HID Question
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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2001 CLK55 AMG
HID Question
I was wondering if I can get stronger light bulbs for our head lights being that they have 2001 technology and such.
Can anyone tell me a little more about our HID head lights? What kind of bulbs can we run in them? Can I change them out for new and improved ones?
Thanks!
Can anyone tell me a little more about our HID head lights? What kind of bulbs can we run in them? Can I change them out for new and improved ones?
Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
from memory, MB didn't offer projector lens design for your model/year so based
on the manner in which you've phrased your question, you have the reflector
based, D2R bulb.
so, no...you cannot simply replace the outer lexan lens and replace with a clear
lens. to get that, you would need to look into aftermarket headlight of the
projector design and very likely, retrofit a OEM projector in its place to get a
quality beam.
jumping back to your original question, if it as I suspect, your D2R bulb is about
1/2 to 1/3 of the brightness being used in the latest D2S or D1S bulb.
bottom line: it *is* possible to convert from your current headlight bit it may
prove to be a little expensive.....possible $500+. will depend on whether an
aftermarket exist in the projector design
(i can barely see the headlight in your sigline...and it does appear to be reflector based)
on the manner in which you've phrased your question, you have the reflector
based, D2R bulb.
so, no...you cannot simply replace the outer lexan lens and replace with a clear
lens. to get that, you would need to look into aftermarket headlight of the
projector design and very likely, retrofit a OEM projector in its place to get a
quality beam.
jumping back to your original question, if it as I suspect, your D2R bulb is about
1/2 to 1/3 of the brightness being used in the latest D2S or D1S bulb.
bottom line: it *is* possible to convert from your current headlight bit it may
prove to be a little expensive.....possible $500+. will depend on whether an
aftermarket exist in the projector design
(i can barely see the headlight in your sigline...and it does appear to be reflector based)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 440
Likes: 2
2001 CLK55 AMG
So if i was to remove these lens's I would lose quality because these lenses intensify the beam? These are the "Lexan Lens's?"
Theres better pictures of my head lights in my tear down thread.
Theres better pictures of my head lights in my tear down thread.
Last edited by 400HP55; May 19, 2012 at 05:02 PM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
remove and replace with clear lens, the resulting beam would suck, glare,
become unfocused.....but your car might look cool just sitting in the daylight
if you're looking for more modern, projector headlight, you homework should be
to determine if such a design exists for your year/model. if one is produced,
it will likely be a halogen design. this is 75% of the battle.
next would be to bake open and remove the halogen projector inside. replace
with HID projector from an MB (or other OEM, depending on your skill). buy
D2S bulbs, reuse your Hella ballasts. flame on.
your idea of simply replacing the plastic prismed lens is unwise and unsafe
ps...see attached (for example). if these fit your year/model, it's a huge
start towards retrofitting your headlight to a quality HID. next stop is to
see if any of your colleagues in this forum have done this mod. if so, probe
for their insights and experiences. also visit HIDPLANET dot com
pps... i'm not just guessing at this, i've done several of these conversions for 210s
Last edited by raymond g-; May 19, 2012 at 06:37 PM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
HID refers to "high intensity discharge" bulb which does not utilize a wire filament.
instead there is a gap and the light produced jumps between electrodes like a
lightening bolt, electronic flash etc
xenon is gas used within a bulb (can be filament or non-filament) which allows
a brighter burn/light
many people refer to HID lights in generic, shortcut fashion as 'xenon' even
though this may be technically imprecise.
"3500K 5500K 10000K and different colors...." refers to the color temperature
produced by the bulb. be clear that this does not mean heat temperature but
color....measured using the Kelvin scale. as you can see, when you move
beyond 5000ºK the brightness decreases and defeats the purpose of gaining
the brightest light possible out of an HID headlight design.
instead there is a gap and the light produced jumps between electrodes like a
lightening bolt, electronic flash etc
xenon is gas used within a bulb (can be filament or non-filament) which allows
a brighter burn/light
many people refer to HID lights in generic, shortcut fashion as 'xenon' even
though this may be technically imprecise.
"3500K 5500K 10000K and different colors...." refers to the color temperature
produced by the bulb. be clear that this does not mean heat temperature but
color....measured using the Kelvin scale. as you can see, when you move
beyond 5000ºK the brightness decreases and defeats the purpose of gaining
the brightest light possible out of an HID headlight design.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
So I take it we can change our low beams to different colors?....
market base to support producing them. from a consumer point of view, your
options to select different temperatures/colors is limited to 1...possible 2.
....The same with high beams?
OEM yellow, aftermarket blue hued yellow (looks a hint of white)...but not many
more options. most folks who go this route aren't interested in going HID due
to cost so they buy 'premium' bulbs which are slightly over-driven, or the bulb
has a blueish coating. you can also buy off-road H7s which come in 60, 80
or 100 watts....all technically illegal on US public roads (but I use on my m/cycle)
I rather take that $$ and dump it into headers.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
brighter, even if you changed the plastic. you're stuck with the brightest light
you can get out of a D2R bulb.
let's say you are able to locate clear covers for it. you make the swap out
and may still find they don't interchange. if they do, what is guaranteed is
that your beam pattern will go down the toilet, you'll likely incur a traffic violation,
failed equipment citation, and your car will be keyed by folks you've
blinded.....and your girlfriend will dump you.
why? because you've effectively replaced your focused low beam with an
unfocused/full beam halogen....which is basically giving you two pairs of high
beams.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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2001 CLK55 AMG
Thanks for all your help guy's. I leave tons from all of you!
Does anyone know the part # for our tail light bulbs (3 of them per rear tail light- 6 total)? I put some in but they were the wrong ones and melted my tail light housing
F%^(*.
I also need to know the part # for our head light turn signal lights (orange ones, I think the tail turns are orange as well - maybe the same bulb.) One of them burned out so might as well replace both front turn signals while I'm at it.
Thanks guys!
PS - I think these are them?
Amber turn siglan bulb - Front or rear bulb possibly?
http://www.rmeuropean.com/Part-Numbe...2-3bc79842fc11
Tail light bulb?
http://www.rmeuropean.com/Part-Numbe...3-70c224201911
Does anyone know the part # for our tail light bulbs (3 of them per rear tail light- 6 total)? I put some in but they were the wrong ones and melted my tail light housing
F%^(*. I also need to know the part # for our head light turn signal lights (orange ones, I think the tail turns are orange as well - maybe the same bulb.) One of them burned out so might as well replace both front turn signals while I'm at it.
Thanks guys!
PS - I think these are them?
Amber turn siglan bulb - Front or rear bulb possibly?
http://www.rmeuropean.com/Part-Numbe...2-3bc79842fc11
Tail light bulb?
http://www.rmeuropean.com/Part-Numbe...3-70c224201911
Last edited by 400HP55; May 31, 2012 at 11:02 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
save this link
2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK (w/4 H/L)
High beam headlight
H7
Parking light
64132
Front turn signal
2827
Front turn signal
1156A
Rear turn signal
7507
Tail light
7225
Tail light
5007
Stop light
7225
Fog/Driving light
H1
License plate
6418
Back up light
7506
Front sidemarker
5007
Rear sidemarker
7225
Glove box
6418
Map light
2886X
Dome light
6411
Step/Courtesy light
6418
Trunk/Cargo area
6411
2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK (w/4 H/L)
High beam headlight
H7
Parking light
64132
Front turn signal
2827
Front turn signal
1156A
Rear turn signal
7507
Tail light
7225
Tail light
5007
Stop light
7225
Fog/Driving light
H1
License plate
6418
Back up light
7506
Front sidemarker
5007
Rear sidemarker
7225
Glove box
6418
Map light
2886X
Dome light
6411
Step/Courtesy light
6418
Trunk/Cargo area
6411
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 440
Likes: 2
2001 CLK55 AMG
So I was wondering about our fog lights as well. Are there fog lights we can replace our OEM lights for better lighting? I know our fog lights cant be as complciated and our head lights. I saw some fog light kits out there.
Has anyone changed there fog lights? what would be involved in this project?
Thanks again guys!
Has anyone changed there fog lights? what would be involved in this project?
Thanks again guys!
