finally get the Bi-X on our cars...
- still want to know who stole our Bi-X donation collection box that had $0.67 !!?!?!?!!!
but heck yeah ! they really give the car the right look !
Carlos
Saprissa@aol.com
Speaking of that, I hope the dealership doesn't give me ish for having the rear Brabus swaybar in.
They asked me if I lowered the car and I said "no"...although, I'm still doing R&D for TEIN, so the rears are still the prototype TEIN springs. Didn't think they'd notice.
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From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
yeah, i'll tell you the whole Bi-X collection box story when we meet !
dealers can't give you $H!t about a mod, unless the mod caused the damage, and they can PROVE it. Otherwise don't worry about it.
Luckily, my SA at MBSD is very mod friendly. As a matter of fact, he always is interested in what new mods I've done to the car, how they work, and how most of them are OEM MB parts, and how clean they've been installed.
Carlos
Saprissa@aol.com
dealers can't give you $H!t about a mod, unless the mod caused the damage, and they can PROVE it. Otherwise don't worry about it.
Luckily, my SA at MBSD is very mod friendly. As a matter of fact, he always is interested in what new mods I've done to the car, how they work, and how most of them are OEM MB parts, and how clean they've been installed.
Carlos
Saprissa@aol.com
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Originally Posted by r3v1ls
So mercedes offers regular halogen lights, xenon and bi-xenon ? Or is the xenon standard? And uh i thought there was a difference between HID and xenon?
HID = high intensity discharge. Xenon = the name of the pressureized gas used in the HID bulbs.
