AudiA4Turbo22

Hi there,

I've been a regular lurker on here for quite some time yet this is my first thread. I've been on Benzworld.org for years though, but unfortunately that forum is as dead as a door knob.
Just picked up an '08 ML550 last Friday and it's our third ML. This one unlike the ML500 i had back in 06 has the standard AMG Sport Pack. This includes the Hella Dynaview Evo 2 fog lights in the front bumper. I used them briefly last Friday and I noticed that the beam aims high in the sky(above my low beams) and doesn't illuminate the ground out all. Is this normal with all of the AMG kit W164's?

Does anyone know of an adjustment for this?

Also, anyone know what offset would be needed to clear the brakes and sit flush with the fender and quarters? Thinking of getting some 21's off a gl or some 22's that came optional.

Thanks,
Kirk

roadrutz

If you stand on your head and look up at the bottom of the chrome trim around your foglight, you will see a slot cut out of it. This is for you to insert a screwdriver to adjust the height of the beam.

I have AMG 21-inch summer wheels and OZ Canyon 20-inch winter wheels on my ML550 with no clearance problems at all.

Can't say I agree about the other board. Seems to me that it and this board are very similar -- half the posters are the same, anyway.

AudiA4Turbo22

^^Thank you for your reply, I will try and adjust the beams tonight.

Any photos of your wheel setups? I've always liked the OZ Canyons on the W164, the large 5 spoke design goes well with the car. I'd really like to see how the AMG's sit on your car if you don't mind sharing a couple photos.

Well, I don't know, I hadn't visited Benzworld since 2008 until just recently and my thread was still on the first page. lol

btw I'm "Thinkman" on Benzworld, doubt many of you have seen me post.

roadrutz

Here is a picture of each. (Laugh: the only photo I can find of the AMG wheels is when the car was being hauled away on a flatbed because of a defective battery!)

AudiA4Turbo22

Both look outstanding. Are the amg's oem or replicas? They dont seem to have the aggressive offset like the ones off the ml63.

AudiA4Turbo22

Alright, so I attempted to adjust the fog lights tonight and I was SUCCESSFUL! UNTIL, I found out that once adjusted the chrome shroud no longer fits so I'm back at square one.

Just FYI, one must pop the entire shroud off the fog lamp to access the adjustment screw which is located at the TOP of the fog lamp.

roadrutz

Yeah, well, I forgot that bit, it's been so long since I did it! I'm surprised the surround doesn't fit; something must be wrong somewhere. Maybe the mounting bracket is bent?

BTW, my AMG wheels are genuine and came OEM on the ML.

AudiA4Turbo22

Oh that's great, I forgot mbz offered the 21s as an option for the ml550.

The problem i found is that the whole fog lamp moves while being adjusted not just the inner reflector. This was causing the fog lamp to push on the chrome bezel and as a result not allowing it to sit in its place.

AudiA4Turbo22

Alright, so I FINALLY found the SOLUTION to my problem.

Here's how it all started:

I noticed while driving last night that as I would turn right, the left side of the street would illuminate. When I turned left, the right side of the street would illuminate. This is clearly not the way these things are supposed to work. I first thought that the opposing fog lamp would turn on(wiring error). However, I turned on the right turn signal and exited the vehicle only to see that the RIGHT fog lamp was on like it's supposed to be. The issue was that the LEFT side of the street was being illuminated. SO I took a look at the fog lamps and remembered that in the Hella DynaView Evo 2 Manual, it states "The Hella logo must always be visible and legible right-side up." Well, mine were upside down, so clearly my fog lamps were upside down.

Long story short, around noon I removed the chrome shrouds and unbolted the fog lamps, flipped them around and swapped the chrome shrouds from left to right and WALLAH. I was so happy I was about to breakdown and do the victory dance. Instead, my fatass decided to ColorX and wax the 1st half of the car(dealership left wax residue everywhere - Damn butchers). I'd finish the rest, but I had to run to the dealer to pick up a fog lamp shroud as one was loose(previous owner), but they had to order it.

Enough babbling, now on with the pix:

Beam pattern - BEFORE(they were shooting for the stars):



Driver's side Fog lamp - BEFORE:



Beam Shot - COMPARISON(DS-BEFORE, PS-AFTER):



Driver's side Fog lamp - AFTER:



Passenger's side Fog lamp - AFTER:



Front shot - AFTER:



Beam Pattern - AFTER:

roadrutz

I'm glad you solved the problem! Now the question is why the two lamps were ever installed in the wrong place.

BTW, I would advise getting a sheet of that plastic headlight protector that most auto parts stores sell and covering both foglamps with it. It is cheap, completely invisible down there, and will save you almost $200 if either light ever has an argument with a flying stone.

AudiA4Turbo22

^^I believe the factory installed them upside down, I doubt the dealer ever had to remove the front fog lamps.

I will do so, I want to 3M clear bra the entire front nose of the car.