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Official Headlight Modification And Retrofit Thread
This thread was a huge hit on the RSX Forums during my ownership, so I figured it would be nice to have one here on MBWorld. I'm pretty sure we can all agree that MB has never had "industry leading" headlights like Lexus or Acura. My OEM Bi-Xenon lights are great, but their overall output and cutoff is kindof lacking compared to the retrofit I did a few years ago on a previous car.
**This thread is NOT for the people who installed Bi-Xenon DEPO headlights on their car. This thread is meant for projector retrofits, clear lense swaps, cutoff tuning, and anything else that requires opening of the headlight assembly.**
I am considering attempting a clear lense swap (for more output and a clearer cutoff line), and adding a spacer to achieve the blue cutoff line. Anyone who had experience working on our headlghts should chime in or post their mods!
I'll agree that the OEM ILS system is not like that photo above, but it isn't lacking in comparison to any cars I've had. When I bought my C350 last year, it replaced a 2012 G37 with OEM bi-xenons. That car had pretty terrible projectors, the C is better in every regard.
I've had many cars with HID over the years, and the C is probably the best of the bunch. Until 2012, I'd agree with the assessment that Benz never really had exceptional lighting, but the ILS on the 2012-2014 W204 is excellent in my experience. Several W205 owners coming from ILS-equipped W204s say that these were better.
I'll agree that the OEM ILS system is not like that photo above, but it isn't lacking in comparison to any cars I've had. When I bought my C350 last year, it replaced a 2012 G37 with OEM bi-xenons. That car had pretty terrible projectors, the C is better in every regard.
I've had many cars with HID over the years, and the C is probably the best of the bunch. Until 2012, I'd agree with the assessment that Benz never really had exceptional lighting, but the ILS on the 2012-2014 W204 is excellent in my experience. Several W205 owners coming from ILS-equipped W204s say that these were better.
Our output is good, it is mostly the cut off line that bothers me.
Following for interest. At some point I'd like to swap my OE projector lenses for something clearer/with a sharper cutoff as well. Even thinking of maybe swapping out the high beam reflectors for a second set of projectors, although that will definitely be more work.
I purchased my headlight from a member on here. They were brand new and he never had the chance to install them, since he totaled his car. He had his OEM halogen lights worked over by Lightwerkz in New Jersey and had the work done as followed:
S2000 projectors retrofitted
D2S 6000k Bulbs
Denso ballasts 35w (I never waned 55w ballasts, because I was scared for stuff to melt; although, highly unlikely.)
Painted black Interiors
Extra sealant
Canbus Error eliminators
Blue Color Mod
I purchased my headlight from a member on here. They were brand new and he never had the chance to install them, since he totaled his car. He had his OEM halogen lights worked over by Lightwerkz in New Jersey and had the work done as followed:
S2000 projectors retrofitted
D2S 6000k Bulbs
Denso ballasts 35w (I never waned 55w ballasts, because I was scared for stuff to melt; although, highly unlikely.)
Painted black Interiors
Extra sealant
Canbus Error eliminators
Blue Color
Your model is easier as you don't have the intelligent adaptive headlights. The 12-14 guys are limited to what we can do. If I had yours I'd be doing the same thing.
Your model is easier as you don't have the intelligent adaptive headlights. The 12-14 guys are limited to what we can do. If I had yours I'd be doing the same thing.
My thing holding me back is the low beam reflector shape, it's like a weird rounded triangle, idk if I'd have to do a custom shroud to make it look good or cut the bowl and put a shroud over it. Plus I hear out modules are sensitive to non-OEM bulbs but that guy aznxxxx seems to have a compatible setup.
My thing holding me back is the low beam reflector shape, it's like a weird rounded triangle, idk if I'd have to do a custom shroud to make it look good or cut the bowl and put a shroud over it. Plus I hear out modules are sensitive to non-OEM bulbs but that guy aznxxxx seems to have a compatible setup.
I'm considering sourcing a second set of mounting brackets and ILS motors so i can take my time and retrofit an aftermarket projector. The projectors in these 12-14 C300 Bixenon cars are just average. The bulb I used was the same as OEM just the newer version. They come with Osram bulbs from the factory at 4300k. The new Osram CBH just came out a few months ago and are 6000k and they put out the most lumens of any bulb out there right now.
IMO - why mess around with re-wiring or even worse, opening the headlight assembly. Just upgrade the bulb type you are using...
I went from OEM headlights W/ HID's - to DEPO setup W/ HID's - to DEPO setup W/ LED's and I couldn't be happier - so incredibly bright (I don't even remember last time I used high beams)...
IMO - why mess around with re-wiring or even worse, opening the headlight assembly. Just upgrade the bulb type you are using...
I went from OEM headlights W/ HID's - to DEPO setup W/ HID's - to DEPO setup W/ LED's and I couldn't be happier - so incredibly bright (I don't even remember last time I used high beams)...
Opening the headlights is absolute cake. The worst part is taking off the front bumper the first time. It only took me about 15 minutes to actually split the lense from the headlght. No offense the Depo LED headlights are in fact "bright" but they are not great in terms of the cutoff, actual light thrown on the ground, and quality. They do the job for the price, but if you want to have a legitimate setup you would clear lense swap and upgrade to high end Phillips or Osram bulbs like I did. LED's are getting close, but nothing beats a legitimate OEM projector with a high end bulb.
Just finished these, stock halogen projector with Profile Red demon eyes wired to morimoto xchange driver powered by single parking light per headlight triggered by low beam (turns off demon eyes when low beams come on and back to demon eyes when low beam is off) Profile led hi beam unit, OEM parking light delete.
Problem is, I've got a 5w Phillips canbus/resistor in the other parking light of each headlight. The demon eyes don't come back on after shutting off the low beam due to light out code. I've tried to supplement the unused parking light with a halogen t10 and a led to and also what I'm currently using now, the Phillips canbus unit as sort of a light bulb emulators. But nothing stops the car from throwing the code and basically making the demon eyes useless after the lowbeams have been on.
I have to clear the code off my dash then restart the car and the demon eyes will work again. Hopefully someone familiar with Benz wiring/, electronics can shed some light on the matter. I've reached out to morimoto and retrofit source as well as hid planet but no one's been able to help.
Hello, I have 2008 W204 pre facelift with halogen h7 projector headlights. I would like to change the projectors to BI LED or BI XENON and add HID kit. I would prefer BI LED as my friends used one on W211 and they are great.
He used BRI TUNE 3.0 inch HELLA 3R G5 BI LED from aliexpress, but I think the W204 has different projectors.
Bi-led Lens 3.0 inch Hella 3R G5 55W 12V LED Projector Headlight Lenses LED Diode Chip Car Headlamp LED Lights Retrofit DIY
This thread hasn’t been active in a while, but I baked my headlights open over the weekend to simply replace the plastic lenses. However once open, I sort of went down a rabbit hole. Pics will be coming soon when all the pieces arrive and mods start.
Any advice will be very much appreciated!
background: 2009 w204 C63 pre-facelift. factor HID w/ separate high beam. The old lenses are nice and yellow but honestly not awful. Upon inspection I noticed the ‘eyebrow’ connectors and housing were nice and crispy. Digger deeper the harness is missing lots of the insulation creating shorts everywhere.
Parts so far:
2x Morimoto d2s 5.0 mini projectors
4x high quality LED tube strips.
Male socket connectors to preserve the factory harness
Plan:
1st replace the factory projector with a high quality Bi- xenon projector
2nd replace both eyelid light with high quality led tube strips. Maintain the factory reflector and eyelid plastic cover. I am open to a replacement solution of the factory eyelid if available, or any other suggestions here.
Another option I’m considering is building a custom PCB led array that perfectly fits the space.
3rd. Use a high quality amber led strip and replace the factory halogen turn signal and corner light. A PCB may also be an option here as well
4. Considering painting the grey plastic trim pieces. Possibly matte black.
5. high beam reflector. No idea what to do with this. I may just leave it non-functioning and remain the reflector. Any suggestions?
what I desperately want to avoid is my headlights looking like fake cheap knock offs.
i have all the time in the world to do this. Though I love driving the C63 it’s just a toy and not my DD.
01-29-2017, 01:58 AM
