Ok soo my car didn't come with lighting package soo i wanted hid's in my low beams. The salesman told me he knows 1 of the mechanics at the dealer who would install them for me on the side, once i purchase the hid kit. (i dont have experience or confidence in doing it myself) So i purchase a 5000k kit and 5000k led bulb for the parking lamp, and stealth bulbs for the front turn signals. MB mechanic comes to my house sunday, puts in the turn signals and led wedge bulbs in for me, he was having a problem putting in the hid kit, saying he needs to pull off the bumper to access the headlights.(his hands wouldnt fit in the tight space, and this was the passenger side).. Yesturday i went to my local wheel/tuner shop and they installed the kit for me in less than 2 hours, no need to pull front bumper off. The 5000k hid kit looks great its bright, projects great, only problem is it doesnt match well with the parking light, the parking light has a hint of blue, and the hid is more white/yellow. Im happy with the way it projects light into the street, but when looking at the car its obvious the difference in color, i was really hoping they would be alot closer of a match.. oo well thats my story, thanx for reading

 

Lets see some pics my friend.

 

Which hid kit did you get?

 

I'll post pics tonight, i used a kit that a member sells on this forum.. aznoptics, great price, has built in resistors..

 

Oy weh. Putting HID bulbs in a housings made for halogens is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

Why's that? Isnt it projector head lights? And there 35 watt Hid's no melting issues, also had hids installed in my w204 for over 2 years they were fine, no problems at all. Please explain what kind of disaster i should be expecting.

 

I'm glad you asked. Here are a few links to ponder.

HID type bulbs

Benefits of HID

Why you shouldn't retrofit

Daniel Stern isn't some fly-by-night internet expert but, often to the chagrin of NHTSA, is considered to provide accurate information.

Finally, here is an excerpt from a NHTSA document that directly applies to you and the individuals who installed those illegal bulbs.

"Because replaceable light sources are, by regulation, designed to be non-interchangeable, it would not be possible for an HID headlamp conversion set to meet the standard’s photometry requirements for an original equipment headlamp system using a halogen light source, so the replacement lamps could not be sold for this purpose. Furthermore, a headlamp dealer or motor vehicle repair business could not remove the original halogen headlamps and install HID replacement headlamps without violating 49 U.S.C. 30122. That section prohibits manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and motor vehicle repair businesses from making inoperative equipment installed in accordance with a Federal motor vehicle safety standard."

Now you why it isn't a good idea to install this stuff on your $50k+ car. What you decide to do is clearly up to you but you know the possible consequences. Be very careful when returning to a dealer for service as they may consider this lighting as a contributing factor to any electrical or electronic failure and could therefore justifiably refuse warranty service on any electrical or electronic failure.

You might not like what I'm saying, but everything I've cited is fact, not internet rumors.

Oh, and these types of installs are known to melt wiring harnesses.

 

ok you first link is talking about "blue bulbs" (fake hid bulbs) regular holagen bulbs with tinted blue.. Also i bet you couldnt tell the difference between a stock mb low beam with hid, then these aftermarket ones i installed, there not some cheap looking blue color.. its a stock 5000k color. I can honestly care less about the links you posted.

 

Your choice. At least now you know why you may fail a periodic safety inspection (in NJ has them) or have warranty issues.

 

I can understand warranty issues, if the wires fried or anything along those lines due to the aftermarket hids.. but the whole "legal" or periodic safety inspection? Are you for real rite now.. i'll say it again, there not some ugly/tacky dark blue,purple light.. its the stock 5000k bulb, you couldnt tell the difference!

 

For those who care for aftermarket parts.. heres a few crappy phone pics, sorry bout the glare, weird that today i noticed a little less yellow and more of a white(what i want).

 

You obviously did not read the links I provided because that would have explained why you can't just squeeze a HID bulb into a halogen housing. Unfortunately, your photos demonstrate that explicitly - there is more glare from those lamps than from those tacky blue lights I also linked to (because many people want that HID look without the hassle of installing ballasts.

It is obvious from miles away that those are not OE bulbs/housings even if the color temp is similar. Your lights will fail inspection in any state that has inspections and yes, they are illegal.

 

bigigg,

CEB does make a valid point, however we are not some ricers that install $20, 12k HID kits. He tried inform me of this on my last HID thread (appreciate the warning), however I'm sure that people who can afford a 60K vehicle are smart enough to install the correct kits that will do the job.

I installed my M-Tec 6k hid kit last month and it looks amazing. The difference is night and day. My kit is designed specifically for the W211 E class, however it does the same job on my W212.

My projectors are on the factory level setting and luckily my buddies were over to help me test them out. I had them all pass my vehicle down my long street and none were blinded. Nor have i had any drivers high beam me...ever.

 

Well i guess im thankful NJ inspection does not care about aftermarket hid lights.. your a moron for even trying to compare a holagen bulb with a blue tint to a hid bulb, if no one has told you yet ill be the first. As for the glare, thats just a bad cell phone pic, i can assure you of that. I purchased the proper kit from a reputable vendor on this forum. If you look at the 2nd photo you can clearly see the amazing output of the new hid's unless you rather be in denial thats your choice. Im done bickering at this point, we all have our own opinions thats why this is a forum, we have different taste.. thats why some of our cars are nicer than others.

 

Lol yes I agree.

Can you see better at night with your HIDs? Because mine seem to look and perform way better than the stock halogens.

 

Wow! What a difference. I installed the hidextra 6000k kit on my gx470 and wish now that i had gotten the 5000k. It seems whiter.

 

It is amazing how seemingly intelligent people can look at facts and studies from around the world and conclude that it doesn't apply to them.

You guys must all be special - but not in a good way.

 

I can tell a slight difference, the stock halogen bulb isnt terrible tho. My reason for changing to hid's was for the look, its not like i couldnt see at night with stock lighting.. i just rather have that nice crisp clean white look. Not yellow.

 

CEB,

What's your problem?

 

No problem. I'm just confused as to how someone can look at a factual document that details why HID bulbs can't be used in a stock housing, then another that describes in detail (from a Government agency on a different continent) how it is impossible to retrofit without dangerous glare and a multitude of other documents all saying the same thing and then conclude "it doesn't apply to me. My eyes are superhuman so even though every expert in the universe tells me that my visibility will be degraded - and oncoming drivers dangerously blinded - I'd rather listen to some company selling illegal products on the 'net telling me how great they are."

Make no mistake about. The "brighter" image you think you see is an optical illusion because of the excess stray lighting thrown on the ground in front of your car. The only way to get any range is to adjust the assemblies in such a way that must blind oncoming traffic.

I may not be an expert on many things, but I've forgotten more about lighting that the entire population of this forum will ever learn (inless Jeff from my office is here - is that you Jeff?)

I don't care if you guys want to stick candles into your headlight assemblies, but don't try to make anyone believe that you get better lighting from sticking an HID bulb into a halogen housing. Just admit that you're peeved that you didn't buy a P2 equipped car and now want to feel cool with the whiter lights - but remember - you've degraded your vision by doing so.

I challenge any of you to find an article by a reputable institute, scientific organization or government agency that demonstrates any benefit of placing HID bulbs into halogen housings. That person gets a nice gift card from me. So far, I'm the only one to have provided overwhelming evidence why it is a bad idea.

It is so much easier to attack the messenger than it is to try to find rebuttal evidence that doesn't exist. That's the way that schoolyard bullies play.

 

Like i flat out said, i can care less about the information you provided, and the links you posted, or the people who wrote them! I would not keep the lights in if they were blinding oncoming traffic! Im not that careless or stupid. Ive tested out the output and was curious in that aspect, and guess what your wrong.. im not blinding oncoming cars! As for me not getting p2, your right.. i did want it.. but the dealer didnt have any cars with p2 in the color i wanted.(diamond white with chestnut interior) pretty exclusive Not too many people have that.. What i find funny is, do you even own a w212? or are you still too busy doing "what color shall i choose" polls?? You know every part of a forum has atleast that one @sshole that is a ball breaker and smart ***, suplies people with useless info and negative comments.. gues what?? thats you!! HAHA

 

What is the point to ask questions on ANY forum..or even come to a forum if you care less about whatever answer you get? I think the point of posting on this forum is to hear what people think/say ....and it's not always (or always not) the same as your opinion.

 

I didnt ask anyone a question, i was simply sharing my experience of my hid install.. now if i felt that away about everyones opinion then yes there is no reason for me to be on a forum. Ive gathered plenty of usefull information from forum members who have been very helpful, "CEB" is not one of those members.. And when he makes statements like "Oy weh. Putting HID bulbs in a housings made for halogens is a disaster waiting to happen." Guess what thats useless info to me, and i dont agree with him at all. So if you chime in dont make accusations.

Him making a stupid comment like that is basically going against hundreds of forum members, and thousands of people who have installed aftermarket Hid's.. witch im sure would laugh at him just like i am.

 

I'm sorry that you find information pertaining to the legalities of your mod "not helpful." What you do with that information is up to you, but to shoot the messenger because the message doesn't make you feel all warm and fuzzy is a bit arrogant. Perhaps that is why you drive a MB - so you can feel superior as you blind oncoming traffic.

 

I dont need a MB to make me feel special.. sorry