CLK-Class (W209) 2003 on: CLK 270 CDI, CLK 200K, CLK 200 CGI, CLK 240, CLK 320, CLK 350, CLK 500, CLK 550 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Noticing my 2004 hid lights are much dimmer than 2018 Toyota Rav 4 headlights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Mar 15, 2019 | 10:34 AM
  #1  
mbnz230's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 127
Likes: 5
2023 c300 4matic
Noticing my 2004 hid lights are much dimmer than 2018 Toyota Rav 4 headlights

When I drove a friend's 2018 Toyota Rav 4, it's lights are like 10x brighter and shoot much farther than mine. I am guessing it's led and I was like are u on high beam, it's that bright. Or my oem hids are getting dimmer. So I did some research and seems like the osram cbb have a very similar color and brighter than the stock bulb. What do u guys think?
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2019 | 10:59 AM
  #2  
megacrazy's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Shutterbug
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 312
CLK55 W209, CL63 W216
HID bulbs get dimmer with age. Several OEM bulb suppliers have high performance/more light output bulbs you can buy, at a higher price. Look into some Philips Xtreme Vision 2...they're pretty bright. Also make sure your headlights are not fogged up and the lenses are perfectly clear.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2019 | 11:27 AM
  #3  
AZN Optics's Avatar
SPONSOR/MBworld Guru
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,936
Likes: 215
From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
As stated, bulb aging most likely. Also oem xenon bulbs aren't the best on the block. Brightest bulb are Philips 85415 XV2 XTREME Vision. They're not the whitest though with a bit if yellow injection. Brightest pure white bulbs will be Osram Xenarc CBI/CBH/CBB bulbs. We carry all of these if interested in upgrading.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2019 | 11:28 AM
  #4  
Rudeney's Avatar
MBworld Guru
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
My wife's Cadillac XT5 has LED headlights. They give the impression that they are brighter, but in reality, they produce less light. On brights, they look cloudy, like using brights in the fog. LED light is very "directional" so they have to use a lot of lenses and reflectors to try to get it to scatter in all directions, but it never does as good a job as an HID or even an plain old incandescent bulb that shines uniform light in all directions and is easily focused into an appropriate pattern.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2019 | 11:32 AM
  #5  
megacrazy's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Shutterbug
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 312
CLK55 W209, CL63 W216
Originally Posted by Rudeney
My wife's Cadillac XT5 has LED headlights. They give the impression that they are brighter, but in reality, they produce less light. On brights, they look cloudy, like using brights in the fog. LED light is very "directional" so they have to use a lot of lenses and reflectors to try to get it to scatter in all directions, but it never does as good a job as an HID or even an plain old incandescent bulb that shines uniform light in all directions and is easily focused into an appropriate pattern.
Indeed. I am not impressed with LED lights either. The HIDs still light up the road best in my opinion. The LEDs as extremely bright, mostly for other drivers, but when it comes to actually producing usable light output on the road...they're just meh.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2019 | 01:23 PM
  #6  
C280 Sport's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 595
From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
They are old and should be replaced. HID bulbs with age start to dim. Replace in 2's
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:06 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE