fourcircle

Have a 2011 E350 with P1 package and stock halogen headlights. Can't believe my 55K car has such impotent lights.

Often times, I will ride with my brights on and I still don't get "flashed" by oncoming traffic. Gives you an idea of how bad it is...

Are there any easy, professional and relatively simple upgrades available? Please advise. Thanks.

BM2BZ

easiest: change bulbs. easier but much better result: hid kit.

fourcircle

Can you recommend what specific bulbs and whom from? Thanks BM2BZ.

Any other suggestions?

BM2BZ

to be honest, i wouldn't go with just the bulbs. hid kit will make both the color and look similar to stock xenon. i'd rather stick with stock halogen than just change some 5k color bulbs. they'll make the color whiter but not brighter. as for the kid, you can find tons of them from ebay. just get it from a seller with good ratings and make sure the kit is error free.

fourcircle

To go HID with a reputable outfit and a set that won't throw codes, what do you estimate that will cost?

BM2BZ

diy: around $60-$70.
by your buddy: around $60-$70 plus a few beers.
by indy shop: not sure. could be $200+

Nuru

i found that the lights were aimed too low. I went to my dealer to ask why they are aimed so low in comparison to the C-class and was told that the state required them to be set at that beam height to keep them from blinding people.

sliu6122

I found AZN Optics to have error free HID kits that will match your DRLS. Better hurry because he only has a limited stock. I got lucky with my set that i just ordered.

PHML

DRLs are white with a bit of yellow....if you want your HIDs to match this, go with 4300K color temp HID bulb

BM2BZ

good to see you posting again, phml ! fourcircle, you can do like what phml said or change the parking lights (two smaller, inner lights) to some 5k led bulbs. need 5k kit to match that, of course.

ImInPA

I find the illumination of my halogen P1 E to be just fine. Is HID brighter? Yes. If you are having trouble seeing with the standard halogens, you probably should not be driving at all.

desired_speeds

That's what I think sometimes. People drove around for so decades before HIDs came out. It's just that the car looks so much cooler with HIDs.

BenzE350

You guys must be young and have good eyes. I'm over 50, and the HID lights are far superior and make driving a lot easier.

Remember that people also drove for decades without antilock brakes or airbags - but most folks wouldn't want to now.

Nuru

My C300's lights seemed to be a lot brighter, but the only diff I was able to find was that the aiming of the lights is different. I plan to work with my dealer and see how far we can adjust them and not violate the state mandated settings. If they are already set at the limit I may explore an HID kit or factory HID retrofit.

BM2BZ

if you don't want to go to the dealer, you can adjust it your own. the instruction is in the manual. but just don't adjust it too high .

ImInPA

I am in my 50's as welll. The question is not whether HIDs are better, but, are the halogens acceptable. Since they have to meet DOT specifications, I would argue that the halogens are fine. My personal experience with them backs this up. I take acception that the halogens "suck!!!" as the OP phrases it. Are HID stronger yes. Are the standard Halogens good? Yes.

BenzE350

For $60K I want my lights (and car) to be more than acceptable and just meeting DOT specs. The halogen lights on my $15K Mazda 3 are acceptable.

How about the halogens are acceptable but suck in a $60K Mercedes.

ImInPA

I agree with you. So, don't be an idiot and get a non-P2 vehicle if the HID lights are that important to you. I agree that HIDs are better. I also find the halogens to be far more than just accesptable in my P1 E350 Bluetec. I think MB should include HID on ALL of their vehicles in the US. They don't. If HIDs were that important to me I would have insisted on a P2 Bluetec. From what I have experienced in riding in friends cars that have done the 3rd party HID light conversions, I do not think they are as good as the factory HID units. They look nice, and have the HID color, but, I think they are inferior to the oem units. Just my 2 cents.

El Cid

I noticed the same thing on my 2010 and had dealer check out the headlights. They had been set at the lowest level at the factory and he adjusted them to the highest setting. Great improvement.
Don't thing state regs. have anything to do with it as federal laws govern OEM lights for the most part.
Have dealer adjust them before spending any money.

blackbullit

Agreed.

Aiming by dealer or yourself will help this quite a bit.

Also with P1, I recommend changing to PIAA Xtreme White bulbs (H7 bulb type) and always drive with fogs on (can change them as well to H11 PIAA bulbs to match). These changes allow me to see deer off side of road without using high beams.

Slcjr777

Theretrofitsource has an excellent HID kit and I got the 4300k kit as PHML suggested. The kit is well made, error free and very bright. The problem I am having is finding LED parking lights that match in color. Pic below to give you an idea of color.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...-kit-image.jpg

Nuru

Yeah, but working with the dealers is like the difference in working with a tax accountant and a tax lawyer, the tax lawyer will push to the limit but not violate the limit. i know of a dealer that will push to the limit and I know where I purchased the car and they will not even approach the limit. So I want to experiment with the dealers first before I try it on my own.

Tomspo04

I'm not complaining about my P1's, but my daughter's 06 Mazda 3 (Grand Touring) has directional xenons headlights that put mine to shame!

hyperion667

why don't people get the P2?? lol

Tomspo04

Hype, I can tell why "I" didn't....BRAINDEAD! And, I ordered my car, too!? Lol.