View Poll Results: Smoked or chrome?
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Need opinion on new headlights!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,321
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From: STL
95 e320...sold the rest
Need opinion on new headlights!
I'm getting new headlights very soon. My current ones keep filling up with moisture with all the humidity now and are starting to lose their visibility at night, especially in the rain.
I have tinted windows, smoked tails, and a blacked out grille. So should I go with smoked or chrome headlights???
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/85-95...spagenameZWDVW
or...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/85-93...spagenameZWDVW
Those are my options on that style.. But if I choose to go with these, smoked or chrome?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/85-94...spagenameZWDVW
I have tinted windows, smoked tails, and a blacked out grille. So should I go with smoked or chrome headlights???
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/85-95...spagenameZWDVW
or...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/85-93...spagenameZWDVW
Those are my options on that style.. But if I choose to go with these, smoked or chrome?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/85-94...spagenameZWDVW
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Vancouver, BC
Enzo, my Benzo
You will have WORSE visibility with the projectors if you don't swap them out for real HID projectors. TRUST me. Stick with the reflectors if you don't have the money/parts/time/patience for the proper HID projector install.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Cambridge, Ontario
95 E320 Coupe, Diesel Golf
I would go with the projectors, only because you can grab a decent hid kit for under 150 bucks today. Just make sure the lenses will support the heat of the light output if you go that route.
But if you want to keep your car clean with some oem look, just by the euro depo lights.
But if you want to keep your car clean with some oem look, just by the euro depo lights.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,491
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From: Vancouver, BC
Enzo, my Benzo
I would go with the projectors, only because you can grab a decent hid kit for under 150 bucks today. Just make sure the lenses will support the heat of the light output if you go that route.
But if you want to keep your car clean with some oem look, just by the euro depo lights.
But if you want to keep your car clean with some oem look, just by the euro depo lights.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 38
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1993 400E
I swear I read a post where you said the projectors were good enough without retrofitting in the true HID projectors. Something around 95% as good of a cutoff? Perhaps I was mistaken..
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 266
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From: Cambridge, Ontario
95 E320 Coupe, Diesel Golf
btw, you are an idiot and you need to relax a little. Or simply dont quote anything I say cuz I simply dont like you.
Have a nice day.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: STL
95 e320...sold the rest
Well I think anything Zorro says in a helpful manner, people should listen.
Well I guess it's down to the smoked reflectors or the projectors. If I get the projectors, I won't install them until I get HID's. But if I go with the reflectors, I want a bulb that sort-of resembles that HID look.
Are there any good (and i actually mean good) halogen bulbs out there like this that I can maybe take a look at purchasing?
Well I guess it's down to the smoked reflectors or the projectors. If I get the projectors, I won't install them until I get HID's. But if I go with the reflectors, I want a bulb that sort-of resembles that HID look.
Are there any good (and i actually mean good) halogen bulbs out there like this that I can maybe take a look at purchasing?
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From: Vancouver, BC
Enzo, my Benzo
LMAO....whatever you say. Just cause I knew what I was talking about through personal experience with the lights, you get your panties in a bunch?
Don't tell me who I can and can't quote on a public forum, chief.
Smithcb2, yeah I believe I DID post that but those were my initial reactions before really driving them at night, in the rain etc....they are not as good as halogens with HID's due to the cheap nature of the chinese projectors. TSX's are a must in my opinion.
Battlecat...OEM is great for the stock look and decent performance but even with the glare of hid kits in halogen, they still out perform oem. Retro-ing the projectors like I have and Zed has is the best you can get...
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From: Anaheim, CA
a TVR Cerbera Speed Twelve
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,321
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From: STL
95 e320...sold the rest
Well sorry, but I'm definitely not going with oem. Mine are getting pretty grungy looking with all of the rock chips and a couple cracks. If
If I'm going to spend over 100 on headlights, I'm going with something different.
If I'm going to spend over 100 on headlights, I'm going with something different.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Youngtimer
STL, i feel your pain. If you are willing to attempt a projector retro, then I would go with the smoked projectors, but if not, get the smoked reflectors.
Now if you want HID's, and you get the reflectors, you HAVE to buy these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-to...QQcmdZViewItem
They won't be perfect, but they will reduce a LOT of the glare you would otherwise be putting out with HID lights and reflector lights. Every time i see cars in traffic with HID's thrown into OEM lights, i'm so embarrassed that I used to do that too! looks very tacky and cheap.
The concept of these adapters is actually quite sound, if you look at the HID lights on the last acura CL's, this is basically what they use. It will still throw some glare because the reflector is not designed for HID, but it will be a lot less with these things, and safer for oncoming traffic. ideally you would go with projectors, but at least in my case, it's pretty tough to do, so this will be much better than bare HIDs in the reflectors.
anyway, that's my suggestion, good luck with your decision...
Now if you want HID's, and you get the reflectors, you HAVE to buy these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-to...QQcmdZViewItem
They won't be perfect, but they will reduce a LOT of the glare you would otherwise be putting out with HID lights and reflector lights. Every time i see cars in traffic with HID's thrown into OEM lights, i'm so embarrassed that I used to do that too! looks very tacky and cheap.
The concept of these adapters is actually quite sound, if you look at the HID lights on the last acura CL's, this is basically what they use. It will still throw some glare because the reflector is not designed for HID, but it will be a lot less with these things, and safer for oncoming traffic. ideally you would go with projectors, but at least in my case, it's pretty tough to do, so this will be much better than bare HIDs in the reflectors.
anyway, that's my suggestion, good luck with your decision...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: STL
95 e320...sold the rest
Thanks a lot Zed. I plan to get HID's when I have the extra cash laying around (hopefully asap!)
And I'm kinda second thinking about the projectors. I think they may be too much for the simple front end of my smoke silver lady. Maybe if I had a after market bumper..or something..
But do you think the reflectors are tinted, or the glass where the light shines through?
Oh, also getting these!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCE...spagenameZWD1V
And I'm kinda second thinking about the projectors. I think they may be too much for the simple front end of my smoke silver lady. Maybe if I had a after market bumper..or something..
But do you think the reflectors are tinted, or the glass where the light shines through?
Oh, also getting these!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCE...spagenameZWD1V
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 163
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1994 E320 Dragon Wagon
From what I've read, if you go projectors you gotta go all the way to get the beam pattern properly to the road surface. There's considerable research, bucks and install time to get there.
If you take a cheap route to simply get that laser beam look, the result may be less than desirable to live with. Serious beam issues have been reported with aftermarket lights even with HID "kits" added. Not to mention the dreaded moisture leaks and lamp temp melt down with China specials.
I'm sure someone has had good luck with a budget projector solution. Find out the products they used. Ebay is a scary place to chance a lamp purchase where return policies are a joke.
If you take a cheap route to simply get that laser beam look, the result may be less than desirable to live with. Serious beam issues have been reported with aftermarket lights even with HID "kits" added. Not to mention the dreaded moisture leaks and lamp temp melt down with China specials.
I'm sure someone has had good luck with a budget projector solution. Find out the products they used. Ebay is a scary place to chance a lamp purchase where return policies are a joke.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,647
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Youngtimer
From what I've read, if you go projectors you gotta go all the way to get the beam pattern properly to the road surface. There's considerable research, bucks and install time to get there.
If you take a cheap route to simply get that laser beam look, the result may be less than desirable to live with. Serious beam issues have been reported with aftermarket lights even with HID "kits" added. Not to mention the dreaded moisture leaks and lamp temp melt down with China specials.
I'm sure someone has had good luck with a budget projector solution. Find out the products they used. Ebay is a scary place to chance a lamp purchase where return policies are a joke.
If you take a cheap route to simply get that laser beam look, the result may be less than desirable to live with. Serious beam issues have been reported with aftermarket lights even with HID "kits" added. Not to mention the dreaded moisture leaks and lamp temp melt down with China specials.
I'm sure someone has had good luck with a budget projector solution. Find out the products they used. Ebay is a scary place to chance a lamp purchase where return policies are a joke.
STL, the lens is smoked, but the reflectors are not, at least they weren't on mine. you can get some decent regular halogen bulbs like piaa or sylvania silver star or nokya that will give you nice whiter light until you figure out what you will do about HID's.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 38
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1993 400E
I'll try to take some pics of the hid kit in the chinese projectors because I'm sure I'll drive around with them for a while just to test them out (it'll probably be a month until I have them installed.. Im pretty busy and still need to figure out where/how to mount the ballasts). Make sure to read up on Hidplanet before you buy anything hid-related... after reading up there I would have done my purchasing much differently.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 38
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1993 400E
Also, if you do buy headlights on ebay, make sure you check them out really really well before you stick any rock protectors on them. The glue holding the lens on has dripped down and made me think it was repaired.
These things really are shoddy compared to my euros. The front covers are plastic too.
These things really are shoddy compared to my euros. The front covers are plastic too.
Last edited by smithcb2; Aug 5, 2008 at 11:35 AM. Reason: Not repaired, just shoddy
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,321
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From: STL
95 e320...sold the rest
Thanks for all the input guys.
My friend has these on his mustang and he's got crystal reflectors that are smoked as well. I think they'll do the trick for a couple months.
http://www.prolightstar.com/luminics...t-bulb-h4.html
My friend has these on his mustang and he's got crystal reflectors that are smoked as well. I think they'll do the trick for a couple months.
http://www.prolightstar.com/luminics...t-bulb-h4.html
Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 241
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From: Calgary/Helsinki
1994 E320
[QUOTE=ZedStyle;2976560]very true, i used the tsx projectors and am very happy, but after it was all said and done, it was a very expensive project... [QUOTE]
How expensive? I still have to install my housings that I bought off Zorro like 4 or 5 months ago
I want to make sure I do it right.
How expensive? I still have to install my housings that I bought off Zorro like 4 or 5 months ago
I want to make sure I do it right.
