My first W211: High-beam question
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 391
Likes: 2
From: Northern Virginia
2010 ML350 GAS 4Matic
My first W211: High-beam question
I just picked up a certified '05 E500 with 3 total years of extended warranty. Love the car - particularly the interior, which is black with black birds-eye maple trim.
Prior to this car, I had an '04 CLK500. Both cars have the Xenon option. But I noticed with the CLK, that the high beams were much brigher than on the E-Class. Any idea why?
When I hit the high beams on the CLK, it was like turning night into day. Extreme brightness. Passengers couldn't believe their eyes it was so bright. Reflective traffic signs would just pop and the whole road illuminated.
By contrast, the high-beams on the E-Class seem like any other car.
Prior to this car, I had an '04 CLK500. Both cars have the Xenon option. But I noticed with the CLK, that the high beams were much brigher than on the E-Class. Any idea why?
When I hit the high beams on the CLK, it was like turning night into day. Extreme brightness. Passengers couldn't believe their eyes it was so bright. Reflective traffic signs would just pop and the whole road illuminated.
By contrast, the high-beams on the E-Class seem like any other car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 59
From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
I just picked up a certified '05 E500 with 3 total years of extended warranty. Love the car - particularly the interior, which is black with black birds-eye maple trim.
Prior to this car, I had an '04 CLK500. Both cars have the Xenon option. But I noticed with the CLK, that the high beams were much brigher than on the E-Class. Any idea why?
When I hit the high beams on the CLK, it was like turning night into day. Extreme brightness. Passengers couldn't believe their eyes it was so bright. Reflective traffic signs would just pop and the whole road illuminated.
By contrast, the high-beams on the E-Class seem like any other car.
Prior to this car, I had an '04 CLK500. Both cars have the Xenon option. But I noticed with the CLK, that the high beams were much brigher than on the E-Class. Any idea why?
When I hit the high beams on the CLK, it was like turning night into day. Extreme brightness. Passengers couldn't believe their eyes it was so bright. Reflective traffic signs would just pop and the whole road illuminated.
By contrast, the high-beams on the E-Class seem like any other car.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 391
Likes: 2
From: Northern Virginia
2010 ML350 GAS 4Matic
My wife and I both noticed immediately that our recent E-Class doesn't have anywhere near the high beams that the CLK had. I would've thought that they'd have essentially the same bulb.
Another thing I noticed about the E that seems to be different from my CLK is regarding the speedometer. I like seeing the digital readout of my speed. On the CLK, when I set the information center to show the speed, it would stay set to speed the next time I started the car. On the E, it always defaults back to temperature in the display and I have to switch to to speed every time I start the car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 7
From: Orlando, FL
2026 AMG GT63 Pro
It's strange why the CLK was so much brighter. Years, before, I had an '03 CLK500 and it also had extremely bright high beams.
My wife and I both noticed immediately that our recent E-Class doesn't have anywhere near the high beams that the CLK had. I would've thought that they'd have essentially the same bulb.
Another thing I noticed about the E that seems to be different from my CLK is regarding the speedometer. I like seeing the digital readout of my speed. On the CLK, when I set the information center to show the speed, it would stay set to speed the next time I started the car. On the E, it always defaults back to temperature in the display and I have to switch to to speed every time I start the car.
My wife and I both noticed immediately that our recent E-Class doesn't have anywhere near the high beams that the CLK had. I would've thought that they'd have essentially the same bulb.
Another thing I noticed about the E that seems to be different from my CLK is regarding the speedometer. I like seeing the digital readout of my speed. On the CLK, when I set the information center to show the speed, it would stay set to speed the next time I started the car. On the E, it always defaults back to temperature in the display and I have to switch to to speed every time I start the car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 142
W221 S600, W220 S55 AMG Kompressor, W124 300E, W140 S320, W210 E3204M W164 ML320 Bluetec
It's the "Basic Display" setting, as you found.
The headlamps should be very similar. I would think that perhaps your headlamps are not aimed correctly, or have lost some if their intensity if they have been used as DRL since the car was new. Are they more purple than blue/white? What's the condition of the plastic lens?
The headlamps should be very similar. I would think that perhaps your headlamps are not aimed correctly, or have lost some if their intensity if they have been used as DRL since the car was new. Are they more purple than blue/white? What's the condition of the plastic lens?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
this wouldn't be the diff between fix blade vs moveable blade HID projector,
wouldn't it? ie when 'high' beam is activated, the shutter on the bixenon
projector swings down to reveal the full beam.
wouldn't it? ie when 'high' beam is activated, the shutter on the bixenon
projector swings down to reveal the full beam.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 391
Likes: 2
From: Northern Virginia
2010 ML350 GAS 4Matic
I'd love to figure out the reason because I LOVED my CLK's high beam.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
