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Xenon Headlights

Old Apr 24, 2018 | 04:27 PM
  #1  
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CLK320
Xenon Headlights

I have original standard halogen headlights and tried replacing them with the xenon ones. When I turned them on the lights only flickered. After removing them I noticed the xenon have two plug recepticles in the back whereas the standard only have one. Any answers would be a huge help! Thanks!
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Old Apr 24, 2018 | 05:11 PM
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2005 CLK 320
Did you add a ballast?
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Old Apr 24, 2018 | 09:08 PM
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Your car has a computer that monitors the power draw of the bulbs. Halogen bulbs draw 55w, but HIDs only draw 35w. When the car's computer sees that lower wattage draw, it assumes the bulb is bad and tries to "restart" it a few times. You need to ue an HID kit that is advertised as "error-free for CAN bus systems". It will actually draw the full 55w so the computer will accept it as normal.
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Old Apr 24, 2018 | 10:10 PM
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Re: xenon lights

Any idea where I can get such item? All we're seeing is bulbs.
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Old Apr 25, 2018 | 10:40 AM
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Amazon and eBay both have them. Look for "CAN bus HID ballast" Don't buy the cheapest. Look for some that have some heft to them.
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Old Apr 25, 2018 | 05:35 PM
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This is really useful - looking into something similar. Thanks guys!
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Old May 23, 2018 | 10:49 AM
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Wiring to my xenon's were all cut

Hi all, does anyone have a picture, or could take some pictures, of the wiring harness plugs from car to headlight showing in detail what color wire goes where in the plug for me? Situation, got 2004 CLK320 with the zenons, and for some insane reason, previous owner (punk rich kid no doubt), cut all the plugs off the wiring to the headlights. Also cut inside the lights themselves. Looks like he was trying to "rig" something, I'm not sure. Anyway, putting it back the way it's supposed to go, but can't for the life of me, figure out which wires go to where on the light body receptacles. Passenger side looks like a 6 wire lower left, then larger 5 wires on top, and 4 wire lower right. Big ones are prolly for the zenons. Driver side is similiar but less wiring. So, HELP, need pics! Thanks everyone!!

Last edited by glennmoore1; May 23, 2018 at 04:28 PM.
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Old May 23, 2018 | 10:31 PM
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I don't know if you will be able to see the numbering on the connector, but:

1 = Turn Signal
2 = GND
3 = Park Light
4 = Low Beam
5 = High Beam
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Old May 23, 2018 | 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudeney
I don't know if you will be able to see the numbering on the connector, but:

1 = Turn Signal
2 = GND
3 = Park Light
4 = Low Beam
5 = High Beam
Ok but which wires go where? And which plug is this you're describing? There's 3 plugs going to each xenon headlight...
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Old May 24, 2018 | 02:05 AM
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Originally Posted by glennmoore1
Ok but which wires go where? And which plug is this you're describing? There's 3 plugs going to each xenon headlight...
This is what I see on my car.
There are 2 plugs per light assembly
Top plug has 4 wires
Lower [lug has 5 wires

Driver Passenger
Brown Green Black/Pink Brown Engine Brown Green Black/Pink Brown
Blk/Wh Brown Blk/Wh Blk/Yel Blk/Wh Engine Green/Blk Brown White Yellow Gray/Red

The wires closest to the engine seem thicker (probably drive current wires)
On the driver side the white stripe on the center wire is wider than the 2 wires on the ends (1 and 5)

I have never done anything to my headlights, so I have NO experience with them. Just letting you know what I see on my car.

If the wires are not still in there separate bundle (the set of 5 still wrapped together) you may be in for a challenge in tracing what goes where .
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Old May 24, 2018 | 08:29 PM
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Oh, the one I described it the 5-pin connector just for the lights. The others are for the auto level and steering functions. Your MY2004 would not have had steerable headlights, so this almost sounds like someone installed aftermarket headlights in the car. Post your VIN and I can lookup the data card and see if it came with halogen or HID headlights (a MY2004 CLK320 with HIDs is pretty rare).
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Old May 25, 2018 | 07:09 AM
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Hello, very helpful info for wiring the lights so far, thanks!
So, on the passenger side of my car, the engine harness has 3 bundles going to the lights, on top is the 5 wire, it has the the fat yellow, brown, and white wires, plus 2 smaller ones. Then on the side is a smaller plug with 4 wires, and on the bottom of the light assembly is a 6 wire plug. And of course the little side marker light. Anyway, the wires from the car going to the lights are indeed stock. The problem I'm having is matching the car wires to the back of each headlight because all except for 2 had the plug end cut off! Crazy! Plus the light socket in each headlight match to hi beam halogen, and low beam xenon. The vin on this car WDBT65J34F069541 and if you can confirm the lights it originally came with. Would be nice to just buy brand new Halogens, the xenon assemblies are soooo expensive new!
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Old May 25, 2018 | 07:14 AM
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There's 3 black/white wires on that bundle on the drivers side? I figured out the fatter white strip being in the center, but I have black/gray not black/white as that 3rd wire. Are you positive it's black/white on your car or is it maybe black/gray? That would make more sense to me. Thanks!
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Old May 25, 2018 | 11:19 AM
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It may very well be black/gray. I'll try to take another look at it sometime today.
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Old May 25, 2018 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by glennmoore1
There's 3 black/white wires on that bundle on the drivers side? I figured out the fatter white strip being in the center, but I have black/gray not black/white as that 3rd wire. Are you positive it's black/white on your car or is it maybe black/gray? That would make more sense to me. Thanks!
OK.. Unplugged the 5-wire connectors and wiped them.
---------------------------------------Driver-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Passenger---------------------------
Black/White-------Brown-----Black/Pink-----Black/Yellow-----Black/Gray____Engine_____Black/Green-----Brown-----White-----Yellow-----Gray/Red
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Old May 25, 2018 | 09:13 PM
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I think you left out a letter in your VIN - is the 5th position a "J"? I figured it out base don body style, so this should be your data card:

http://benzbits.com/datacard/WDBTJ65J34F069541.pdf

And yes, your car did come with factory bi-xenon HID headlights.

Looking at Fatz's wire colors, brown is always ground, so combining that with my pinouts:

Drive side:
1 = Turn Signal - Black/White
2 = GND - Brown
3 = Park Light - Black/Pink
4 = Low Beam - Black/Yellow
5 = High Beam - Black/Gray

Passenger:
1 = Turn Signal - Black/Green
2 = GND - Brown
3 = Park Light - White
4 = Low Beam - BYellow
5 = High Beam - Gray/Red
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Old May 27, 2018 | 02:47 PM
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If you replaced your regular headlight with oem Xenon headlight you need to just get the car programmed . I did the same thing and ran into the same issue . The only way around it is to just find someone with a star diagnostics or see what a dealer would take .
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