bluearisto

After reading numerous post, YachMaster and others...I summarize the following:

I have a 08 E350 W211.

1. Go ALL OE from dealer: headlight, ballast, ignitor, bulbs, etc <- too much $$$.
2. Get Bi-Xenon headlights, all parts, from bekkers.com
3. Get OE Bi-Xenon Headlight assembly and put aftermarket HID kit.
4. Get OE Bi-Xenon headlight assembly and retrofit better projectors kit
5. Use hologen headlight assembly and put aftermarket HID kit
6. Use hologen headlight assembly or a spare set and retrofit type E55 projector kit

Am I missing a combination?

What am i considering (most important to lease); time, work involved, looks, $1200 budget.

SPNJHockey

If you wanna come in a little under budget, you could always do #5, for around $60. That'll give you $1,140 to spend on other upgrades...or a cruise somewhere nice.

Neoii

Sorry for OT but is this you A? I'm only going by location and screen name.

gaazmon

+1, i'd just go with #5. get a good quality, reliable kit and just go with that.

bluearisto

If I get a aftermarket kit, I am looking into 55w slim 5k-6k temps. But What is a good seller of quality kits? I have seen mtec and ddm, but they are 35watters.

starbrite

Keep in mind that oem's are 35 watt, 4300k and when you go UP in color temp
you go DOWN in light output (lumens).

eddieo45

I only found this thread cuz my NBF SPNJHockey nicely reached out, as I bought the same 211 as his, so my $0.02 are really worth about $0.02! I never understood what the big deal about headlights was, but now that I have OEM Bi-xenons, I'm not sure anything less is worth it. Live with it, go OEM, or get a new car with OEM!

MasterMoparSB

Do #5, that's what I did. They are the same projectors as in factory HIDs.

mike-81-240D

Doesn't factory have adaptive control so you don't blind other drivers? IE cresting a hill.

To the op go with number 5 and buy 4300-4500k from DDM.

I've had nothing but great experience with them.

MasterMoparSB

You are correct, but the projector itself is the same.

And agree with DDm, they're great!

SPNJHockey

My halogens were blinding to oncoming traffic at hillcrests, so there's no increase when using the HIDs. And, the headlights were right-on-the-money as far as where they were supposed to be aimed.

charliele729

From what I understand regular halogen projectors "capsules" headlights uses a totally different headlight housing and lenses. If one was to retrofit hid into a non hid housing, the glare is extremely blinding to oncoming drivers especailly when it is aim incorrectly. Also many times there would be hot spots on the ground.

sunny_j

+1

i would go with number 3

mike-81-240D

Number 3 is still bad because after market HID bulb's are based to the type of housing and spread light in hot spots. Technically the only proper way to do it is option number one. So any other way and its hello glare and improper focusing.

The op could always look for factory BIX setups with broken clips (tabs) and take the parts and transfer them into his housings, Or he could call junkyards...