Just got my car back from dealer. installed new style clear xenon bulbs for my S500 that already had xenons, but I notice at night I get kind of a rainbow effect? does anyone else have this and is it normal?
thanks

 

Projector HIDs show different colors at different viewing angles due to the prisms inherent in their design. Did the dealer just change the bulb, or did they upgrade you the bi-xenon HIDs with clear lenses? If that's the case, they're designed to be self leveling to minimize angle change with road irregularities and bumps, but your car doesn't have the level sensors needed to operate the system. If that's the situation, you will have to accept a bit more color fringing than normal. I'd be surprised that a dealer would do this kind of retrofit. It's pretty common for people to do themselves, but since the later design was meant to work with the self-leveling system I wouldn't expect a dealer to do it.

 

well since he has an S500 it already came with self leveling xenon lights, so the leveling system in the facelift headlamps should work too.

 

I guess that's right. The auto-leveling should be the same on the early xenons. People who retrofit from halogens would have some extra color fringing, but that shouldn't be a problem here. It could just be normal projector fringing.

 

I had the pre 03' version. Still xenons but the foggy type with the auto level. Had my dealer install the newer clear style ones. I just never had that color look before I guess i have to get used to them. also which is the auto level bulb? is it the one on the corner which looks like a magnifying glass?

thanks!

 

thats the one.

 

your dealer actually did the retrofit....i CANT GET MY AUTO LEVEL TO WORK ITS UNPLUGGED, THE REGULAR XENON AUTO LEVEL PLUG IS NOT THE SAME as the newer ones HOW DID YOU DO THIS>?

 

mine are not original they are aftermarket. i dont know how my guy did it. i will ask and post.

 

well the aftermarket part of it might have something to do with the rainbow effect, we had an 03 S55 in inventory and I had driven it at night, and I never noticed this rainbow effect before and as weird as this is, I always look at the beam pattern especially when pulling up against a wall or behind another vehicle. maybe it is because they are not oem.