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I have the OEM xenon lights stock on my car (pre-facelift). I've noticed that on the highway the headlights don't illuminate the road very well, can't see very far ahead and can't see the curb beside me. I was wondering if there's any better bulbs out there, or if there's anyway to tweak the headlights ie. raising the position of the light. Also i have noticed that when you turn the high beams on, the high beam light turns on and the low beams get brighter as well, is there anyway i could program that to stay on all the time? Thanks
The headlight aim can be adjusted. Look for screws on the top of the headlights marked L R or up down, can't remember exactly how they're labeled but my ILS-equipped 2014 has manual adjustment screws.
As for your other question.. your car has halogen high beams in addition to the bi-xenons. You can't just leave them on all the time because you'd blind other drivers and it's illegal.
Disappointed with the OEM bi-xenons even with the Osram 66144 CBI bulbs. I have a haze inside the headlight lens that I think might be affecting output.
Next month I'll be swapping the fresnel projector lens with the clear ZKW-R lens from theretrofitsource and cleaning out the haze from the inside. I'll try to do some before/after pics if I remember.
Disappointed with the OEM bi-xenons even with the Osram 66144 CBI bulbs. I have a haze inside the headlight lens that I think might be affecting output.
Next month I'll be swapping the fresnel projector lens with the clear ZKW-R lens from theretrofitsource and cleaning out the haze from the inside. I'll try to do some before/after pics if I remember.
I am also disappointed with the output on CBI. I do have the haze too.
Disappointed with the OEM bi-xenons even with the Osram 66144 CBI bulbs. I have a haze inside the headlight lens that I think might be affecting output.
Next month I'll be swapping the fresnel projector lens with the clear ZKW-R lens from theretrofitsource and cleaning out the haze from the inside. I'll try to do some before/after pics if I remember.
Definitely interested in the outcome! I retrofit my 2006 Acura RSX with projectors, did the clear lense swap, and also modified the cutoff lense. I'' considering opening these headlights to do the same.
I have also upgraded my stock xenon bulbs to philips xtreme vision 6000k and it's still very yellow.
I believe the problem is our lens in the projector. If you look at our lens, it is very cloudy and even has mesh dots to disperse the light. My 2015 Audi Q3 lens does not have this and with philips 5000k, it looks a lot whiter than my C250 with that crappy lens.
I'm looking for a local shop that can do the lens swap for me.
The haze is caused by the heat coming out from the projector. MB replaced twice my headlamps because of this. Now the third set also has it. I think the plastic is torched inside unless someone who has this problem and is not afraid of putting it in a oven to open it up and just see if you can wipe it off no aftermarket HID bulb would not cause it. I think it is just a bad design.
I have also upgraded my stock xenon bulbs to philips xtreme vision 6000k and it's still very yellow.
I believe the problem is our lens in the projector. If you look at our lens, it is very cloudy and even has mesh dots to disperse the light. My 2015 Audi Q3 lens does not have this and with philips 5000k, it looks a lot whiter than my C250 with that crappy lens.
I'm looking for a local shop that can do the lens swap for me.
I have 5.5k CBIs and is blue at start up then turns white so you probably got the wrong bulbs.
I'm not sure what you guys are on about. I have had many cars with HID (and one with LED) lighting from the factory. Including Acura TL, Nissan Rogue, Infiniti G37, Mazda3.. our current Optima has stock HID and we had a new Corolla with LED. The W204 has the best lights of the bunch, hands down.
I'm not sure what you guys are on about. I have had many cars with HID (and one with LED) lighting from the factory. Including Acura TL, Nissan Rogue, Infiniti G37, Mazda3.. our current Optima has stock HID and we had a new Corolla with LED. The W204 has the best lights of the bunch, hands down.
have an optima as well with HID and it's headlights are pretty good. In comparison with my Tesla's HID and Audi's LED, the w204 is lacking in how far the light reaches and the uniformity of the light on the road. What year is your w204?
have an optima as well with HID and it's headlights are pretty good. In comparison with my Tesla's HID and Audi's LED, the w204 is lacking in how far the light reaches and the uniformity of the light on the road. What year is your w204?
I have a 2014 with the ILS. It continually adjusts the beam depending on traffic situation. It will stretch out the low-beam headlight reach on the highway as long as other cars are not close by.
Our Optima has stock low-beam projector HID with auto-leveling and LED fog lamps. The light it puts out is good, but the Benz is better.
I have a 2014 with the ILS. It continually adjusts the beam depending on traffic situation. It will stretch out the low-beam headlight reach on the highway as long as other cars are not close by.
Our Optima has stock low-beam projector HID with auto-leveling and LED fog lamps. The light it puts out is good, but the Benz is better.
Yea i'm talking about the pre facelift models which most likely have a different set up than yours. Mercedes probably uses a newer better bulb for your car vs mine, plus you have ILS and all i have is auto levelling and curve illumination.
I have 5.5k CBIs and is blue at start up then turns white so you probably got the wrong bulbs.
Nope, I tried both 5500K osram CBI and now the philips xtremevision 6000k. Still yellow compared to now-my-wife's Audi. I hope it's not my ballasts going bad. Cutoff compared to Audi is ****, as well. Im going to try clear lens as I said and see if it improves. If it doesn't, then must be ballasts going bad.
Last edited by Tanqueray; Jan 24, 2017 at 06:44 AM.
Nope, I tried both 5500K osram CBI and now the philips xtremevision 6000k. Still yellow compared to now-my-wife's Audi. I hope is's not my ballasts going bad. Cutoff compared to Audi is ****, as well. Im going to try clear lens as I said and see if it improves. If it doesn't, then must be ballasts going bad.
Post pics of the lense swap when you do. I've modified headlights before, but I've been hoping someone would be the guinea pig first on this lol.
Same here for my C200 Kompressor pre-facelift.
2 issues:
1)xenon lens have this haze like humidity.
2)headight cover has small spots like tiny stones hit it.
Recently changed completely the passenger's side headlight(a lady broke it..)
and the lens is crystal clear but the colour of the xenon lamp is more "yellowish" than the driver's side which is "fogy" white.
Here are some pics.
Driver's headlight
Passenger's headlight (new)
Driver's xenon lamp
Co-driver's xenon lamp (new)
Co-driver's xenon lamp (old)
Last edited by justapstar7; Jan 24, 2017 at 04:00 AM.
Same here for my C200 Kompressor pre-facelift.
2 issues:
1)xenon lens have this haze like humidity.
2)headight cover has small spots like tiny stones hit it.
Recently changed completely the passenger's side headlight(a lady broke it..)
and the lens is crystal clear but the colour of the xenon lamp is more "yellowish" than the driver's side which is "fogy" white.
Here are some pics.
If they were recently replaced it just means the bulb hasn't broken in yet. They have a break in period where they light turns whiter.
You either replace both of them for the same so they adjust at the same time or you deal with it for a month or two until it gets whiter.
Thank you xEryx.
Any more info about the hazeness we all noticed?
Have it too. Probably just just the result of the light and heat. I will have to do something about it because I fear it drastically affects the light output (as it is blocking light)
Disappointed with the OEM bi-xenons even with the Osram 66144 CBI bulbs. I have a haze inside the headlight lens that I think might be affecting output.
Next month I'll be swapping the fresnel projector lens with the clear ZKW-R lens from theretrofitsource and cleaning out the haze from the inside. I'll try to do some before/after pics if I remember.
Pre-facelift cars are equipped with the 4300k Osram bulbs and from 2012 on, Mercedes starts putting 5000k intense blue Osram bulbs. 5000k is much better looking than 4300k.
Disappointed with the OEM bi-xenons even with the Osram 66144 CBI bulbs. I have a haze inside the headlight lens that I think might be affecting output.
Next month I'll be swapping the fresnel projector lens with the clear ZKW-R lens from theretrofitsource and cleaning out the haze from the inside. I'll try to do some before/after pics if I remember.
Q. Did you end up doing the the swap with morimoto clear lens?
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