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I always see mods or threads about the non HID headlamps. But what about the Bi-Xenon pre facelift models? Any way to make the cutoff of the projectors sharper? Clearer? Coming from TSX clear lens projectors swapped into headlamps I had on my Honda, I figure there has to be some options available for a better projector or at least a sharper/more blue cutoff line.
Also, Any options for a brighter bulb? Really dont believe LED are brighter than HID. so id rather stick with those. Coold be just old bulbs I have that are going dimmer, but would love a much brighter option. I hate driving next to 2019 Nissan altimas that have a way better projector beam pattern and output.
Clean your lenses on your bixenons, they do get cloudy over the years cleaning them makes a world of difference. Cutouts come back.
That sounds like a plan. Will that truly make the cutoff a lot sharper? Because it does look decent now don't get me wrong. But again, comparing it to say a 2014 Acura mdx or something it just pales in comparison. Something similar to these is what I would like.
Currently mine are looking identical to these and there has to be a way to improve light output and cutoff sharpness.
2016 E350 Sport; Mom Wrecked the 2008 E350; sold the 2002 C320
It sounds like you have some experience modding projectors. That being the case, you may know that Mercedes projectors are equipped with Fresnel lenses (frosty glass with circular ribs). This is a design to soften the light output to eliminate streaking and provide a soft, uniform light (similar to a diffuser on a camera flash).
These are 2 ways to sharpen the cutoff:
1) Replace the Fresnel lenses with a smooth, clear lens; and
2) add some spacers between the lens and the mounting bracket to sharpen the focus.
[Edit] I forgot to mention - Third option is to swap out your projectors altogether. I installed the Morimoto Mini D2S projectors on my wife's car and the lighting output is absolutely insane with a very sharp cutoff.
As far as better capsules (the proper term for an HID "bulb"), I have used the Osram CBI and nightbreakers and have been very pleased with their performance. Just beware as there are many fakes out there, especially through Amazon and fleabay. Morimoto capsules are generally very good as well, with many color temperature options but their longevity is hit-and-miss.
You may want to contact the retrofit source to see if they have any lens options available for your projectors and spacers. You can get genuine HID capsules from them as well.
(P.S. I was not a believer in LED headlights either, until I bought my '16 W212 and now I am a true believer)
Last edited by EuroDriverSD; Feb 4, 2020 at 01:32 PM.
It sounds like you have some experience modding projectors. That being the case, you may know that Mercedes projectors are equipped with Fresnel lenses (frosty glass with circular ribs). This is a design to soften the light output to eliminate streaking and provide a soft, uniform light (similar to a diffuser on a camera flash).
These are 2 ways to sharpen the cutoff:
1) Replace the Fresnel lenses with a smooth, clear lens; and
2) add some spacers between the lens and the mounting bracket to sharpen the focus.
[Edit] I forgot to mention - Third option is to swap out your projectors altogether. I installed the Morimoto Mini D2S projectors on my wife's car and the lighting output is absolutely insane with a very sharp cutoff.
As far as better capsules (the proper term for an HID "bulb"), I have used the Osram CBI and nightbreakers and have been very pleased with their performance. Just beware as there are many fakes out there, especially through Amazon and fleabay. Morimoto capsules are generally very good as well, with many color temperature options but their longevity is hit-and-miss.
You may want to contact the retrofit source to see if they have any lens options available for your projectors and spacers. You can get genuine HID capsules from them as well.
(P.S. I was not a believer in LED headlights either, until I bought my '16 W212 and now I am a true believer)
Damn the fresnel lenses got me again. I remember the TSX projector's moving to fresnel after a certain year...maybe 05? The clear ones were sought after...still have those in the closet btw. So these have the crappy fresnel lenses that I've never been a fan of. But you say there's an option to swap out the projector's? I wasn't aware of that. I've heard that cars with the OEM Bixenon projectors and the auto leveling couldn't retrofit. This gives me a bit more hope now.
I've never taken apart the headlamps to see exactly how the projector's are mounted in order to know how to properly space them or change out the lenses. I remember with the TSX projector's...it was called a color mod and you would just add a couple washers to the mounting bolts and it would provide a bluer cutoff line. Slightly less sharp but with a definitely thicker blue band similar to the above picture. It's subjective I know.
How relatively easy was the process of installing the morimotos? Do our lamps come with D2S from factory? I've heard of Osram and Philips just not sure when it comes to pure light output and useable light...which ones would probably fit best for me. Also...could you care to post a pic or two of your wife's cutoff from the installed minis? Would love to see the night and day difference.
2016 E350 Sport; Mom Wrecked the 2008 E350; sold the 2002 C320
I can't tell you much about modding options on the W212 as mine is the facelift version with LED's and I don't know which projector is in the pre-facelift. My W211 had the wildly popular E55 projectors for which there were plenty of OEM and aftermarket options, many of them bolt on.
My wife has a 2015 Sentra and the hardest part was opening the permaseal headlights - I ended up paying someone to do it. To install the Morimoto minis, you just drill out the hole where the bulb sits and either bolt or jb weld the projectors in place.
Talk to the retrofit source or browse around HID Planet to see if someone can give you specific info on your car.
Here's some pics of the Morimoto Minis:
Hi guys I have actually done this already I just never finished the lamps. You will want to use an ZKW-R lens and space it out to an degree. Once that is done you are good to go, the other option is swap projector with EVOX-R they are actually drop in but you will lose the adaptive high / low feature if your car is so equipped.
I always see mods or threads about the non HID headlamps. But what about the Bi-Xenon pre facelift models? Any way to make the cutoff of the projectors sharper? Clearer? Coming from TSX clear lens projectors swapped into headlamps I had on my Honda, I figure there has to be some options available for a better projector or at least a sharper/more blue cutoff line.
Also, Any options for a brighter bulb? Really dont believe LED are brighter than HID. so id rather stick with those. Coold be just old bulbs I have that are going dimmer, but would love a much brighter option. I hate driving next to 2019 Nissan altimas that have a way better projector beam pattern and output.
I have a 2010 E550 with the Bi-Xenon head lights. Before this I had a 2011 E350 with the same lights.
When new these lights are like sun came up in dark. I have noticed my lights, after this car has been on road for 10 years, has dimmed some. I'm sure some of it is the light bulbs but a major part probably is the outside plastic light covers pitted with small rock and sand hits. But still these lights are just awesome.
2016 E350 Sport; Mom Wrecked the 2008 E350; sold the 2002 C320
If you put your car in front of a wall, you'll notice a distinct line where below a certain area is illuminated and above it, there is no lighting.. The specific line that divides light & dark is the cutoff line.
As far as dimmer lighting, it could be hazed lenses, old bulbs or burn spots on your projectors - or a combination of the 3.
Visit HID planet - look for a thread called HID University and you'll get a good crash course on lighting dynamics
Last edited by EuroDriverSD; Feb 4, 2020 at 10:48 PM.
Ive noticed that I do have the little angel looking insignia on each of the headlights. assuming from the bulbs burning into the headlamp? my thing is, I thought HIDs didnt give off much heat? does this affect light output? My headlamps almost look brand new, no hazing or clouding or anything. Just that lil burn in
If you mean the "V" on the headlight that is caused by heat and the AFS etching it. It is removable but it's a pain on cars like mine with side cornering lights. It hard to get from behind to clean them from the inside of the lense cover.
I am going to try to open these up with permaseal remover permatrator and let it soak for 24 hours. Then swap the cover out. The covers are $80. The cheapest new headlight is $700 so that will save some money, so $80 and some work is worth it.
The trick is the permaseal these headlights are glued with. I got to go with a mission to let it soak with the morimoto permatrator until it's soft for a day and then try to pry it.
I asked the retrofit store what would happen if I did this and haven't gotten a response.
The AFS etches it? That's interesting, maybe I'll do more research on it. If you find a simpler way to get to it, let me know. I'd like to know how your endeavor goes. Really only seeing a couple options but I'm not sure if that's just the universal retrofit option or if that's actually a vehicle specific tried and tested kit. So if anyone has done anything on them I'd be curious to know. Seems with the auto high beam function it's harder to retrofit
2016 E350 Sport; Mom Wrecked the 2008 E350; sold the 2002 C320
Originally Posted by S. Madman
I am going to try to open these up with permaseal remover permatrator and let it soak for 24 hours. Then swap the cover out. The covers are $80. The cheapest new headlight is $700 so that will save some money, so $80 and some work is worth it.
The trick is the permaseal these headlights are glued with. I got to go with a mission to let it soak with the morimoto permatrator until it's soft for a day and then try to pry it.
I asked the retrofit store what would happen if I did this and haven't gotten a response.
Here is the set I built. I still needed remold the channels they are a bear to deal with. I plan on adding another projector to the parking lamp area so once that is done I will share more info...
@VW2MB The drop in option but you will loose your auto HI/LO Bixenon feature. The drop in is the EVO-X projector and is straight fwd option to upgrade the lamps. I opted to use the ZKW-R lens so I can keep my features cut off isnt as sharp but it is good enough for my liking.
you are an immense help. Im fine with losing the auto HI/LO feature as I lilve in the inner city and RARELY ever seen it utilized. Have had the car what, a month and seen it twice? I dont need it. EVO-X? got it. As far as you know, are those the only options for these lamps? Or are there other projector options that are drop in or very light modding required? Ill look into the EVO-X and see about the ZKW also...Didnt see them on the TRS website.
Here is the set I built. I still needed remold the channels they are a bear to deal with. I plan on adding another projector to the parking lamp area so once that is done I will share more info...
Have you considered the Morimoto Permatrator to remove the stuck on permaseal? It was tested to turn into gummy bears after 24 hours. How hard was it to open? I am about to tackle this myself. All I am doing is cleaning up the projectors and swapping the headlight covers for new ones.
Last edited by S. Madman; Feb 11, 2020 at 04:19 AM.
I did use it with these and it was little to no help. Perma is definitely not gummiebears also not all perma is the same! This stuff was hard it took about 3-4hrs to get both separated lots of hard but slow pulling lots of head cycles and it finally came apart. Some came out clean some came out where I had to sand and scrape the rest out.
I did use it with these and it was little to no help. Perma is definitely not gummiebears also not all perma is the same! This stuff was hard it took about 3-4hrs to get both separated lots of hard but slow pulling lots of head cycles and it finally came apart. Some came out clean some came out where I had to sand and scrape the rest out.
Actually interested in bumping this again. Wonder if after a couple years have passed, if any of this is easier to accomplish. About fed up with the way my headlights look lol. Granted I'm biased as coming from moddable Hondas with S2K projectors or TSX projectors swapped in look downright gorgeous. This basic looking projector cutoff just doesn't cut it for me(pun intended lol) any more help is appreciated.
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