LED or HID ?
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2012 GL 450
LED or HID ?
I wanted to upgrade stock halogens on a 2016 GLE350. led seems easier because we don’t need to drill the dust cover and install ballasts. But I wonder how reliable LED Bulbs are, how hot they can get, flickering, error messages etc. if you could share your experience and what brand worked for you.. thanks !!
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If strictly looking at east of install, LEDs will be. However, you will see a big difference in performance due to light spread. You'll get better performance from HIDs over LEDs for sure because HIDs have true 360 light output that your halogen housing can better utilize vs LED point dispersion light spread. Heat will also be an issue as with LEDs, it's encapsulated inside the headlight, while with HIDs, the heat it mostly at the ballast/canbus component which is outside of the encapsulated headlight and can leverage natural engine airflow for cooling. LEDs you have two forms of cooling... one that has the big fan on it, but the problem with exposed mechanical parts is that it's something that tends to get clogged and fail unless you're diligent about cleaning. The other is passive ribbon cooling which basically uses long ribbons as heat sinks. Not as efficient as fan, but more reliable.
Let us know if interested as we've custom put together this Hybrid HID Conversion kit with the help of the MBWorld community as a best fit for Gx/Mx class MBs working specifically with your front SAM.
Let us know if interested as we've custom put together this Hybrid HID Conversion kit with the help of the MBWorld community as a best fit for Gx/Mx class MBs working specifically with your front SAM.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Washington D.C. area
16 GLE400 4matic
When I had my CLK. I went thru allot of Chinese brand HID's all of them set off the CAN-BUS. I even had the canceler install (should of went with MTEC HID kit). Years of troubleshooting. I gave up and went with the Raych T1 Turbo Fan LED from Amazon and use the canceler on them and never had an issue with the CAN-BUS. I prefer the LED's over HID because HID needs time to warm up to get there full brightness.
Since I traded my CLK to the GLE. My GLE came with the OEM factory lighting package.
Since I traded my CLK to the GLE. My GLE came with the OEM factory lighting package.
Last edited by amusa; Dec 26, 2019 at 08:12 AM.
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COB has been making CSP LEDs for a while and leading the industry. SMDs still have higher luminosity compared to CSP, but has been something we've been keeping a close eye on and working with part manufacturer OEMs to track improvements. Heat is the same as heat issues are independent of the actual LED chip... Heat resides in the resistors which you'll have regardless in a canbus design.
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CLS55
If strictly looking at east of install, LEDs will be. However, you will see a big difference in performance due to light spread. You'll get better performance from HIDs over LEDs for sure because HIDs have true 360 light output that your halogen housing can better utilize vs LED point dispersion light spread. Heat will also be an issue as with LEDs, it's encapsulated inside the headlight, while with HIDs, the heat it mostly at the ballast/canbus component which is outside of the encapsulated headlight and can leverage natural engine airflow for cooling. LEDs you have two forms of cooling... one that has the big fan on it, but the problem with exposed mechanical parts is that it's something that tends to get clogged and fail unless you're diligent about cleaning. The other is passive ribbon cooling which basically uses long ribbons as heat sinks. Not as efficient as fan, but more reliable.
Let us know if interested as we've custom put together this Hybrid HID Conversion kit with the help of the MBWorld community as a best fit for Gx/Mx class MBs working specifically with your front SAM.
Let us know if interested as we've custom put together this Hybrid HID Conversion kit with the help of the MBWorld community as a best fit for Gx/Mx class MBs working specifically with your front SAM.
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Yes, it's called Google 😉. COB means chip on board and is the evolution of smd (surface mounted diode). COB will Have multiple mini diodes in one lighting structure, while SMD is basically a single large diode. CSP (chip scale package) is similar to SMD, but different wiring path that can reduce heat issues as it's plugged in directly to the chip board and not wire soldered in.
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From: Chicago, U.S.A.
2016 GLE 350 4-Matic
Michael, This is just my opinion for you...
Sometimes people get so enmeshed in their field that they forget that there is a lot of jargon or acronyms that they use daily that most people don't have any idea of the meaning. I always tried to remember that as I was a teacher in a technical field. Thanks and be well! Chris
Sometimes people get so enmeshed in their field that they forget that there is a lot of jargon or acronyms that they use daily that most people don't have any idea of the meaning. I always tried to remember that as I was a teacher in a technical field. Thanks and be well! Chris
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MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
Michael, This is just my opinion for you...
Sometimes people get so enmeshed in their field that they forget that there is a lot of jargon or acronyms that they use daily that most people don't have any idea of the meaning. I always tried to remember that as I was a teacher in a technical field. Thanks and be well! Chris
Sometimes people get so enmeshed in their field that they forget that there is a lot of jargon or acronyms that they use daily that most people don't have any idea of the meaning. I always tried to remember that as I was a teacher in a technical field. Thanks and be well! Chris
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From: California
CLS55
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Doylestown PA
2017 C63 coupe
My fiance bought a 2016 GLE 350 this past fall, and compared to the HID's in my C350, it's pretty sad.
AZN Optics, I just want to make sure that the bulbs will mount properly as I've read that the clips and brackets need to be modified to fit. Does you kit include everything needed for a truly seamless fit, or do I need to do some modifications to get it working properly?
I want to upgrade her lights for valentines day, so looking to do this asap.
Brien
AZN Optics, I just want to make sure that the bulbs will mount properly as I've read that the clips and brackets need to be modified to fit. Does you kit include everything needed for a truly seamless fit, or do I need to do some modifications to get it working properly?
I want to upgrade her lights for valentines day, so looking to do this asap.
Brien
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 74
Likes: 18
From: Tampa, FL
GLC 63 AMG
My fiance bought a 2016 GLE 350 this past fall, and compared to the HID's in my C350, it's pretty sad.
AZN Optics, I just want to make sure that the bulbs will mount properly as I've read that the clips and brackets need to be modified to fit. Does you kit include everything needed for a truly seamless fit, or do I need to do some modifications to get it working properly?
I want to upgrade her lights for valentines day, so looking to do this asap.
Brien
AZN Optics, I just want to make sure that the bulbs will mount properly as I've read that the clips and brackets need to be modified to fit. Does you kit include everything needed for a truly seamless fit, or do I need to do some modifications to get it working properly?
I want to upgrade her lights for valentines day, so looking to do this asap.
Brien
To be fair again, the vendor responded quick with advice to aid the install, I just wish the non oem fitment and non plug and play traits were explained before purchase and not as a surprise after I went to a shop and wasted my time etc. If this would've been explained as needing modification and moderate to high level of difficulty to install I wouldn't have bought it and would've continued my search for a oem+ solution.
Member
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From: Doylestown PA
2017 C63 coupe
I just installed the AZNOPTIC kit on my 2016 GLE. I Took it to a shop and they said initially it was the wrong kit because of the bracket included. I went back home messaged the vendor. In fairness he responded quick with advice, but I was expecting a direct fitment oem plug and play kit when I bought the kit and basically with this kit you have to take all the connectors apart, feed the bracket through the wires of the kit, seat the bracket against the bulbs which doesn't lock into place but rather just barely tightens up to in what I'd call 70% fitment, then you can install the bulb in the headlight. My installer also said that with this bracket it's the 'wrong type' and again the fitment in the housing was 70%, however after a 3 hour install of figuring all this out, I will say it looks and works good now however I've just had it installed a few days.
To be fair again, the vendor responded quick with advice to aid the install, I just wish the non oem fitment and non plug and play traits were explained before purchase and not as a surprise after I went to a shop and wasted my time etc. If this would've been explained as needing modification and moderate to high level of difficulty to install I wouldn't have bought it and would've continued my search for a oem+ solution.
To be fair again, the vendor responded quick with advice to aid the install, I just wish the non oem fitment and non plug and play traits were explained before purchase and not as a surprise after I went to a shop and wasted my time etc. If this would've been explained as needing modification and moderate to high level of difficulty to install I wouldn't have bought it and would've continued my search for a oem+ solution.
That's my concern. I don't mind having to cut a hole in the dust cover, or do the wiring, it's the actual fitment of the bulb in the housing that I'm concerned with. If it needs a different bracket or retainer, tell me up front, I don't want to be bending and hacking it up to get it to fit.
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From: Tampa, FL
GLC 63 AMG
That's my concern. I don't mind having to cut a hole in the dust cover, or do the wiring, it's the actual fitment of the bulb in the housing that I'm concerned with. If it needs a different bracket or retainer, tell me up front, I don't want to be bending and hacking it up to get it to fit.
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That's my concern. I don't mind having to cut a hole in the dust cover, or do the wiring, it's the actual fitment of the bulb in the housing that I'm concerned with. If it needs a different bracket or retainer, tell me up front, I don't want to be bending and hacking it up to get it to fit.
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 210
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From: Doylestown PA
2017 C63 coupe
Great. I'm no stranger to working on cars, I've stripped my trans am to a rolling chasis and rebuilt it completely, it also an hid upgrade kit on it, so I'm familiar with how it's done. I just want to ensure the bulbs fit properly into the housings because in a projector it makes a big difference.
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 74
Likes: 18
From: Tampa, FL
GLC 63 AMG
I can't tell, is that vehicle a GLE350?
The person who wrote that post also mentioned not needing any adapter and the bulb had oem direct fit. So...not sure if that post is actually indicative or relevant to the install on a different car with a several additional installation steps. Does that mean I received the wrong kit and should have gotten a kit without an adapter and WITH oem direct fitment as well? Very confusing...
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 210
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From: Doylestown PA
2017 C63 coupe
I can't tell, is that vehicle a GLE350?
The person who wrote that post also mentioned not needing any adapter and the bulb had oem direct fit. So...not sure if that post is actually indicative or relevant to the install on a different car with a several additional installation steps. Does that mean I received the wrong kit and should have gotten a kit without an adapter and WITH oem direct fitment as well? Very confusing...
The person who wrote that post also mentioned not needing any adapter and the bulb had oem direct fit. So...not sure if that post is actually indicative or relevant to the install on a different car with a several additional installation steps. Does that mean I received the wrong kit and should have gotten a kit without an adapter and WITH oem direct fitment as well? Very confusing...
According to the title, it's a GLC300. So different vehicle, but I'm guessing similar enough.
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From: Tampa, FL
GLC 63 AMG
Your concern was the bulb going into the headlight, and for the GLC300 application it seems it's a different type of fitment than our cars. I think it's a bit misleading to link to an article where the same product does not install in the same fashion as our cars.
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Yes, it is a GLC, but point was it was outlining the process for install. It's the same kit. We include the universal euro bulb retainer for those who might need it, but quite often, they will fit with existing retainer. That'd be the only variation between the GLC instructions and your GLE install. So understand from our perspective, when someone buys this kit from our website, we don't know exactly which vehicle they're buying it for. We used to not include the retainer clip as it wasn't always necessary, but to ensure that there's a viable solution regardless for our customers, we later chose to incur the cost of the retainer clip and just include it with the kit at the same price point. If you didn't need it, well, no harm no foul.
Last edited by AZN Optics; Feb 4, 2020 at 04:40 PM.
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And this was the thread that really kicked off the work we did with many of the GLE forum community to piece together this kit in it's current iteration:
https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...d-success.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...d-success.html
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Chicago, U.S.A.
2016 GLE 350 4-Matic
AZN,
I think the point is---With something so complex and ultimately necessary on an expensive vehicle, unless the instructions are perfect and crystal clear, many people will be scared away to try this. Putting a GLC video up there did not help your case to assuage any fears in my opinion.
I think the point is---With something so complex and ultimately necessary on an expensive vehicle, unless the instructions are perfect and crystal clear, many people will be scared away to try this. Putting a GLC video up there did not help your case to assuage any fears in my opinion.
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From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
AZN,
I think the point is---With something so complex and ultimately necessary on an expensive vehicle, unless the instructions are perfect and crystal clear, many people will be scared away to try this. Putting a GLC video up there did not help your case to assuage any fears in my opinion.
I think the point is---With something so complex and ultimately necessary on an expensive vehicle, unless the instructions are perfect and crystal clear, many people will be scared away to try this. Putting a GLC video up there did not help your case to assuage any fears in my opinion.
Maybe we should take a step back and start over though.... What exactly is your concern? Challenge of install? Compatibility? Performance? Once I understand that, then I can focus my response.
