OEM Xenons installed today with 100% success.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
OEM Xenons installed today with 100% success.
I just got back from the dealer where they installed a pair of "like-new" OEM Xenon lights in place of my halogens with 100% success.. basically Plug-program-n-play, they also need to aim/adjust them. The program part is where they have to tell your car's computer "xenon-present" in order to decrease the power from 55w to 35w to the ballast boxes.
The '04 and '05 models according to the dealer are wired exactly the same whether they are factory installed xenon cars or not (to save cost) and as such the upgrade is a 2-3 hour labor job at best. So for the record, OEM Xenon's ARE PLUG-N-PLAY.
BTW.. I've yet to have evening come to really see how much better I can see with them, but I have some idea as my Volvo has Bi-xenons too, and when I drove the benz, it was just not the same.. now I get to experience the brightness in both cars.
The '04 and '05 models according to the dealer are wired exactly the same whether they are factory installed xenon cars or not (to save cost) and as such the upgrade is a 2-3 hour labor job at best. So for the record, OEM Xenon's ARE PLUG-N-PLAY.
BTW.. I've yet to have evening come to really see how much better I can see with them, but I have some idea as my Volvo has Bi-xenons too, and when I drove the benz, it was just not the same.. now I get to experience the brightness in both cars.
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From: Taiwan
2003 W211 E240
I also have my Xenon light installed today. It was great except the auto levelling function.
Is it possbile to have this function works ? (my dealer said it can be possbile but require some wiring) anyone has done this before ??
Is it possbile to have this function works ? (my dealer said it can be possbile but require some wiring) anyone has done this before ??
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
[QUOTE=CE750] The program part is where they have to tell your car's computer "xenon-present" in order to decrease the power from 55w to 35w to the ballast boxes.
[QUOTE]
Correct me if I'm wrong, it's a posibble voltage setting, not wattage setting. The H7 bulb is a 55 watt bulb. The xenon ballast powers a 35 watt xenon bulb. On the w210's all you had to do was upgrade the fuse to compensate.
Any other specifics on what they really needed to do. Those xenon's I bet you could have installed yourself. But I could be wrong...
[QUOTE]
Correct me if I'm wrong, it's a posibble voltage setting, not wattage setting. The H7 bulb is a 55 watt bulb. The xenon ballast powers a 35 watt xenon bulb. On the w210's all you had to do was upgrade the fuse to compensate.
Any other specifics on what they really needed to do. Those xenon's I bet you could have installed yourself. But I could be wrong...
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From: Irvine, CA, USA
Tesla
The computer doesn't decreases the power. Light bulb just draws whatever amps it needs. The programming of computer is to tell it not to trigger lamps out warning when it detects the lamp using less than 55 watts, which the Xenons do.
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
Originally Posted by steph280
The computer doesn't decreases the power. Light bulb just draws whatever amps it needs. The programming of computer is to tell it not to trigger lamps out warning when it detects the lamp using less than 55 watts, which the Xenons do.
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From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
Actually, xenon system take 70-80W during boot (1 second), and 35W after. The computer system is programed to tolerated this power surge.
The reason why some people have to upgrade fuse is to handle the ballast booting.
Cheer
The reason why some people have to upgrade fuse is to handle the ballast booting.
Cheer
Originally Posted by steph280
The computer doesn't decreases the power. Light bulb just draws whatever amps it needs. The programming of computer is to tell it not to trigger lamps out warning when it detects the lamp using less than 55 watts, which the Xenons do.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by shtsai
I also have my Xenon light installed today. It was great except the auto levelling function.
Is it possbile to have this function works ? (my dealer said it can be possbile but require some wiring) anyone has done this before ??
Is it possbile to have this function works ? (my dealer said it can be possbile but require some wiring) anyone has done this before ??
As for do it your self.. I agree, it took them 2 hours total, and they just needed the right tools (which I don't have). But the aiming too would have been difficult since they had all of the proper equipment for that there too.
I am very, very happy with my xenons.. and the best part is I have a spare set of lights incase I need them, or I get in a reck that I caused!
Thanks again Zam.
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From: Irvine, CA, USA
Tesla
Originally Posted by zam2000
Actually, xenon system take 70-80W during boot (1 second), and 35W after. The computer system is programed to tolerated this power surge.
The reason why some people have to upgrade fuse is to handle the ballast booting.
Cheer
The reason why some people have to upgrade fuse is to handle the ballast booting.
Cheer
When the computer senses the lamp is drawing below a certain amp, it will shut off power and trigger the lamps out warning message. This will happen when an Xenon lamp is installed on factory wiring harness, or a direct connection to battery with a relay trigger.
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From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
When I said "tolerate", I mean for both boot and post boot. The computer will simply shutdown the light when it detects anything NOT 55W. This is why runing through relay still cause shut down, unless you add in a resistor.
Originally Posted by steph280
While it is true there is a surge during ballast power up, your statement on the computer programming for power tolerance is not true for W211s. How would you explain those retrofit kits that run direct connection from ballast to battery having same problem?
When the computer senses the lamp is drawing below a certain amp, it will shut off power and trigger the lamps out warning message. This will happen when an Xenon lamp is installed on factory wiring harness, or a direct connection to battery with a relay trigger.
When the computer senses the lamp is drawing below a certain amp, it will shut off power and trigger the lamps out warning message. This will happen when an Xenon lamp is installed on factory wiring harness, or a direct connection to battery with a relay trigger.
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From: Irvine, CA, USA
Tesla
I am not making up my claims. Go check MB's master tech manual on this. At 55 watts the wire is only drawing about 4.5 amps. Even if the current doubles or triples, it's not going to cause enough stress to melt the wiring harness.
By the way, even halogen bulbs will create a surge during powerup. So there will always be fluxuation beyond 55 watts.
By the way, even halogen bulbs will create a surge during powerup. So there will always be fluxuation beyond 55 watts.
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
Originally Posted by steph280
I am not making up my claims. Go check MB's master tech manual on this. At 55 watts the wire is only drawing about 4.5 amps. Even if the current doubles or triples, it's not going to cause enough stress to melt the wiring harness.
By the way, even halogen bulbs will create a surge during powerup. So there will always be fluxuation beyond 55 watts.
By the way, even halogen bulbs will create a surge during powerup. So there will always be fluxuation beyond 55 watts.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Orange County, CA
'06 BMW 530i, '03 BMW M3
Cost? CE750- would you mind sharing what
your dealer charged for the conversion (parts and labor)? I have a couple cars locally but neither has the lighting package which I absolutely must have. Thanks..
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by reb03
your dealer charged for the conversion (parts and labor)? I have a couple cars locally but neither has the lighting package which I absolutely must have. Thanks..
he charge me $0 as he OWED me big.. but the normal charge would have been $400 or about 3.5 hrs.. DON'T let them tell you 10+ hours, as that would mean they want to install the axle sensors for the auto-level.. NOT NEEDED. Get the lights installed, the Central Gateway reprogramed for Xenon = Present, and the lights aimed... and you're on your way.
