CLK-Class (W208) 1998-2002: CLK 200, CLK 230K, CLK 320, CLK 430 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Pics/Comments 4 the people who are buying/planning 2 buy the new PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS

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Old 03-12-2008, 11:53 PM
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Arrow Pics/Comments 4 the people who are buying/planning 2 buy the new PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS

For those of you who are buying or who are planning to buy the new PROJECTOR HALO HEADLIGHTS... i just wanted to make a comment about them really quick.

For those who are buying them because they're tired of the other aftermarket headlights and want to get rid of the "CHEESE-GRATER" look, then this is the best investment ever.

If you are buying them because of the "HALO" or "ANGEL EYES", it's pretty disappointing. They're not AS BRIGHT as the OEM HALO on a BMW, not even close. The pictures posted on ebay only look bright just because the picture was taken in a pitch black room, AND the city lights weren't connected either.



I've actually taken out the bulbs from the "city lights", so that when i turn them on, all you see are the HALOs. (just like the picture above). the reason i did this is because if you leave the bulbs there like normal, you pretty much take away the inner HALOs. (or it's pretty hard to see them from a distance). Here's what they look like if you decide to leave the city lights/bulbs connected...

PLEASE NOTE...
this is what it will look like with the CITY LIGHTS. (not the high beams)









I had my headlights installed at my buddy's shop. They're famous in Southern Cali for doing audio and engine work for car shows and such. I asked him if there's anything we can do to make our HALOs brighter, and his response was... "there's only a certain amount of watts/voltage is distributed into the city lights, if we change the fuse, and make the watts/voltage stronger, they'll be VERY NOTICEABLE. probably more noticeable than the ones on BMW's." <=== i'm gonna try and get him to do it for me.

Don't get the wrong impression. Overall, i'm pretty much satisfied. The headlights look better than any aftermarket set out there for our CLK's (W208).
Old 03-13-2008, 02:41 AM
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Are both bulbs the low-bean and high-beam H7?
Old 03-13-2008, 07:35 AM
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For those of you who want to use your original xenon setup, you can. Since the halogen bulb is h7, all you need is a "h7 to d2s adapter" sold on ebay. You can then use your stock d2r bulbs or change to d2s. But remember to glue the adapter onto the bulb so that the bulb won't move. You always want the return wire of the xenon bulb to face downwards. Use high-temp glue like jbweld.
Old 03-13-2008, 11:14 AM
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Trying to figure out if there is a Bi-xenon option, with all the HID kits out there. Which is why I would to know if both bulbs are H7. Thanks,
Old 03-13-2008, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr Pie
Trying to figure out if there is a Bi-xenon option, with all the HID kits out there. Which is why I would to know if both bulbs are H7. Thanks,
i think he said one h7 and one h1
Old 03-13-2008, 12:33 PM
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One H7 and one H1? Interesting, since our stock hi-beam is H7 as well.

Last edited by Mr Pie; 03-13-2008 at 12:39 PM.
Old 03-13-2008, 12:48 PM
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So do the halos have bulbs in them? If they are the 194 bulbs like I had in my BMW you can just buy super bright LED 194 bulbs and that should help make the halos stand out more.
Those lights look really good btw.
Old 03-13-2008, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr Pie
Are both bulbs the low-bean and high-beam H7?
i didn't really check when i had them installed. but i'm 99% positive that they are.
Old 03-13-2008, 01:07 PM
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Looks nice!! Do you have pictures of the headlight on at night? I was hoping to see the cutoff line.
Old 03-13-2008, 01:16 PM
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Thumbs up

Originally Posted by Boosted9603
So do the halos have bulbs in them? Those lights look really good btw.
Actually, at first i THOUGHT i didn't see anything, but there are a few LED bulbs in there.

thanks for the compliment.

Last edited by babyboigsxr; 03-13-2008 at 06:12 PM.
Old 03-13-2008, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Silverbillet
Looks nice!! Do you have pictures of the headlight on at night? I was hoping to see the cutoff line.
all the last few pics were taken at night. as far as of "cutoff line", if you look at the last pic, you kinda' see the bottom part of the HALO. is that what you're talking about? i hope i answered your question, cuase i'm not sure if thats what you're looking for.
Old 03-13-2008, 02:35 PM
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cut off line as in how it looks on the ground or against a wall.
Old 03-13-2008, 04:18 PM
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Halo's, in themselves..... are disappointing regardless of their performance.
Old 03-13-2008, 05:21 PM
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WOW! I want some of those and I'm not even a head light change'n kind of guy.
Old 03-13-2008, 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted by babyboigsxr
Actually, at first i THOUGHT i didn't see anything, but there are a few LED bulbs in there.

thanks for the compliment.
dont think its LED bulbs...looks almost like water or sum sht lol
Old 03-13-2008, 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by deyainrdy4ds
dont think its LED bulbs...looks almost like water or sum sht lol
really? LoL. i can actually see two LED bulbs on the left and right side of the HALOs. Now the question is... WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THEM BRIGHTER? I'm really afraid to take my NEW HEADLIGHTS apart. i might just end up messing them up.
Old 03-17-2008, 01:52 AM
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Might as well post my pics here too =P

Before



After





And in my garage. Better pics of the cutoff line tomorrow







I have no idea why but the lights are at an angle, as you can see in the pic. Seems like they slant just a tad...kinda weird...anyone else experience this with their set?
Old 03-17-2008, 03:32 AM
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Originally Posted by ZacCLK430
Before



After





And in my garage. Better pics of the cutoff line tomorrow







I have no idea why but the lights are at an angle, as you can see in the pic. Seems like they slant just a tad...kinda weird...anyone else experience this with their set?


My lights do the exact same thing like yours do. The driver side has a tilt to it.
Old 03-17-2008, 03:46 AM
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apart from the cutoff, which looks typical of the depo projector. looks like the rotation might be slightly off on the projector, unless the headlight came with rotation adjustment which I dont think any do, you would have to open up the headlight to fix.

I think this is pretty common with af headlights. overall your output isnt bad, I have seen alot worse
Old 03-17-2008, 08:08 AM
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Originally Posted by CLK FAN
My lights do the exact same thing like yours do. The driver side has a tilt to it.
It's because it is a cheap *** projector. These are value headlights. They sure do look spiffy though. Now that people have a headlight that will readily accept a projector, it's time for someone to use a REAL projector in them and do a conversion to a popular projector. IMO this was just step 1. Step 2 is to make it perform as good as it looks with a retrofit.
Old 03-17-2008, 08:59 AM
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ya mine have that tilt too and are aiming way too high so they really need to be adjusted....i think they have the rotating adjustment ur talkin about..? ill take a pic
Old 03-17-2008, 11:51 AM
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i'm pretty sure most all headlights have a different tilt on one side than the other for either useful lighting purposes or for gov't regulations...
Old 03-17-2008, 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by ZacCLK430
Before



After





And in my garage. Better pics of the cutoff line tomorrow







I have no idea why but the lights are at an angle, as you can see in the pic. Seems like they slant just a tad...kinda weird...anyone else experience this with their set?
It doesn't look like the headlights in the "after" pics fit very well compared to the stock units. Is this a common complaint on aftermarket headlights?
Old 03-17-2008, 01:05 PM
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The upward sloping effect is normal for halogen projectors. Even for OEM headlights. The reason for the upward slope is because the output of halogen bulbs are weak so more light needs to be thrown upwards to illuminate the road better on the side where there is no oncoming traffic. This cannot be done on the other side as it will blind oncoming traffic. With halogen bulbs, this will not cause glare. With hids, this will cause a lot of glare as the output is much stronger. With OEM hid projectors and even the projectors from the cheese graters, the cutoff is flat so that hids can be used safely and output is wider and better.

Cutoff for halos is shown in the 1st attachment.

Cutoff for OEM hid projectors and cheese graters is shown in the 2nd attachment.

Cutoffs are reversed for RHD. An h7 hid kit will work with the halos but the output won't be very bright compared to proper hid projectors. You will get bright output only straight ahead but not at the sides.

If I got these headlights and wanted to use hids, I would definitely do a projector retrofit. The best one to use given the size constraints is the projector from a honda s2000. 2nd best projector in terms of output compared to anything else out there. Best is from a lexus ls430 but that one is too big to fit. How I know this is from personal experience and tons of pics and consesnsus from people on hidplanet.
Attached Images   

Last edited by gianfranc; 03-17-2008 at 01:18 PM.
Old 03-17-2008, 01:21 PM
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Question

Originally Posted by CLK FAN
My lights do the exact same thing like yours do. The driver side has a tilt to it.
mine are both. LoL. does anyone know how to adjust them?


wait, did i forget to mention that my right side headlamp shoots so high that it illuminates the freeway signs? Not the ones on the right side when you exit, but the one on top of the CENTER DIVIDER. geez!

help please.

Last edited by babyboigsxr; 03-17-2008 at 01:26 PM.


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