LED headlight bulb?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 9
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2016 E350 - 2018 GLE350
LED headlight bulb?
Hello guys. Got my first GLE for awhile and just can't stand the halogen lamps. I mean adaptive LED is nice but just HID would do too but halogen sigh... Just can't understand the logic on cheap small things on something supposedly premium. My last 5 series had many things nicely equipped even with base and I just had to get premium package. At least none of the 5 series and above cars would look cheap in the road. I guess it's stupid MB USA fault. Asian market models even smaller CLA in Hong Kong all come with nice appearance stuffs. I know you can get the expensive package and so on but that's just rip off. My E350 had HID at least. If I were their brand image director I would never want a cheap looking MB rolling on the street.
OK enough with the rant... I searched quite a bit while most discussed HID conversion vs LED headlight, I can see vendors that sell HID selling LED bulbs too. I guess these LED bulbs are definitely not as good as stock LED but anyone with experience? How do they compare to HID in terms of reaulre on GLE headlight units? Any brands you would recommend? I saw recommendation for Azn optics HID.
OK enough with the rant... I searched quite a bit while most discussed HID conversion vs LED headlight, I can see vendors that sell HID selling LED bulbs too. I guess these LED bulbs are definitely not as good as stock LED but anyone with experience? How do they compare to HID in terms of reaulre on GLE headlight units? Any brands you would recommend? I saw recommendation for Azn optics HID.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 897
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From: at the mercedes dealer next to you
2020 GLE350 2020 Toyota Rav4H AWD XLE
Hello guys. Got my first GLE for awhile and just can't stand the halogen lamps. I mean adaptive LED is nice but just HID would do too but halogen sigh... Just can't understand the logic on cheap small things on something supposedly premium. My last 5 series had many things nicely equipped even with base and I just had to get premium package. At least none of the 5 series and above cars would look cheap in the road. I guess it's stupid MB USA fault. Asian market models even smaller CLA in Hong Kong all come with nice appearance stuffs. I know you can get the expensive package and so on but that's just rip off. My E350 had HID at least. If I were their brand image director I would never want a cheap looking MB rolling on the street.
OK enough with the rant... I searched quite a bit while most discussed HID conversion vs LED headlight, I can see vendors that sell HID selling LED bulbs too. I guess these LED bulbs are definitely not as good as stock LED but anyone with experience? How do they compare to HID in terms of reaulre on GLE headlight units? Any brands you would recommend? I saw recommendation for Azn optics HID.
OK enough with the rant... I searched quite a bit while most discussed HID conversion vs LED headlight, I can see vendors that sell HID selling LED bulbs too. I guess these LED bulbs are definitely not as good as stock LED but anyone with experience? How do they compare to HID in terms of reaulre on GLE headlight units? Any brands you would recommend? I saw recommendation for Azn optics HID.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 25
Likes: 3
2019 GLE400
You can try some LED bulbs to see how you like them, still hard to say since there is endless options and types of bulbs for LED. But nothing will compare to HID. I would just do a proper HID conversion myself. If you can't do the work yourself, you'll probably pay a bit of cash on the front end, but you'll be happier in the long run.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 9
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2016 E350 - 2018 GLE350
here's the thing.. if you really hate the standard halogens you are welcome to go the LED route that those with the lighting package did. There was one user that went from the ML350 with lighting package to the GLE 63 Body kit and the Lighting package with the LEDs. It will cost money but if you wanna do thats your option to do so. Unfortunately the halogens are the cheif complant of ML/GLE/GLS/GL owners, when they come here but for those who are willing to venture the CPO route can get their cars loaded up to P3 and will be happy campers.
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 9
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2016 E350 - 2018 GLE350
You can try some LED bulbs to see how you like them, still hard to say since there is endless options and types of bulbs for LED. But nothing will compare to HID. I would just do a proper HID conversion myself. If you can't do the work yourself, you'll probably pay a bit of cash on the front end, but you'll be happier in the long run.
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SPONSOR/MBworld Guru
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
It's not really a question of LED bulb technology, but surface mounted light spread in general. Because LEDs are uni-directional, your stock housing isn't going to be able to properly capture that point spread lighting with edges being darker than apex. This results in reduced throw distance and dark spots projected forward. If the housing was designed to properly capture LED light spread, then all good as LEDs can generate as much if not more lumens compared to HIDs. But as HIDs have true 360 light output, the housing is better equipped to properly utilize that spread. LEDs are ideal for short throw distance (interior, rear plates, puddle lights, etc) or indication (signals, parking, markers, etc) type lighting.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2016 E350 - 2018 GLE350
It's not really a question of LED bulb technology, but surface mounted light spread in general. Because LEDs are uni-directional, your stock housing isn't going to be able to properly capture that point spread lighting with edges being darker than apex. This results in reduced throw distance and dark spots projected forward. If the housing was designed to properly capture LED light spread, then all good as LEDs can generate as much if not more lumens compared to HIDs. But as HIDs have true 360 light output, the housing is better equipped to properly utilize that spread. LEDs are ideal for short throw distance (interior, rear plates, puddle lights, etc) or indication (signals, parking, markers, etc) type lighting.
SPONSOR/MBworld Guru
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,936
Likes: 215
From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
Wouldn't recommend putting any ballasts inside the housing. All HIDs rely on natural engine air flow for ambient cooling. Encapsulating it inside the housing would cause heat issue and potentially reduce life of kit.
