Detailed parts list and instruction for xenon projector
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3
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From: Brewster, NY
2000 E430 4matic; 2000 E320 4matic; 1997 C230
Detailed parts list and instruction for xenon projector
I've read through a bunch of threads on the new autodynamics headlights and upgrading them to xenon. What I have not seen is a detailed parts lists and instructions for a DIY. Any pointers (if already done) or details would be much appreciated.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
Am just about to start the Franken-HID project so I'll try to take photos, but I'm not rushing the job so it will be a few days/weeks...
In the meantime, try browsing HIDTECH.com to see how others have performed retrofits as well as rebasing.
In the meantime, try browsing HIDTECH.com to see how others have performed retrofits as well as rebasing.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 485
Likes: 2
W212 & W210
Guys,
I wish I took some pix when ZAM installed mine but it was really dark and I didn't have my camera with me.
It's not as hard to do as it seems.
Just need some patience and inginuity.
If I have to open up my lights again, I will take some good pix and post them here.
I wish I took some pix when ZAM installed mine but it was really dark and I didn't have my camera with me.
It's not as hard to do as it seems.
Just need some patience and inginuity.
If I have to open up my lights again, I will take some good pix and post them here.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 9
From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
It's pretty simple:
1. Open up the headlight.
2. Drill a hole on the back panel, so that the ballast wire can run through. Size of hole depend on size of wire adaptor.
3. Mount adaptor onto the light. I mounted my right behind the back plastic panel, but depend on size of ballast, that could change. Make sure that w/ ballast mount on, you could still fit the headlight back to car easily. You MUST take the try & fit step, otherwise, the headlight may not fit in car properly w/ the ballast mount on.
4. Remove your old H7 bulbs.
5. Put on new xenon bulb. First, put in the bulb so that the return wire (ceramic pipe) stay sideway, that way, you could snap the latch into the bulb (otherwise, it'll be hard to fit the end ot the bulb through the latch due to two little pins at rear of bulb), once the latch is in, then turn so that the return wire stay right at BOTTOM, then lock in the latch. Be very careful with this, you don't want to break the return light, it'll affect the bulb.
6. Connect the wire between bulb and ballast.
7. Connect ballast to wire that control H7 bulb. Make sure you get polarity correct, otherwise, you'll fry either the fuse (on left side of dash, see when driver door is openned), or worse, fry the ballast. On the housing, black is negative, yellow is positive. If possible, make an adaptor from ballast wire to connect it to the H7 wire adaptor. That way, you won't have to cut any wire & clean installation.
8. Turn on the engine, then turn on the light (do not swap order), make sure everything work.
9. Put light assembly in car, align light.
10. Drive around w/ big smile.
On scale of difficulty, I would rank this 3/10. Retroffiting an OEM lens (Hella/Bosch/Valeo/Stanley...) into existing Depo projector headlight would be much harder. I would rank it at at least 6/10. I don't even know how to desribe it in writing, it's like buillding a little ship within a bottle. If you decide to replace the entire projector (remove front of headlight), it's easier.
Making the headlight active (turn as steering turn) would be hardest, 10/10. I still can't figure out how to do it.
I've read through a bunch of threads on the new autodynamics headlights and upgrading them to xenon. What I have not seen is a detailed parts lists and instructions for a DIY. Any pointers (if already done) or details would be much appreciated.
1. Open up the headlight.
2. Drill a hole on the back panel, so that the ballast wire can run through. Size of hole depend on size of wire adaptor.
3. Mount adaptor onto the light. I mounted my right behind the back plastic panel, but depend on size of ballast, that could change. Make sure that w/ ballast mount on, you could still fit the headlight back to car easily. You MUST take the try & fit step, otherwise, the headlight may not fit in car properly w/ the ballast mount on.
4. Remove your old H7 bulbs.
5. Put on new xenon bulb. First, put in the bulb so that the return wire (ceramic pipe) stay sideway, that way, you could snap the latch into the bulb (otherwise, it'll be hard to fit the end ot the bulb through the latch due to two little pins at rear of bulb), once the latch is in, then turn so that the return wire stay right at BOTTOM, then lock in the latch. Be very careful with this, you don't want to break the return light, it'll affect the bulb.
6. Connect the wire between bulb and ballast.
7. Connect ballast to wire that control H7 bulb. Make sure you get polarity correct, otherwise, you'll fry either the fuse (on left side of dash, see when driver door is openned), or worse, fry the ballast. On the housing, black is negative, yellow is positive. If possible, make an adaptor from ballast wire to connect it to the H7 wire adaptor. That way, you won't have to cut any wire & clean installation.
8. Turn on the engine, then turn on the light (do not swap order), make sure everything work.
9. Put light assembly in car, align light.
10. Drive around w/ big smile.
On scale of difficulty, I would rank this 3/10. Retroffiting an OEM lens (Hella/Bosch/Valeo/Stanley...) into existing Depo projector headlight would be much harder. I would rank it at at least 6/10. I don't even know how to desribe it in writing, it's like buillding a little ship within a bottle. If you decide to replace the entire projector (remove front of headlight), it's easier.
Making the headlight active (turn as steering turn) would be hardest, 10/10. I still can't figure out how to do it.
Originally Posted by trmaguire
I've read through a bunch of threads on the new autodynamics headlights and upgrading them to xenon. What I have not seen is a detailed parts lists and instructions for a DIY. Any pointers (if already done) or details would be much appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 485
Likes: 2
W212 & W210
Originally Posted by The Doctor
Zam...if I were to pay you, could you assemble everything for me and make it ready to go? 
I wanna do the projector upgrade...well maybe..but if I do, can you help 
I wanna do the projector upgrade...well maybe..but if I do, can you help
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