HID Conversion with pictures
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Breukelin, NY
2009 GL450, 06 Triumph Speed Triple, 07 Triumph Speedmaster
Hey axchung, could you give specs, and where you got them, on all the bulbs you used for the side markers and parking lights? I just put in HID fogs to complete the look of my HID lowbeams and now the yellows of the stock bulbs are bugging me.
Thanks.
EDIT: Never mind. Saw it another post.
Thanks.
EDIT: Never mind. Saw it another post.
Last edited by Josey92; Aug 4, 2010 at 06:05 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
2010 GL450
HID Conversion with pictures
It took me about 1.5 hours completing the HID conversion for my GL450.
Special thanks to redroc14 and BlownV8 for the installation details and pictures!
Can anyone tell how to change the parking light bulbs? I can reach the parking light socket with just a finger on top and a finger on the bottom, and as you know, there isn't much room there. Do I need to twist counter-clockwise to unplug or is a snap connector?
Thanks,
JK
Special thanks to redroc14 and BlownV8 for the installation details and pictures!
Can anyone tell how to change the parking light bulbs? I can reach the parking light socket with just a finger on top and a finger on the bottom, and as you know, there isn't much room there. Do I need to twist counter-clockwise to unplug or is a snap connector?
Thanks,
JK
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: MAN - QNZ- BKN - LIS
2012 Luna C
Are the bulbs w5w? Im going to test out some LEDs (the ones I have have resistors on them) Hopefully they wont give an error code. I will report back when I get an answer.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 288
Likes: 4
From: MI
2024 G63 AMG, 2022 GLE 63S AMG
Hi Blown V8! I wanted to click on your link from your post to see your HID kit on eBay...the link says the listing does not exist, because its been over 90 days, and after 90 days ebay removes the listing after it expires. Could you please repost it?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2009 GL450
I just installed my aftermarket kit from www.xenithxenons.com
I am very happy with it. I got the 6000k H7 kit. George, who owns the business, was a great pleasure to deal with.
I was a little intimidated by the installation because my bulbs had the plastic bases, but I made it work with some improv. I reused the OEM metal clips as outlined in the very helpful DIY instructions above. I had to slightly bend some of the metal parts of the metal clips to get it to fit in the socket properly. Once I got one side on, the other was a breeze. Overall, the longest and painful part of installation was the filing. I didn't have a real metal file so I used my wife's metal nail file
. No error codes, all the wires and the small ballasts fit inside of the headlight housing. No drilling, no splicing, nothing. It was great. I will take some shots later, but I highly recommend xenithxenons, which I came across after I saw a writeup elsewhere.
special thanks to blownv8 and redroc14 for the effort they took to post this step by step.
I am very happy with it. I got the 6000k H7 kit. George, who owns the business, was a great pleasure to deal with.
I was a little intimidated by the installation because my bulbs had the plastic bases, but I made it work with some improv. I reused the OEM metal clips as outlined in the very helpful DIY instructions above. I had to slightly bend some of the metal parts of the metal clips to get it to fit in the socket properly. Once I got one side on, the other was a breeze. Overall, the longest and painful part of installation was the filing. I didn't have a real metal file so I used my wife's metal nail file
. No error codes, all the wires and the small ballasts fit inside of the headlight housing. No drilling, no splicing, nothing. It was great. I will take some shots later, but I highly recommend xenithxenons, which I came across after I saw a writeup elsewhere.special thanks to blownv8 and redroc14 for the effort they took to post this step by step.
I just picked up the Xenith Xenons today and i wanted to know how you even managed to put the retaining clip positioned between the bulb and the rubber grommet???
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 24
From: NYC/NJ
2022 E53 SG
you need to file down the oem clips so they will fit over plastic bulb base. Also, I put everything inside the housing.
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Newbie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
GL320
Do we know where BlownV8 bought his kit/lights? He seemed to get the ones with a metal base vs. plastic?
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 230
Likes: 59
From: Houston, TX
24G63,21GT634DR, 17C63s, 08GL450
Trouble?
I picked them up from Retro soln as well. I am having a lot of trouble with those in my 2008 GL450.
1st AFter 34 mins one side goes off
2nd the replacement Balast they send is also having the same trouble.
I tried changing the balast side and now it is random. Sometimes left goes out sometime right goes out. looks like wrong kit for me
I bought the 55w Balast from them (non Slim). How is your's holding up.
I like the quality of the parts and lights are good when they work. But reliability is kicking in as I drive daily 1 hr to work and lights go out after 30-40 mins.
Please help!!!
1st AFter 34 mins one side goes off
2nd the replacement Balast they send is also having the same trouble.
I tried changing the balast side and now it is random. Sometimes left goes out sometime right goes out. looks like wrong kit for me
I bought the 55w Balast from them (non Slim). How is your's holding up.
I like the quality of the parts and lights are good when they work. But reliability is kicking in as I drive daily 1 hr to work and lights go out after 30-40 mins.
Please help!!!
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 230
Likes: 59
From: Houston, TX
24G63,21GT634DR, 17C63s, 08GL450
Did you order 35W or 55W from them? Also are your's slim? Are your's working atleast? Mine dies after 30-40 mins
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
GL320
I ordered the 55W kit and they are not slims - the regular ones I guess. I didn't run them that long. Sounds like you should return yours. I couldn't get the bulb/retainer clip to stay in the headlight unit so I went back to the factory arrangement (I did put in $50 xenonish bulbs - Sylvania). They are a big big improvement from the crappy stock benz halogen bulbs
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 230
Likes: 59
From: Houston, TX
24G63,21GT634DR, 17C63s, 08GL450
I ordered the 55W kit and they are not slims - the regular ones I guess. I didn't run them that long. Sounds like you should return yours. I couldn't get the bulb/retainer clip to stay in the headlight unit so I went back to the factory arrangement (I did put in $50 xenonish bulbs - Sylvania). They are a big big improvement from the crappy stock benz halogen bulbs
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 230
Likes: 59
From: Houston, TX
24G63,21GT634DR, 17C63s, 08GL450
Good Grounding for Capacitors
Retro Guys are helping me out. Couple of things that could be wrong is polarity of capacitor or grounding. I didn't ground the capacitor and that is what could be causing it. I would update forum after I confirm the fix working.
Any help in finding grounding in the housing?
Any help in finding grounding in the housing?
Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: aTx
2006 C230SS, 2007 e63, 2009 gl450, 2003 Ducati 749
Mine are working fine with no issues. I also have the 55w big ballast. And yes I did ground my caps, you have too or you will get the errors. The only issues I have is sometimes when I leave them on auto and start the car the surge or of power from the start causes my left light to turn off and give an error code. easily fixed by turning the car off and then back on.......
Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: aTx
2006 C230SS, 2007 e63, 2009 gl450, 2003 Ducati 749
oh and as for grounding, I clipped off the connector from the ground wire on the cap and spliced it back into the ground wire to the lights. no issues. you know retro solutions also sells a nicer cambus box that does the same as the caps. you might want to try that.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
No experience with this seller but they offer the conversion bulbs with metal base:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Canad...item3cb9ac90fb
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Canad...item3cb9ac90fb
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 230
Likes: 59
From: Houston, TX
24G63,21GT634DR, 17C63s, 08GL450
Thanks
Thanks LFE. I am getting a replacement Ballast. I did ground them to light Grounds as well just like you said. However Still now luck. Also the problem Ballasts gets too Hot and then shuts off after 30 some minutes always. Thinking some Manufacturing problem. Would keep posted on the results.
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 230
Likes: 59
From: Houston, TX
24G63,21GT634DR, 17C63s, 08GL450
Thank you all
First of all Thanks to everybody in the Forum including OP. Now I can proudly say my GL has Xenon lights and boy they are day and night from factory lights.
The folks at Retro-solutions were very helpful. it looks like the Ballasts had issue and were replaced by them. Also the grounding was problem which I later corrected by grounding the capacitors to source Ground connections.
I would recommend Retro guys as they stood by what they sold me and the kit is plug and play.
Next project is getting Running Board/ Rear Chrome plate/ LED Strip Fog Lights.
Cheapest first. Rear chrome plate.
The folks at Retro-solutions were very helpful. it looks like the Ballasts had issue and were replaced by them. Also the grounding was problem which I later corrected by grounding the capacitors to source Ground connections.
I would recommend Retro guys as they stood by what they sold me and the kit is plug and play.
Next project is getting Running Board/ Rear Chrome plate/ LED Strip Fog Lights.
Cheapest first. Rear chrome plate
.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Canada
2011 GL350
I have a 2011 GL350 without the lighting package (and thus only halogen projectors). Looking to upgrade to HID setup, but i'm hearing that the new 2011+ mercedes have CANBUS or CAN BUS systems that require a specific capacitor or something (?) different from years previous. Does anybody have insight?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I have a 2011 GL350 without the lighting package (and thus only halogen projectors). Looking to upgrade to HID setup, but i'm hearing that the new 2011+ mercedes have CANBUS or CAN BUS systems that require a specific capacitor or something (?) different from years previous. Does anybody have insight?
