benzdad73

Hi everyone. New to the forum. I'm currently considering buying a pre-owned 2006 ML500. However, one major turn off for me is that it doesn't have Xenon headlights. If I want to convert them to Xenons, is it possible to swap out the complete housing and replace with Xenon headlights? Appreciate any feedback.

benzdad73

blazinginder

yes it is...but last i heard, it was quite expensive


see you got a TL-S, what year? i've got an 07

benzdad73

Hi thanks for the feedback. The dealer gave me a quote for $1000 for this conversion and it won't be bi-xenon either. So, they are probably just going to replace the ballast on the low beams. Price tag does seem kinda steep for this.

I have an '02 TL-S. That's the car I'm planning on trading in for this ML500. Really hate to see it go as it's been a perfect car for me. I've done quite a bit of performance modifications to it. At 125,000, it's still running strong like the first day it came home with it. But the lady at home wanted to trade up to something bigger now that we have an addition to the family. I'll miss it.

benzdad

2001BMW330xi

it's steep because they are replacing the entire headlight units, not just the ballasts. those parts are more expensive through the dealer, of course. ask your dealer how much it would cost just to do the install, and then search eBay and local car-parts places for the parts themselves. Pulling parts off of wrecked/totaled cars is always cheaper, esp when it's something like lighting. If you wanted to just do the ballast part yourself, head over to BenzWorld, there are a couple good threads over there about 4500K MTEC HID kit that retrofits perfectly with no dealer/computer interaction necessary and no computer warnings.

xxxmidget

i just added 8000k xenon to my benz and cost me $450 but i converted both low and highs to xenon. It is just like changing a bulb except you have a ballist and a resistor added to it. The resistor is need to make xenons work with the different voltage. Oh and i got a two year warranty with the lights

MMundrean

where did you get the xenon's from??

am_beagle

eBay. Search for ML350.
They would cost from $175 to $340 (low beam only)
Good luck.

sosh

The big problem with non OEM conversions is that there will be no self leveling. In some areas this is not legal and with some conversions the lights will not pass inspection and are not DOT approved. My advice is that if you require Xenons find a vehicle that has them from the factory.

S2KXC4S

i added a set of 6500K HIDS to my ML63 a month or so ago (fogs and low beams) and works perfectly w/o any messages or errors. i have a 3rd set left if you are interested LMK:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w164...k-hid-kit.html

lkchris

He's talking about stuffing an HID bulb into a headlight designed for and focussed for halogen bulbs. This is illegal and doesn't work correctly in any event

See http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

The only workable method is to purchase complete zenon headlight units from Mercedes.

There also, BTW, is no such thing as "changing ballast." There is no ballast associated with halogen lights.

hotml350

my car was built with halogens, so I bought the factory headlights, and the wiring looms are different, mine work on low beam only, make sure you check into it closely

S2KXC4S

just curious what doesn't work correctly with aftermarket Xenon kits? Other than self-leveling and a better cut-off line, what else would a factory kit differ from a good aftermarket one? I bet if my ML was next to a ML with OEM Xenons 99% people on this board wouldn't be able to tell the difference...

sosh

With aftermarket kits you also will not have the washers. Its so easy to tell the OEM from the aftermarket lights and does not take anyone with lots of experience to tell the difference. In addition many of the aftermarket lights are not DOT approved and in some areas illegal due to no self leveling. The aftermarket also does not have the active turning that came with the lighting package OEM.

am_beagle

I bought a MTec coversion kit at $320. They worked fine for 6 months until the left headlight for no apparent reason, doesn't turn on in times.
For the active turning, you'll have to pay more for that option, not just only with bi-xenon package.

sosh

I am not certain but my 06, when I ordered it I recall included the active headlights in the lighting package. And, at least you could drive your car at night for 6 months after the install.

am_beagle

I got MTec 2 year-warranty no question asked. They replace the bad ballast and now the head lights look great again. I am happy with that.