1997 e320

Hello everyone,
I am a new member but have been peeking around this great website for a while now. I am about to buy a HID kit for my 1997 E320, not only because I don't like the looks of halogen lights but because I need better lighting at night since I drive in rural areas for about 1 hour every night. I am probably buying the HID kit from DDM tuning, but my question is will I get a Lamp Malfunction error with the 35w kit or not? My understanding is that 55w kit won't throw an error, but I would rather have the 35w kit because 55w kit is too bright in my opinion.
Any experience or advice?
Thank you

raymond g-

welcome to the MBWorld, 210 love in.

inserting D2S bulbs into your reflector which is designed for a halogen bulb's
focal point will screw up the beam quality and introduce glare to other
drivers. You can try to shim the bulb in/out but I've not tried that myself.
Someone in the 203 forum posted similarly (DDM kit) and his was totally
giddy at the output and how much better the beam lights up the road
signs. ....until I pointed out that this is happening due to the glare and
the mismatched projector bulb which he installed within a halogen spec-ed
enclosure.

most folks don't seem to care about the glare these high output bulbs produce
if not carefully fitted, which is unfortunate.

I've not heard 9many folks on 210 using the DDM kit so I dont know if they
will be able to give you first hand info regarding 'bulb malfunction' msg.

To resolve this myself, i used OEM parts. HIDs in 210s were Hellas, so I
sourced the same when I put my HID headlights together. I used projector
from a 210 E55 and fitted that into a Depo/Taiwan shell. good lighting,
great full beam in HIGH mode, and no error messages.

good luck....and do consider the quality of light and how it impacts other
drivers.

1997 e320

Raymond, thank you for the warm welcome and the detailed explanation. I have considered in the past getting oem xenon headlights, because that would be the best choice, but it's too much money right now, so HID kit would be the most economical choice. I do live in a very rural area, and 99% of my driving is in not busy street, just ocasional truck. So I probably wouldn't blind a lot of people. By the way I will probably go with 4300K bulbs, because I don't like any bluish hint at all. My main reason to go with HID kit is for better lighting at night, looks is second. Also I will aim the low beams a little lower. I will mark on my garage door where the light is with halogens, then when I put the HID kit I will lower the low beams to the same spot where the halogens were on the garage door. This way it should minimize blinding the incoming traffic. Also wanted to go with 35w kit to minimize blinding, but wasn't sure if it would throw the Lamp Malfunction error. What do you think, would the 35w kit throw the Lamp Malfunction error? Thank you.

raymond g-

hooboy...dunno. the go/no-go insofar as triggering the bulb malfunction has
to do with whatever the threshold has been set and designed in the circuit.
one really doesn't know becuase it's a simple electronic issue of 'load'.

hypothisizing: if the triggering mechanism detects high resistance (or low
load) outside the envelope and scope of what it expects to see, i.e. typical
H7 bulb load, it triggers the light.

I avoided it by selecting and replicating the load used by OEM parts. with
DDM, you never know what the electrical/electronic specifications will do
unless it is measured....or simple plugged in and sampled.

the latter is what i was obscurely trying to refer to when I said that there
really hasn't been anyone on 210 forum posting that they've used the DDM
kit......or scared to for fear of provoking OHLORD (forum member known for
strong opinions on lighting), having his blood pressure skyrocket....who then
responds in kind. LOL

if you visit 203 forum, you'll see many folks sharing their experiences with
the DDM kit, some who are asking for problems solving assistance, and
others who are using the kit successfully. i'm aware that such comparisons
(203 v 210) are apples / oranges though.

AMGDriver

um... i have DDM in CLK430 and C43... I have no error messages... and i didnt even use the thingys they sell to prevent the error messages... I have had the 35W in the cars for almost a year now...

1997 e320

Thank you gentlemen for your replies. AMGDriver, thank you for sharing your experience. I went ahead and bought the 35w HID kit with 4500K bulbs from DDM tuning, and will post some pics after installation. They said they were backed up a little bit, so hopefully won't take too long until I get the kit in the mail.

ohlord

my name

Don't do it.You waste your money.You won't see any further.
It matters not that you blind other drivers,it matters that you will not achieve the desired results.
Spend the bucks(like $800 or so and folllow Rays instrucions on Depo conversions Or put them'( the waste of time kits) back in the box and hope to God they give you a refund(which they won't)
Let me go back to sleep now.Thanks

way2evil

The HID kits are not a waste of time. If you install the PROPERLY, they have much added benefit compared to halogens, and will not blind other drivers.

Get the 35W kit, the 55W may run too hot for a small housing.

BigBoss

What exactly is the proper way? If I don't get projector headlights I'm just gonna go with a HID kit anyways.

way2evil

They need to be aimed down a bit. The best way to tell is to have a friend drive the opposite way down a road and see if your lights are blinding people. If they are then they need to be aimed down just a bit.

BigBoss

Whats the difference between 35w and 55w? What's better? I plan on getting HID's sometime and I'd like a hint of blue in them. 6000K?

raymond g-

that is such an oversimpiflication that it borders on outrageous. the glare
band can be wide. because the out-of-focus issue, the method you suggest
to 'correct' this places the majority of the HID's useful beam on the pavement.
you're now driving and using the glare portion of the vertical beam, which by
now, has diminished in lumens to where it arguably is back to that of a
good halogen beam but with the higher color temperature. since your eyes
are not good measures of lumens, it is easily fooled by color temperature
and continues to tell your mind that '...wooohoo, I have an HID...'

my disagreement with your advice is that it oversimplifies a much more
complex cause and effect, and casually suggests an amateurish fix,
notwithstanding the issue of legality.

ohlord

I will be short and to the point.
What an ***.
Driving down the road with beams aimed 5 feet in front of the car is hardly installed properly,is poor lighting,is posing.You must be in the 17-22year old bracket that they market those cheap burpel sets to.

C280 Sport

Ohlord. Why up so early on a saturday?

way2evil

Where did I say they need to be aimed 5 feet in front of the car? I said they need to be aimed down a bit in order to accompany the new amount of light your car will be producing.

Its amazing how everyone with HID lights is 22 years old and drives a civic.

Benzo 003

35w or 55w doesn't matter....both run cooler than the stock halogen bulb.

I recently installed a kit from xenithxenons.com and it works perfectly. It is a 6000K kit, it has just a hint of blue, almost silver, if silver was a color of light. I double checked the "aim" of the light, following the procedure in my manual, and the aim was perfect.
Only the the bulb is changed, not the reflector or housing, or anything that would change the angle of the light.
The light is certainly brighter, but out wide, not up high. Street sign reflect more and now appear clear farther down the road.
I have yet to have someone in front of flip their mirror or shield their eyes or oncoming traffic flip me hi beams.

C280 Sport

I believe if the car did not come with the HID's then dont bother with it. I dont care if people do it or not. It just is not all the world to me to have them.