lasvegas99

Getting stock Xenon assemblies from a 2003 E55 (pics attached) for my 2003 E500. Got some good info on the other forum but was wondering if anyone did that kind of swap here. Curious if someone swapped the whole assembly or pulled the bulbs and any other need parts out. Plan on taking them to the Benz shop so they can do the programing and install. Is the leveling mechanism in the assembly?

Thank you for any thoughts or heads up.

raymond g-

are your stock headlights halogen with clear outer lens? if so, and you're thinking
of getting bixenons via this swap, the best thing to do, in order to get a
quality beam, is to swap the projector units itself. the challenge would be to
get the E55 proj to fit right where your halogen projector is. if you're lucky,
the mounting points will be close...and you can shim or improvise some secure
fitment.

you'll still need to find igniter, ballast, and bulbs. hopefully, these will come from
the E55 headlight assembly as well.

it's probably not going to be PnP. there are still many devil in the details with
such a modification. though the self leveling is built into the E55 headlight
housing, the remainder of the telemetry fittings are in the suspension of the E55.
few people have the energy and time needed to retrofit these parts to their
non factory installed HID.

lasvegas99

Stock Headlights are halogen I believe. They do have the clear outer lens.

My overall thought process is that with all the ebay kits (good and bad) being installed successfully, having a complete OEM Xenon assembly should get me in the game with some work.

lasvegas99

Went to a MB shop today and they asked if the ignitors are in the assemblies cause if not they are $2,000 a pop (I thought he might know). Seems high given the Xenon option is around a grand I thought. Anyone can confirm or deny if the ignitors are in the assemblies I pictured above? Thanks

lasvegas99

Just to follow up, found out it is possible from two MB shops. If you have working assemblies (ballast, ignigtor) it should be plug and play with SDS programming or $30 in a MB wiring adapter in the worst case. both claim you need to drop the bumper among other things so total labor is around 4 hours ($400) including the SDS. Will let you know how it turns out.

lasvegas99

Well its done. Here are some pics (left pic is before and right pic is after). I took them quick. Just wanted to let you guys know its possible if you want to go that route. Color isn't real blue but I like it. Total cost with labor ran $700.00. I got the assemblies for $200.00. Make sure all mounting tabs are there as well as ballasts, bulbs and ignitors. I know its double some of the kits I have seen which are also nice but it is a OEM Xenon swap. Next up, RENNtech (ELM) Electronic Lowering Module set to arrive Monday with install set for Wednesday. Will post then.