How to beef up low beam for driving?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
How to beef up low beam for driving?
As we all know the low beam on ML just suck. Without the support of fog light we're pretty much blind at night or at dawn condition.
The Xenon its a bit too much of an upgrade and I don't want to loose my high beam.
Is there another alternative to greatly improve the low beam without inflicting any potential damage to the car? Please advise...
The Xenon its a bit too much of an upgrade and I don't want to loose my high beam.
Is there another alternative to greatly improve the low beam without inflicting any potential damage to the car? Please advise...
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Switzerland
ML 270 CDI 2002
I fortunately have Xenon lights on my ML, but on previous cars I changed the bulbs for higher wattage. I assume on the ML (pls correct me if I am wrong) that the dipped/full beam use the same bulb, with dual filament. All I did was to replace the standard bulb, with a high wattage bulb.
Nick.
Nick.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
Originally Posted by Swiss Nick
I fortunately have Xenon lights on my ML, but on previous cars I changed the bulbs for higher wattage. I assume on the ML (pls correct me if I am wrong) that the dipped/full beam use the same bulb, with dual filament. All I did was to replace the standard bulb, with a high wattage bulb.
Nick.
Nick.
Swiss Nick,
I was thinking about that as well but afraid this will cause melt down on the wires & fittings around the light. This happen on my other cars fog light. So, I kind of skeptical to do this again until someone can confirm its do able and no harm will done to my baby.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Low beam lighting
Originally Posted by m500
As we all know the low beam on ML just suck. Without the support of fog light we're pretty much blind at night or at dawn condition.
The Xenon its a bit too much of an upgrade and I don't want to loose my high beam.
Is there another alternative to greatly improve the low beam without inflicting any potential damage to the car? Please advise...
The Xenon its a bit too much of an upgrade and I don't want to loose my high beam.
Is there another alternative to greatly improve the low beam without inflicting any potential damage to the car? Please advise...
Here's a comparison of the old and new headlights:
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 150
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From: atlanta
1999 ML430
Probably doesn't apply in your case, but on my 99 ML430 I upgraded all headlight bulbs to the PIAA H1 high beam 55/110, PIAA H7 low beam 55/110 and had the fog H3 enabled with PIAA 55/85 ION/CRYSTAL bulbs. These bulbs use the same current draw but have much greater output. These upgrades as well as Hella 1000's mounted on the front grill guard using a seperate Hella wiring harness going directly to the battery improved the lighting immensely.......have had no wiring/overload issues.....
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Carolina
Bi-Xenon upgrade is $1-$1.3K depending on vendor
or
Non-xenon projectors at $3-500 depending on vendor.
I just upgraded my 2000 ML430 to 04 lights and it took a grand total of 15 minutes. I was amazed as to how easy it was. Simply open hood, move lower light cover (painted body mental) to the side, unscrew 3 screws, repeat backwards, and VOILA!
or
Non-xenon projectors at $3-500 depending on vendor.
I just upgraded my 2000 ML430 to 04 lights and it took a grand total of 15 minutes. I was amazed as to how easy it was. Simply open hood, move lower light cover (painted body mental) to the side, unscrew 3 screws, repeat backwards, and VOILA!
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From: GMT -8 hours
Mercedes-Benz
m500,
Bixenons will set you back 700-1200 dollars depending if you buy new or find a used set. They are way brighter than the halogen units that you currently have. Installation is simple just like LVDell said; however, the 2002+ models need to have the computer set to XENON=PRESENT by the dealership or else the lights will not function... they will flicker on and off if you do not have this done. Also the connectors may be slightly different but I believe this issue has been resolved.
Bixenons will set you back 700-1200 dollars depending if you buy new or find a used set. They are way brighter than the halogen units that you currently have. Installation is simple just like LVDell said; however, the 2002+ models need to have the computer set to XENON=PRESENT by the dealership or else the lights will not function... they will flicker on and off if you do not have this done. Also the connectors may be slightly different but I believe this issue has been resolved.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 288
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
$700 plus for bi-xenon sound outrages to me not that I couldn't afford it, just doesn't make any sense to me for a simple light upgrade.
Would I ran into problem if I go with aftermarket xenon upgrades? Like warning on the dashboards or flickering ects. What do I need to what out for?
Would I ran into problem if I go with aftermarket xenon upgrades? Like warning on the dashboards or flickering ects. What do I need to what out for?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 288
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
I may have a solution for my quest to powering up the low beam for driving. Check out the new ultra slim and powerful LED light from PIAA. The only problem is I don't know where to mount them since I already mounted 2 big PIAA on my bar. Any suggestions?
Last edited by m500; Nov 8, 2004 at 11:43 AM.
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 147
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From: Switzerland
ML 270 CDI 2002
Just one question regarding Bi-Xenon upgrades. In Europe, ALL cars fitted with BI Xenon lights must have a jet wash fitted to clean them,, and perhaps ,more importanlty have a leveling gyro, so regardless of the load in the car or the angle of the car, the lights will always project themselves at the same point. Do the US models need this?
Nick.
Nick.
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Bi-xenons
Originally Posted by m500
$700 plus for bi-xenon sound outrages to me not that I couldn't afford it, just doesn't make any sense to me for a simple light upgrade.
Would I ran into problem if I go with aftermarket xenon upgrades? Like warning on the dashboards or flickering ects. What do I need to what out for?
Would I ran into problem if I go with aftermarket xenon upgrades? Like warning on the dashboards or flickering ects. What do I need to what out for?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Euro HID standards
Originally Posted by Swiss Nick
Just one question regarding Bi-Xenon upgrades. In Europe, ALL cars fitted with BI Xenon lights must have a jet wash fitted to clean them,, and perhaps ,more importanlty have a leveling gyro, so regardless of the load in the car or the angle of the car, the lights will always project themselves at the same point. Do the US models need this?
Nick.
Nick.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon
OEM systems in the US have these features, but many retroift without them. No laws or inspections I know of prevent this.
Last edited by m500; Nov 8, 2004 at 11:10 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon
You're driving at least a $45k vehicle and you can't afford $700? I spent $1,500 on mine and don't regret it. Taking the cheap route with an HID retrofit will no doubt give you more light, and likely everyone in front of you (glare) as the optics are not designed for the lamp.
Greg, I did mention that I can afford it but just can not justify the cost for a simple light upgrade.
HID was the feature I has to have at purchasing my car but unfortunately my dealer told me the only way for me to get HID option on my ML500 is by purchasing a $3500 Sports package plus $880 for HID. My dealer told me HID is only available when combine with Sports package. So, HID is only a option to me at $4300.00 at the moment and naturally I opt out of it since I'm putting on brush guard which won't fit with Sports bumper anyway.
Bottom line is that HID should be a Standard option on any vehicle exceeding $30,000.00 price tag.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Hid
Originally Posted by m500
Greg, I did mention that I can afford it but just can not justify the cost for a simple light upgrade.
HID was the feature I has to have at purchasing my car but unfortunately my dealer told me the only way for me to get HID option on my ML500 is by purchasing a $3500 Sports package plus $880 for HID. My dealer told me HID is only available when combine with Sports package. So, HID is only a option to me at $4300.00 at the moment and naturally I opt out of it since I'm putting on brush guard which won't fit with Sports bumper anyway.
Bottom line is that HID should be a Standard option on any vehicle exceeding $30,000.00 price tag.
HID was the feature I has to have at purchasing my car but unfortunately my dealer told me the only way for me to get HID option on my ML500 is by purchasing a $3500 Sports package plus $880 for HID. My dealer told me HID is only available when combine with Sports package. So, HID is only a option to me at $4300.00 at the moment and naturally I opt out of it since I'm putting on brush guard which won't fit with Sports bumper anyway.
Bottom line is that HID should be a Standard option on any vehicle exceeding $30,000.00 price tag.
