dfordham

I don't have the lighting package and I'm somwhat dissappointed in the standard light output.

I'm not concerned with light temperature (appearance) and I don't want to do an HID conversion.

I found the Philips H7 X-treme halogen replacement bulbs and they claim 80% more output than factory bulbs. I'm not naive enough to believe the 80% number, but I would love to see 20-30% improvement.

Has anyone used these bulbs on an E? If so, was the change worth it? Did you just do low beams, or high beams also?

I the user manual, MB suggests the left headlight should be replaced by a technician. Is this true? Why?

Thanks,
Don

PHML

Be careful about aftermarket halogen bulbs...esp the colored glass ones. They tend to be higher wattage bulbs which claim to provide more light. The problem is these higher wattage bulbs will fry your wires and/or melt your plugs to the headlights. It's an expensive fix. I've seen this with my own eyes...many youngans do this and learn the hard way...so stay away from these types of bulbs unless you want the grief and headache.

With that being said, the only exception is Silverstar bulbs.

dfordham

These are 55W H7 so they should be direct replacements, no?

Regards,
Don

PHML

Yes...should be direct replacements....oem halogens are 55W.

CEB

I think that you'll be disappointed with these bulbs. While they may be a hair brighter, the huge problem is bulb life.

These types of bulbs, in my experience, will burn out every 6 months or so, while the OE bulb will last years. Is the slightly increased brightness worth the hassle of replacing bulbs very frequently?

dfordham

Good point. From reviews, people seem to be getting 2 years or more from these bulbs. That's much better than some, but, as you said, much less than OEM.

Since I'll probably only have the car 2 years I may risk it. First I have to find out why MB says the left should be replaced by a technician.

Regards,
Don

RNBRAD

I've noticed the same thing. I've used expensive PIAA's and Hella's and as far as I'm concerned, they are junk.

B6JoeS4

You will be fine with a bigger bulb drawing more power. Assuming it's like what I've seen on VW/Audi, the OE wiring is oversized and plenty big for 55w+ bulbs. If it does burn the wiring, then throw the stock bulbs in and take it to the dealer and play dumb

That being said, almost all of the high output/xenon look halogen bulbs are junk. You'll be replacing them every 6-12 months. I would just to a 4300K HID kit. Or pony up for an OE xenon-conversion

Why does Mercedes put halogens on this car in the first place? Xenons are so standard now, but not on a middle of the range Benz?

dbtk

Had the same issue re: needing more light without xenons (the only car without them, even my 1972 600 has HIDs). So I installed 55W PIAA Precious Whites which provide a claimed equivolence of 115W and 6000K temp. The difference is significant, expecially when you adjust up the height of your headlamps. I first discovered these bulbs when I was seeking a brighter foglamps for my 911. I am using Sylvania for my highbeams.

BTW, replacement on the driver's side was not as difficult as I thought. It just takes patience. It was worth the effort especially since the lighting is greater and the look more appropriate to an MB E-class.

CEB

I can only imagine that there is some high voltage stuff down there or something that requires special tools.

I don't believe the 2 year lifetime. I've never had a "hi performance" bulb last more than 6 months.

You can get slightly more output by increasing the wattage (not done here) or (like overclocking a computer) by using a lower wattage bulb running at a higher wattage - that reduces life.

CEB

So you are advocating warranty fraud?

CEB

I don't remember my 600 having HIDs. IIRC, while this lighting technology was invented in the 40's, it wasn't produced until 1951 by OSRAM (VARTA?) for commercial use (movie theaters) and the first consumer use in an automobile was in the late 80's, early 90's.

If your 600 has HIDs then it was a retrofit.

dbtk

Yes, I had them retro fitted to the existing H4 housings (which themselves were added by Karl Middlehauve).

dbtk

Nothing special on the left other than you have to remove a bracket holding one of the lines to free up enough room to get to the low beam chamber.

B6JoeS4

If you want to call it that, I guess so. Arrest me now

dbtk

Here are some photos of the E350 with recently installed PIAA 55W Precious Whites and 600 with HID kit installed. Note that the 600 photo was before the lights were fully "warmed" up. The color is more white than blue after about 5-10 minutes of being turned on.

Sorry about the grainy iPhone photos. I'll try to take better ones.

CEB

Lot of glare in each of those photos.

dbtk

I tried to better ones tonight...(but still with my iPhone)

Do you still have your 600?

MCF

Let us know if you get some parking lights that match....i upgraded my H7 bulbs and every parking bulb I tried was too blue. They actually made my upgraded low beam bulbs appear yellow (even though they are much whiter than stock low beam bulbs).

hyperion667

throw some pix up mang

MCF

Nobody wants to see stock (with exception of bulbs) luxury trim here!!!

MBCLS550

DBTK, do you have any other pics of the E350 with that lighting?

dbtk

MBCLS550, I will take another photo and post it. Snowing here today. I'll take it tomorrow evening. FYI, I got them on eBay under "piaa precious whites".

MBCLS550

Sounds good, thanks for the info; snowing here in NY as well, I heard you guys are getting it worse though.

dbtk

Hi. Just finally came on line. Power outage since Saturday--91% of town out of power with downed trees and lines.