When I purchased the car the previous owner cheaped out and bought new ballasts from China online.
Now they work (not that great) but the light isn't bright and it kinda looks orange/red.

As well I have the bulb with the exclamation point dash light permanatly on my dash, and my local mercedes guy said it's because these ballast are throwing an error and that's why the light is on.

Couple of questions;
1) any way to turn that light off or shut it off? I hate dash lights, drives me nuts.

2) Is there any way to make the bulbs brighter? Any advice on new bulbs?

thanks guys!!!!

Also want to give a shout out to George (speed43). this past winter he was very kind and helped me quite a bit getting my car to where it is now from when I bought it last january.

 

why dont you just replace the ballasts with oem? you can pick them up pretty cheap on ebay used.

if you go with new bulbs, go with either phillips or osram.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-Canbus-Error-Free-Canceller-Digital-HID-Ballast-For-VW-Mercedes-BMW-AUDI-/262522957053?hash=item3d1f966cfd:g:bDIAAOSwyKxXhod w&vxp=mtr

 

Sorry, should have asked if they were factory xenon.