Mr.gassy

Hi, I've got a 2013 E550 4matic (W212) with the bi xenon headlights and recently the passenger side has started flickering and briefly going out at random times. I've read several posts on this issue and believe it is likely the ballast that is the culprit. Is the ballast separate from the bulb or is it all one assembly on this model? If it is separate, is it on the headlight housing like on previous models or is it elsewhere? Thanks in advance!

zeemob

It could be either the bulb or the ballast. Try swapping the driver side bulb with the passenger to see if the flickering still persist. It it doesn't, than you got your culprit. It it does, than you still got your culprit.

And the ballast is a separate entity attached to the headlight housing using screws. If you get a new one, it will need SCN coding.

degeja

get an Amazon bulb- and try-
read in how to change bulbs

cetialpha5

It's best to swap first and if the bulb is bad, then get two new bulbs. The newer one will be brighter than the old one as they all get a little dimmer as they age. I'd also rather get a name brand like Osram or Philips from a reputable vendor like where they control their own inventory. Amazon use to have a history of throwing all the vendors products into one bin so even if you bought it from them, you don't know if it's real or fake. Although they've been cracking down more lately on fakes. Obviously don't get any $10-$20 bulb on eBay they're usually fakes.

Mr.gassy

Any reputable vendors online that will save me some money vs the dealer? I'm sure I could find some in a google search but are there any good ones you've personally had good experience with?

zeemob

I replaced my stock OSRAM 5500K D1S Cool Blue Intense CBI with OSRAM 6000K D1S Cool Blue Hype 66140CBH. The CBH are marketed as the brightest 6000k bulbs in the market. They match the color of the LED's in the newer Mercedes but with much better intensity/brightness. My cousin drives a facelift W212 and he's always jealous of my headlight. The LED's are much dimmer, less intense with poor visibility than Xenons.

I've also noticed that the newer OSRAM D1S CBI are rated at 6000K instead of the older 5500K which I had.

AZN Optics

We carry full line of Osram CBI, CBH, and if you want the best of the best, CBB. We also carry affordable Morimoto units which are comparable to oem.

cetialpha5

I believe factory is 4300k. Everyone seems to like the bluer lights thinking they're brighter, but I think the studies show that 4300k is the most visible which is why the OEM makers went with that color in the first place.

zeemob

Manufacturers previously used 4300K but my 2012 E350 came factory installed with OSRAM D1S CBI 5500K. I still have them boxed in my drawer.

OSRAM Bluer is brighter. Technology is evolving. Check the video below. It confirms OSRAM bluer is brighter as per luminosity (LUX).

Standard 4300K: 315 LUX
CBI 5500K: 340 LUX
CBH 6000K: 415 LUX
CBB 7000K: 460 LUX

cetialpha5

Interesting. I believe in the past, even though the higher color temperatures may be brighter, the human eye was better with the 4300k temperature. Higher color temperatures also cause eye strain and makes it more difficult to see in foggy conditions.

Mr.gassy

Very interesting stuff! I assume mine are the stock bulbs but I have not pulled one out and looked at it. I found some osram Xenarc DS1 bulbs on powerbulbs.com for 72.07 each and there's a 25% off promo code. It shows the orange and white box though, which seems to me to be the original "basic" model and not the newer CBI CBH or CBB. Whatever is in there is plenty bright for me and I like the color just fine. I'll have to swap the bulbs from left to right and see if the issue follows, and go from there.

degeja

passenger side fairly easy-
driver side requires removing inner liners of wheel

cetialpha5

I guess it depends how much you drive. The Xenons are supposed to last much longer than halogens. I still have the originals in my 2008. So either it was driven a lot at night, the ballast is bad or you got unlucky and the bulb burned out or someone else put in higher color temperatures ones that were fakes and they burned out early.

zeemob

Little tedious, but I was able to replace the driver side bulb with some effort using my big yet skinny hands.

Mr.gassy

lol, yeah I had seen a video where the driver's side was done up top by moving a couple things and reaching in. I'll try that first.

thefisch

On the driver side, I can't even get my hand onto the cap that comes off the headlight assembly to access the bulb. If you can reach that without going through the wheel liner then my hats off to you.

JohnnyC

I am looking at new bulbs too...

I am still torn between OSRAM and Phillips.

pamiboy

Quattrodude

I got the CBB - they say 7000K but they are more like a good 6000k...hands down see and tell...they are good...I even did follow up with my LUX meter and confirmed they were brighter too than many other name brands and even the Morimoto 5500K and 6500K XBs...

the video included does a fantastic job of showing you some of the main players - and nice that they CBBs have come down in price - just be sure to get them from a rep dealer...

Cheerrs
JPC

Stuttgarten

I'm wondering if the 6000K and the 7000K burn any hotter than 4300K and if they impact the plastic lens! My lenses already have the ghostly image generated by the xenons!

Quattrodude

No (at least not that I'm aware of) - its the mixture of Halide salts and such that determine the color and hues...

Sadly I think all the bi-Xenons have that V shaped haze in the lense...it can be cleaned out - from the inside. I talked to an expert headlight restorer - said he can do it but it takes time to pull out the entire headlight to do it right and said it will return in 1-2 years so to be aware of that...

I should of taken pictures of all the various bulbs I tried...
D1S CBB - was my final choice...(knowing is 1/2 the battle - I did not want to spend the $150 (when I first looked they were $250!!) ish for them cuz I thought they were expensive - I prob spent $400 just testing $30 here $50 there)....

Cheers
JP

cetialpha5

They use to have lense covers you can replace on the W211, but they're hard to find for the W212 although someone mentioned finding a set from China, but it wasn't easy.

As for the color temperature. I'm going to stick with 4300k when it's time to do mine. While the higher color temperatures may be brighter, there was a reason the manufacturers picked 4300k, that's the best temperature in general for the eyes. Higher color temperatures produce more glare for oncoming drivers and visibility is reduced in bad weather. Also because they're not factory, when they're too blue, the police can stop you because it's not OEM or DOT approved.