w211 headlight problem
Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 105
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W211
Bi-Xenon does mean both high beam and low beam. Mercedes added the Halogen bulb in the inner light for flashing the high beams when the headlights are off as the HIDs take a while to reach full brightness. These halogen bulbs also go on when the headlights are on and the high beam is turned on.
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 81
Likes: 5
From: USA
2018 C300 Coupe
Follow the wires from the bulb. You should see something that looks like this at the other end...
http://www.hidmasters.com/Replacemen...1_5994806.aspx
http://www.hidmasters.com/Replacemen...1_5994806.aspx
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
03 E500
Here's a crappy pic of my light low beam on the left and high/driving light on right. That's how I was able to have led high beams. and I added another pic of the igniter that I replaced. I thought the igniter and ballast might be the same thing with theses cars but ill do some more checking and post what I find.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
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From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Bi Xenon is both low and high beam. One bulb. There is not a separate bulb for the high beam. Still not sure how you can have LEDs for your high beams, but that is not at issue. Maybe something in the way you configured your LEDs is causing the issue. Maybe a bad socket? Could be wiring harness. Maybe a bad fuse, or an issue with the SAM. Are you sure you have the right bulb? You may need to have a Star scan to find the issue.
Edit..after doing some checking, it seems the 03 is similar to the W210 in that the low beam is HID, and high beam is Halogen. Confusing that MB would list Bi Xenon if this is the case.
Edit..after doing some checking, it seems the 03 is similar to the W210 in that the low beam is HID, and high beam is Halogen. Confusing that MB would list Bi Xenon if this is the case.
I second that either you have an issue with the lights you added and overall load on the system, or there is something faulty with the factory HID ballast.
Last edited by AMGAffalterbach; Sep 24, 2014 at 08:51 PM.
Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
W211
Bi Xenon does mean that but there is a second High Beam HALOGEN bulb in the inner light for flashing high beams(when the low beams are off), as the HID take awhile to get to operating light output. But when you put your high beams on with the low beams on, the electronic shutter moves to create the high beam and the halogen bulb in the inner light also turns on.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
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From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Ohhhh I had no idea they did it that way, that's smart but the logical way to do it for situations where HIDs aren't warmed up but high beams need to be used.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 320
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From: DFW
2 2001 E320s, 2005 E320 4Matic
You learn something new every day. I have Bi Xenons on my 05, and did not realize the Halogen bulb in the city lamp came on when I hit my brights. The high beam in the BiXenons are so bright that they overpower the halogen lamp. Granted, I don't do lots of night driving anymore due to eyes that don't see as well as they did when I was younger, but you would think this is something that would be noticeable to the driver. My bad OP for leading you astray. Have you figured out your low beam issue?
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: South CA (LA, 818) & North CA (SJ, 408)
2003 E500
Bi Xenon does mean that but there is a second High Beam HALOGEN bulb in the inner light for flashing high beams(when the low beams are off), as the HID take awhile to get to operating light output. But when you put your high beams on with the low beams on, the electronic shutter moves to create the high beam and the halogen bulb in the inner light also turns on.
1. If low beams are off and I pull back on the stalk, my inner lights (halogen) will come on.
2. If low beams are on and I pull back on the stalk, my inner lights (halogen) will come on AND my low beams (HID) will increase in power, thus making all 4 lights high beams.
3. If low beams are on and I push on the stalk, only the outer (HID) low beams turn to high beams but the inner lights stay on their normal low power.
Am I getting this right? Or will the lights react the same in numbers 2 and 3, but it will just stay locked in place if I push forward versus flashing for the duration when I pull back? Also, does this mean that I have bi-xenon?
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Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: South CA (LA, 818) & North CA (SJ, 408)
2003 E500
Thank you for shedding some light on this for me. I don't have my car today, but I will try playing with the lights so I know how they react under different settings. Also, are all W211s from 2003 on considered bi-Xenon if they come from the factory with HIDs?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
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From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
I believe so or at least the data cards say so it's either halogen or bi-xenon as an optional upgrade. I know for the facelift models that's the case. This thread has confused me a bit as far as what the options are, but I guess it makes sense to have Halogens as well for quick-flash, not sure if it's an industry standard or not. And also not sure if some W211s came with HID low beams only and halogen only high beams, my guess is this is not the case.
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Joined: Mar 2021
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E550
2007 E550 Bi Xenon headache
right side is intermittent on and off . Put the light switch to OFF when I get a dash code and light goes back on for 2 minutes and out again.
I SWAPPED THE BALLAST AND BULB with the leftside good ones .
Put the MB computer on it to see if any codes and YES . It reads "defective right side headlight "
I bought another RS headlight assembly from a donated E550 with a busted housing . I stripped it down and removed all the internals .
Now I want to remove the headlight on the car , strip it down and replace all the internals ( as best I can ) with the parts from the scrapyard donated car .
My question is : Am I wasting my time ? This scrapyard headlight already cost me $200 and hours to disassemble the bumper ,wheels, wheelwells, etc .
IF ANYONE HAS OR HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE AND COULD ASSIST ME i WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL !!!!!!! ( sorry for caps )
I am very frustrated with this because the new headlight assembly here in Canada is over $1000 with AFS , cornering light , etc etc
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I SWAPPED THE BALLAST AND BULB with the leftside good ones .
Put the MB computer on it to see if any codes and YES . It reads "defective right side headlight "
I bought another RS headlight assembly from a donated E550 with a busted housing . I stripped it down and removed all the internals .
Now I want to remove the headlight on the car , strip it down and replace all the internals ( as best I can ) with the parts from the scrapyard donated car .
My question is : Am I wasting my time ? This scrapyard headlight already cost me $200 and hours to disassemble the bumper ,wheels, wheelwells, etc .
IF ANYONE HAS OR HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE AND COULD ASSIST ME i WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL !!!!!!! ( sorry for caps )
I am very frustrated with this because the new headlight assembly here in Canada is over $1000 with AFS , cornering light , etc etc
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
