I just got the connector/adapter relay made to connect the 2003 headlights to 2000-02 S class. Please PM me if anyone is interested in doing a group buy for both the 2003 headlights and the relay adapter.


Phil

 

Phil,


You are the man. Can I see Pics of your car with the Headlights? How much for the relay adapter?

Please empty your "PM Mail Box"


Nick

 

How difficult is the installation of the headlights and adaptors? Much more difficult than the taillights? What is approx. cost of headlights and adaptors?
Thanks

 

Crankin,

Headlights cost around $1,300 to $1,400 per side. Headlight conversion is best left to the dealer. Phil & my service manager both mentioned that headlight exchange would involve the removal of the front bumper.

As for the adapter for the headlights, I am waiting for Phil to post an answer to that question as well.

Nick--

 

Nick

Thanks for answering the question for me. I have been really busy trying to place the orders for the 2003 head lamps. I am surprised at how many are willing to pay to upgrade their tailights. All in all, it is surely more economical than spending 80-100K on a new car.

Even though the price of the lights are a bit high, the only reason that would motivate me to get the upgarde is because of those projector style lights which are way, way better than the ones we have now. I have always been a fan of the projector lights and have wondered why Mercedes doesn't use them on their top of the line cars like the W220. With projector style lights, the beam pattern is a much more specific and wider and you actually see the road better than the current xenon lights that are on the 2000-02 S-Class. Take a look at the BMW and the Audi's that have them and you'll see what I mean. If the 2003 headlamps didn't have the projector style lights, I probably wouldn't want to fork out that much money but since I have been wishing Mercedes would put in Projector lights for over a year and half ago and now that it's a reality, I feel the need to get them. To me, it's not just an updated modern front end, it's also more of a functionality in the upgrade.

I am glad that those that are interested in the group buy. I must forewarn anyone who is interest that the cost even in a group buy isn't cheap. Only 9 out of a 43 peple who have inquired about the group buy have actually participated. With that in mind here it is.

Description Group Buy Retail
2003 Headlights Right Side $1199 $1420
2003 Headlights Left Side $1199 $1420
Adapter relay Connector(2) $299 $399

Total $2697 $3239

The connector allows for simple plug and play (if you have xenon equiped W220) and bridges the stock high beam connector to the extra pin that controls the xenon high beam shutter in the 03 headlights. If you do not have xenon already, you will need the dealer to switch on the xenon 'switch' in the car's computer system. Like Nick said, installing the headlights involved removing the bumper. The dealer charged $162.00 to do this assuming it is a plug and play. It might be a little more if you don't have xenons and need to reprogram the car's computer system.

After looking twice at the price, please let me know if any of you are still insterested.

Phil

 

I have been looking for aftermarket OEM 2003 bi-xenons since the first of the year. Since the style is so new, they have only been available from the MB dealers for about $3600

I found a supplier who expects to recieve OEM 2003 bi-zenons for the S class around the first of March at an expected retail price of aprox. $1900 for a pair. I will let this forum know the specifics when it can be verified that this information is correct.

If my information is correct I would like to purchase a set, but I am told it might be impossible to find a MB dealer who will install these. Apparently there is a law somewhere that prohibits the installation of Zenons on a car after it leaves the factory and that's why MB won't do it.(This dosen't sound rational.) I am also told it is not a difficult job and any good repair shop who is familiar with MB cars can do it for around $150. The other problem is finding someone to "turn the switch" in the car's computer on for Zenons. Does anyone know if a dealer would refuse to do this?

 

A dealer can refuse this even if you have a 2000 S430 and you just bought a set of the "old" xenons for your car. Switching on the xenons on the car's computer is simple but finding a dealer that can is extremely rare. Either they charge you an incredible amount or refuse you entirely.

Also, the new bi-xenons are not a direct plug and play. The dealer will refuse to install anything that does not plug in exactly as it is suppose to. Even if you buy the new Bi-xenons without the adapter and gave it to the dealer to install, he/she pretty much won't do it.

 

Ansonnn, why wouldn't the 2003 zenons be a direct plug and play for a 2003 S Class?

 

The 2003 Bi-Xenons are not a direct plug and play because on the 03 lights, there is an extra pin on the connector and the connector on 2000-02 cars does not accomodate for this. This extra pin on the 03 lights controls the shutter motor on the new lights that makes possible the use of high beam xenons. In contrast, the 'old' 00-02 lights have halogen as high beams and thus the connector on the car is different. The relay that we have have bridges the connection between the old connector's high beam pin to the shutter motor on the new lights. So with the adapter installed, when you flip the high beams it will move the shutter to the high beam position from the low beam position. Without this adapter, the new lights could default to high beam and/or mess up the computer system if you try to bridge it yourself with out the correct voltage.

 

ARe you still selling the connectors for the 00-02 Projector headlight upgrade?

 

If you dont' mind me asking, what is the difference between this mod with the OEM lights and the 400 dollar ebay lights?

 

 

I went through the whole mod with the ebay lights big mistake......if you don't have factory HIDs, the ebay lights work only when you use the aftermarket ballast make sure you have a capacitor hooked up to them so you will not get bulb out error codes. I have facorty HID so I got errors all day I went through 3 sets before I gave up. The $400 are dirt cheap you get what u pay for. Some times my signal lights didn't work, or one would work, I had no high beams on one side it was just a bunch of crap!!!!! after spending close to $800, I gave up, I found a place where I got the OEM upgrade for $1400.00 shipped! Direct plug in no relays and no errors. I B*$ched about the price but it wasn't until those d*mn ebay lights went out on me one night that caused me to miss a very important appointment. So $1400 is a lot better than the $3,000.00+ you will get quoted from a dealer......whom I don't believe in getting parts or service from them anyway.

 

you can buy the newer style headlights used for about $950 for the set

 

anyone know where to get the relay?

 

bump??? i kinda want to get this before I get the headlights