Just another Fog/Headlight Thread...
#52
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very cool.
i find illustro retailer online. original only comes in white not yellow that i am looking for.
i bought the chinese knock off and after watching the video, i see illustro are better quality. illustro has "fisheye" fit over LED also it looks like copper strip in illustro comes further back towards the flex than illustro.
#1 quality i want is the yellow light, so I will stick with the chinese knock offs. will let you know how they compare with my last yellow fog the putco.
i find illustro retailer online. original only comes in white not yellow that i am looking for.
i bought the chinese knock off and after watching the video, i see illustro are better quality. illustro has "fisheye" fit over LED also it looks like copper strip in illustro comes further back towards the flex than illustro.
#1 quality i want is the yellow light, so I will stick with the chinese knock offs. will let you know how they compare with my last yellow fog the putco.
#53
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You can as I'm running a set of factory xenons and although the self levelling feature is absent, it is not a requirement. I picked up a brand new set of genuine xenons from a member on here a few years ago for $500 USD. I then purchased a set of used ballasts with zero rust on eBay for $100 USD. Although my car lacks the auto levelling feature, it also lacks the headlamp wipers of which I'm not a fan of. I love how sharp and clean they make the car look.
Last edited by nkctb7; 12-06-2016 at 12:52 AM.
#54
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12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG sold)
You can as I'm running a set of factory xenons and although the self levelling feature is absent, it is not a requirement. I picked up a brand new set of genuine xenons from a member on here a few years ago for $500 USD. I then purchased a set of used ballasts with zero rust on eBay for $100 USD. Although my car lacks the auto levelling feature, it also lacks the headlamp wipers of which I'm not a fan of. I love how sharp and clean they make the car look.
#55
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#56
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More about my headlights.
wasnt sure if i had posted in another thread, think i did but didnt find it in the search. maybe i hijack someone elses thread when i did, idk
anyway my left headlight has been going out on my. i'll turn on the car and it will fire up but after driving for a certain amount of time it will turn off.
i ordered a ballast on ebay $30. came very clean and also with some paint on the screws which i though was kind of cool, seller made it tamper proof to prevent someone from switching the insides and returning. this unit did not come with the harness only the core ballast.
switched the ballast and it fired right up. decided to take it for a long drive just to see and the light went out again. started asking myself why i didnt swap the bulbs in the first place. well i am going to swap the bulbs (left-right) to see if that solves it or duplicates the problem on the other side.
while i was replacing the ballast, i noticed the wire sheathing on the brown wire in the harness had busted. so i may also have a bad harness from the ballast to the bulb. that will be my next move when after the switch if that doesnt answer the question.
wasnt sure if i had posted in another thread, think i did but didnt find it in the search. maybe i hijack someone elses thread when i did, idk
anyway my left headlight has been going out on my. i'll turn on the car and it will fire up but after driving for a certain amount of time it will turn off.
i ordered a ballast on ebay $30. came very clean and also with some paint on the screws which i though was kind of cool, seller made it tamper proof to prevent someone from switching the insides and returning. this unit did not come with the harness only the core ballast.
switched the ballast and it fired right up. decided to take it for a long drive just to see and the light went out again. started asking myself why i didnt swap the bulbs in the first place. well i am going to swap the bulbs (left-right) to see if that solves it or duplicates the problem on the other side.
while i was replacing the ballast, i noticed the wire sheathing on the brown wire in the harness had busted. so i may also have a bad harness from the ballast to the bulb. that will be my next move when after the switch if that doesnt answer the question.
#57
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so i switched the bulbs and it's the bulb.. feel like a jerk for not initially switching the bulb.
looks like i replaced these bulbs back in dec/2014. so these bulbs lasted a bit over 2 years but i did run them in the daylight so there is excessive use on them.
i am going to go with the 5500 or 6000k, but im going to stick to philips or osram.
looks like i replaced these bulbs back in dec/2014. so these bulbs lasted a bit over 2 years but i did run them in the daylight so there is excessive use on them.
i am going to go with the 5500 or 6000k, but im going to stick to philips or osram.
#58
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philips does not even sell the crystalvision d2r 5000k anymore. i also believe their warranty is 2 years. Mine failed like after 2 years and 2 months. i HATE products that die right after their warranty... you can still buy them from some retailers, probably new old stock.
osram warranties 4 years...
fcpeuro warranties life but i think they only carry a brand call jahn or something? not buying them.
osram warranties 4 years...
fcpeuro warranties life but i think they only carry a brand call jahn or something? not buying them.
#59
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osram 4 year warranty is on the 4300k not the CBI 6000k think that one is 12 months or 2 years, not sure.
i bought a set of bulbs from ddm tuning, 6500k lifetime warranty $25 + $8 shipping.
i bought a set of bulbs from ddm tuning, 6500k lifetime warranty $25 + $8 shipping.
#60
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12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG sold)
I try using Osrams when possible. My current xenon bulbs are Xenarc Cool Blue Intense D2R 85 V P32D-3
Last edited by DRBC43AMG; 03-28-2017 at 01:08 PM.
#61
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i was looking for the osrams cool blue but could not find them. us amazon only has one bulb sold directly from osram (not sure i even believe that). ebay is flooded with fake sellers, looked at each listing very closely and found discrepancies with the pictures. many bulbs labeled as 5000k or 5500k. also did not see the certificate of trust. and all osram bulbs produced after 2015 have the cert of trust for online verification.
what really gets me is im reading so many people have had their original philips for 10 years. guess they made them too good and werent selling enough bulbs...
my other option was to purchase from germany or uk, found some legit sellers but honestly i just dont want to drive with a headlight out any longer so i settled for the ddm. description looked good, price was crazy low. paid $140 for the philips so lets see how they work out.
what really gets me is im reading so many people have had their original philips for 10 years. guess they made them too good and werent selling enough bulbs...
my other option was to purchase from germany or uk, found some legit sellers but honestly i just dont want to drive with a headlight out any longer so i settled for the ddm. description looked good, price was crazy low. paid $140 for the philips so lets see how they work out.
#63
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Cool
I purchased my Cool Blue xenons back on September 2014 on this Swiss site. Have also purchased plenty of electrical stuff from them with absolutely no problems:
http://www.conrad.ch/ce/fr/product/4...Detail#details
I purchased my Cool Blue xenons back on September 2014 on this Swiss site. Have also purchased plenty of electrical stuff from them with absolutely no problems:
http://www.conrad.ch/ce/fr/product/4...Detail#details
#64
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Cool
I purchased my Cool Blue xenons back on September 2014 on this Swiss site. Have also purchased plenty of electrical stuff from them with absolutely no problems:
http://www.conrad.ch/ce/fr/product/4...Detail#details
I purchased my Cool Blue xenons back on September 2014 on this Swiss site. Have also purchased plenty of electrical stuff from them with absolutely no problems:
http://www.conrad.ch/ce/fr/product/4...Detail#details
#65
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12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG sold)
Yes I use the D2R's (see post #60)
Sorry the link I posted is not the right one. Let me check...
That's weird, looks like they don't have them in stock
Sorry the link I posted is not the right one. Let me check...
That's weird, looks like they don't have them in stock
Last edited by DRBC43AMG; 03-28-2017 at 01:16 PM. Reason: Completed post
#66
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i have been having conversations with osram for two days on facebook, they told me to buy the bulbs from their distributor in the UK. powerbulbs.com
im set though, those ddm are ordered and unless they look completely off, i have lifetime warranty on them so my bulb needs are hopefully sorted.
im set though, those ddm are ordered and unless they look completely off, i have lifetime warranty on them so my bulb needs are hopefully sorted.
#67
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ddm tuning $25 lifetime warranty finally arrived... actually sort of upset that they shipped from china because the company is located in USA.
so after risking a ticket for almost 2 weeks they arrived.
the build and build quality seem identical to philips from my comparison, so the chinese are definitely ripping this design from philips. it is bright and sunny here now so it was hard to tell the color difference, but when i turn on philips, it is a slight purple until it heats up and becomes a pure white. the ddm were bluish at start up, but i will post some pictures tonight after warm.
here you can see the old bulbs are turning yellow, i guess where the glass hold the xenon gas??
not sure
so after risking a ticket for almost 2 weeks they arrived.
the build and build quality seem identical to philips from my comparison, so the chinese are definitely ripping this design from philips. it is bright and sunny here now so it was hard to tell the color difference, but when i turn on philips, it is a slight purple until it heats up and becomes a pure white. the ddm were bluish at start up, but i will post some pictures tonight after warm.
here you can see the old bulbs are turning yellow, i guess where the glass hold the xenon gas??
not sure
#68
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very happy with the color. once they are warm, they look like ice rather than pure white. exactly what i wanted.
ddm tuning, 6500k lifetime warranty $25 + $8 shipping. beware as they drop ship from china ~14 days
ddm tuning, 6500k lifetime warranty $25 + $8 shipping. beware as they drop ship from china ~14 days
Last edited by mickey13; 04-15-2017 at 08:09 PM. Reason: ddm tuning, 6500k lifetime warranty $25 + $8 shipping
#70
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the oem stock "pure white" was definitely nice and distinguishable from the crowd. i really had no problem with it at, i let my philips oem run for 2 years until one burned. i would say that the new bulbs also look oem unless you know these cars come with pure white. you can clearly see they are xenon bulbs and not some aftermarket blue h1 swap.
im not one for cheesy nonsense on my car, it is a mercedes benz after all. i also recognize that MB rolls with the punches though. that is the reason i've chosen to get the rpf1 as a summer rim. no they aren't oem or even made in germany but they are used on the mercedes f1 car. i'm going to hang on to my 18" monos as a winter rim, which i might run this summer actually. have to get them over to the chrome guy here and get them stripped.
im not one for cheesy nonsense on my car, it is a mercedes benz after all. i also recognize that MB rolls with the punches though. that is the reason i've chosen to get the rpf1 as a summer rim. no they aren't oem or even made in germany but they are used on the mercedes f1 car. i'm going to hang on to my 18" monos as a winter rim, which i might run this summer actually. have to get them over to the chrome guy here and get them stripped.
#71
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still having flicker issues. also found that my drivers side bulb went out.
i think it might be an ignitor issue since i already swapped that ballast.
although the explanation seems to be the ignitor light them up and the ballast keeps them on, so it doesn't make sense unless that explanation is wrong.
i think it might be an ignitor issue since i already swapped that ballast.
although the explanation seems to be the ignitor light them up and the ballast keeps them on, so it doesn't make sense unless that explanation is wrong.
#72
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returned the ddm set because they i still had the issue with lights not working even after buying a set of new ignitors.
might just need a set of oem or high quality bulbs.
powerbulbs.com is having a 20% sale right now and free shipping to the usa.
they have Philips Xenon Blue Vision Ultra D2R for around $47/each and OSRAM Xenarc Cool Blue Intense D2R for around $67 each.
i decided to go with the osram this time.
might just need a set of oem or high quality bulbs.
powerbulbs.com is having a 20% sale right now and free shipping to the usa.
they have Philips Xenon Blue Vision Ultra D2R for around $47/each and OSRAM Xenarc Cool Blue Intense D2R for around $67 each.
i decided to go with the osram this time.
#73
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12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG sold)
Osrams are a very good choice. That's what I have since over a year now
#74
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powerbulbs.com sent me used bulbs. very funny....
im going to ask for new bulbs and cost of return shipping otherwise i'll take it up with my credit card company and with osram directly
clearly these are not new as you can see by the corrosion inside the bulbs, also scroll up and you will see my previous bulb and a new bulb i ordered from ebay
im going to ask for new bulbs and cost of return shipping otherwise i'll take it up with my credit card company and with osram directly
clearly these are not new as you can see by the corrosion inside the bulbs, also scroll up and you will see my previous bulb and a new bulb i ordered from ebay