GL Class (X166) 2013-2015 after facelift became GLS (X166)

Xenon headlight replacement

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Apr 21, 2020 | 03:55 PM
  #1  
sg021's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 68
Likes: 14
2014 GL450
Xenon headlight replacement

I knew the pain of changing out halogens way too often from previous cars, so I made sure to get the lighting upgrade on my GL. Here I am today with one xenon low beam off. Is there a way I can confirm it's really dead after only 80k, as opposed to a wiring problem? Manual is no help as it just says a professional is needed to service the xenons.
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2020 | 05:52 PM
  #2  
BlownV8's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
2014 and 80k miles, probably need a new one. Check Amazon or Ebay for replacements. Dealership price is outrageous.
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2020 | 02:18 AM
  #3  
black06c230's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 241
From: Usa
mgLipGD
Swap the good bulb over to bad verify it’s a bulb issue. If no issue then it’s the bulb. If same issue it’s the ballast.

Reply
Old Apr 23, 2020 | 02:20 AM
  #4  
black06c230's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 241
From: Usa
mgLipGD
Also these are really nice but a little pricey. Have these after trying the CBI which was better than OE but CBB is a step up still.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/d1...cbb-B-66140CBB
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2020 | 08:17 AM
  #5  
sg021's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 68
Likes: 14
2014 GL450
Originally Posted by black06c230
Also these are really nice but a little pricey. Have these after trying the CBI which was better than OE but CBB is a step up still.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/d1...cbb-B-66140CBB
Thanks for the suggestion, I'm going to go with the CBB. I was considering the Philips white vision gen 2 as well, it seems like the light output is a little better on it. However it's really yellow based on pictures I found.

Hopefully these will make a noticeable difference. Don't get me wrong, the oem was a million times better than the garbage halogen on my old car, but my wife's old IS250 (xenon) and especially new Tesla Model 3 (LED) have more of a cooler daylight color and honestly are way better all around for night visibility than the stock GL xenons.

Last edited by sg021; Apr 24, 2020 at 08:58 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2020 | 03:20 PM
  #6  
black06c230's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 241
From: Usa
mgLipGD
Originally Posted by sg021
Thanks for the suggestion, I'm going to go with the CBB. I was considering the Philips white vision gen 2 as well, it seems like the light output is a little better on it. However it's really yellow based on pictures I found.

Hopefully these will make a noticeable difference. Don't get me wrong, the oem was a million times better than the garbage halogen on my old car, but my wife's old IS250 (xenon) and especially new Tesla Model 3 (LED) have more of a cooler daylight color and honestly are way better all around for night visibility than the stock GL xenons.
let me know how you like them
Reply
Old May 11, 2020 | 02:34 PM
  #7  
sg021's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 68
Likes: 14
2014 GL450
Finally got around to trying to replace these. I couldn't find any clear videos or instructions online, and I didn't want to break anything trying to get it out. Does anyone know the procedure? Am I just supposed to directly unplug it where it is? This didn't seem like it was going to be too easy to do when I tried a little, so is this part of a larger assembly that I have to unclip and pull out? For some of the other Benz models it seemed to be that way. Thanks.


View looking through the wheel well access point.

Closer look.


Reply
Old May 11, 2020 | 05:39 PM
  #8  
mtm's Avatar
mtm
Senior Member
10 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 306
Likes: 78
gl450
Twist the square bulb base counter-clockwise and pull it out
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 12, 2020 | 11:38 PM
  #9  
sg021's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 68
Likes: 14
2014 GL450
Originally Posted by mtm
Twist the square bulb base counter-clockwise and pull it out
Thanks.

The new Osram CBB bulb is very white. There is no blue at all that I can see, which seems consistent with other reviews. It is pretty close to the stock color, at least enough for me to just wait on replacing the other one till it goes.
New bulb is on the left, I'd say it is a bit cooler white than stock.



Last edited by sg021; May 13, 2020 at 07:11 AM.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:01 AM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE