HID kit installed, small problem
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
The housings and lens are quite different. Just look at the beam yours produces versus the cars that have OEM xenon projectors. The xenon beam is very sharp, clear, and does not scatter light.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
It would be great if the folks who have successfully converted to HID using a kit
take photos...not of the car, but more importantly, of the beam against a light
colored wall at night. if there is speculation over the quality of the light beam
ie shape, spread, accuracy in cutoff, the beam photo would go a long way
towards confirming the quality. back off from the wall about a good long car
length and snap off a few.
so, photos, please!.....
take photos...not of the car, but more importantly, of the beam against a light
colored wall at night. if there is speculation over the quality of the light beam
ie shape, spread, accuracy in cutoff, the beam photo would go a long way
towards confirming the quality. back off from the wall about a good long car
length and snap off a few.
so, photos, please!.....
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 822
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Harley-Davidson
Originally Posted by KosherBenz
. . . I bet ya that the actuall housings on the w211 for the headlights are exactly the same for non-hids and halogen.
Originally Posted by raymond g-
It would be great if the folks who have successfully converted to HID using a kit
take photos...not of the car, but more importantly, of the beam against a light
colored wall at night. if there is speculation over the quality of the light beam
ie shape, spread, accuracy in cutoff, the beam photo would go a long way
towards confirming the quality. back off from the wall about a good long car
length and snap off a few.
so, photos, please!.....
take photos...not of the car, but more importantly, of the beam against a light
colored wall at night. if there is speculation over the quality of the light beam
ie shape, spread, accuracy in cutoff, the beam photo would go a long way
towards confirming the quality. back off from the wall about a good long car
length and snap off a few.
so, photos, please!.....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
precision beam through the HID projector. by installing an HID bulb into a
halogen housing, you shift the focal point in nearly all instances. one can
simply describe the resulting beam output as 'successful' or you can attempt
to quantify this via photo....an easily accomplished task.....notwithstanding
that this method is widely used by customizers and retrofitters of true HID
projectors for years. wall shot gives an idea the vertical and horiz spread,
cutoff, potential glare of a kit. we all pretty much know what factory beam
shot is of HID because there are DOT and ECE standards.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
I beg to differ, I have had not one person complain or note about glare or such from using the same housing for the HID's. To be honest, I think its all rumor. I bet ya that the actuall housings on the w211 for the headlights are exactly the same for non-hids and halogen.
for the halogen bulb and light source. the HID projector specs for the projector lens
is different. picture, if you will, a magnifying glass....you adjust fwd/back until the
optimum focal point is achieved, thus at a precise distance, light/heat converges.
with lighting system, similar concept is by design. and the bulb (be it halogen
or HID) operates at a specific distance from the projector lens. the projector
bowl and lens are designed to work in unison to project the beam forward. the
cutoff shielf also is important in cutoff, color, and sharpness and all this must
work together at a precise and specific distance from the light source.
overall, you're correct, obviously....in that the headlight assembly and housing
is pretty much the same. it's the projector inside which is the crucial unit which
determines HID/halogen usefulness and precision of light. one projector for
HID bulb use, and one for halogen.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,212
Likes: 9
From: Boston, MA
00 MB ML55, 91 Toyota Supra Turbo(sold), 06 E500(gone), 03 BMW M3
um here is an easy way to put this to rest... BiXenons have active lighting, Halogens DO NOT, case closed. While this is not the proper way to do things, I might use this method to go from my ghetto *** 98-01 headlamp in my 00 ML55(which came from the factory with xenons) to a single projector style headlamp
Also dont go anyhigher the 6000k bulbs, its kinda ricey
Also dont go anyhigher the 6000k bulbs, its kinda ricey
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 755
Likes: 2
From: USA
LS7 powered Corvette
The Xenon burner is always ignited at full intensity. Basically it is always in the "high beam" setting. There is a shudder in the lamp assembly that blocks some of the light emitted when you are using the low beams. If you are in front of the car and have someone flick the high beams on and off you will hear a solenoid type noise from the lamp assemblies.
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
2004 E500
It occured to me that none of this BS would be necesary if (m)
MB WASN'T SO G-D CHEAP OR STUPID AND EQUIPPED ALL E MODELS WITH HID LIGHTS AS BEFITS A 50K AND UP (WAY UP) CAR!!! 
Sorry for the "yelling", but the omission of HID lights as a standard feature really, really annoys me-to the point that I am almost against buying an MB as such arrogance & cheapness makes me wonder about much more. Even more gauling is the omission in even higher end vehicles from MB.
Sorry for the "yelling", but the omission of HID lights as a standard feature really, really annoys me-to the point that I am almost against buying an MB as such arrogance & cheapness makes me wonder about much more. Even more gauling is the omission in even higher end vehicles from MB.
Last edited by JWS3; Nov 25, 2006 at 11:27 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
2006 CLK350
i've tried to read throught most of the xenon/hid threads. one of my concerns is the error message. i was wondering what brands/ kits people have installed sucessfully WITHOUT the R/L headlight message and without flickering. I was going to go with the HELLA ballast/philips bulb. (BTW want to install into an 06' Clk350). thanks in advance.
Will
Will
