wow... you do really show ur age...
Are base halogen headlights good?
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Westchester County, NY
'11 E550 4MATIC, '07 Suzuki SV1000S
Stock Halogens
I took an extended test drive (long weekend) of a GL before making my purchase (wifey works for MB dealer so that makes things liuke that easy)
Test drive car had only halogens....I'm coming out of 2 past vehicles with HID's and there was NO WAY I was going to get a new GL without HID's after driving that test car. I am a little curious as to why conversion is so difficult though - I converted my wife's Lexus GX with a plug and play kit from xenondepot - took all of 40 minutes...twin ballasts and wiring harnesses etc.
On my end with the HID's I'm a bigger fan of yellow fogs so I'm switching out mine for PIAA Plasma Ion Yellow bulbs...will post some pics when I get around to cleaning - can't post dirty car pics.
Test drive car had only halogens....I'm coming out of 2 past vehicles with HID's and there was NO WAY I was going to get a new GL without HID's after driving that test car. I am a little curious as to why conversion is so difficult though - I converted my wife's Lexus GX with a plug and play kit from xenondepot - took all of 40 minutes...twin ballasts and wiring harnesses etc.
On my end with the HID's I'm a bigger fan of yellow fogs so I'm switching out mine for PIAA Plasma Ion Yellow bulbs...will post some pics when I get around to cleaning - can't post dirty car pics.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,214
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
It's difficult to swap using an aftermarket HID kit and the Mercedes H7 reflectors. The way the bulb is secured to the reflector is the issue. Most cars use a spring wire to secure the bulb to the housing. Mercedes uses a piece of metal that mounts to the back of the bulb and is twisted in place. The bulb has to be completely flush against the mount to be secured to the housing. Most/all of the HID kits use a plastic housing that is too thick for the mount to catch and secure to the housing.
I assume that you would need to grind the plastic to make it thin enough for the mount to secure to the housing. By grinding the plastic thin enough for it to catch, I have a feeling it would be a weak spot and the plastic would eventually fail and cause the bulb to fall out of the reflector.
I have not tried to retrofit an HID kit and someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Anyone, anyone, Bueller....Bueller????
By the way, does anyone know where all the mounting points are for the headlights? The two at the top in the engine bay are easily accessible but how do you get to the third one to take out the entire headlight housing? Are there only three bolts that hold it in or are there more?
I assume that you would need to grind the plastic to make it thin enough for the mount to secure to the housing. By grinding the plastic thin enough for it to catch, I have a feeling it would be a weak spot and the plastic would eventually fail and cause the bulb to fall out of the reflector.
I have not tried to retrofit an HID kit and someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Anyone, anyone, Bueller....Bueller????
By the way, does anyone know where all the mounting points are for the headlights? The two at the top in the engine bay are easily accessible but how do you get to the third one to take out the entire headlight housing? Are there only three bolts that hold it in or are there more?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Maryland USA
08 ML350; 07' Acura RDX; 05'FX45; 03'Murano
It's difficult to swap using an aftermarket HID kit and the Mercedes H7 reflectors. The way the bulb is secured to the reflector is the issue. Most cars use a spring wire to secure the bulb to the housing. Mercedes uses a piece of metal that mounts to the back of the bulb and is twisted in place. The bulb has to be completely flush against the mount to be secured to the housing. Most/all of the HID kits use a plastic housing that is too thick for the mount to catch and secure to the housing.
I assume that you would need to grind the plastic to make it thin enough for the mount to secure to the housing. By grinding the plastic thin enough for it to catch, I have a feeling it would be a weak spot and the plastic would eventually fail and cause the bulb to fall out of the reflector.
I have not tried to retrofit an HID kit and someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Anyone, anyone, Bueller....Bueller????
I assume that you would need to grind the plastic to make it thin enough for the mount to secure to the housing. By grinding the plastic thin enough for it to catch, I have a feeling it would be a weak spot and the plastic would eventually fail and cause the bulb to fall out of the reflector.
I have not tried to retrofit an HID kit and someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Anyone, anyone, Bueller....Bueller????
Happy since.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,214
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I personally use MTec after market HID. They come with two pieces of metal adaptor to fit exactly to my ML reflector housing and their ignitors are inside the ballasts. A little expensive thou, $340 on eBay, with a 2 year warranty, but they worth the money.
Happy since.
Happy since.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
STP
PS Nobody we know was flying Newark to Buffalo last night, right?
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
G35 and Nissan Armada
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Sorry, it's Monday. I'm not that old, for goodness sake! Just a big Monty Python fan.
And you've really never owned a Toyota or a Lexus? It's a tough comparison, kind of like the beauty, hand made feel, and soul of a Swiss watch versus the soul-less absolute precision of a digital Casio (though of course the price difference isn't nearly as much with the cars and Toyotas nor Lexus..es - Lexi? - are not cheaply made).
STP
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
G35 and Nissan Armada
WHAT IS WITH EVERYONE HURLING THE INSULTS?!?!
Sorry, it's Monday. I'm not that old, for goodness sake! Just a big Monty Python fan.
And you've really never owned a Toyota or a Lexus? It's a tough comparison, kind of like the beauty, hand made feel, and soul of a Swiss watch versus the soul-less absolute precision of a digital Casio (though of course the price difference isn't nearly as much with the cars and Toyotas nor Lexus..es - Lexi? - are not cheaply made).
STP
Sorry, it's Monday. I'm not that old, for goodness sake! Just a big Monty Python fan.
And you've really never owned a Toyota or a Lexus? It's a tough comparison, kind of like the beauty, hand made feel, and soul of a Swiss watch versus the soul-less absolute precision of a digital Casio (though of course the price difference isn't nearly as much with the cars and Toyotas nor Lexus..es - Lexi? - are not cheaply made).
STP
here look at some pictures from my detroit autoshow visit...lol
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
PS Pick up any cheap property in Detroit while you were there? You could probably buy the city of Flint for $20 at this point. Very sad.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Maryland USA
08 ML350; 07' Acura RDX; 05'FX45; 03'Murano
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
G35 and Nissan Armada
Now, see, that's my point. Those are cars built by people who love to drive. The might not have the A#1 GPS/Audio system in them. They might have a clunky adapter for the decade old Bluetooth technology for a phone. But they are cars for folks who love the road, love to drive, and despite budget cuts and a definate drop in quality, the ones who love cars are coming back and building gorgeous, better engineered and more modern cars. For folks like us, who love to drive.
PS Pick up any cheap property in Detroit while you were there? You could probably buy the city of Flint for $20 at this point. Very sad.
PS Pick up any cheap property in Detroit while you were there? You could probably buy the city of Flint for $20 at this point. Very sad.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
G35 and Nissan Armada
Now, see, that's my point. Those are cars built by people who love to drive. The might not have the A#1 GPS/Audio system in them. They might have a clunky adapter for the decade old Bluetooth technology for a phone. But they are cars for folks who love the road, love to drive, and despite budget cuts and a definate drop in quality, the ones who love cars are coming back and building gorgeous, better engineered and more modern cars. For folks like us, who love to drive.
PS Pick up any cheap property in Detroit while you were there? You could probably buy the city of Flint for $20 at this point. Very sad.
PS Pick up any cheap property in Detroit while you were there? You could probably buy the city of Flint for $20 at this point. Very sad.
, i just got banned from Infiniti FX forum section on freshalloy, saying drving a C-class is much prestige than drving a 2009 FX50...lol
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: New York
2007 GL450; 2005 TL; 1986 IROC-Z28
Not sure if there is anything new to add to the thread but since my GL doesn’t have HIDs here are the options that I take away from the above:
1) Upgrade the halogen bulbs and have dealer re-aim the headlights – result will be much better than stock but not quite as good as HIDs?
2) Use an aftermarket kit such as the MTec kit used by am beagle above – Not sure if the install would be different in a GL; also I read somewhere that MB would need to change the setting in the computer since the light may flicker due to lower wattage(?) am beagle, was that the case? and by any chance can you share a picture of the install?
3) Replace the entire headlight (most costly of the scenarios) and is all that’s needed part #1 in the attached link? I figure MB still needs to change the computer setting?
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getJointLocator&siteid=214660&cha pter=&Sectionids=0,2295&groupid=2296&subgroupid=22 97&componentid=85445&make=67&model=GL%20Class&year =2007&graphicID=5791030&callout=1&catalogid=2&disp layCatalogid=0
1) Upgrade the halogen bulbs and have dealer re-aim the headlights – result will be much better than stock but not quite as good as HIDs?
2) Use an aftermarket kit such as the MTec kit used by am beagle above – Not sure if the install would be different in a GL; also I read somewhere that MB would need to change the setting in the computer since the light may flicker due to lower wattage(?) am beagle, was that the case? and by any chance can you share a picture of the install?
3) Replace the entire headlight (most costly of the scenarios) and is all that’s needed part #1 in the attached link? I figure MB still needs to change the computer setting?
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getJointLocator&siteid=214660&cha pter=&Sectionids=0,2295&groupid=2296&subgroupid=22 97&componentid=85445&make=67&model=GL%20Class&year =2007&graphicID=5791030&callout=1&catalogid=2&disp layCatalogid=0
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 24
From: NYC/NJ
2022 E53 SG
Not sure if there is anything new to add to the thread but since my GL doesn’t have HIDs here are the options that I take away from the above:
1) Upgrade the halogen bulbs and have dealer re-aim the headlights – result will be much better than stock but not quite as good as HIDs?
1) Upgrade the halogen bulbs and have dealer re-aim the headlights – result will be much better than stock but not quite as good as HIDs?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
EVERY HID "kit" is junk and illegal.
New HID headlight units from Mercedes is only viable solution.
See http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
Understand that on forums many folks will defend the cheaper solution in face of engineering data and common sense as if the latter are meaningless. Their degrees in English literature and reading marketing hype help them know all about it.
New HID headlight units from Mercedes is only viable solution.
See http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
Understand that on forums many folks will defend the cheaper solution in face of engineering data and common sense as if the latter are meaningless. Their degrees in English literature and reading marketing hype help them know all about it.
