E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

Pass. HID blinks constantly

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Old Dec 26, 2006 | 07:45 PM
  #1  
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08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
Pass. HID blinks constantly

For the past week my HID has been blinking, on the passenger side. It would only stop if I turn on my fog lights. This isn't the OEM, it's aftermarket purchased from a sponsor.
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Old Dec 26, 2006 | 08:06 PM
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99 E320
you car electronics was set up for halogen. you installed HID. the dealer
needs to tweak the computer to recognize HID ballast/lighting. takes 10-15
mins. they'll charge you 1/2 hr or more. if you have good working relationship
with them...perhaps free.

generally speaking, i don't believe that the "HID PRESENT" toggle is user
selectable in the field.
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Old Dec 26, 2006 | 08:17 PM
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08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
nope, this isn't the case. I've been using this for a long time. A large resistor was added to show a 55w draw. I'm guessing this is ballast issue.
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Old Dec 27, 2006 | 02:50 AM
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99 E320
if you have bits n pieces of info, probably better to include them from the start so that we can shortcut isolating the problem. what other clues do you have?
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Old Dec 27, 2006 | 03:12 AM
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08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
Sorry, I thought this was a common problem that people might have.

I noticed the rapid blink today when I set my daytime running light to come on. Then I turn on my headlight but still blinking, it stopped after my foglights were turn on.

the kit was purchased from Carlabs which I don't see anyone else complainning about yet.
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Old Dec 27, 2006 | 08:35 AM
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What did Carlabs say when you contacted them about the problem?
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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 02:31 AM
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08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
I have not gotten a response yet. probably on vacation?

A new problem arised. A few times the other day and once today I noticed my headlight flashes real quick while I was driving down the road. The blinking is becoming more and more annoying now.
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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 01:12 PM
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sorry, working a lot. swap position of ballasts (L <-> R). if ailment manifests
itself on driver side now, the culprit will prob be the ballast.
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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by raymond g-
sorry, working a lot. swap position of ballasts (L <-> R). if ailment manifests
itself on driver side now, the culprit will prob be the ballast.
I had the same problem with my aftermarket HIDs on my vette. Turned out to be a bad ballast.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 07:58 AM
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Its big and Grey!
the dealer has to set the "HID present" for it not to flicker. Thats what I did to get my aftermarket ones to work.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 08:38 AM
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Did you get the V2 system? Might read this V3 link, Seems to be that there might be a known issue.
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 04:29 PM
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08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
Yah I believe mine is the V2, it's been only a few months. I hope they'll swap it out and give me the V3. Kinda scarey driving down the road @ night and BAM no more lights.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:10 PM
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'02 c230k coupe
I just noticed mine doing this as well ... any updates on the problem?
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:18 PM
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UGH! My V2 HID kit from Carlab started to blink repeatedly as I was driving last night. I had to shut it off before I got pulled over. Guess I'll be contacting them and asking if this is covered under warranty. So disappointing.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:20 PM
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Next time buy OEM products

Could be a bad balast, bulb, or both.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by MB Fanatic
Next time buy OEM products

Could be a bad balast, bulb, or both.
I would have if there was an OEM HID kit for my foggies.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:27 PM
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Haha W211. I haven't heard too many good things of CarLab's HID kits. In fact, they had posted some new updated HID Kit and when I posted some information, the OP was immediately deleted.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:27 PM
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08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
Well they first replaced the ballast, then later the bulb went out so I wasn't sure if it's bulb or ballast. For some reason my lights came out to project different colors. i'm due back there to get both swapped.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:32 PM
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When you change HID bulbs you HAVE TO CHANGE BOTH BULBS. Secondly, your car came with Halogen projectors, not HID. They are very different, as the phsyics involved in getting Xenon light onto the road ahead of you is very different. The photometry is different.

I would suggest calling MBenzNL or someone else and getting an OEM setup. You will appreciate the difference and it will be legal.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:39 PM
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08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
Originally Posted by MB Fanatic
When you change HID bulbs you HAVE TO CHANGE BOTH BULBS. Secondly, your car came with Halogen projectors, not HID. They are very different, as the phsyics involved in getting Xenon light onto the road ahead of you is very different. The photometry is different.

I would suggest calling MBenzNL or someone else and getting an OEM setup. You will appreciate the difference and it will be legal.
$280 vs over $1k I think I'd keep my $280 HID.

Secondly, have you seen an E class with aftermarket HID on Halogen Projectors? Both cut off lines are identical!

I've driven in front of my own car in another and never noticed the glare. The light is nice and bright on the road for me when I'm driving it as well. No complaints here.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:43 PM
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There is plenty of glare that you are throwing off to others in the opposite direction. I will say its good that at least you are running HID's in a car that has projectors, versus those who have reflector systems and use HID's.
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Old Jan 22, 2007 | 10:45 PM
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08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
Originally Posted by MB Fanatic
There is plenty of glare that you are throwing off to others in the opposite direction. I will say its good that at least you are running HID's in a car that has projectors, versus those who have reflector systems and use HID's.
That's why they made D2R and D2S
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Old Jan 23, 2007 | 06:01 AM
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Its big and Grey!
I have reccomended a great kit that has worked since day one with my car. I fully reccomend this kit. I got the 8000K, but if you want a bit more white in color, id go with the 6000k

http://www.xenonking.com/Mcculloch-8...d-Kit-Car.html

EDIT: I have travelled in may "groups" of cars, and not a single person has event mentioned glare from ym headlights. I am calling BS on the Glare issue.
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