pamiboy

I would like to know if I can install full LED bulbs on 2014 E 350.
The standard headlights I have has LED low beam but the regular (non LED) high beam looks kind of weird and out of place. Is it possible just to change the bulb? Don't get me wrong, I do like the current look of my headlights. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

GregTR

No

pamiboy

Thanks Greg. So if I want full LED lights I may need to get the full lighting package. Is is even possible to retrofit it? I thought that was a factory fitted option.
Any idea about the cost for fitting it (if its possible to do so).

Tjdehya

If you want the full adaptive headlights then the answer is No.
If you just want the headlights without the adaptive features then yes and its a simple headlight swap. At least it is a simple swap for the E coupe, so I am making the assumption that it will be the same for the sedan.
The E coupe guys have done it, but I dont think any of the sedan forum members have done it yet... Probably because of misinformation like the one you initially got.

If you want to do it then I would PM the E coupe guy that did it.

E Classy

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GregTR

From the simple cost perspective it is cost prohibitive: https://mbworld.org/forums/5887479-post16.html

From the technical sense it is not a simple swap as much as you would like to believe.

A quick glance at the WIS shows that while the connector is the same 14 pin connector and there are wires going to pins on both types of vehicles the wires are hardly the same.

For starters, the full LED uses 2.5mm ground wires on pins 5 and 10 while the stationary one uses 1.5mm ground wires on the same pins. While both units get power on pin 9 from a 15A fuse from the rear SAM (fuse 74) the full adaptive LED also gets power from Fuse 75 via a 20A fuse on pin 7 on a 2.5mm wire which on the regular headlight is a 1.0mm wire going to 56a "main beam" on the front SAM.

They both talk on the CAN bus on pins 1 and 2 and I'm pretty sure they say different things. They also receive high/low beam status signal via CAN bus commands as there is no real high-beam signal going to these puppies otherwise.

But yeah, otherwise it's totally plug and play, just heaven forbid the stepping motors go out of alignment on the adaptive unit without having proper input or power for them or you draw more current than the wiring is rated for...

But then again, what do I know? I have no anecdotal evidence to back my claim...

Tjdehya

I believe that coupe owner did replace a SAM, or some other stuff. I didnt follow the thread.
I was just letting the OP know that it is not "impossible," when he does a little research the cost may turn him off, the complexity involved may turn him off, or he may get lucky discover that all he has to replace is a couple wires and an aftermarket bulb like he wanted.

pamiboy

Wow... Greg, that's too much information for me to handle. I would be interested only if it's possible to swap out the halogen bulb to LED ones ( static only, no fiddling with motors). Looks like it's not a practical option for now. Will check with MB dealer whenever I'm visiting them for my first service.

GregTR

There is no H7 LED bulb that would produce any kind of meaningful light output or pattern as of right now, period: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...ulbs-with-LEDs

GregTR

Again, the misinformation and anecdotal evidence is strong here.

The difference between my original response of a simple "no" and yours reminds me of this:

Tjdehya

It seems that you were answering his first question and I was answering his second.

GregTR

Nope, the answer is "no" to both of those questions.

1) There is no H7 LEd bulb on the market that would make a viable high beam replacement. The thread I linked to is 3 years old but looking at this thread over here indicates nothing changed in the past 3 years: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=396634

2) Retrofitting the entire Adaptive LED headlight system is while definitely possible is cost prohibitive. You'd be better off selling your car and buying one with the right options instead. So yeah, "theoretically" it's possible but "realistically" it's not.

pamiboy

I'm confused now. So what kind of LED bulbs do the MB lighting package use? Or for that matter any other cars such as Audi , BMW , VW, etc use. I believe they have a high beam LED light which are much brighter? ??

GregTR

They use custom designed LEDs with matched optics and electronics not confined to the reflector dish and the physical dimensions of an H7 halogen bulb.

You have to think of it as a complete lighting system, the LED is just one part of it. The reflector and projector optics and electronics play just as big of a part in the whole setup.

When you're trying to put a xenon/HID or LED bulb in the place of a halogen bulb in an H7 form factor you're trying to putting a square peg through a round hole.

pamiboy

OK, I think I finally got it. Thanks Greg for your explanation and Tjdehya for your alternative views.
I'm planning to keep my car and my headlights as it is for long..... long time.

Tjdehya

Wow, you just contradicted yourself in one post. I think its an unwritten internet law that you do it in two posts and bonus points if you do it in separate threads.
You are also ignoring the FACT that it has been done before...
So just because you are scared to attempt this mod does not make it impossible.

GregTR

Uhm, I think we're back to the Dumb&Dumber analogy... Feel free to argue semantics, the bottom line is that you must be pretty dumb or stupid rich to attempt this mod. And no, it has not been done on a W212 before and based on the WIS it's not a simple plug&play, never mind the fact that the functionality would still not be there even if the wires connected just right.

I'm not scared, I was bright enough to order my car with the lighting package to avoid this very "problem".

E Classy

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benyl

Not really that simple. The full LED headlamps do not have a high beam / low beam setup.

All 4 projectors are on all the time. Different parts of the LED unit light up depending on what you are doing. If you are turning, it floods in the direction you are going. Nothing "moves" it is all internal.

Changing your H7 bulb to an LED or an HID in the basic LED headlamp won't avail you anything.

Changing the corona rings is totally different.

pamiboy

Thanks guys. I think it is futile to pursue this discussion any longer. I didn't really know that LED lights were so complicated. I like my current lights even more now and love the peace of mind that comes with warranty. Cheers for all.

E Classy

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pamiboy

Yes, that was exactly my original question. Now I'm more educated and wiser.

ph350

The sam units for the full led and standard led are the same? Also, by just connecting the lighting package headlight to the standard headlight cable from the car would turn it on like normal? I think there would have to be some programming done to recognize the headlight?

benyl

The H7 bulb must be user replaceable. Get some hyperwhite Halogen bulbs and call it a day.

From what I have read, the wiring is different. Different pins do different things. The gauge of the wire in the wiring harness is also different. I don't know about the standard LED unit, but each of the lighting package headlights have a cooling fan built in. There are 6 fans on the car and when they are all going full tilt, it is really loud outside the car.

ph350

Thats what I thought, I can't be as easy as buying the upgraded lights and pluging them in. Even if you can live without the adaptive beam function, I don't think the sensors for the automatic high beams would function. The high beams would be on all the time and that would be dangerous.