MB-JIM

I'm placing my order next week for an 04 E Class. I would appreciate feedback from anyone who has been able to compare the Halogen vs Xenon lights. I had Xenon on a W210 and really liked them but on my W208 CLK the Xenon lights were very disappointing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

sf49ers79

Well, i really like the way they look... so i thinks it's really worth to buy this option. Also i'm a fan of xenon. On this new e-class is not just xenon is bi xenon. I'm not really sure what that means but there's a thread here explaining btwn xenon and bi-xenon. that thread would be really helpful to determine whether you gonna love bixenon or not.

rayscar

The bi-xenon is a must have IMO. They are noticably brighter than normal headlights. I wasn't wether it was worth the money when I ordered the car but now I won't get another one without bi-xenon lights.

rtrider

I'm very happy with the bi-xenons on my car, as well. In addition to lighting up the road very well, they look much better, in my opinion, than the yellowish standard lights. My '98 Audi A6 has xenons, too, but I think the MB are much better.

MBZman

Someone more familiar please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the xenon lights you refer to on your previous cars were just plain xenon lights. The Bi-xenon on the newer models are not only Bi-xenon, but also projector style and thus much brighter than you are accustomed to.

Honestly, the next Benz I purchase will DEFINATELY have the Bi-xeon lights.

gup998

i suggest teh Bi-xeon..a lot brighter and you can see further, you can tel the difference from the regular xeon

rtrider

MBZman,

The Audi has projector lenses, I believe, but you're right - they are not bi-xenons. I'm not sure that anyone had even heard of bi-xenons when I bought the car in 1998.

monakh

The Bi-Xenons are a must, IMHO.

sf49ers79

i agree with monakh eventhough you're not a xenon fan or whatever.

CLK430_ew

get the Sport Package if u want the Bi-Xenon light
is only $200 more

E3: Sport Package details $1,375.00

¡P Bi-Xenon Headlamps, Headlamp Washers
¡P Black Birds Eye Maple Trim, Blue Tinted Glass
¡P LED Brake Lights, Sculpted Side Skirts,
¡P Front Bumper, Rear Apron,
¡P 17" Sport Wheels with 245/45 R 17 tires

E1: Value Added Package details $1,150.00

¡P Headlamp Washing System
¡P Bi-Xenon Headlamps

CarlssonCRS

If you dont get xenons, theres no point in getting that car!!

Rock72

According to www.mbusa.com, E3 is $3800.

Rock.

MPTLPTR

That's for the E320 since the airmatic is part of the E3 package.

For the E500 airmatic is standard so E3 costs less.

Damian L

every manufactures top models have them standard, because they are better. 40% better visability.you can see 40% more of whats in front of you, is that of value to you?

CarlssonCRS

the thing of value is the way it looks!

mbr129

Come on guys! You shouldn't get Bi-Xenons just because it looks good.

Anyhow, Bi-Xenons means that both the low beam AND the high beam are Xenons. Regular Xenons means that only the low beams are Xenons, and the high beams are Halogen.

Practically, Bi-Xenons work best if you tend to drive in low light areas. I got Bi-Xenons on my new BMW because I work and live in the suburbs and in the winter it gets dark early making it tough to see in some of the roads I drive through (twisty, no lights, in the woods). If I lived in the city, it would just be a waste of money. Unless of course you get them just for show for for resale purposes.

CarlssonCRS

well a lot of people do things to their car just cuz it looks good.
who actaully buys a body kit for the purpose of being more aerodynamic and holding the car down? who buys 20 inch rims for better handling?

Otto

you get exact "brightness" (luminance) technically because the law does not allow xenon "brighter" than "halogen". the law only allows 15% difference from the standard legal brightness. the way that people think xenon is brighter than halogen because the former provides "white" light which can be accepted by human eyes more than the latter "yellow" light. if you use an equipment to test it, you will know they provide the same brightness.

if your head light over the legal brightness then you may have a legal problem when a accident happens due to your lights !!!

the benefits of having xenon lights

1. use less power. only 1/3 of the traditional one
2. longer life. 3 times longer than the traditional one.
3. make your car look better when you use lights.

NitroShredder

Worth it? In a word. Yes. Look at it this way... Toyota's and Nissans are now coming with Xenon's as optional equipment, Acura have Xenon's STD across the board.. and many marques are making Xenon's STD on the higher end models.

So in 5 years or so.. if you decide to trade in your E w/OUT xenons.. you are going to take a hit in resale.. since most cars in 5 years will probably come with xenons.

From a lighting perspective.. yes they are fantastic. I have commented to the effect myself here on this forum that the E1 package is worth it just to see the xenons turn on. The "boot up" sequence of the bi-xenons is just too amazing.

By them. E3 package..... if you like the birdseye maple trim then get the E3. Otherwise just get the E1.

Just my 2cents.
Peter

mbprince

get them..........it's a wise choice (safety via better visibility) and they are state of the art

medici78

I find it ridiculous that Xenons are not standard equipment on a car this expensive.

MB-JIM

Thanks for all the help. I went ahead and ordered the XENON lights for the
04 E500 that I'm picking up at the factory in Sindelfingen on October 8th.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the tracking function works. It sounds like
a significant improvement.

NitroShredder

Agreed.. HOWEVER, you also get the washers. Now that's a BARGAIN!

Peter

E55AMG99

You won't regret it, especially on some of those dark European highways where you will regullarly drive 2x as fast as you do in the States. My dad just picked up a loaded S500 Sport with bi Xenon at the factory. I met him in Italy and boy was I happy to have the extra safety when doing 200 KPH plus at night.

BTW, I have a W210 and a W208 convertable both with Xenon and find it very hard to tell the difference between the two inside or outside the car. Compared to my mom's W210 without Xenon, the difference is like night and day!

Congratulations on the new car!

sf49ers79

Congrats on your recent order... looking forward to see your car pic