headlight "rainbow effect" ?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 233
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From: long Island
2002 S500 black/java/2011 Escalade (wifes)
headlight "rainbow effect" ?
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
thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,278
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
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.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: long Island
2002 S500 black/java/2011 Escalade (wifes)
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!
thanks!
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Houston Texas
Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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!
thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,842
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From: Chicopee Ma
White S63 AMG W/Designo Interior
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>?
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,744
Likes: 3
From: Houston Texas
Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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.
