Projectors and other headlight questions
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17
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From: Oregon
99 CLK 430, 99 E320
Projectors and other headlight questions
I want to put projector headlights on my 99 CLK430. I've read lots of posts on here, but most are quite old and I'm sure a lot has changed.
First, I love the look of them. Are they brighter and do they work better than the old style lights? Are they plug and play? Which brands are best?
Admitting my ignorance here, but I don't even know if my current ones are Xenons. They have a bluish tint? Are all Xenons HID?
I think I like the halo rings too.
First, I love the look of them. Are they brighter and do they work better than the old style lights? Are they plug and play? Which brands are best?
Admitting my ignorance here, but I don't even know if my current ones are Xenons. They have a bluish tint? Are all Xenons HID?
I think I like the halo rings too.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 5
From: New Hampshire
Magma Red W208 55 AMG, W203 C230 Kompressor Sedan 6speed M/T, W220 S500
You can tell if your factory lights are Xenon by looking under the hood at the radiator support. There will be a high voltage warning sticker.
As for after market lenses, not much has changed since those old threads were published.
In my opinion, if you find out you don't have factory Xenon the best quality choice would be to find a factory CLK55 set-up on eBay or elsewhere. The aftermarket options are just like most other things, you get what you pay for. Hope this helps.
As for after market lenses, not much has changed since those old threads were published.
In my opinion, if you find out you don't have factory Xenon the best quality choice would be to find a factory CLK55 set-up on eBay or elsewhere. The aftermarket options are just like most other things, you get what you pay for. Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
99 CLK 430, 99 E320
Love the look of yours CJackson13. Are they OEM or aftermarket? If aftermarket what brand and where to buy.
Last edited by stmeece; May 7, 2014 at 06:13 AM. Reason: want to use quote
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
Thanks! they're aftermarket. This is exactly where I ordered them from - http://www.ebay.com/itm/360899385421...84.m1439.l2649
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
If they're blue when you turn them on, you have factory HIDs (xenon). The aftermarket lights are not HID (xenon). So, to make them have the blueish tint, you need to purchase an aftermarket HID kit (http://store.ijdmtoy.com/OEM-4300K-W...-kit-4300k.htm). The kits breakdown by color like this:
3000k: yellow
4300k: normal yellowish factory HID tint
6000k: white/cool blue
8000k: blue
10000k: deep blue
20000k: purple
K stands for kelvin, which is the temperature measurement of the bulb.
6000k is recommended and will give the nice factory look.
3000k: yellow
4300k: normal yellowish factory HID tint
6000k: white/cool blue
8000k: blue
10000k: deep blue
20000k: purple
K stands for kelvin, which is the temperature measurement of the bulb.
6000k is recommended and will give the nice factory look.
Last edited by CJackson13; May 7, 2014 at 09:46 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 5
From: New Hampshire
Magma Red W208 55 AMG, W203 C230 Kompressor Sedan 6speed M/T, W220 S500
If they're blue when you turn them on, you have factory HIDs (xenon). The aftermarket lights are not HID (xenon). So, to make them have the blueish tint, you need to purchase an aftermarket HID kit (http://store.ijdmtoy.com/OEM-4300K-W...-kit-4300k.htm). The kits breakdown by color like this:
3000k: yellow
4300k: normal yellowish tint
6000k: factory HID tint (white/cool blue)
8000k: blue
10000k: deep blue
20000k: purple
K stands for kelvin, which is the temperature measurement of the bulb.
6000k is recommended and will give the nice factory look.
3000k: yellow
4300k: normal yellowish tint
6000k: factory HID tint (white/cool blue)
8000k: blue
10000k: deep blue
20000k: purple
K stands for kelvin, which is the temperature measurement of the bulb.
6000k is recommended and will give the nice factory look.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 5
From: New Hampshire
Magma Red W208 55 AMG, W203 C230 Kompressor Sedan 6speed M/T, W220 S500
I was almost worried because I've been thinking of going with the 6000k burners this year for a bit of a fresher look. Haha.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 5
From: New Hampshire
Magma Red W208 55 AMG, W203 C230 Kompressor Sedan 6speed M/T, W220 S500
AMG airbox, I like your style. Haha. Your center parking lights match well. Mine are slightly "bluer" than my headlights. You still run halogen high beams?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
Thanks! Loving the magma red, seems like a rare color. You could potentially do a 6000k conversion for all of your lights for the sake of matching. Yup, still have the halogen high beams... But thats okay cause I rarely use them
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 5
From: New Hampshire
Magma Red W208 55 AMG, W203 C230 Kompressor Sedan 6speed M/T, W220 S500
I think it's one of the least common colors especially in the 55's. Maybe because people thought they were Ferrari's and blew them up. Hahaha
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
W208 CLK55 AMG, W203 C32 AMG, W163 M Class Sport
If they're blue when you turn them on, you have factory HIDs (xenon). The aftermarket lights are not HID (xenon). So, to make them have the blueish tint, you need to purchase an aftermarket HID kit (http://store.ijdmtoy.com/OEM-4300K-W...-kit-4300k.htm). The kits breakdown by color like this:
3000k: yellow
4300k: normal yellowish tint
6000k: factory HID tint (white/cool blue)
8000k: blue
10000k: deep blue
20000k: purple
K stands for kelvin, which is the temperature measurement of the bulb.
6000k is recommended and will give the nice factory look.
3000k: yellow
4300k: normal yellowish tint
6000k: factory HID tint (white/cool blue)
8000k: blue
10000k: deep blue
20000k: purple
K stands for kelvin, which is the temperature measurement of the bulb.
6000k is recommended and will give the nice factory look.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 5
From: New Hampshire
Magma Red W208 55 AMG, W203 C230 Kompressor Sedan 6speed M/T, W220 S500
This is incorrect. 4300k is standard factory HID color. 5000k is being used on some newer cars. 4300k puts out the most light output. 5000k is slightly diminished output but works well with a good projector. 6000k is nowhere near factory color. 6000k or more is blue or purple. These color temperatures are aesthetic and reduce your night visibility.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
W208 CLK55 AMG, W203 C32 AMG, W163 M Class Sport
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
W208 CLK55 AMG, W203 C32 AMG, W163 M Class Sport
http://www.automotivelightstore.com/hidfaq.aspx
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
4300k is brighter than 6000k. The difference you see is dimmer light being directed through a better projector.
http://www.automotivelightstore.com/hidfaq.aspx
http://www.automotivelightstore.com/hidfaq.aspx
so basically anything over 4300k is aesthetic. However, 6000k suits my taste and for standard use, I dont foresee any visibility issues.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: San Diego
2004 E55 AMG, 2008 G55 AMG
CJjackson, I follow you on IG, your projectors look great. How was the conversion from the oem xenon to aftermarket projectors? I was thinking of going with the black housing projectors on my black 55.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 267
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
W208 CLK55
The conversion was very easy as long as you're decent with a wrench. For install the front bumper needs to come off, then you un-bolt the headlights and reinstall the new ones in the same order. Just make sure you plug everything in. Also, if you have headlight washers, they wont work with the new projectors. You need to either remove the hoses or tie them down away from the radiator fans. Overall it was very easy and took me about an hour and a half because I was taking my time to make sure I was doing everything correctly. Black projectors would look great on your black car!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
W208 CLK55 AMG, W203 C32 AMG, W163 M Class Sport
6000k looks good on your car with the matching city lights.
