W211 HID to halogen "downgrade"
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e350
W211 HID to halogen "downgrade"
my 2007 E350 has been giving me fits with front headlight issues. I think I need to replace both ignitor/ballasts, and they
are very expensive and then need to be programmed by dealer
many sellers have complete, (Chinese made?) halogen assys for around 200. a pair. wondering if I can buy these and plug
and play from my HID to halogen
I am thinking that the factory wiring harness provides 12v to the headlamps and the ignitor/ballast is what converts the signal
for the HID bulb??
anyone done this? the plug connectors look the same??
are very expensive and then need to be programmed by dealer
many sellers have complete, (Chinese made?) halogen assys for around 200. a pair. wondering if I can buy these and plug
and play from my HID to halogen
I am thinking that the factory wiring harness provides 12v to the headlamps and the ignitor/ballast is what converts the signal
for the HID bulb??
anyone done this? the plug connectors look the same??
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I put Chinese projector lights on W210 years ago and even they look great from the outside, the mirror spread the light beam over the road, not necessarily when you'd need it.
Going from xenons (?) to halogen makes big difference. The 2 MB we drive often have different headlights and you notice that right away even we drive in city with lot of lights.
So going from xenons to Chinese lights- you are facing day and night difference.
To top it- you might need to "tell the car" about different lights, what might not be easy task as dealer not likely will touch it.
Going from xenons (?) to halogen makes big difference. The 2 MB we drive often have different headlights and you notice that right away even we drive in city with lot of lights.
So going from xenons to Chinese lights- you are facing day and night difference.
To top it- you might need to "tell the car" about different lights, what might not be easy task as dealer not likely will touch it.
Thread Starter
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e350
thank you kajtek1: I am looking to move on from my 211 to a 212, so my only concern is having headlights that work
for my potential buyer (or dealer trade)
anyone else out there that can help? thanks
for my potential buyer (or dealer trade)
anyone else out there that can help? thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Did you research LED lights availability?
They seem to be hot item and might increase car value.
I am skeptic about them being better than xenons, but most customers go for the label, not actually checking how the item works.
They seem to be hot item and might increase car value.
I am skeptic about them being better than xenons, but most customers go for the label, not actually checking how the item works.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
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e350
no I have not looked into LED; only interested in having lights so I can sell the car
just need to know if I can plug in the halogen units; plugs look the same
I measured power at the connectors and they are all at proper levels, and we know
that the ballasts do the converting for voltage
anyone???
just need to know if I can plug in the halogen units; plugs look the same
I measured power at the connectors and they are all at proper levels, and we know
that the ballasts do the converting for voltage
anyone???
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
The buyers might prefer having bixenons than halogens. I think the ballasts are about $200 each new. Did you have it scanned? Maybe you just need one. Also you could pick up some used ones on eBay, they seem to range from $40-$80.
This guy on eBay claims his are new and will work for $102 each.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-D1S-Xen...1/262881749930
This guy on eBay claims his are new and will work for $102 each.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-D1S-Xen...1/262881749930
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Thread Starter
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e350
most likely, I need ignitor/ballasts, BUT...….I may not???? I did scan the car, but all it told me was that there were
shorts in the wires, I have replaced the wires and the previous shorts probably wasted the ballasts, BUT, I am not certain..
So, buying either new ballasts, (very expensive) would require a dealer flash; that could total over 700. ++ buying used
ones are a bigger risk: no ability to KNOW that they were functioning properly before, and I would still have to pay for a dealer
flash or programming, AND that still might solve my issue.
so back to the original post, I am thinking, hoping and perhaps wishing? that plug and play halogens would give me headlights
AND give me the ability to sell the car with working lights
anyone anyone bueller bueller????
shorts in the wires, I have replaced the wires and the previous shorts probably wasted the ballasts, BUT, I am not certain..
So, buying either new ballasts, (very expensive) would require a dealer flash; that could total over 700. ++ buying used
ones are a bigger risk: no ability to KNOW that they were functioning properly before, and I would still have to pay for a dealer
flash or programming, AND that still might solve my issue.
so back to the original post, I am thinking, hoping and perhaps wishing? that plug and play halogens would give me headlights
AND give me the ability to sell the car with working lights
anyone anyone bueller bueller????
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Joined: Sep 2014
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From: NOVA/DC
20' RCF, 18' NX, 09' E350, 07' Solara, 05' STi, 01' Ranger
You can find ballasts and ignitors on eBay for cheap. It shouldn't cost more than a couple hundred to replace all of it.
Personally I would not down grade from bi-xenons to halogens ever. That's a huge step back. You could code the car and rewire the lights to take halogens for almost next to nothing since you could just find the h7 hella projector that would bolt in completely. All depends on how much work you want to put into it. I went the other way around. I went from stock halogen h7, and retrofitted e55 bi-xenons and did ballasts ignitors, clear lenses..etc. Putting LEDS in the stock projector is going to yield you crappy light output. Plus LED bulbs still suck unless they are OEM made for the headlights.
Had I kept the halogen h7 projectors when I did the retrofit I would send them to you to use.
BUT, to answer your question. You will need to have the car coded to run halogen lights. This is super easy in STAR/DAS. The plugs should be the same in terms of just plugging into the back of the headlight. You would not utilize the plugs that go to the ballasts (if there are any, I think the 3rd plug?)
-Nigel
Personally I would not down grade from bi-xenons to halogens ever. That's a huge step back. You could code the car and rewire the lights to take halogens for almost next to nothing since you could just find the h7 hella projector that would bolt in completely. All depends on how much work you want to put into it. I went the other way around. I went from stock halogen h7, and retrofitted e55 bi-xenons and did ballasts ignitors, clear lenses..etc. Putting LEDS in the stock projector is going to yield you crappy light output. Plus LED bulbs still suck unless they are OEM made for the headlights.
Had I kept the halogen h7 projectors when I did the retrofit I would send them to you to use.
BUT, to answer your question. You will need to have the car coded to run halogen lights. This is super easy in STAR/DAS. The plugs should be the same in terms of just plugging into the back of the headlight. You would not utilize the plugs that go to the ballasts (if there are any, I think the 3rd plug?)
-Nigel
Newbie
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2
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From: San Jose,Ca
2006 W211
Led
i got led put on and wow,cannot see at night.Not as bright as hid.
Super Member
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From: San Diego, CA
2016 E350 Sport; Mom Wrecked the 2008 E350; sold the 2002 C320
I agree with most that downgrading from xenon to halogen is a huge compromise. Opening the lights and re-doing the wiring is not complicated and you can source used ballasts quite cheap. Changing the ballasts doesn't require any programming or "dealer reflash." Also, if you decide to downgrade anyway, going from xenon to halogen won't require reprogramming either, since halogens draw more resistance than the minimum threshold for xenon. (in other words, having xenon = present programmed will not trigger a bulb out warning when running halogens). Good luck with the project.
