New HID setup
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Cranston, Rhode Island
01' E Fifty Five
New HID setup
I found this on the 203 thread. I'm sure most of you already have seen this. but there is a place on ebay HID systems that sells there HID setup for 102.99 and free shipping. I was very weary to spend it because it was so cheap. I also didn't now how the cheap set would look or work on my car. I am a student so I don't have much cash so I just went ahead and did it. The car looks amazing, no computer errors, and the lights look just like I have xenons. I got the 6000k set. Took me a half hour to install, (with help from "health services" 211 thread on the install). This was also my first HID install. Just thought I would let you know I made out well. I will post pics later when I take the pics at night.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Cranston, Rhode Island
01' E Fifty Five
here's some pics I took right now at work. It's really sunny out right now and they still look good....i'll take more later. Excuse the car, its usually clean..
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,194
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Cranston, Rhode Island
01' E Fifty Five
that article means nothing to me. This kit works awesome, My gf lives deep in the woods and I can see much better, distance wise and directly in front of me with these HID's rather than my Halogens, when driving to her house. Nevermind how much better they look than the halogens. It gives the car a whole new look.
For all of you who do want to bother, the ebay store is
http://stores.ebay.com/HID-Outdoor-Equipments
PS. I ordered my kit on Monday afternoon and it was at my door Wednesday morning.
For all of you who do want to bother, the ebay store is
http://stores.ebay.com/HID-Outdoor-Equipments
PS. I ordered my kit on Monday afternoon and it was at my door Wednesday morning.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
I think what Kent is saying has merit: how precise is the beam as it's laid out on
the road? The practicality of such a modification has to address the issue of
glare and focus....and how it might impact other drivers. As a motorcycle rider,
it angers me the number of folks who will toss kits into their headlights, totally
oblivious and uncaring the adverse impact to others. This is why such HID
self mods/kits are illegal in most areas - the inability by end users to correct
and refocus the light properly.
Numerous times, I have rounded a corner and blinded by cheap HID installations
and whose owners who have not taken the time to look into calibration.
Motorcycle riders can't simply coast to the side as cars do....or as easily.
Now your kit, through serendipity, may actually align quite well with your
headlight. So I'm looking forward to your photos showing beam placement
on the road....against a wall...etc as a rough gauge.
the road? The practicality of such a modification has to address the issue of
glare and focus....and how it might impact other drivers. As a motorcycle rider,
it angers me the number of folks who will toss kits into their headlights, totally
oblivious and uncaring the adverse impact to others. This is why such HID
self mods/kits are illegal in most areas - the inability by end users to correct
and refocus the light properly.
Numerous times, I have rounded a corner and blinded by cheap HID installations
and whose owners who have not taken the time to look into calibration.
Motorcycle riders can't simply coast to the side as cars do....or as easily.
Now your kit, through serendipity, may actually align quite well with your
headlight. So I'm looking forward to your photos showing beam placement
on the road....against a wall...etc as a rough gauge.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Cranston, Rhode Island
01' E Fifty Five
This is the thread I used for the install, at the bottom of the page there are pics of an 03 E320 and how well the lights work. I took a few of mine last night from my phone so the quality isnt great.
My passenger side headlight is a little low only because I am missing the piece that locks the bulb in place so it slips down after a while bcasue its not locked in. Once I get the piece the lights will be at a perfect angle.
Here's the thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...ht=HID+install
My passenger side headlight is a little low only because I am missing the piece that locks the bulb in place so it slips down after a while bcasue its not locked in. Once I get the piece the lights will be at a perfect angle.
Here's the thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...ht=HID+install
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 531
Likes: 17
'08 CL600 with 152k km; '01 E430 4Matic with 433k km; '17 Porsche Cayenne with 130k km
Let's see the beam pattern! 
Park 25ft from a wall, and with a tripod, take a picture of the beam pattern. I have recently retrofitted some Audi RS6 Bixenon's into a set of Depo's, and WOW, let me tell you, the best investment for my car.
Park 25ft from a wall, and with a tripod, take a picture of the beam pattern. I have recently retrofitted some Audi RS6 Bixenon's into a set of Depo's, and WOW, let me tell you, the best investment for my car.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Cranston, Rhode Island
01' E Fifty Five
I have seen no statute in the state of Rhode Island that states this is illegal. I will look again, these lights are not even blinding. I have made other people drive just so I could see what they looked like behind me and in front.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 731
Likes: 1
W210 W140
That's good that you did your homework before buying the xenon kit. I know there is a law against this type of application in a bunch of states. It is primarily for the ricers, and more than likely, a Mercedes won't get stopped for it. The main thing is that is does not blind oncoming traffic.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Cranston, Rhode Island
01' E Fifty Five
Exactly. When you install these in the car you use the same setup you use to plug your halogens in, I see no reason why people are making a big deal!
Bottom Line:
Car looks better (just like stock xenons)
I can see better with these headlights
They don't blind
They are CHEAP
I'm only trying to point out to people I had great success with these, if you dont like them, dont buy them.
Bottom Line:
Car looks better (just like stock xenons)
I can see better with these headlights
They don't blind
They are CHEAP
I'm only trying to point out to people I had great success with these, if you dont like them, dont buy them.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Cranston, Rhode Island
01' E Fifty Five
Possibly people may be getting blinded by the higher temperature HID's?? Mine are 6000k, they also come in 8, 10 and 12000k temps. Any higher than 8000k may be blinding. Just my thought?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 8
Youngtimer
no, the higher the temp the less actual lumen output.
i bought some $100 HID's off ebay a few months ago, they work great. I don't actually drive anywhere that I truly need the extra light output (always in the city), so I have mine aimed as low as possible just incase, so I don't blind anyone. they still light up most of the road though, so i have no issues... i hope to retrofit projectors at some point, but we'll see. they look hot, and that's what i was going for, so yeah. also, mine came with two bulbs on the same housing, so only the high beam is HID, so best of both worlds i guess...
i bought some $100 HID's off ebay a few months ago, they work great. I don't actually drive anywhere that I truly need the extra light output (always in the city), so I have mine aimed as low as possible just incase, so I don't blind anyone. they still light up most of the road though, so i have no issues... i hope to retrofit projectors at some point, but we'll see. they look hot, and that's what i was going for, so yeah. also, mine came with two bulbs on the same housing, so only the high beam is HID, so best of both worlds i guess...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
technically, it doesn't need to be in RI statutes: DOT is the regulatory agency
which determines the lighting equipment critical specs, ergo it's covered at the
Federal level.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsa4304.htm
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/FMVSS/#SN108
which determines the lighting equipment critical specs, ergo it's covered at the
Federal level.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsa4304.htm
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/FMVSS/#SN108
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 531
Likes: 17
'08 CL600 with 152k km; '01 E430 4Matic with 433k km; '17 Porsche Cayenne with 130k km
Here's my set-up...
Parked from about 18ft away, I am very satisfied with my set-up. Needs some minor, I mean, minor tweaking. However, that requires taking my bumper apart, and re-baking the lights...not really in the mood for that. Unless the lenses fog up (siliconed it, so not likely) or something else, I am leaving it as is.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
no, it's because he used an HID projecter calibrated and approved for road use.
If it's still not apparent, it has to do with design and focus. You have cobbled
together a lighting system which has never been calibrated. Like any optical
device, the focal point needs to match the lens.
If you take a magnifying glass and try to start a fire, you need to move the
lens so that the focal point concentrates the light source.
If you place binocular to your eye, you need to adjust to the occular so that
the focal point is adjusted to the target.
If you take a projector headlight which is designed for the focal point of an
H7 halogen bulb....and you swap out and replace with an HID bulb...which
has a different focal point, as well as different characteristics, it will change
the throw of the light as it passes through the projector lens.
Given the high intensity nature of an HID bulb, ie 3x brighter than halogen,
the glare emitted is less likely to be casually waved off by other drivers.
Your solution, if you desire to have precision lighting is to purchase OEM
light components. After all, the R&D has already been done on these units.
If it's still not apparent, it has to do with design and focus. You have cobbled
together a lighting system which has never been calibrated. Like any optical
device, the focal point needs to match the lens.
If you take a magnifying glass and try to start a fire, you need to move the
lens so that the focal point concentrates the light source.
If you place binocular to your eye, you need to adjust to the occular so that
the focal point is adjusted to the target.
If you take a projector headlight which is designed for the focal point of an
H7 halogen bulb....and you swap out and replace with an HID bulb...which
has a different focal point, as well as different characteristics, it will change
the throw of the light as it passes through the projector lens.
Given the high intensity nature of an HID bulb, ie 3x brighter than halogen,
the glare emitted is less likely to be casually waved off by other drivers.
Your solution, if you desire to have precision lighting is to purchase OEM
light components. After all, the R&D has already been done on these units.
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Parked from about 18ft away, I am very satisfied with my set-up. Needs some minor, I mean, minor tweaking. However, that requires taking my bumper apart, and re-baking the lights...not really in the mood for that. Unless the lenses fog up (siliconed it, so not likely) or something else, I am leaving it as is.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 531
Likes: 17
'08 CL600 with 152k km; '01 E430 4Matic with 433k km; '17 Porsche Cayenne with 130k km
Well, if you noticed the new Lexus GS and LS, they have the LED license plate lights. In addition, it 'cleans up' the look by giving the trunk an updated look. I went to superbrightleds.com, bought some LED festoons and load resistors, and there you have it. The EL trunk lid is a matter of personal taste; some love it, some hate it. There's a thread called "$10 modification". Look it up and you'll see the details.
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Well, if you noticed the new Lexus GS and LS, they have the LED license plate lights. In addition, it 'cleans up' the look by giving the trunk an updated look. I went to superbrightleds.com, bought some LED festoons and load resistors, and there you have it. The EL trunk lid is a matter of personal taste; some love it, some hate it. There's a thread called "$10 modification". Look it up and you'll see the details.
