Headlight upgrade question
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'06 E500 Wagon, BMW Z4 M Coupe, Mini
Headlight upgrade question
I have a couple questions regarding a headlight upgrade. Light output from my halogen projectors is really poor, and am considering either restoring the lenses and possibly replacing bulbs, or adding Depo units with replaced HID projectors.
If I go with in-kind halogen replacements, Is there any replacement bulb that will result in better performance without increasing wattage? (I don't want to risk melting my wiring)
If I go with Depo, is there anyone doing the projector swop? I like the idea of it, but don't think I want to take on the DIY myself.
If I go with in-kind halogen replacements, Is there any replacement bulb that will result in better performance without increasing wattage? (I don't want to risk melting my wiring)
If I go with Depo, is there anyone doing the projector swop? I like the idea of it, but don't think I want to take on the DIY myself.
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HID kit is probably your cheapest option along with a resto-the depo lights would work fine but would still be halogen bulbs.... only way light output would increase is if you buy something. People as well as me-complain about the halogen light output. Hid kit would increase lighting drastically i would think.... and restoring your lens's would surely help too.
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Sorry, I was thinking of going with Depo Xenon with the projector swop as discussed in many threads. I just don't really want to do the mod myself. I was hoping there is somebody here who does these and is well trusted, ect.
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So you would purchase depo lights with xenons in them already? correct? if so-then wouldn't it just be plug and play at that point??? swapp headlights and cut on..... assuming they have canbus eliminators in them you shouldn't get any faults....but again, clarify what part of the diy you don't feel comfy doing???
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or maybe you are referring to retrofitting... if that is the case you could do that with you stock housings and buy a hid kit-the only thing that makes them depo is quality and housing color-projection would be equal i would assume.... unless they are using some high dollar projector-depo.
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Most purchase the depo housing and throw in a higher quality HID kit. That's the easiest method. Best would be to retrofit a higher quality projector and then match with a quality HID conversion kit.
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Bingo. So it doesn't matter which Depo (halogen or Xenon) you get if you are going to the retrofit?
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I believe Depo also has a xenon version for vehicles that had oem bixenons. You have oem halogens I believe so you'd pick up the halogen model and then pair with an HID conversion kit. Some might be advertised as xenon/HID DEPO headlight replacement for OEM halogen model which is basically the halogen model with most likely the cheapest HID kit seller could find thrown in. Ideally you can find a halogen model without the marked up included HID kit and just replace that with a higher quality unit yourself.
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THE C350
The w211 is stupidly easy to retrofit in a set of HID e55 projectors with a good quality d2s Morimoto Slim Hid kit.
I did it on mine but was really easy but I used OEM ballasts which made the install much harder than it should have been. Here is a link to when I did it sadly didn't do a DIY but if you need help ask away.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post6102977
I did it on mine but was really easy but I used OEM ballasts which made the install much harder than it should have been. Here is a link to when I did it sadly didn't do a DIY but if you need help ask away.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post6102977
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2005 E320 CDI
I did a LED swap that can be done very cheap with the Evox-R projectors if you don't want to spend a lot. Also they are LED wont have the problems or wiring of HIDS. They are as bright as a factory HID headlights.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...der-150-a.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...der-150-a.html
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Although advertised lumens will appear to be on par with HIDs, you won't get the same lighting output in forward projecting lights compared to HIDs. Unless the housing is designed specifically to capture LED light spread, you will get light scatter and reduced throw distance. Just too many dead spots on LEDs. We've been keeping an eye on this and just haven't felt comfortable recommending to our customers to move forward with LED low/high beams at our financial loss. The new COB 3D chip is promising though and does offer true 360 spread, but doesn't yet have the lumen output, yet. LEDs are fine for fogs as you're not relying on them for primary illumination. Maybe even high beams are ok if you live in the city and just use them to flash people.
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2005 E320 CDI
Although advertised lumens will appear to be on par with HIDs, you won't get the same lighting output in forward projecting lights compared to HIDs. Unless the housing is designed specifically to capture LED light spread, you will get light scatter and reduced throw distance. Just too many dead spots on LEDs. We've been keeping an eye on this and just haven't felt comfortable recommending to our customers to move forward with LED low/high beams at our financial loss. The new COB 3D chip is promising though and does offer true 360 spread, but doesn't yet have the lumen output, yet. LEDs are fine for fogs as you're not relying on them for primary illumination. Maybe even high beams are ok if you live in the city and just use them to flash people.
Also as you mentioned while the light output is there the candle power or light intensity is somewhat lacking, still the projector does do a lot to compensate that even if it's made for HIDs in my case.
I can say as far as dead spots none since I am running quad projectors. My fogs are projector as well, running the same LED, that's still speculation on my part.
As you mentioned hid will still most likely be superior (for now) as the housing was specifically made for the HID which is perfect circular glow intensity for the housing.
I will say and defend though the output is still far superior to halogen in my honest opinion.
Now when the projectors are made for LEDs this is a different story. As in what Mercedes and Audi are doing in the future models, also example JW speaker and morimotos led headlights.
Off-topic as in leds might be replaced with those new awesome looking laser headlights which I will jump ship for.
Back on topic for a business position since no one makes plug and play led headlights for W211 and W212 only difference being those three factory plugs pretty much a monopoly.
In the end I am really happy with my lights, to me that's all that matters since I am not a business.
Last edited by CDIJeff; Dec 15, 2015 at 12:43 AM.
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True any evidence I give will just be speculation, since I don't have a light meter or any physically way to test other then comparing it to another HID or halogen setups.
Also as you mentioned while the light output is there the candle power or light intensity is somewhat lacking, still the projector does do a lot to compensate that even if it's made for HIDs in my case.
I can say as far as dead spots none since I am running quad projectors. My fogs are projector as well, running the same LED, that's still speculation on my part.
As you mentioned hid will still most likely be superior (for now) as the housing was specifically made for the HID which is perfect circular glow intensity for the housing.
I will say and defend though the output is still far superior to halogen in my honest opinion.
Now when the projectors are made for LEDs this is a different story. As in what Mercedes and Audi are doing in the future models, also example JW speaker and morimotos led headlights.
Off-topic as in leds might be replaced with those new awesome looking laser headlights which I will jump ship for.
Back on topic for a business position since no one makes plug and play led headlights for W211 and W212 only difference being those three factory plugs pretty much a monopoly.
In the end I am really happy with my lights, to me that's all that matters since I am not a business.
Also as you mentioned while the light output is there the candle power or light intensity is somewhat lacking, still the projector does do a lot to compensate that even if it's made for HIDs in my case.
I can say as far as dead spots none since I am running quad projectors. My fogs are projector as well, running the same LED, that's still speculation on my part.
As you mentioned hid will still most likely be superior (for now) as the housing was specifically made for the HID which is perfect circular glow intensity for the housing.
I will say and defend though the output is still far superior to halogen in my honest opinion.
Now when the projectors are made for LEDs this is a different story. As in what Mercedes and Audi are doing in the future models, also example JW speaker and morimotos led headlights.
Off-topic as in leds might be replaced with those new awesome looking laser headlights which I will jump ship for.
Back on topic for a business position since no one makes plug and play led headlights for W211 and W212 only difference being those three factory plugs pretty much a monopoly.
In the end I am really happy with my lights, to me that's all that matters since I am not a business.
For those who have not committed one way or another between HIDs and LEDs, I just wanted to put that out there as a point of consideration. If you do mostly city driving in well lit areas, it an extra 10-20 feet of throw distance might not make a lick of difference, but in rural areas, it might. One thing is for sure though, they look a damn sight better aesthetically compared to dingy stock halogens
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'06 E500 Wagon, BMW Z4 M Coupe, Mini
The w211 is stupidly easy to retrofit in a set of HID e55 projectors with a good quality d2s Morimoto Slim Hid kit.
I did it on mine but was really easy but I used OEM ballasts which made the install much harder than it should have been. Here is a link to when I did it sadly didn't do a DIY but if you need help ask away.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post6102977
I did it on mine but was really easy but I used OEM ballasts which made the install much harder than it should have been. Here is a link to when I did it sadly didn't do a DIY but if you need help ask away.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post6102977
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Then if that's the case, wouldn't your next best option be getting DEPO headlights and fitting in a nice set of HID, which at the minimum will still require removing the front bumper. Or, simply restoring any oxidation on your current headlights and throwing in an HID kit. I simply switched from halogens to HID and, yes I know these are halogen projectors and not HID projectors but still, I'm satisfied with the light output.
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Then if that's the case, wouldn't your next best option be getting DEPO headlights and fitting in a nice set of HID, which at the minimum will still require removing the front bumper. Or, simply restoring any oxidation on your current headlights and throwing in an HID kit. I simply switched from halogens to HID and, yes I know these are halogen projectors and not HID projectors but still, I'm satisfied with the light output.
Restoring your original halogen headlights and pairing with an aftermarket HID kit is by far the easiest and painless method. Simple light polish will clean up your headlights so they'd be crystal clear. Be sure to reseal it afterwards to keep it from hazing over quickly again though. And yes, halogen projectors are not ideal, but for most, it's good enough with good enough cutoff.
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OK, so just to break the options down:
1. Keep & restore existing assemblies. replace bulbs with higher quality halogen - $90 for 4 lamps. Questionable increase in output.
2. Keep & restore existing assemblies. replace bulbs with HID bulb in existing halogen projector - $300 for 4 lamps. Increase in output, but questionable projection characteristics.
3. Retrofit HID projector to existing assemblies. Requires disassembly of headlight assemblies. Purchase projector $??? plus HID Assembly $300 for 4 lamps.
4. Retrofit HID projector to Depo assemblies. Requires disassembly of headlight assemblies. Purchase Depo headlights $550. Purchase projector $??? plus HID Assembly $300 for 4 lamps.
5. Purchase used OEM E55 Bi-Xenon headlights - $600. Plug & play? Ballast or recode needed?
Does this seem right? A few questions I still have:
-Where do you source the HID projector used for the retrofit?
-Would option 3 or 4 result in better lighting that option 5? Option 5 seems a hell of a lot simpler & probably less expensive.
1. Keep & restore existing assemblies. replace bulbs with higher quality halogen - $90 for 4 lamps. Questionable increase in output.
2. Keep & restore existing assemblies. replace bulbs with HID bulb in existing halogen projector - $300 for 4 lamps. Increase in output, but questionable projection characteristics.
3. Retrofit HID projector to existing assemblies. Requires disassembly of headlight assemblies. Purchase projector $??? plus HID Assembly $300 for 4 lamps.
4. Retrofit HID projector to Depo assemblies. Requires disassembly of headlight assemblies. Purchase Depo headlights $550. Purchase projector $??? plus HID Assembly $300 for 4 lamps.
5. Purchase used OEM E55 Bi-Xenon headlights - $600. Plug & play? Ballast or recode needed?
Does this seem right? A few questions I still have:
-Where do you source the HID projector used for the retrofit?
-Would option 3 or 4 result in better lighting that option 5? Option 5 seems a hell of a lot simpler & probably less expensive.
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If you're iffy about using existing headlights w/ HID's, you're more than welcome to swing by some time at night to take look at mine. I can refer you to my local guy if you're interested as well, unless you want to go with AZN Optics or your own source, which is totally fine too.
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If you're iffy about using existing headlights w/ HID's, you're more than welcome to swing by some time at night to take look at mine. I can refer you to my local guy if you're interested as well, unless you want to go with AZN Optics or your own source, which is totally fine too.
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Then if that's the case, wouldn't your next best option be getting DEPO headlights and fitting in a nice set of HID, which at the minimum will still require removing the front bumper. Or, simply restoring any oxidation on your current headlights and throwing in an HID kit. I simply switched from halogens to HID and, yes I know these are halogen projectors and not HID projectors but still, I'm satisfied with the light output.
Curious as to what your cutoff pattern looks like with halogen projectors???
i have halogens and would like to upgrade....
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So the question in my mind: why would you retrofit your existing non HID lights, when you can pick up a used set of OEM headlights for about $500? Seems like price would be close to a wash, and much less work/uncertainty/mishap.
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You'd also have to do a recode going that route. Prices for that will vary dealer to dealer so factor that into the cost.
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I think for me I'd have to go for an e63 pair which isn't going to be $500. I would argue that my HID kit far surpasses most kits on the market and I'd probably get a good 2 years or more out of it with amazing output. I'd go though several kits and maybe, if lucky, 8 years before the cost would exceed getting an oem bixenon assembly. You would probably still have to replace the d2s bulb and ballast upon installing the BIX along with recoding.
