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US to EU Multibeam Headlight swap

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Old Feb 6, 2026 | 06:24 PM
  #1  
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From: USA to Germany
W221/W222/W213/X290
US to EU Multibeam Headlight swap

Hi everyone. Hope this finds everyone well and healthy. I’ve been in an accident and unfortunately when I took my bumper off I saw that there was a plastic tab that holds the headlight to the chassis that’s gone broke. Since I am shipping my car to Europe, I thought I’d buy the EU version since they don’t have that stupid amber side marker in the headlights.

I found a really good deal of both EU headlights at a junk yard in Amsterdam were I plan on buying the units.

I know I’ll need to do some coding as the LED code will need to be swapped and I’ll probably need the headlights calibrated. But my question is will these work at all? I have ILS+ enabled for intelligent Multibeam already in my current modules.

The connectors look the same for the modules as well as the actual headlight connector.





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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 01:05 PM
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I have spent the last 60 days digging deep on this as I would also like to do the same. I have had conflicting information from several sources here in the states as well as in Europe and Asia about whether our factory US spec modules will work with the ECE (euro/asia) headlights. I am of the belief that even though the "plugs" are the same, the actual wiring pin-outs are different from the internal headlight components to the headlight module (to account for blue ambient strips, orange glow reflector, etc). As a result, this essential means we would need to purchase the ECE modules with the headlights as well.

I have yet to get 100% confirmation on any of this as I have yet to find someone who has done this swap themselves. I dont plan to purchase any hardware until I know for sure what is required.

Once we figure out whether the modules are compatible or not, I plan to have some coding specialists help with the coding. I also already have ILS+ enabled on my US spec lights but I am told you have to code other vehicle ECU's to support the European coding for the headlights. It's a deeper dive than the traditional ILS+ coding.

Lets see if we can get additional input on this here, and I will continue to update here if I find out more on my end.

Last edited by 6speeddave; Feb 7, 2026 at 01:16 PM.
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Old Feb 7, 2026 | 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 6speeddave
I have spent the last 60 days digging deep on this as I would also like to do the same. I have had conflicting information from several sources here in the states as well as in Europe and Asia about whether our factory US spec modules will work with the ECE (euro/asia) headlights. I am of the belief that even though the "plugs" are the same, the actual wiring pin-outs are different from the internal headlight components to the headlight module (to account for blue ambient strips, orange glow reflector, etc). As a result, this essential means we would need to purchase the ECE modules with the headlights as well.

I have yet to get 100% confirmation on any of this as I have yet to find someone who has done this swap themselves. I dont plan to purchase any hardware until I know for sure what is required.

Once we figure out whether the modules are compatible or not, I plan to have some coding specialists help with the coding. I also already have ILS+ enabled on my US spec lights but I am told you have to code other vehicle ECU's to support the European coding for the headlights. It's a deeper dive than the traditional ILS+ coding.

Lets see if we can get additional input on this here, and I will continue to update here if I find out more on my end.
from what chatGPT told me it should work 🤣 it did say that the modules are the same for EU & for the US, but we’ll have to scan the “LED code” bar code on the headlight or the LED code string found on the headlight. Then I guess we’ll need to calibrate the headlights for the ILS+ to work properly.
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Old Mar 5, 2026 | 03:58 PM
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What are you doing with your old US lights?
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Old Mar 5, 2026 | 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by illest
What are you doing with your old US lights?
I threw them away lol one of them had a cracked mount on the bottom and the other was a little pitted on the lens.
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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 01:27 PM
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Billy, did you install the new housings yet? Any updates?
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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 10:50 PM
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Originally Posted by 6speeddave
Billy, did you install the new housings yet? Any updates?
I just got my replacement EU headlights 3 days ago (shipping in Europe is terrible in my opinion) and it took way longer than expected. I've plugged them in and they work (as in light up, turn signals work, highbeams). However, I have an error message on the dash saying my position lights (the amber ones the US uses) are faulty. I'll have to code that out.
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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 11:17 PM
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Did you put your USA modules into the headlights or did they come already installed with the European modules?

And do the new lights have the blue led strips? When you unlock the car at night they should first glow blue then fade to white.

It’s possible that code doesn’t go away and the blue strips don’t work until many aspects of the car are coded correctly.
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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 11:23 PM
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From: USA to Germany
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Originally Posted by 6speeddave
Did you put your USA modules into the headlights or did they come already installed with the European modules?

And do the new lights have the blue led strips? When you unlock the car at night they should first glow blue then fade to white.

It’s possible that code doesn’t go away and the blue strips don’t work until many aspects of the car are coded correctly.
I used my old modules from the US headlights. They glow dark blue then turn to white strips. I didn't code anything yet.

I think I only need to program the ECU to tell it to turn off the amber side lights. I think it's just a matter of telling the car to use EU/ROW program instead of US. I'm not too familiar with how any of that works, but I'll have Elebest do the coding when I get some free time, and when he's free to do so.
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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 11:33 PM
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Interesting. I agree with you on the ROW setting, and am hopeful it is just 1 setting that needs to change. Hopefully elebest can get you dialed in.

Have you already confirmed your ILS functions work as well with the new housings?

As soon as you are 100% on doing and functional please let us know here! I’ll likely have elebest help me as well with the coding.
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 12:24 AM
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From: USA to Germany
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Originally Posted by 6speeddave
Interesting. I agree with you on the ROW setting, and am hopeful it is just 1 setting that needs to change. Hopefully elebest can get you dialed in.

Have you already confirmed your ILS functions work as well with the new housings?

As soon as you are 100% on doing and functional please let us know here! I’ll likely have elebest help me as well with the coding.
I haven't had time to test them fully honesty. I've been moving back to Europe and it's been real busy lately going back and forth between continents. I'll test them as soon as I get a chance when i go back in two days.
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Old Mar 20, 2026 | 10:44 PM
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Any updates Billy? No worries if not
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Old Mar 20, 2026 | 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by 6speeddave
Any updates Billy? No worries if not
Been swapping my PCV system and thermostat in my car so I haven't been able to get to it. Car hasn't been turned on since i got back to Europe. I'll update ya once I do.
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Old Mar 20, 2026 | 11:55 PM
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appreciate your efforts on this, looking forward to hearing how it goes
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Old Apr 23, 2026 | 02:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Billyismyname
Been swapping my PCV system and thermostat in my car so I haven't been able to get to it. Car hasn't been turned on since i got back to Europe. I'll update ya once I do.
Any updates Billy?!
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