HID swap for GL450
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Joined: Oct 2017
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2015 SL550, 2017 GLS 550, 2010 G550, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
HID swap for GL450
I bought a 2016 GL not long ago. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking and didn't look for one with the lighting package (I can't believe HIDs aren't standard on a 70k car, but w/e). Anyways, I wanted to know if I could swap used HID units from another GL onto this truck. I had a 2015 ML350 and I tried replacing the halogen bulbs with LED bulbs but it was a ****ing nightmare, and none of the bulbs I tried would actually screw into the housing properly. I don't want to go that disastrous route again.
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MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
I bought a 2016 GL not long ago. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking and didn't look for one with the lighting package (I can't believe HIDs aren't standard on a 70k car, but w/e). Anyways, I wanted to know if I could swap used HID units from another GL onto this truck. I had a 2015 ML350 and I tried replacing the halogen bulbs with LED bulbs but it was a ****ing nightmare, and none of the bulbs I tried would actually screw into the housing properly. I don't want to go that disastrous route again.
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Super Member
Joined: Oct 2017
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2015 SL550, 2017 GLS 550, 2010 G550, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
I'm not very comfortable with an HID kit as it requires a hard wire to the battery. Even if that wasn't the case, I've tried using three different types of LED bulbs in my ML, and not a single one would screw into the stock housing, even when every vendor assured me that it would work. I'm really not sure why there aren't H7 specific LED bulbs on the market.
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MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
What would a recoding take?
I'm not very comfortable with an HID kit as it requires a hard wire to the battery. Even if that wasn't the case, I've tried using three different types of LED bulbs in my ML, and not a single one would screw into the stock housing, even when every vendor assured me that it would work. I'm really not sure why there aren't H7 specific LED bulbs on the market.
I'm not very comfortable with an HID kit as it requires a hard wire to the battery. Even if that wasn't the case, I've tried using three different types of LED bulbs in my ML, and not a single one would screw into the stock housing, even when every vendor assured me that it would work. I'm really not sure why there aren't H7 specific LED bulbs on the market.
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I've run an HID kit on my old 164 GL for over 11 years and 200k+ miles. No seperate wire needed. Just plugs into the stock harness. Only use bulbs with metal bases.
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From: Southwest Florida
2013 GL450
Your boy AZN Optics will set you up ... I paired the Morimoto 6500k (50W) bulbs with his suggested 35W Ballasts ... I would've liked to have a 50W Ballast (but his preferred brand doesn't make one with Canbus Circuitry built in) ... so the 6500K (50W) Morimoto bulbs with the 35W Ballasts gave me a white (drastically more so than halogens), but when along the road with the newer cars HIDs or LEDs, they are not as white or bright ... but still it is a world of a difference compared to OEM halogens ... all LED retrofits I've tried have failed miserably, just no where near as bright as HIDs (even with my pairing above) ... you do need the H7 bulbs with metal base (not plastic) and I also had to glue the OEM clip ring to the H7bulb metal "flange" base ... and yes I drilled a hole through the dust cap ... after 5 years driving a 2010 BMW with HIDs .... still miffed that the GL came standard with halogens ... ridiculous. Happy Install ... knowing what I know now, wouldn't take you more than 30 minutes (except a few hours for the glue to set)
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2015 SL550, 2017 GLS 550, 2010 G550, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
And what about installing them in the headlamp housing? Like I said, I had online chats with three different representatives from three different companies that promised the bulbs they were selling me would easily screw into the assembly. None did. I spent hours trying to get the damn things in but they just wouldn't stick. It was/is a horrible experience. Do you guarantee that your bulbs will easily and properly fit the headlamps of my 2016 GL450 (or for that matter, my 2015 ML 350?)
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 699
Likes: 149
2015 SL550, 2017 GLS 550, 2010 G550, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
Your boy AZN Optics will set you up ... I paired the Morimoto 6500k (50W) bulbs with his suggested 35W Ballasts ... I would've liked to have a 50W Ballast (but his preferred brand doesn't make one with Canbus Circuitry built in) ... so the 6500K (50W) Morimoto bulbs with the 35W Ballasts gave me a white (drastically more so than halogens), but when along the road with the newer cars HIDs or LEDs, they are not as white or bright ... but still it is a world of a difference compared to OEM halogens ... all LED retrofits I've tried have failed miserably, just no where near as bright as HIDs (even with my pairing above) ... you do need the H7 bulbs with metal base (not plastic) and I also had to glue the OEM clip ring to the H7bulb metal "flange" base ... and yes I drilled a hole through the dust cap ... after 5 years driving a 2010 BMW with HIDs .... still miffed that the GL came standard with halogens ... ridiculous. Happy Install ... knowing what I know now, wouldn't take you more than 30 minutes (except a few hours for the glue to set)
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2015 GL450
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I found these on Amazon. Not HID but LED for lowbeams that work with the weird mercedes headlight clips. Works in 2013 GL450. Worth a try as you don't have to mess with the HID ballast and wires.
https://www.lasfit.com/products/cust...rward-lighting
https://www.lasfit.com/products/cust...rward-lighting
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 699
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2015 SL550, 2017 GLS 550, 2010 G550, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
I found these on Amazon. Not HID but LED for lowbeams that work with the weird mercedes headlight clips. Works in 2013 GL450. Worth a try as you don't have to mess with the HID ballast and wires.
https://www.lasfit.com/products/cust...rward-lighting
https://www.lasfit.com/products/cust...rward-lighting
You're going to get better light output with HID's but I've yet to see an HID kit that doesn't have a flimsy base that is IMPOSSIBLE to fit securely in the socket. The lasfit bulbs for High and Low, plus a pair of LED's for the running lamps, will make a world of difference. The best part is, the color temperature is very close to stock. It doesn't look cheap at all.
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
LasFit bulbs were the only ones that fit snugly into the sockets on my ML. Every other bulb wiggled about, had to be held in with electrical tape, etc.
You're going to get better light output with HID's but I've yet to see an HID kit that doesn't have a flimsy base that is IMPOSSIBLE to fit securely in the socket. The lasfit bulbs for High and Low, plus a pair of LED's for the running lamps, will make a world of difference. The best part is, the color temperature is very close to stock. It doesn't look cheap at all.
You're going to get better light output with HID's but I've yet to see an HID kit that doesn't have a flimsy base that is IMPOSSIBLE to fit securely in the socket. The lasfit bulbs for High and Low, plus a pair of LED's for the running lamps, will make a world of difference. The best part is, the color temperature is very close to stock. It doesn't look cheap at all.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 699
Likes: 149
2015 SL550, 2017 GLS 550, 2010 G550, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
Yeah...the LED's are okay (interestingly, the LED fog light replacement bulbs on my G550 put out WAY more light than the stock HID's) - definitely better than stock halogens but having the factory HID/LED option is your best option.
When I sold my ML I had replaced both high and low beams with LED's. If I had found an HID kit that wasn't a nightmare to install I would have gone with that for the low beams and LED's for the high beams.
When I sold my ML I had replaced both high and low beams with LED's. If I had found an HID kit that wasn't a nightmare to install I would have gone with that for the low beams and LED's for the high beams.
