Explanation of Headlight Options?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 5
From: Lexington, KY
2016 GLE350 4Matic
Explanation of Headlight Options?
I've been googling, honest. I keep getting bogged down in "Blue Headlight" debate responses.
Is there a guide of the bulbs and options available to the R series? Mine is a 2011 but I'm willing to learn.
There's a little blue bulb in with my normal headlight, what is that?. The low beam looks odd, is that a "projector" bulb? It doesn't throw much light at all at night.
My high beams are adequate but I really think the low beams should be brighter. What are my options?
Then there are two sets of lights down where fog lights would be, what are they?
I promise to go out and turn switches and take notes but I'm sure this is documented somewhere. My manual lists every option so I don't know what I do or do not have.
Is there a guide of the bulbs and options available to the R series? Mine is a 2011 but I'm willing to learn.
There's a little blue bulb in with my normal headlight, what is that?. The low beam looks odd, is that a "projector" bulb? It doesn't throw much light at all at night.
My high beams are adequate but I really think the low beams should be brighter. What are my options?
Then there are two sets of lights down where fog lights would be, what are they?
I promise to go out and turn switches and take notes but I'm sure this is documented somewhere. My manual lists every option so I don't know what I do or do not have.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Bethesda, MD
2010 Mercedes GL450; 2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG; 2016 VW GLI SEL Stick!!!
You have halogen low beams in a projector housing.
For your year and the fact that you have halogen headlights, Your fog lights are also halogen (the double barrel fog lights style)
The blue light debate stems from those who want to imitate xenons lights and those who have xenon (hid) lights.
Your best bet for better light is to keep the projector housing and buy a retrofit xenon hid kit. Azn optics is great for Mercedes products and they're very active in the gl/glsx166 and gle forums.
They'll recommend and sort you out for the best option that fits your car.
The xenon hid kit is is the only way to reliably and cheaply get better light out of your headlights; and like I said the imitation products are just a blue tinted halogen light bulb (no Bueno!)
cheers!
For your year and the fact that you have halogen headlights, Your fog lights are also halogen (the double barrel fog lights style)
The blue light debate stems from those who want to imitate xenons lights and those who have xenon (hid) lights.
Your best bet for better light is to keep the projector housing and buy a retrofit xenon hid kit. Azn optics is great for Mercedes products and they're very active in the gl/glsx166 and gle forums.
They'll recommend and sort you out for the best option that fits your car.
The xenon hid kit is is the only way to reliably and cheaply get better light out of your headlights; and like I said the imitation products are just a blue tinted halogen light bulb (no Bueno!)
cheers!
SPONSOR/MBworld Guru
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
We have H7 hid conversion kit that will really help you get more usable lighting, while improving the aesthetic appeal with true White lighting color without light restricting film that will flake off over time. Also, the little bulb is your parking light which we have plug and play leds for.
All our products are canbus enabled so error free.
All our products are canbus enabled so error free.
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 16
From: Seattle
2014 ML 350 Bluetec
We have H7 hid conversion kit that will really help you get more usable lighting, while improving the aesthetic appeal with true White lighting color without light restricting film that will flake off over time. Also, the little bulb is your parking light which we have plug and play leds for.
All our products are canbus enabled so error free.
All our products are canbus enabled so error free.
SPONSOR/MBworld Guru
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,936
Likes: 215
From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
You mean swap out your existing OEM HID bulbs to brighter ones? Yes, we carry a full line of affordable Morimoto HID bulbs to high end Osram CBI/CBH/CBB HID bulbs. Shoot us a PM or email us directly at aznoptics@gmail.com and we'll get you set up.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 938
Likes: 53
From: Montreal, Canada
2005 C240 2011 R350
Try not to overdo do the brightness thing. I had to put my rear view mirror on night vision during the day because some idot wanted to light up the dark side of the moon during the day.
Yes that bright blue.
Yes that bright blue.
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 16
From: Seattle
2014 ML 350 Bluetec
i ordered the standard 35w hid lights from AZN. Very helpful guy.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 27
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From: Lexington, KY
2016 GLE350 4Matic
This is great information. Thanks everyone for interacting.
Azn, I will be contacting you. My primary issue is that the low beams are insufficient for dark country road night driving. The high beams work well as is but I can't leave them on all the time in traffic. The high beams are actually what I wish the low beams would display but that could be overkill.
I can't find any switch position that makes the little blue bulbs light up. Maybe at 130K miles they're burned out?
Azn, I will be contacting you. My primary issue is that the low beams are insufficient for dark country road night driving. The high beams work well as is but I can't leave them on all the time in traffic. The high beams are actually what I wish the low beams would display but that could be overkill.
I can't find any switch position that makes the little blue bulbs light up. Maybe at 130K miles they're burned out?
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 938
Likes: 53
From: Montreal, Canada
2005 C240 2011 R350
This is great information. Thanks everyone for interacting.
Azn, I will be contacting you. My primary issue is that the low beams are insufficient for dark country road night driving. The high beams work well as is but I can't leave them on all the time in traffic. The high beams are actually what I wish the low beams would display but that could be overkill.
I can't find any switch position that makes the little blue bulbs light up. Maybe at 130K miles they're burned out?
Azn, I will be contacting you. My primary issue is that the low beams are insufficient for dark country road night driving. The high beams work well as is but I can't leave them on all the time in traffic. The high beams are actually what I wish the low beams would display but that could be overkill.
I can't find any switch position that makes the little blue bulbs light up. Maybe at 130K miles they're burned out?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 5
From: Lexington, KY
2016 GLE350 4Matic
Thanks everyone for the information and conversation.
I can see that the small blue lamps DO light up at some switch setting. They're barely visible so I don't know what they're doing.
I put in a pair of new low beam bulbs and the brightness and range are much better. Probably good enough for now.
I can see that the small blue lamps DO light up at some switch setting. They're barely visible so I don't know what they're doing.
I put in a pair of new low beam bulbs and the brightness and range are much better. Probably good enough for now.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 5
From: Lexington, KY
2016 GLE350 4Matic
Thanks everyone for the information and conversation.
I can see that the small blue lamps DO light up at some switch setting. They're barely visible so I don't know what they're doing.
I put in a pair of new low beam bulbs and the brightness and range are much better. Probably good enough for now.
I can see that the small blue lamps DO light up at some switch setting. They're barely visible so I don't know what they're doing.
I put in a pair of new low beam bulbs and the brightness and range are much better. Probably good enough for now.
