bulbs or HID?
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bulbs or HID?
Hey guys. Just picked up a 2008 E350 last week. New to the Mercedes world. Stock halogens on it right now, definitely need an upgrade. I know HID is better but why and those of u with bulbs, how do you like them?
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https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-retrofit.html
This gives you a projector designed for the xenon/hid bulb and lets you use Philips bulbs which are the best. This also makes it so you don't have to deal with trying to get a hid h7 bulb into those stupid metal clips and geting them back into the car. Much easier to remove the headlight as you can actually see what you are doing.
If thats not your cup of tea this would be my option 2
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid...l#.VPezc-GGdc4 4,300K bulbs give the best output
You would want canbus H7 harnesses and http://www.theretrofitsource.com/acc...l#.VPe0LOGGdc4
Won't be as good of output and you don't get the amazing high beams.
In either case you would/should get the car set to accept xenon lights as they operate at 35watts and will cause the car to think the light bulb is out to do this you need someone with a star system (MB diagnostic computer) A few members such as myself have one or of course some indy shops and the dealer (dealer could be hard to convince to do this for you but I did get mine to on my old w203)
Option 3
They made a huge difference on a few of my family's car and keep everything nice and simple. I will say they are known to not last very well but all of ours are under a year old so that is yet to be seen.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-retrofit.html
This gives you a projector designed for the xenon/hid bulb and lets you use Philips bulbs which are the best. This also makes it so you don't have to deal with trying to get a hid h7 bulb into those stupid metal clips and geting them back into the car. Much easier to remove the headlight as you can actually see what you are doing.
If thats not your cup of tea this would be my option 2
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid...l#.VPezc-GGdc4 4,300K bulbs give the best output
You would want canbus H7 harnesses and http://www.theretrofitsource.com/acc...l#.VPe0LOGGdc4
Won't be as good of output and you don't get the amazing high beams.
In either case you would/should get the car set to accept xenon lights as they operate at 35watts and will cause the car to think the light bulb is out to do this you need someone with a star system (MB diagnostic computer) A few members such as myself have one or of course some indy shops and the dealer (dealer could be hard to convince to do this for you but I did get mine to on my old w203)
Option 3
They made a huge difference on a few of my family's car and keep everything nice and simple. I will say they are known to not last very well but all of ours are under a year old so that is yet to be seen.
Last edited by samaritrey; Mar 4, 2015 at 08:54 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Mine came with the bi-xenons. I like them, they're brighter than halogens. Also the factory ones have active curve illumination and auto level. When you turn them on, they point at the ground, turn left and right then point straight ahead. When turning on a dark street, you can actually see the beams move left or right. The left or right fog light also comes on.
Only question I have about the projects is relative to federal law. I think that in order to run Xenon's, they're supposed to be DOT approved. Not sure if using those projectors makes the whole thing DOT approved. Description doesn't mention anything about DOT approval on the Morimoto. That's usually the drawback with aftermarket kit, I don't think any of them are DOT approved for street use, they usually say something like for off road use only.
Only question I have about the projects is relative to federal law. I think that in order to run Xenon's, they're supposed to be DOT approved. Not sure if using those projectors makes the whole thing DOT approved. Description doesn't mention anything about DOT approval on the Morimoto. That's usually the drawback with aftermarket kit, I don't think any of them are DOT approved for street use, they usually say something like for off road use only.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,365
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2006 E320 CDI 2014 C63 507 Coupe 2012 E550 4M 2016 E63s Wagon
The Retrofit Source sells really nice H7 at an attractive price. I put one in my W211 and it was much better than stock halogens. They look like stock HID projectors, cause they pretty much are. As long as you get 4300-5000k and don't get 6000k+ you'll never get bothered by the law.
