cdisam

Does anyone know if it is possible to updgrade to BiXenon lights at the dealer or somewhere else? If so, what is the approximate cost to do so? Also, can you add the cornering foglamps? I have an R320 with Std Halogen lights and was curious to see if upgrading to BiXenon is possible.

RDriver

To my best knowledge, this is highly unlikely!

The RClass BiXenon headlights are quite complex (self-leveling, turning, even comes with cornering fog lamps) since it is an active system that links with the car's steering and turning wheels. At best, you may be able to switch out / retrofit the halogen bulbs with HID ones (Google on ebay for Bixenon and there are quite a few of them). There may be a few threads under the ML groups (both benzworld and mbworld) that a few posters have done this. Some have succeeded, some did not. It is kind of risky if you attempt. Better have someone who really knows how to do this or you'll risk short circuit your car and void the warranty. No MB dealers offer this on any model.

RDriver

Here is one of the threads on retrofit HID Xenon lights:
https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w164/183963-xenon-lights-install-help.html

CynCarvin32

Contact SteveNL. He will know what it takes to convert the car. I bet it can be done. You can convert almost all MB's so why not an R-Class. It will cost a bit more than say just putting in a Xenon bulb but I think it will be worth it.

I passed up an R350 with xenons for a sax edition car that had a pano roof and 19 inch wheels. Looking back, the Xenons were the wiser pick as the sax car does not have ANY phone pre-wiring and the Pano roof makes more popping and thunking sounds than a piece of farm equipment. Pano roof in a huge car is a no no in my eyes. Just to easy for that piece of glass to shift and make sounds.

Go for the lights they are likely a great upgrade.

cdisam

Thanks CynCarvin.....appreciate the input.

raudikal

Were you able to do this? I bought a 2011 R350 with halogen headlamps and want to install oem xenon headlights. I am not concerned with self leveling and cornering but want better lighting for night driving.

raudikal

In testing the OEM XENON headlight assembly, I connected the halogen connector to the OEM XENON headlight assembly and the park lights come on (image) but not the XENON lights. If the dealer changes the setting to "HID present" will the OEM XENON headlight assembly work? The dealer cannot tell me because they have not done a OEM XENON headlight assembly change out before. Thanks for the help.

csnt

Were you able to convert?

pacoman

My problem is that no local MB dealer will even attempt to install my newly bought OEM xenon headlamps in my 2008 r-350. They aren't anything complicated and I am not asking for leveling to be installed. They simply do not want to take the risk of it not working based on "bad past experience" with modification work. I'm going to take it to an independent shop for the switch-out and then take it to the MB dealer to have them change the light codes to Xenon with their star diagnosis computer.

xxGenericSNxx

Let me know how it goes. I'm always interested in hearing about retrofitting experience.

If that dealer is giving you trouble, are there others in the area? Otherwise the independent shop is a good way to go. You just need to find someone competent in using the star diag.

pacoman

Soooooooo, went to indy shop today and paid them for 3 hours to replace the halogen headlamps to bi-xenon ones. Mechanic wanted to know why I was replacing perfectly fine halogens with bi-xenons but he did it anyway. Then drove it straight to the Benz dealer and asked them to change the car's light setting to "Bi-xenon = present." The service advisor looked at me like I was crazy. She went to the tech and he said "no problem." I was about to tell the tech what he needed to do with the star diagnostic computer in order to allow the bi-xenons to be recognized but he acted like he had it under control. I get the car back tomorrow and will make pics to post. I'm very excited.

xxGenericSNxx

Awesome! Those stock halogens really suck. They're so dim!

pacoman

What a difference these (Hella) bi-xenons make! I knew that the halogens that came stock were not very good at illuminating the road but now that I see the difference. Wow. I'll try to post some pics of my new view. One pic is of low beam xenon and the other high beam xenon.

xxGenericSNxx

I know it's crazy how much the high beams especially can light up the road. The R is my first car with bi xenons. All of my other ones only have xenon low beams and halogen high beams. What a night and day difference- [apologies for the bad pun].

Did you buy new headlamp units or just swapped the bulbs? Did you do anything about the auto turn/ leveling, cornering lights? I know you said you wouldn't but I just want to confirm.

pacoman

I bought slightly used bi-xenon headlamp assemblies and had them take the halogen headlamp assemblies completely out. I did not do leveling and cornering as it is a technical and financial nightmare to retrofit this according to an MB modifier in the Netherlands (online on this forum) who was nice enough to assist me with advice. He also told me that because the R class self levels, there is no need to install leveling anyway. He said if cops stop you for being to bright despite the auto-leveling feature of the R, just adjust the assemblies downward.
So, to answer the original question that started this thread:
Yes, it can be done and it is done easily. It costs me $1,500 for two slightly used headlamp assemblies, $255 to put them in by Indy shop, $75 to have MB dealer switch the settings to allow it to work.

xxGenericSNxx

Ah okay. Nice to see you spoke with MBenzNL. He's GOD in terms of doing these retrofits.

pacoman

That was the guy! He was very knowledgeable and freely gave advice. I asked if he had any plans to come to the US to do mods and he said the economy in the US tanked and it wouldn't be worthwhile for him to do so.

xxGenericSNxx

Yeah in the past he used to come to the US to do all sorts of retrofits on members' cars. When I asked about the ventilated seat retrofit for my car he said he won't come to the US because he's been too busy with work there. Guess it's too bad that the demand isn't really here in the US anymore.

Despite that, he still got me a quality kit and I just had techs do it here instead.

Very resourceful guy. I wouldn't have been able to do it without him.

x05179x

Hi All. Trying to get an answer to a problem I have. I have purchased slightly used FACTORY MBENZ Bi Xenon Headlights from a Mercedes R350. My R has the cruddy halogen units, I removed the halogens and replaced them with the Bi Xenons. The factory plug seems to fit fine and the parking lights and turn signals work. I took it to the dealer and asked then to try and do the programming but they said they attempted it but kept running into issues where they said the car was "missing modules" that would allow them to change the Xenon setting. Does anyone have an idea if I am doing something wrong? It seems like pacoman did this back in 2010.

x05179x

Please see separate thread as I figured this out myself on a 2011.