2010 GL350 headlamp upgrade survey
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2010 GL350
2010 GL350 headlamp upgrade survey
I updated my halogen bulbs to HIDs almost 3 years ago (see my earlier thread). Since then I noticed that they seem to be dimmer than I remember. So, I've been experimenting with replacing the bulbs with new Morimoto HID bulbs vs. Hikari LEDs.
I have 3 photos below. Note that this is not an apples to apples comparison since the left housing is clear (it was replaced) while the right one is cloudy with age.
I'd love to hear your opinions -- which is brightest?
Also, I need to replace the entire headlamp assembly (long story short, a broken halogen high beam bulb melted the reflector). Should I replace the assembly myself or have my mechanic do it? It seems like a lot of effort removing the front of the car.
Last, I have some important tips about the LED adapter clips. More on this in a subsequent post....
2 year old HID in clear lens (l.) vs. HIkari LED in fogged lens (r.)
2 year old HID in clear lens (l.) vs. New Morimoto HID in fogged lens (r.)
Hikari LED in clear lens (l.) vs. New Morimoto HID in fogged lens (r.)
I have 3 photos below. Note that this is not an apples to apples comparison since the left housing is clear (it was replaced) while the right one is cloudy with age.
I'd love to hear your opinions -- which is brightest?
Also, I need to replace the entire headlamp assembly (long story short, a broken halogen high beam bulb melted the reflector). Should I replace the assembly myself or have my mechanic do it? It seems like a lot of effort removing the front of the car.
Last, I have some important tips about the LED adapter clips. More on this in a subsequent post....
2 year old HID in clear lens (l.) vs. HIkari LED in fogged lens (r.)
2 year old HID in clear lens (l.) vs. New Morimoto HID in fogged lens (r.)
Hikari LED in clear lens (l.) vs. New Morimoto HID in fogged lens (r.)
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Most likely, the Morimoto HID will outperform the aftermarket LED. Some factory LED lighting is superior to HID, but retrofits it is mostly the other way around. Go with HID.
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2010 GL350
Thanks for the opinions so far -- 2 for HIDs! Honestly, though, the LEDs in the photos look equal or better than the HIDs. Anyone else? I'd love to hear more.
Here are some better photos. Hikari LED on left; new Morimoto HID (35w) on right
Here are some better photos. Hikari LED on left; new Morimoto HID (35w) on right
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Can't go by how they look in photos. There are a lot of informational videos on youtube about upgrading headlights to HID and LED, and almost always the HID produces more light. Search youtube for HID vs LED.
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From: Germantown, MD
'07 GL450
Personally, I prefer the whiter WHITE of the LED.. but looking at the first set of photos (the second set of images do not show on my computer), the LED seems to have poorer coverage than the HID (you can see a bit of a dark spot just above the hood on the left side, below the beam.).
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From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
Shining against an object at close distance really isn't the best way to compare. What you here may not translate to seeing more on the road - especially down the road a ways. It's all about how the particular light wavelengths (which vary) interact with the housing reflector. Find an unlit, straight stretch of road and compare that way. Ideally, one bulb set at a time.
Real life example in boating and the boat's white, all around light... I've seen where some people replace the stock (incandescent) bulb with an LED bulb and they rave about how much brighter the light is. However, they're only looking at it from the dock, which means nothing. These lights are required by the USCG to be seen from a certain distance - at least 1nm for smaller boats. When you look at these all around lights that people have put an LED bulb in from a further distance, though, you don't see them as well as the incandescent.
Real life example in boating and the boat's white, all around light... I've seen where some people replace the stock (incandescent) bulb with an LED bulb and they rave about how much brighter the light is. However, they're only looking at it from the dock, which means nothing. These lights are required by the USCG to be seen from a certain distance - at least 1nm for smaller boats. When you look at these all around lights that people have put an LED bulb in from a further distance, though, you don't see them as well as the incandescent.
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'10 CL550, '12 GL550
There exists no viable or legal upgrade of headlight units designed for halogens bulbs to either HID or LED.
There are better bulbs for halogen units and better bulbs for HID units. LED for W164 is not feasible. Mercedes HID units can replace halogen units, but it’s not cheap or easy
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
There are better bulbs for halogen units and better bulbs for HID units. LED for W164 is not feasible. Mercedes HID units can replace halogen units, but it’s not cheap or easy
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
Last edited by lkchris; Sep 7, 2020 at 12:49 PM.
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2010 GL350
@DennisG01 Thanks for the input!
The photos in the reply I posted 9/6 at 6:39PM are of an unlit straight stretch of road as you suggested. I don't really see much difference except the color, and the bulb on the right seems to illuminate further--but I suspect that has more to do with the aim.
Which do you think is better?
The photos in the reply I posted 9/6 at 6:39PM are of an unlit straight stretch of road as you suggested. I don't really see much difference except the color, and the bulb on the right seems to illuminate further--but I suspect that has more to do with the aim.
Which do you think is better?
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2010 GL350
@lkchris Thanks very much for the reply, but I must say that I don't agree with you. Have you driven an X164 with stock halogens? I have and it is almost the same as no headlights. I even tried upgrading to the highest output Philips halogen and there was almost no noticeable difference.
There are subtleties determining which is better between the LED and HIDs, but between either the LED or HID and stock halogen there is no comparison whatsoever--it is like having lights vs not.
Thanks
There are subtleties determining which is better between the LED and HIDs, but between either the LED or HID and stock halogen there is no comparison whatsoever--it is like having lights vs not.
Thanks
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From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
@DennisG01 Thanks for the input!
The photos in the reply I posted 9/6 at 6:39PM are of an unlit straight stretch of road as you suggested. I don't really see much difference except the color, and the bulb on the right seems to illuminate further--but I suspect that has more to do with the aim.
Which do you think is better?
The photos in the reply I posted 9/6 at 6:39PM are of an unlit straight stretch of road as you suggested. I don't really see much difference except the color, and the bulb on the right seems to illuminate further--but I suspect that has more to do with the aim.
Which do you think is better?
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From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
The first one is a good picture for comparison. The light spread looks similar to mine and I'm very happy with it - others that ride in the car have actually commented on it, out of the blue. As far as the "color" difference from port to starboard... I think that's just a personal preference. I don't think one is actually "brighter" than the other.
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2010 GL350
@DennisG01 Thanks for the comment. Which do you like better: left or right?
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To be honest, no real preference. Besides, my opinion isn't the one that matters 
Which one more closely matches the color of your fog lights? My car doesn't have LED fog lights - not sure about the 2010.
Which one more closely matches the color of your fog lights? My car doesn't have LED fog lights - not sure about the 2010.
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There exists no viable or legal upgrade of headlight units designed for halogens bulbs to either HID or LED.
There are better bulbs for halogen units and better bulbs for HID units. LED for W164 is not feasible. Mercedes HID units can replace halogen units, but it’s not cheap or easy
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
There are better bulbs for halogen units and better bulbs for HID units. LED for W164 is not feasible. Mercedes HID units can replace halogen units, but it’s not cheap or easy
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
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From: CA
11 ML550, 95 Supra TT, 14 Audi S4
Technically Daniel Stern is correct. Retrofits are not legal per DOT regs. However, nobody cares about their antiquated rules. They have consistently blocked headlight advancements. Halogens were illegal here long after the rest of the work used them in favor of sealed beam headlights that were unbelievably bad. Cars were required to have the standard round or awful rectangular headlights long after the rest of the world had moved on to better headlight designs etc. etc. etc.
If you really want good headlight performance, replace the stock projectors with better ones like an EVO-XR that bolts in and use a high quality (Osram or Philips) bulb. Much better than either a HID or LED retrofit in the stock projectors.
If you really want good headlight performance, replace the stock projectors with better ones like an EVO-XR that bolts in and use a high quality (Osram or Philips) bulb. Much better than either a HID or LED retrofit in the stock projectors.
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@lkchris Thanks very much for the reply, but I must say that I don't agree with you. Have you driven an X164 with stock halogens? I have and it is almost the same as no headlights. I even tried upgrading to the highest output Philips halogen and there was almost no noticeable difference.
There are subtleties determining which is better between the LED and HIDs, but between either the LED or HID and stock halogen there is no comparison whatsoever--it is like having lights vs not.
Thanks
There are subtleties determining which is better between the LED and HIDs, but between either the LED or HID and stock halogen there is no comparison whatsoever--it is like having lights vs not.
Thanks
my GL with +100 halogen high beams outperforms the high beams on my factory hid equipped CL. That’s because I have night vision (wish I didn’t) and that means I have single projectors per side with movable parts. This because the rest of the unit is dedicated to infrared. I will eventually try + hid burners, but this conversion is massive effort on the CL
Last edited by lkchris; Sep 8, 2020 at 12:05 PM.
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Good for Daniel but the H7's in the GL work perfectly with the aftermarket bulbs and the car is safer to drive because you can actually see the road. There is slight difference between HID projectors and the halogen projectors on the standard GL but the difference is not going to be any different to oncoming drivers. The HID reflector area is typically a little larger but both have shields to prevent scattered throw above the cutoff. Bi-xenon projectors have the ability to move the shield out of the way so you get the high-beam effect.
When I had a CL600 with factory HID's, my GL also out performed it.
Last edited by BlownV8; Sep 8, 2020 at 11:25 PM.
