Xenon upgrade/info/discussion for w208 with OEM xenons
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From: Finland
'99CLK320Cab,silver/grayint
Xenon upgrade/info/discussion for w208 with OEM xenons
I did some forum research and found this info on CLK 208 xenons / xenons in general. These might not be absolute facts, just my deductions from what I found on the net. Please comment/correct/add new interesting info you know:
* The bulb socket of 208 xenons is of D2R type (Reflector) Newer cars tend to have D2S (lens type)
* The lens type D2S changes color depending on the angle you look at it and provides the bluish look with the standard 4300K temperature.
* What bulb type for what mercedes can be found nicely here:
http://www.hidexpress.com/index.asp?...n=Custom&ID=46
* You tend to loose light power the higher in color temperature you go. Forum people seem to recomend avoiding over 6000K temperatures for that reason. Some people also suggest that too high color temperatures cause eye strain.
* 4300K is the standared color temperature for oem xenons. It looks blue first but quickly turns into yellowish color. Not considered very cool.
* xenons loose power with age. Even 10-20% per year. (Is this really true? Edit: seems to be, read more below...)
Questions:
What do you think about the color temperatures? What do you have. Does it look good/too blue etc? 4300/5000/6000/7000/8000/12000 What do you recommend?
* The bulb socket of 208 xenons is of D2R type (Reflector) Newer cars tend to have D2S (lens type)
* The lens type D2S changes color depending on the angle you look at it and provides the bluish look with the standard 4300K temperature.
* What bulb type for what mercedes can be found nicely here:
http://www.hidexpress.com/index.asp?...n=Custom&ID=46
* You tend to loose light power the higher in color temperature you go. Forum people seem to recomend avoiding over 6000K temperatures for that reason. Some people also suggest that too high color temperatures cause eye strain.
* 4300K is the standared color temperature for oem xenons. It looks blue first but quickly turns into yellowish color. Not considered very cool.
* xenons loose power with age. Even 10-20% per year. (Is this really true? Edit: seems to be, read more below...)
Questions:
What do you think about the color temperatures? What do you have. Does it look good/too blue etc? 4300/5000/6000/7000/8000/12000 What do you recommend?
Last edited by tmartins; Feb 16, 2005 at 10:49 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Seattle
05 E55
Good info...and seems to be correct as far as I know.
Not sure about the losing power theory though. I've never heard that before. But it is a gas, and gas does leak as proven from my butt, so who knows?
I have 4300K OEM Philips bulbs. They are bright blue/green when intially turned on, then slowly get white/light blue. No Yellow. Interestingly, when it is really cold outside, they stay bright blue/green and look awesome! But just for about 10 minutes or so.
From what I've also read, there is no "true" bulb that is over 6000K. Those are usually eBay gimicks that are xenon bubls just painted a blue color. Philips, arguably the best xenon bulb manufacturer out there, does not make anything over 6000K, according to their corporate site.
Not sure about the losing power theory though. I've never heard that before. But it is a gas, and gas does leak as proven from my butt, so who knows?
I have 4300K OEM Philips bulbs. They are bright blue/green when intially turned on, then slowly get white/light blue. No Yellow. Interestingly, when it is really cold outside, they stay bright blue/green and look awesome! But just for about 10 minutes or so.
From what I've also read, there is no "true" bulb that is over 6000K. Those are usually eBay gimicks that are xenon bubls just painted a blue color. Philips, arguably the best xenon bulb manufacturer out there, does not make anything over 6000K, according to their corporate site.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 21
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From: Finland
'99CLK320Cab,silver/grayint
power loss with xenon age
A finnish web xenon retailer answered my email queries and said that "60 000 - 80 000km driven xenons have lost a signifficant amount of their power"
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,328
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From: NYC
CL500
i like 8000k and dont mind the loss of light here in NYC because there are street lights everywhere, so the loss of light to me really isnt noticeable.
Last edited by BklynBenz; Feb 16, 2005 at 11:51 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 9
From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally Posted by tmartins
I did some forum research and found this info on CLK 208 xenons / xenons in general. These might not be absolute facts, just my deductions from what I found on the net. Please comment/correct/add new interesting info you know:
* The bulb socket of 208 xenons is of D2R type (Reflector) Newer cars tend to have D2S (lens type)
* The lens type D2S changes color depending on the angle you look at it and provides the bluish look with the standard 4300K temperature.
* What bulb type for what mercedes can be found nicely here:
http://www.hidexpress.com/index.asp?...n=Custom&ID=46
* You tend to loose light power the higher in color temperature you go. Forum people seem to recomend avoiding over 6000K temperatures for that reason. Some people also suggest that too high color temperatures cause eye strain.
* 4300K is the standared color temperature for oem xenons. It looks blue first but quickly turns into yellowish color. Not considered very cool.
* xenons loose power with age. Even 10-20% per year. (Is this really true? Edit: seems to be, read more below...)
Questions:
What do you think about the color temperatures? What do you have. Does it look good/too blue etc? 4300/5000/6000/7000/8000/12000 What do you recommend?
* The bulb socket of 208 xenons is of D2R type (Reflector) Newer cars tend to have D2S (lens type)
* The lens type D2S changes color depending on the angle you look at it and provides the bluish look with the standard 4300K temperature.
* What bulb type for what mercedes can be found nicely here:
http://www.hidexpress.com/index.asp?...n=Custom&ID=46
* You tend to loose light power the higher in color temperature you go. Forum people seem to recomend avoiding over 6000K temperatures for that reason. Some people also suggest that too high color temperatures cause eye strain.
* 4300K is the standared color temperature for oem xenons. It looks blue first but quickly turns into yellowish color. Not considered very cool.
* xenons loose power with age. Even 10-20% per year. (Is this really true? Edit: seems to be, read more below...)
Questions:
What do you think about the color temperatures? What do you have. Does it look good/too blue etc? 4300/5000/6000/7000/8000/12000 What do you recommend?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Finland
'99CLK320Cab,silver/grayint
Originally Posted by BklynBenz
i like 8000k and dont mind the loss of light here in NYC because there are street lights everywhere, so the loss of light to me really isnt noticeable.
Any other opinions or views on the optimal color temperature?
