Bi-X: W203/CL203 OEM Bi-XENON Upgrade, Auto-Levelling & Programming thread
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From: Markham, Canada
C320 Coupe
Here is the story... My driver side light bulb went bad few months ago. last week i decide to buy another pair of HID bulb for replacement. After installing the bulbs, the driver side works, but after my second time starting my car, the passenger side didn't lit up. I brought my car to local shop and they find out it's the ballast went bad...
At the same time, my driver side's bulb flicker for a period of time before it settles, and appeared very blue. I then swap in my previous light bulb (the one that didn't burn), the light output is much whiter and did not flicker.
I went to one of the auto shop and try out the bulbs, they tested with 2 sets of ballast. One is OEM ballast (which are always the expensive stuff). the bulb appears very blue. Then he tried with another aftermarket ballast that is reputable brand (prolumen). the light appears much brighter and whiter.
So what i think is that, everythign goes with a set. If you have an expensive ballast, you have to feed it with expensive bulb, else it will react strange. Same as aftermarket ones, since they are made for universal car, they are more competible with different quality of bulbs.
At the same time, my driver side's bulb flicker for a period of time before it settles, and appeared very blue. I then swap in my previous light bulb (the one that didn't burn), the light output is much whiter and did not flicker.
I went to one of the auto shop and try out the bulbs, they tested with 2 sets of ballast. One is OEM ballast (which are always the expensive stuff). the bulb appears very blue. Then he tried with another aftermarket ballast that is reputable brand (prolumen). the light appears much brighter and whiter.
So what i think is that, everythign goes with a set. If you have an expensive ballast, you have to feed it with expensive bulb, else it will react strange. Same as aftermarket ones, since they are made for universal car, they are more competible with different quality of bulbs.
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Honda and Toyota don't deal with HID/xenons, their upscaled brand does. And they contract HID providers, they don't make them.
drexappeal - I think the OT wants to fix his car with the cheapest way possible.
Difference in color (Kelvin temp) does not mean quality in the kit....
And no, your theory is flawed. Better quality = better quality regardless if its aftermarket or OEM.
When your car is programmed with xenons present it won't flash if you get aftermarket.
drexappeal - I think the OT wants to fix his car with the cheapest way possible.
I went to one of the auto shop and try out the bulbs, they tested with 2 sets of ballast. One is OEM ballast (which are always the expensive stuff). the bulb appears very blue. Then he tried with another aftermarket ballast that is reputable brand (prolumen). the light appears much brighter and whiter.
So what i think is that, everythign goes with a set. If you have an expensive ballast, you have to feed it with expensive bulb, else it will react strange. Same as aftermarket ones, since they are made for universal car, they are more competible with different quality of bulbs.
So what i think is that, everythign goes with a set. If you have an expensive ballast, you have to feed it with expensive bulb, else it will react strange. Same as aftermarket ones, since they are made for universal car, they are more competible with different quality of bulbs.
And no, your theory is flawed. Better quality = better quality regardless if its aftermarket or OEM.
When your car is programmed with xenons present it won't flash if you get aftermarket.
Last edited by Tangerine; Apr 8, 2008 at 01:33 PM.
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From: Markham, Canada
C320 Coupe
sorry i made it a bit confusing. When im talking bout Honda and Toyota reliablity, it's their overall. From engine to transmission to electronic to mechanics.
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Like I said, why don't you contact Hella and make a complaint. If you are saying that the OEM ballasts are "pieces of crap" then you should let them know that there is a flaw in their OEM design. After all their years in the car industry, I'd think they'd find a way to help you. BTW...Hella has been around a lot longer than prolumen 
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From: Markham, Canada
C320 Coupe
Something no matter what you say when you talk to those expensive brand company, is that they won't give a damn to your problem. They will tell you to stick with their brand and product, and it's your own fault to have defection if you don't use their brand. Example are mercedes. You want your car to last longer? they will tell you to use all the OEM parts from Mercedes, but in fact, I don't see how reliable the MB parts are at all.
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From: Markham, Canada
C320 Coupe
btw the concept same goes with wheels. Would you rather spend extra 4k for MB wheels and rims? or you look for better brand after market replacement? Would you choose MB Navi over Pioneer Navi? whereas MB one has next to no functionality compare to Pioneer Navi unit, but much more expensive than Pioneer Navi?
Or even more obvious example. If one day your headlight went bad, you ran out of warranty. MB charge you $240 just to check and diagonistic to see what problem there is, then additional charge such as labour cost and part cost. After all the work charging you for $1000 to just fix something simple (i believe many of us gone through those crap from the stealership). Or you look for aftermarket parts and done everything at less than $300 bucks?
Or even more obvious example. If one day your headlight went bad, you ran out of warranty. MB charge you $240 just to check and diagonistic to see what problem there is, then additional charge such as labour cost and part cost. After all the work charging you for $1000 to just fix something simple (i believe many of us gone through those crap from the stealership). Or you look for aftermarket parts and done everything at less than $300 bucks?
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Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
btw the concept same goes with wheels. Would you rather spend extra 4k for MB wheels and rims? or you look for better brand after market replacement? Would you choose MB Navi over Pioneer Navi? whereas MB one has next to no functionality compare to Pioneer Navi unit, but much more expensive than Pioneer Navi?
Or even more obvious example. If one day your headlight went bad, you ran out of warranty. MB charge you $240 just to check and diagonistic to see what problem there is, then additional charge such as labour cost and part cost. After all the work charging you for $1000 to just fix something simple (i believe many of us gone through those crap from the stealership). Or you look for aftermarket parts and done everything at less than $300 bucks?
Or even more obvious example. If one day your headlight went bad, you ran out of warranty. MB charge you $240 just to check and diagonistic to see what problem there is, then additional charge such as labour cost and part cost. After all the work charging you for $1000 to just fix something simple (i believe many of us gone through those crap from the stealership). Or you look for aftermarket parts and done everything at less than $300 bucks?
Are you saying that all the years that Hella and Brembo aren't good aftermarket brands?
Look, when it comes to lighting, I trust HELLA way more than I'd trust Prolumen. That's like saying the ebay BBK's available from companies that I've never heard of before are better than Brembo's.How can you say that Hella WON'T help you? You keep reverting to what Mercedes would do and I'm not saying that. I'm saying, go straight to the manufacturer or the lights (i.e. HELLA). You didn't mention that you tried that already, so why would you automatically assume that you're not going to have any luck getting help? In my experience with Hella, they've been extremely helpful in all circumstances.
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From: Markham, Canada
C320 Coupe
I understand the point you are trying to make, but the point that I am making is that the lighting and brakes are contracted out by Mercedes and made by some of top name companies in their respective fields (i.e. HELLA and BREMBO).
Are you saying that all the years that Hella and Brembo aren't good aftermarket brands? Look, when it comes to lighting, I trust HELLA way more than I'd trust Prolumen. That's like saying the ebay BBK's available from companies that I've never heard of before are better than Brembo's.
How can you say that Hella WON'T help you? You keep reverting to what Mercedes would do and I'm not saying that. I'm saying, go straight to the manufacturer or the lights (i.e. HELLA). You didn't mention that you tried that already, so why would you automatically assume that you're not going to have any luck getting help? In my experience with Hella, they've been extremely helpful in all circumstances.
Are you saying that all the years that Hella and Brembo aren't good aftermarket brands?
Look, when it comes to lighting, I trust HELLA way more than I'd trust Prolumen. That's like saying the ebay BBK's available from companies that I've never heard of before are better than Brembo's.How can you say that Hella WON'T help you? You keep reverting to what Mercedes would do and I'm not saying that. I'm saying, go straight to the manufacturer or the lights (i.e. HELLA). You didn't mention that you tried that already, so why would you automatically assume that you're not going to have any luck getting help? In my experience with Hella, they've been extremely helpful in all circumstances.
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Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
don't think bulbs have anything to do with ballast being bad. faulty ballast's just that a "faulty ballast". I've had non-branded 6k D2s bulbs for a while until it burnt out and I went back to stock bulbs.
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From: Chino Hills, CA
2008 C300 Sport
So what i think is that, everythign goes with a set. If you have an expensive ballast, you have to feed it with expensive bulb, else it will react strange. Same as aftermarket ones, since they are made for universal car, they are more competible with different quality of bulbs.
I know other people that have run into your problem using aftermarket ballast as well.
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1996 MB E320 & 2010 Nissan Elgrand
In terms of color ouput, I have cheap 6000K bulbs in my BiX with 6000K ProLumen HID fogs and I have the same color ouput, like exactly the same..Not sure if it helps here
I always think HELLA and Phillips have the better goods for Ballasts/bulbs ETC compared to the newer chinese/taiwanese company like ProLumen
I always think HELLA and Phillips have the better goods for Ballasts/bulbs ETC compared to the newer chinese/taiwanese company like ProLumen
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2003 SL55, 2010 C63
Bi-Xenon Upgrade not under Warranty?
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...rranty+upgrade
This was the only thread I found that has similar issue but it's closed. I purchased OEM Bi-Xenon headlights online about an year ago and had my dealer installed and programmed it. When they installed it they said the auto leveling did not work but it wasn't an issue for me because I don't really use high beam anyway so all was good. About two or three weeks ago I realized that the passenger side would shake when I drive. I took it to the dealer and they didn't have parts in stock so they ordered the parts and scheduled for me for today. Last night the passenger side xenon wouldn't even turn on anymore so I told them about it when I took the car in today. Now the dealer said he ordered from my VIN and the parts came were not xenon kit. I asked him to order the right part again and he said since it's not factory installed they don't have warranty on it and can not order the part for me. I told him to check the price on the parts and he said this car is not designed for xenon lights so even if he could find the parts for me the same problem would still happen in the future and I have to take my own risk and pay for that. Anyone know where can I get my headlight replaced or fixed? Does anyone have this kind of issue before?
This was the only thread I found that has similar issue but it's closed. I purchased OEM Bi-Xenon headlights online about an year ago and had my dealer installed and programmed it. When they installed it they said the auto leveling did not work but it wasn't an issue for me because I don't really use high beam anyway so all was good. About two or three weeks ago I realized that the passenger side would shake when I drive. I took it to the dealer and they didn't have parts in stock so they ordered the parts and scheduled for me for today. Last night the passenger side xenon wouldn't even turn on anymore so I told them about it when I took the car in today. Now the dealer said he ordered from my VIN and the parts came were not xenon kit. I asked him to order the right part again and he said since it's not factory installed they don't have warranty on it and can not order the part for me. I told him to check the price on the parts and he said this car is not designed for xenon lights so even if he could find the parts for me the same problem would still happen in the future and I have to take my own risk and pay for that. Anyone know where can I get my headlight replaced or fixed? Does anyone have this kind of issue before?
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https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...rranty+upgrade
This was the only thread I found that has similar issue but it's closed. I purchased OEM Bi-Xenon headlights online about an year ago and had my dealer installed and programmed it. When they installed it they said the auto leveling did not work but it wasn't an issue for me because I don't really use high beam anyway so all was good. About two or three weeks ago I realized that the passenger side would shake when I drive. I took it to the dealer and they didn't have parts in stock so they ordered the parts and scheduled for me for today. Last night the passenger side xenon wouldn't even turn on anymore so I told them about it when I took the car in today. Now the dealer said he ordered from my VIN and the parts came were not xenon kit. I asked him to order the right part again and he said since it's not factory installed they don't have warranty on it and can not order the part for me. I told him to check the price on the parts and he said this car is not designed for xenon lights so even if he could find the parts for me the same problem would still happen in the future and I have to take my own risk and pay for that. Anyone know where can I get my headlight replaced or fixed? Does anyone have this kind of issue before?
This was the only thread I found that has similar issue but it's closed. I purchased OEM Bi-Xenon headlights online about an year ago and had my dealer installed and programmed it. When they installed it they said the auto leveling did not work but it wasn't an issue for me because I don't really use high beam anyway so all was good. About two or three weeks ago I realized that the passenger side would shake when I drive. I took it to the dealer and they didn't have parts in stock so they ordered the parts and scheduled for me for today. Last night the passenger side xenon wouldn't even turn on anymore so I told them about it when I took the car in today. Now the dealer said he ordered from my VIN and the parts came were not xenon kit. I asked him to order the right part again and he said since it's not factory installed they don't have warranty on it and can not order the part for me. I told him to check the price on the parts and he said this car is not designed for xenon lights so even if he could find the parts for me the same problem would still happen in the future and I have to take my own risk and pay for that. Anyone know where can I get my headlight replaced or fixed? Does anyone have this kind of issue before?
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From: Madison WI
2003 SL55, 2010 C63
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From: Madison WI
2003 SL55, 2010 C63
How much would be a reasonable price if the dealer can get the part for me for just that one side? Or would it be easier to just find someone who'd willing to sell the right side Bi-Xenon and have the dealer install it for me again?
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From: MA
E90 M3
buy a used one and install it yourself.
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From: Madison WI
2003 SL55, 2010 C63
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...232313348&rd=1
I found someone that's only selling the right side so it's perfect for me. It says one of the mounting tab is broken; can I still use it without problem? Does the price look reasonable? Thanks.
I found someone that's only selling the right side so it's perfect for me. It says one of the mounting tab is broken; can I still use it without problem? Does the price look reasonable? Thanks.
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From: Madison WI
2003 SL55, 2010 C63
