OEM Benz Xenons have changed
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 694
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From: Bethesda, MD
Porsche
OEM Benz Xenons have changed
The xenon headlights on our 07' S550 weren't as blue as the xenons on my C55... Colorwise, they were closer to halogens.. Anyways, within the last 2 months or so both of the xenons on my C55 had burned out (one after the other) and they were replaced. The replacement xenons are the same color as that of the S550. Not as blue.... The Service tech explained that the units were in fact different from the previous units, which Mercedes-Benz had decided to change for whatever reason... They are definitely of a lower color temperature.. I'm guessing this was done so that the xenons were less offensive to oncoming motorists... The high color temp xenons looked way cooler though..
Eric.....
Eric.....
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Orange County, CA
GMC - Miata - Trek - P-Car
It is unfathomable how your headlamps failed so quickly. The TUV specification for bulb life is 5000 hours. Our NHTSA FMVSS 108 requirements are years behind developed countries and their lighting standards.
The line from your SA or his technician seems a bit far-fetched. That oncoming drivers could, or would, be “offended” by the perceived color from your (properly self-adjusting) headlamps is nonsense. It’s the glare, whether from incandescent, halogen, or xenon lights that is irritating and indeed a potential safety hazard.
http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf82/176157_web.pdf
Nice that during the course of your warranty work MB installed the proper, now superceded, replacements.
The line from your SA or his technician seems a bit far-fetched. That oncoming drivers could, or would, be “offended” by the perceived color from your (properly self-adjusting) headlamps is nonsense. It’s the glare, whether from incandescent, halogen, or xenon lights that is irritating and indeed a potential safety hazard.
http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf82/176157_web.pdf
Nice that during the course of your warranty work MB installed the proper, now superceded, replacements.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 17
From: CA
C63
The new replacement units are indeed different. They are using GE bulbs now instead of Philips. When they replaced one of my headlight bulb, I got home and checked and noticed the original bulb was Philips D2S vs. the newly replaced GE brand bulb, so I went out got a set of Philips. 
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 653
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From: Twin Cities
Too many to list
I highly doubt they changed anything except the bulbs. GE and Osram bulbs tend to have a little more yellow to its hue than Philips bulbs, which have a bit more blue. However, when new, all OE HID bulbs will be more yellow compared to a set used for 100+ hours. The older it gets, the more blue they become...and then turn purplish like many 00-03 Acura TLs on the road today.
