Best HID headlights?
#1
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2009 C300 4matic
Best HID headlights?
I've been looking around and haven't really found any definite best place to get a set of HIDs for my 2009 C300 besides AZN, but according to his site he's almost always sold out. Anyone know another good place to get some? I've heard that a lot of the ones on ebay don't work well so I'd like to make sure they work well before I buy them.
P.S. AZN if you're reading this and know when you'll have a set in please let me know! I'm looking for 6000k's but I know you don't normally have them so if you get a set of 8000k's those would be good too.
P.S. AZN if you're reading this and know when you'll have a set in please let me know! I'm looking for 6000k's but I know you don't normally have them so if you get a set of 8000k's those would be good too.
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'12 Mazda 3 Skyactiv, '12 C300 4matic
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/
Put these on my 2012 Mazda 3 and they work great. $150 is a pretty decent price, too.
Put these on my 2012 Mazda 3 and they work great. $150 is a pretty decent price, too.
#3
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Honestly the best HID kit I have seen and used is the DDM tuning kit. It comes with a lifetime warranty and its $35. I have used this kit on 3 different cars over a period of several years. It's really worth the price even to just to give it a try. Highly recommend.
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2009 C300 4matic
Thanks! I think I'm gonna try the DDM kit first just because of how low the price is and I've read good things about DDM. If it doesn't work, it's only $35 and I'll just try the other one.
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'12 Mazda 3 Skyactiv, '12 C300 4matic
Caveat Emptor. From what I've heard as of late, DDM now direct ships from china and quality control had gone down. Lifetime warranty is great, but it takes 3-4 weeks to get replacement components. This is going on a late model mercedes, not a '94 civic...
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That's just my two cents.
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'08 Mercedes C300
I use hid kits from Theretrofitsource. They're extremely great quality and worth the price. They're located in Atlanta and I believe their product is made in America. The customer service is awesome (I have received replies after a few hours). If you ever have issues that require warranty replacement (which is 5 years), just send them a picture of the broken part and they'll send you a replacement ASAP.
Edit: The ballast have built in can-bus units to prevent error messages. No additional harnesses.
Edit: The ballast have built in can-bus units to prevent error messages. No additional harnesses.
Last edited by Domm; 11-11-2012 at 02:34 AM.
#9
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just ordered my set from ddm tuning 8k 55watt lows and 8k 35w for the fogs..shipping took about 2 weeks to los angeles..i ordered one set of error canceller for the fogs thinking it would be fine, but the headlights flicker randomly throughout the drive..i guess I need the error cancellers for the headlights as well
#10
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just ordered my set from ddm tuning 8k 55watt lows and 8k 35w for the fogs..shipping took about 2 weeks to los angeles..i ordered one set of error canceller for the fogs thinking it would be fine, but the headlights flicker randomly throughout the drive..i guess I need the error cancellers for the headlights as well
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'12 Mazda 3 Skyactiv, '12 C300 4matic
The question is: How much is your time worth? I'd gladly pay $150 and do the install once, rather than pay $35 and run the risk of having to do it again. Compared to HID kit prices 10 years ago, even $150 is a bargain. And these kits are way better quality than the "cheap" $400 chinese kits were back then.
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While I've never done an xenon kit in a w204 (I held out til I found one with the lighting package), on most other vehicles, it takes a few hours to do a clean install. Properly mounting (hiding) the ballasts and routing the wiring so it is protected from being rubbed through, etc. takes time.
The question is: How much is your time worth? I'd gladly pay $150 and do the install once, rather than pay $35 and run the risk of having to do it again. Compared to HID kit prices 10 years ago, even $150 is a bargain. And these kits are way better quality than the "cheap" $400 chinese kits were back then.
The question is: How much is your time worth? I'd gladly pay $150 and do the install once, rather than pay $35 and run the risk of having to do it again. Compared to HID kit prices 10 years ago, even $150 is a bargain. And these kits are way better quality than the "cheap" $400 chinese kits were back then.
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2011 C300, 1964 Chevy II Post
I use hid kits from Theretrofitsource. They're extremely great quality and worth the price. They're located in Atlanta and I believe their product is made in America. The customer service is awesome (I have received replies after a few hours). If you ever have issues that require warranty replacement (which is 5 years), just send them a picture of the broken part and they'll send you a replacement ASAP.
Edit: The ballast have built in can-bus units to prevent error messages. No additional harnesses.
Edit: The ballast have built in can-bus units to prevent error messages. No additional harnesses.
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'08 Mercedes C300
I am looking at the retrofitsource also. It does have an option to replace the heavy duty harness with the can-bus harness. Do I need to do this if the ballasts have built in can-bus units? Also, how was the fit on your car, was it just plug and play? Mine is a 2011 C300. Thanks for the info.
The kit was plug and play, but there are a few additional steps you'd need to perform to ensure a successful installation. There's a DIY video of the installation below.
Good luck
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Last edited by Domm; 11-12-2012 at 02:49 AM.
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2011 C300, 1964 Chevy II Post
Thanks for the reply. I have decided to go with the retrofitsource kit, the quality seems top notch and I don't mind paying a little more for higher quality. Not to say there is anything wrong with DDM...did you get the 50w or the 35w? Thanks.
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'08 Mercedes C300
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I use the 5000k, 50w kit.
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2011 C300, 1964 Chevy II Post
I had the same issues using cheaper eBay kits on my old Expedition. Ballast after ballast, losing my headlights in a blizzard....it was bs. I ended up going to a friends tint shop and he ordered me a much higher quality kit and no problems after that. I'm like you, I would rather spend the money once and have no issues. Thanks again for the info.
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'08 Mercedes C300
Also, the way I look at it, $150 for a 5 year guarantee. You're looking at a $30 cost, at most, per year. If the kit lasts longer than the warranty, you're looking at a cost of less than $30 per year. Most cheap kits costs more than that, along with the risk that they last a few months. In my perspective, you're spending less once you have recovered the cost through depreciation.
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Also, the way I look at it, $150 for a 5 year guarantee. You're looking at a $30 cost, at most, per year. If the kit lasts longer than the warranty, you're looking at a cost of less than $30 per year. Most cheap kits costs more than that, along with the risk that they last a few months. In my perspective, you're spending less once you have recovered the cost through depreciation.
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'08 Mercedes C300
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'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
BEST HID HEADLIGHTS
I've been looking around and haven't really found any definite best place to get a set of HIDs for my 2009 C300 besides AZN, but according to his site he's almost always sold out. Anyone know another good place to get some? I've heard that a lot of the ones on ebay don't work well so I'd like to make sure they work well before I buy them.
P.S. AZN if you're reading this and know when you'll have a set in please let me know! I'm looking for 6000k's but I know you don't normally have them so if you get a set of 8000k's those would be good too.
P.S. AZN if you're reading this and know when you'll have a set in please let me know! I'm looking for 6000k's but I know you don't normally have them so if you get a set of 8000k's those would be good too.
My first experience with HID was with my unlamented 2001 C320 and now my 2008 C300 and in that time I've never replaced a bulb or a ballast.
Indignant replies will now follow.
#23
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Finally got my latest DDM Kit in, installed with no issues. Made a quick little video to show the look if you need a better view. The glare you see in the video on the wall doesn't seem quite as bad irl.
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