LED headlights
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E 350
LED headlights
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.
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.
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E 350
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).
Any idea about the cost for fitting it (if its possible to do so).
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From: NM
2023 AMG EQS
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.
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.
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
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.
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.
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...
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From: NM
2023 AMG EQS
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.
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.
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E 350
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.
Last edited by pamiboy; Mar 4, 2014 at 10:32 AM.
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
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.
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
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.
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.
The difference between my original response of a simple "no" and yours reminds me of this:
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From: NM
2023 AMG EQS
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:
Dumb and Dumber 'There's a Chance' - YouTube
The difference between my original response of a simple "no" and yours reminds me of this:
Dumb and Dumber 'There's a Chance' - YouTube
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
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.
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E 350
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
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
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.
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E 350
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.
I'm planning to keep my car and my headlights as it is for long..... long time.
Last edited by pamiboy; Mar 4, 2014 at 11:58 AM.
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From: NM
2023 AMG EQS
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.
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.
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.
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2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
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.
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.
I'm not scared, I was bright enough to order my car with the lighting package to avoid this very "problem".
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From: Calgary, Canada
'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
alright, let's summer donna...
a couple of years ago i took my bmw headlights out ($1100 a piece) and had them opened up to retrofit bright white LED corona rings in place of the halogen versions... you have to find an LED high-beam bulb that fits into the space where your halogen bulbs are now, and that comes with the proper wiring that can be fit back into the connector/harness, and that doesn't throw any faults/errors.
it's a whole task:
*find a reputable aftermarket LED retrofit bulb solution
*remove your headlights
*open the casing
*retrofit the new bulbs
*test them
*close the headlights back up
*put them back in
also, you headlights will no longer be under warranty.
how often do you use your high-beams? i haven't even turned them on yet, in over 5000 miles.
a couple of years ago i took my bmw headlights out ($1100 a piece) and had them opened up to retrofit bright white LED corona rings in place of the halogen versions... you have to find an LED high-beam bulb that fits into the space where your halogen bulbs are now, and that comes with the proper wiring that can be fit back into the connector/harness, and that doesn't throw any faults/errors.
it's a whole task:
*find a reputable aftermarket LED retrofit bulb solution
*remove your headlights
*open the casing
*retrofit the new bulbs
*test them
*close the headlights back up
*put them back in
also, you headlights will no longer be under warranty.
how often do you use your high-beams? i haven't even turned them on yet, in over 5000 miles.
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.
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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.
Last edited by pamiboy; Mar 4, 2014 at 05:54 PM.
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e350
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?
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'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
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?
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e350
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.
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.
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.
