jonUF02

There are so many headlight bulb options available now. I just got the warning that one of my low beam H7 halogen bulbs is out, and I want to buy something that will match the LED DRLs better than standard Halogen. Here are my requirements:

1) better color, closer to 5000K
2) no errors
3) easy direct installation in place of OEM H7 bulbs
4) I don't want to blind other drivers with bulbs that put out way more the stock lights. H7 bulbs should emit about 1500 lumens each. I find it so annoying now all these cars are running bulbs that are way above the light output they should have by DOT approved standards, it's like so many cars running around with their high beams on all the time.

I've done HID kits before, and I had to cut the rear cover of the headlight to fit the wires properly. Now I see SO MANY options for LED based bulbs, and a lot of info that seems more like opinion than fact or experience. There are CREE LEDs, SMT clusters, CSP, etc. Most of the LED bulbs have a huge heatsink/fan on the back that don't look like they would even come close to fitting within the stock headlight housings. I have read in the past that LED do not have a good light pattern, or not to use them with the projection style lights. I'm also considering just some "upgraded" halogen bulbs, like the Philips Diamond Vision. Does anyone have good industry knowledge, or experience to share with a certain bulb?

AZN Optics

If you just want to stick with halogen bulbs, Philips Diamond Visions will be the whitest color bulb on the market..... around 4500K. They can achieve this by having a bluish film coating the bulb which tints the light color. The problem with that is this is a lumen restrictive element and you lose brightness which is why they are only rated for off road use. If you mainly drive in a well lit city, it's not going to be a big deal. You are correct about the LEDs. They are more suited for short throw distance lighting (fogs, rear plates, interior) or indication type lighting (signals, markers, parking lights). HIDs would give you the best of all worlds in brightness, performance, and color aesthetics. If high light output is a concern per point #4, go with a 35W kit which will cut down the brightness, but also as a bonus extend the life of the kit by burning cooler.

jonUF02

Thanks for your comments. Are there any HID kits that don't require modification of the original light housing? I don't really have the time or want to do modifications right. Looking for a drop-in solution.

AZN Optics

The only modification with HIDs is the dust cover to feed the wires through. I know several customers with lease vehicles that don't want to cut their covers just used tape and taped off the opening to restrict flow of dust. Asides from that, the kit should be functionally plug and play.

Mud

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...2011-e350.html

jonUF02

For HID kit, I have looked at the Morimoto, but for the price around $150, I'll just take my chances with a $30 kit and replace it if anything fails. I had a cheap Xentec kit in my CLK430 and never had an issue.

AZN Optics

Sure. Have to do what's right by your budget. We did an analysis of 40+ brands and wanted to offer to our customers what was best of breed between price, quality, performance, warranty, and engineering which is why we settled on Morimoto. Most Mercedes owners don't want to have to bother replacing kits every couple of years or have them go out while driving at night leading to road hazard. Does that mean Morimoto is the end all- be all? Nope. They still have the occasional failure like anything manufactured, but they have a solid rapid warranty process to mitigate based out of the US and their rate of failure is much less compared to most other brands.

Quattrodude

i have no affiliation but if you watch headlight revolutions "the truth about LED bulbs"...is very useful and might help with various decisions...
i watched a few of them...i like they seem to do a good job being fair about all options.

Cheers

elohite

I use the Philips Diamond Vision as AZN Optics suggested above and have been fairly satisfied with them. They are not xenon color 5000k color but are definitely a big upgrade from the oem yellow hue.

jonUF02

For now, I opted for the Hella stock replacement at $2.57 from Amazon. I'm interested in the Philips Diamond Vision, but everywhere I found reviews they said the bulbs only last a year, and it's not something I want to replace annually, or worry about going out on a regular basis. The original bulbs have lasted 7 years and over 90K miles.

DFWdude

The Philips Diamond Vision package says they are rated for 400 hours of life. If you seldom drive at night as I do, mine (high beams) will last a lifetime.

Philips did not have the "Diamond Vision" line in 2001, but I bought Philips Rallye H7s (90w low beams) in 2001 (same quest for white light) for my 2001 C320. They might be SLIGHTLY less bright today, but they have been going strong ever since.

jonUF02

400 hours is a little over an hour a day for 1 year. Since the headlights come on automatically long before I would probably turn them on manually, I could see a daily commuter easily reaching 400 hours in a year. Not a long life span.

jonUF02

I think I may try these Hikari LEDs. They seem to be the most compact design for LED and I like that you can clock the filament direction to an optimal position after installation. They're cheap enough to give it a try.


Any recommendations on color-matching the small bulbs that light the inner two squares of the quad headlights. I think they are very common 194 style bulbs, but those don't really give a K rating, seems like trial and error to get the color you want.

AZN Optics

Those will throw error codes as they are not canbus enabled.

As for the wedge bulb parking light 194 canbus wedge LEDs

elohite

I have had a set of the Phillips Diamond Vision in my car for over three years and 65k miles without issues; pretty sure it's been over 400 hours. Same thing with my wife's vehicle; been in there same amount of time just less mileage.

For the 194 bulbs you can find a bunch on Amazon very cheap, just make there they are CANBUS so they don't throw error codes.

gamedad

Just realized that I'm in the wrong post!

jonUF02

The same style 194 bulbs go throughout the car. I replaced my license plate lights and a bunch of interior lights, the down lights behind the side mirrors, etc.

gamedad

Funny but not so funny story. Since I bought this X164 used and being my first MB, I've no clue what comes standard. When I test drove it, the interior lights were bright white, or should I say blinding white. Did not think too much about it. It was only after I got the car and looking through stuff and it dawned on me that the previous owner had changed the interior lights to LED. None of the front lights were LED though so I had not put the 2 and 2 together till now. Now I'll have to look around the car and see what other lights I can change to LED. On the side note, he changed the door lock knobs too and I did not know till 2 days ago. Wonder what other surprises awaits me. LOL

SKullman

I've been using kits from DDM Tuning for my last 5 cars. Currently have had the "Ultra Canbus" kit in my E350 for over a year, no codes, fast light up. The "Plus" kits are also Canbus compatible for $90.

https://ddmtuning.com/Product-Catego...Ultra-HID-Kits

OM651

Installed osram HL H7 they street legal for some cars over in Germany. Doing really good light pattern and not blind oncoming traffic.

DeutscheBenz726

I had my 2011 E 350 Cabriolet converted to LEDs. We tried several different different brands but they never were satisfactory to me (I have bi xenons on my W212) so I had the LEDs taken out and Phillips diamonds put in. Granted, they’re not as bright as the bi xenons on my other car but they’re much better than the LEDs.

Gazwould

Straight fit .

pierrejoliat

Now that is interesting, might you have a link?

davidjohnbamber

X 2!

TommySVK

At yesterday I replaced for H7 Osram Night Breaker Laser and it shines much better