ZAM headlight flickering ..
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 406
Likes: 7
From: Bowie MD
2017 GLE350 4MATIC, 2009 ML350 4matic, 2005 4maticWAGON (sold), A Pre-facelift W210(sold)
ZAM headlight flickering ..
I have a ZAM retro headlight.. I love them..they are about 8 years old..
the driver side light was out on Sunday night..I got repair order ticket...but when I turn the lights on yesterday, it was flickering like a flourisent light, then it changed from a bright white light to a dull orange-like light, before finally went out.
How do I determine what the issue is? bulb? and type of bulb to replace and where to get it from....
Thanks in advance for your help...
cheers!
the driver side light was out on Sunday night..I got repair order ticket...but when I turn the lights on yesterday, it was flickering like a flourisent light, then it changed from a bright white light to a dull orange-like light, before finally went out.
How do I determine what the issue is? bulb? and type of bulb to replace and where to get it from....
Thanks in advance for your help...
cheers!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
method 1 - pull the bulb out of the ailing headlight housing and swap with the
bulb on the other side. turn on headlights. if the problem has shifted to the
opposite side (from before), the culprit is the bulb. if it has not, chances are
likely that the cause is the ballast.
method 2 - pull the ballast and (in similar fashion) swap with the ballast on
the opposite side. turn on headlights to see if the problem manifests on
opposite side. if so, the culprit is the ballast.
report back. D2S bulbs can be had for about $35 each. used ballasts can
be found on Ebay for about $50 each.
bulb on the other side. turn on headlights. if the problem has shifted to the
opposite side (from before), the culprit is the bulb. if it has not, chances are
likely that the cause is the ballast.
method 2 - pull the ballast and (in similar fashion) swap with the ballast on
the opposite side. turn on headlights to see if the problem manifests on
opposite side. if so, the culprit is the ballast.
report back. D2S bulbs can be had for about $35 each. used ballasts can
be found on Ebay for about $50 each.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 406
Likes: 7
From: Bowie MD
2017 GLE350 4MATIC, 2009 ML350 4matic, 2005 4maticWAGON (sold), A Pre-facelift W210(sold)
Ray, thanks for the response... i got off my lazy azz and took out the bulk, i tried to switch, but accessing the rear of the housing on the passenger side was really tight. The bulb do look like its got some white residue inside the bulb and a rust at the bottom.
Its a Phillips D2R xenon HID 25w...I think H9... Advanced auto wanted $100 (armed-robbers)
I've seen the Philips D2R's online 4 about #35...I will go the extra mile and switch the bulbs tomorrow be4 I invest in a bulb...
Its a Phillips D2R xenon HID 25w...I think H9... Advanced auto wanted $100 (armed-robbers)
I've seen the Philips D2R's online 4 about #35...I will go the extra mile and switch the bulbs tomorrow be4 I invest in a bulb...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
whoa....hang on sec. i would have thought it nearly impossible that Zam
would have created a HID headlight using a D2R bulb. ARE YOU SURE?
can you post a photo of the headlight standing in front of the car? am asking
because all of Zam's retrofits were Depo projector design using D2S bulbs.
would have created a HID headlight using a D2R bulb. ARE YOU SURE?
can you post a photo of the headlight standing in front of the car? am asking
because all of Zam's retrofits were Depo projector design using D2S bulbs.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 406
Likes: 7
From: Bowie MD
2017 GLE350 4MATIC, 2009 ML350 4matic, 2005 4maticWAGON (sold), A Pre-facelift W210(sold)
Pictures attached
Attached are the pictures the good and the bad. left is passenger side...the good one and the right picture is the driver's side..still flickering be4 going out...
Yes, it is D2R & 85126 aslo E513 on the one I removed..I'm such a novice in this dept
.
*Also, what's the best way to remove the passenger side? its tight with the radiator reservoir and the air filter... do I have to remove the headlight to access??? ..just to troubleshoot and compare the bulbs...
**Zam replied my email and said to replace both with D2S, this was be4 I discovered that I have D2R in there....I don't know how the D2R end up there
...maybe I changed it...
are both interchangeable?
Yes, it is D2R & 85126 aslo E513 on the one I removed..I'm such a novice in this dept
.*Also, what's the best way to remove the passenger side? its tight with the radiator reservoir and the air filter... do I have to remove the headlight to access??? ..just to troubleshoot and compare the bulbs...
**Zam replied my email and said to replace both with D2S, this was be4 I discovered that I have D2R in there....I don't know how the D2R end up there
...maybe I changed it...are both interchangeable?
whoa....hang on sec. i would have thought it nearly impossible that Zam
would have created a HID headlight using a D2R bulb. ARE YOU SURE?
can you post a photo of the headlight standing in front of the car? am asking
because all of Zam's retrofits were Depo projector design using D2S bulbs.
would have created a HID headlight using a D2R bulb. ARE YOU SURE?
can you post a photo of the headlight standing in front of the car? am asking
because all of Zam's retrofits were Depo projector design using D2S bulbs.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 406
Likes: 7
From: Bowie MD
2017 GLE350 4MATIC, 2009 ML350 4matic, 2005 4maticWAGON (sold), A Pre-facelift W210(sold)
Back on the Road...my issue was the bulb and NOT the ballast.
I replaced both lamps with Philips D2S...no more flickering.
Picked up both on Amazon for about $82 delivered...
**....but I'm glad this happened, I'm not a novist at HID lamps and conversions anymore...
...just my $0.02
cheers!
I replaced both lamps with Philips D2S...no more flickering.
Picked up both on Amazon for about $82 delivered...
**....but I'm glad this happened, I'm not a novist at HID lamps and conversions anymore...
...just my $0.02
cheers!
Last edited by d2Benz; Apr 8, 2013 at 07:25 PM.
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