Swapped my headlights, tail lights, and fog lights with aftermarket units
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2009 MB ML550, 2021 Tesla Model 3 SR+
Swapped my headlights, tail lights, and fog lights with aftermarket units
I have always wanted to update my 2009 ML550 lighting with more modern LED units.
Swapped factory tail lights with these LED tail lights form Spec-D Tuning. Did this swap a couple of years ago now and they are performing very well. No error codes or issues. The installation process was super easy - plug and play. Took a noob like me about an hour to swap both. Pictures attached.
Swapped factory headlights with these LED headlights from Spec-D Tuning. Did the swap today.
Here's Day 1 thoughts/feedback:
Also swapped my factory fog lights with LED ones from eBay a week ago. They don't come with resistors like the head lights. They are working well so far. Gave me fog light error when I first installed it but the error seems to have gone by itself now - didn't see the error since. Pics included.
Cheers!
Swapped factory tail lights with these LED tail lights form Spec-D Tuning. Did this swap a couple of years ago now and they are performing very well. No error codes or issues. The installation process was super easy - plug and play. Took a noob like me about an hour to swap both. Pictures attached.
Swapped factory headlights with these LED headlights from Spec-D Tuning. Did the swap today.
Here's Day 1 thoughts/feedback:
- The swap took more time than expected due to the amount of time spent removing the hidden nuts/bolts to remove wheel well liner, loosen bumper etc.
- Pulling the factory headlight out even after removing all the bolts took a bit of effort. Seating the new headlight also too quite a bit of effort.
- There seems to be larger than normal gap between the bottom of the new headlight from Spec-D and the bumper. Could be a design/dimensioning miss.
- Might as well buy and replace the headlight seal (gasket) as well since the rubber crumbles after these many years. Bought mine from a local dealer.
- The OEM headlight seal (gasket) doesn't seem to be a great fit for the Spec-D headlights. The circumference is perfect but the width of the seal seems to be smaller than the headlight along the bottom length. Pic included.
- Have a couple of wheel well liner clips (retainer clips) handy just in case if the existing ones are broken/missing.
- Spec-D instructions are not like Ikea assembly instructions. Need to use a few brain cells. Instructions are not super accurate for some steps - like it mentions 2 nuts to remove from wheel well when I had 4 nuts. Could be differences between trim levels or model years.
- High beam and low beam are not LEDs. They are H1 and H11 bulbs with 4000K color temperature. Due to this you'll notice multiple color temperatures when headlights are on - yellow-ish H1 and H11, and pure white LED strip. I wish all bulbs are high performing LEDs.
- The resistors are not marked with '+' and '--' polarities. The instructions ask for '+' to be connected to '+' but no identification marks on the resistors or the car wiring. Called Spec-D but they couldn't help much either for this particular miss.
- OVERALL - All headlight functions are working.
- ERRORS - I do get 'Front Signal Light Left' or 'Front Signal Light Right' error intermittently. There are no errors 50% of my start-stops. The other 50% I get either the left or right error. I couldn't find a pattern or replicate on-demand so far.
- RATING - I'll give 3.5 out of 5. Reducing points because of #3, #8, #11.
Also swapped my factory fog lights with LED ones from eBay a week ago. They don't come with resistors like the head lights. They are working well so far. Gave me fog light error when I first installed it but the error seems to have gone by itself now - didn't see the error since. Pics included.
Cheers!
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DLB_Adelaide (04-07-2023)
#2
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PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
I have always wanted to update my 2009 ML550 lighting with more modern LED units.
Swapped factory tail lights with these LED tail lights form Spec-D Tuning. Did this swap a couple of years ago now and they are performing very well. No error codes or issues. The installation process was super easy - plug and play. Took a noob like me about an hour to swap both. Pictures attached.
Swapped factory headlights with these LED headlights from Spec-D Tuning. Did the swap today.
Here's Day 1 thoughts/feedback:
Also swapped my factory fog lights with LED ones from eBay a week ago. They don't come with resistors like the head lights. They are working well so far. Gave me fog light error when I first installed it but the error seems to have gone by itself now - didn't see the error since. Pics included.
Cheers!
Swapped factory tail lights with these LED tail lights form Spec-D Tuning. Did this swap a couple of years ago now and they are performing very well. No error codes or issues. The installation process was super easy - plug and play. Took a noob like me about an hour to swap both. Pictures attached.
Swapped factory headlights with these LED headlights from Spec-D Tuning. Did the swap today.
Here's Day 1 thoughts/feedback:
- The swap took more time than expected due to the amount of time spent removing the hidden nuts/bolts to remove wheel well liner, loosen bumper etc.
- Pulling the factory headlight out even after removing all the bolts took a bit of effort. Seating the new headlight also too quite a bit of effort.
- There seems to be larger than normal gap between the bottom of the new headlight from Spec-D and the bumper. Could be a design/dimensioning miss.
- Might as well buy and replace the headlight seal (gasket) as well since the rubber crumbles after these many years. Bought mine from a local dealer.
- The OEM headlight seal (gasket) doesn't seem to be a great fit for the Spec-D headlights. The circumference is perfect but the width of the seal seems to be smaller than the headlight along the bottom length. Pic included.
- Have a couple of wheel well liner clips (retainer clips) handy just in case if the existing ones are broken/missing.
- Spec-D instructions are not like Ikea assembly instructions. Need to use a few brain cells. Instructions are not super accurate for some steps - like it mentions 2 nuts to remove from wheel well when I had 4 nuts. Could be differences between trim levels or model years.
- High beam and low beam are not LEDs. They are H1 and H11 bulbs with 4000K color temperature. Due to this you'll notice multiple color temperatures when headlights are on - yellow-ish H1 and H11, and pure white LED strip. I wish all bulbs are high performing LEDs.
- The resistors are not marked with '+' and '--' polarities. The instructions ask for '+' to be connected to '+' but no identification marks on the resistors or the car wiring. Called Spec-D but they couldn't help much either for this particular miss.
- OVERALL - All headlight functions are working.
- ERRORS - I do get 'Front Signal Light Left' or 'Front Signal Light Right' error intermittently. There are no errors 50% of my start-stops. The other 50% I get either the left or right error. I couldn't find a pattern or replicate on-demand so far.
- RATING - I'll give 3.5 out of 5. Reducing points because of #3, #8, #11.
Also swapped my factory fog lights with LED ones from eBay a week ago. They don't come with resistors like the head lights. They are working well so far. Gave me fog light error when I first installed it but the error seems to have gone by itself now - didn't see the error since. Pics included.
Cheers!
#3
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2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2008 ML550 4Matic; 2004 C320
Sorry, not my cup of tea, ........................ But to each their own.
- The larger gap between the lights and the bumper would drive me nuts.
- Error codes are something I cannot tolerate, sorry.
I myself would have invested some money to get my front bumper refinished instead.
- The larger gap between the lights and the bumper would drive me nuts.
- Error codes are something I cannot tolerate, sorry.
I myself would have invested some money to get my front bumper refinished instead.
Last edited by S70Houston; 04-12-2023 at 07:45 PM.
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