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I have a 2011 E550 and I need to replace one (possibly both) of my headlights. My indy quoted $160 for the bulb plus $30-40 for labor and I'm waiting on a quote from the dealer.
My dad says he found bulbs for my car online as low as $75.
What is realistic here? Also, any opportunity to "upgrade" my bulbs to something better than what came with the car?
Thanks in advance! I searched the forum but couldn't find much on this subject.
plus maybe 20-30 min on each side to remove fender liner(even though i believe on one side you dont even have to) and you saved yourself some $$$
P.s original Bulb temperature is 4300K from factory
i personally have used 8k before , but then changed it to 6k which is optimal for light output color and brightness.
also heard/seen that 5k is awesome too.
oh and your indy quoted 160 because its 'MERCEDES OEM" which is always more expensive
Last edited by belarus27; 03-04-2017 at 11:00 AM.
Reason: more thoughts
Before you spend money on bulbs, are you absolutely sure that is the issue? Does the headlight not come on at all, does it come on and then go out after a few seconds, does it flicker? The HID system is not just the bulb.
Before you spend money on bulbs, are you absolutely sure that is the issue? Does the headlight not come on at all, does it come on and then go out after a few seconds, does it flicker? The HID system is not just the bulb.
No I'm not sure yet. Over the last 48 hours my right low beam has turned off 2-3 times and each time I get the error message "check right low beam". Also, for the last week I've seen "adaptive high beam assist inoperable" a couple times.
Each time it happens, as soon as I start the car the right low beam doesnt turn on and I get the message. It will remain off until I turn off the car and by the next time I drive it, it's on again.
I'm not due for service for 5,000 miles so I'd rather not make a trip to MB for warranty stuff unless I have to. I'm kinda hoping it's just the bulb but wanted to explore my options before I do anything.
If you want to be sure, swap the bulbs around. If the problem follows the bulb, it's the bulb. If the right light still has issues it is something else.
Your adaptive high beam warning is concerning. Apparently if there is a problem with that system the car will shut down the entire unit.
If you want to be sure, swap the bulbs around. If the problem follows the bulb, it's the bulb. If the right light still has issues it is something else.
Your adaptive high beam warning is concerning. Apparently if there is a problem with that system the car will shut down the entire unit.
What do you mean the car will shut down the entire unit? For now I have just kept the adaptive high beam assist turned off.
Same year, same car, same lighting system.. similar (not exact) symptoms. What I meant is that if there is a problem with the high beams, it seems like the car will simply shut off the bulb on that side - even if there is no problem with the bulb/ballast. I just wanted to make you aware that it may not be as simple as the bulb before you waste any money.
As for LEDs being superior, no. Perhaps factory LEDs, but not an aftermarket kit VS factory bi-xenons.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; 03-05-2017 at 10:57 AM.
As for LEDs being superior, no. Perhaps factory LEDs, but not an aftermarket kit VS factory bi-xenons.
There are a lot of LEDs, the small ones that retail for around $20-30 bucks are vey cheap and do not cast the light far. But the higher wattage ones designed for auto headlights are much stronger and casts the light a great distance.
My 2016 came with factory LEDs for the low beams and DRLs, however the high beams were halogen so i replaced them with a H7 55w LEDs. They are very powerful lights, i spent around $100 for the pair along with the pieces that lock it into place in the factory light slot.
There are a lot of LEDs, the small ones that retail for around $20-30 bucks are vey cheap and do not cast the light far. But the higher wattage ones designed for auto headlights are much stronger and casts the light a great distance.
My 2016 came with factory LEDs for the low beams and DRLs, however the high beams were halogen so i replaced them with a H7 55w LEDs. They are very powerful lights, i spent around $100 for the pair along with the pieces that lock it into place in the factory light slot.
Oh I wasn't doubting LEDs. I've had a car with LED factory lighting, and it was good. But the lighting in my C350 with the lighting package (and the OP's E550) is excellent. The OP would not gain anything trying to retrofit LEDs into HID housings.
I believe technically the Bixenons might be a little better than LEDs, but LEDs are cheaper so MB went with LEDs across the lineup instead of just halogens for the base models and Bixenons as an option. They do a lot more than basic LEDs, they auto level and they also have active curve illumination. Be wary of fake Xenon bulbs, they flicker and don't last as long as OEM. Amazon had a problem with fakes, they'd throw in all the inventory from multiple vendors into one bin so that even if you're buying it from Amazon, you might end up with a fake item from some other vendor. I think they're working on fixing that, but not sure if they've fixed that yet.
I'm not due for service for 5,000 miles so I'd rather not make a trip to MB for warranty stuff unless I have to. I'm kinda hoping it's just the bulb but wanted to explore my options before I do anything.
Let me get this right, your car is still under warranty but you want to repair it yourself. Do yourself a favor and bring it to the dealer and save yourself a lot of time, headache and money. The bulb is not covered by warranty, but the ballast and module are covered.
If it is more then just a bulb issue you might cause yourself more of a headache by doing this all on your own. I'd take it to the dealer since you're under warranty and getting multiple messages.
If it is more then just a bulb issue you might cause yourself more of a headache by doing this all on your own. I'd take it to the dealer since you're under warranty and getting multiple messages.
I believe if it's just a bulb, then it probably isn't covered under warranty. So just get new bulbs and save the old ones. If that doesn't fix it, take it to the dealer. Could be a bad ballast or motor though so hopefully those are covered under the warranty that you have.
Let me get this right, your car is still under warranty but you want to repair it yourself. Do yourself a favor and bring it to the dealer and save yourself a lot of time, headache and money. The bulb is not covered by warranty, but the ballast and module are covered.
Exactly what I was thinking. Now even if the bulb is not covered, all the labor that goes into changing the bulb ( in case you need bumper removed) should be covered. You should just pay the cost of bulb. Correct me if I'm wrong.
There are a lot of LEDs, the small ones that retail for around $20-30 bucks are vey cheap and do not cast the light far. But the higher wattage ones designed for auto headlights are much stronger and casts the light a great distance.
My 2016 came with factory LEDs for the low beams and DRLs, however the high beams were halogen so i replaced them with a H7 55w LEDs. They are very powerful lights, i spent around $100 for the pair along with the pieces that lock it into place in the factory light slot.
Can you post a picture of your high beams onto a flat vertical wall at about 100 feet distance. I suspect that the beam will not focus as well as the OEM halogen lights. I agree the LEDs are almost 2-3 times more powerful but if the beam is not focused right, it's no good. Prove me wrong.
A $50 LED light bulb is not gong to perform as well as a OEM LED headlight. A LED light source has to be pair with a projector that is design for that LED source. An un-focus LED light source will look very bright but will not cast a focus beam. Installed in the high beam it might be ok because the high beam will glare anyways. Installed in the low beam, it will be pretty useless, the beam will look like a fog light pattern, wide spread and not enough distance.
Back to the OP situation, if the OP has time to kill, swap the bulb, that will tell him for sure if its a fail bulb or not without spending any money. If it is not the bulb, then bring the car into the dealer for warranty repair.
What ^ said. LEDs in forward projecting lights are not advisable in housing not designed specifically to capture LED surface mounted light spread. You end up with reduced throw distance and uneven lighting. Better off just to replace with xenons.
We carry high end Morimoto xenon units if interested, but can also get you top of the line Osram Xenarc CBI units as well.
The 2011 E 550 has projectors lenses which focuses the beam. So whether it is a LED diode or a HID bulb, the light will be a low beam. It just a matter of preference.
The 2011 E 550 has projectors lenses which focuses the beam. So whether it is a LED diode or a HID bulb, the light will be a low beam. It just a matter of preference.
Projectors are certainly better than reflectors but keep in mind that the projector is design for HID bulbs, not aftermarket LED. The focal point of the light source is different on the aftermarket LED bulb when compare to HID. The LED will look whiter, but functionally, the HID will be better.
Focal point and light spread pattern. LEDs you're not getting true 360 output so different angles will have different intensity, which leads to uneven lighting.
No I'm not sure yet. Over the last 48 hours my right low beam has turned off 2-3 times and each time I get the error message "check right low beam". Also, for the last week I've seen "adaptive high beam assist inoperable" a couple times.
Each time it happens, as soon as I start the car the right low beam doesnt turn on and I get the message. It will remain off until I turn off the car and by the next time I drive it, it's on again.
I'm not due for service for 5,000 miles so I'd rather not make a trip to MB for warranty stuff unless I have to. I'm kinda hoping it's just the bulb but wanted to explore my options before I do anything.
The message "adaptive high beam assist inoperable" tells to me you have Bi-Xenon lights, right?
I have Bi-Xenon lights and I don't think I have a separate Hi and Lo bulbs. It looks like the difference between Hi and Lo beams is controlled with a shutter. This shutter also controls how far the low beams extend, i.e. is the Adaptive High Beam controller.
If you have Bi-Xenon lights I don't understand why the car would tell you "check right low beam".
03-04-2017, 10:40 AM
