how do you change s class low beam headlight bulb
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 310
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From: ON, CA
2003 S430
how do you change s class low beam headlight bulb
i took it for service B yesterday and they told me my headlight is flickering and that the bulb is the problem and it costs 430$ to change both now my question is .. is it possible if i can change the bulb? i did change headlight bulbs on my other cars but never on a mercedes do i have to take out the headlight out or bumper? also can i buy any other bulbs from somewhere else or it has to be from mercedes ! and what K is it 4300? 5000?
forgot to mention i have bi-xenon from the factory .. your help is appreciated
thank you
forgot to mention i have bi-xenon from the factory .. your help is appreciated
thank you
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 579
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Well I am in the same boat as you. I just ordered 2 new bulbs on ebay. They are Phillips DS2 bulbs I paid about $50/pair shipped. I also have to replace the ballast igniter because it shorted out all because it was loose. The temp you are looking for is 4300k. It is very tricky to do actually and you must be sure NOT to touch the bulb at all with your fingers. The oil on your fingers will shorten the bulb life. I practiced taking mine out and replacing it with the bad bulb so I don't screw up on the new ones. Good luck.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 769
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From: New York
Mercedes S55 AMG
I need to change mine too, maybe it happens this time of year!
Here's a question: What is the OEM brand of the xenon low beam light that you get from Mercedes? Is it Sylvania? Or what?
Here's a question: What is the OEM brand of the xenon low beam light that you get from Mercedes? Is it Sylvania? Or what?
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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But like I said earlier be very careful to install correctly if not you will end up like me and killing the ballast and the new bulb! I didn't have it just right and it worked it self loose and burned up the bulb and ballast. Ooops.
Johan
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 310
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From: ON, CA
2003 S430
I believe it is Phillips. The low and high beam bulb are the same.
But like I said earlier be very careful to install correctly if not you will end up like me and killing the ballast and the new bulb! I didn't have it just right and it worked it self loose and burned up the bulb and ballast. Ooops.
Johan
But like I said earlier be very careful to install correctly if not you will end up like me and killing the ballast and the new bulb! I didn't have it just right and it worked it self loose and burned up the bulb and ballast. Ooops.
Johan
and only 4300k? isn't that low i do want a bluish color to it. have you seen the cadillac lights or the bmw? thats exactly what i want i wish i knew what temp their lights are !!
plus my concern do i have to take the bumper out? or take out the headlight to change a bulb or is it .. just simple twist the bulb?
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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i believe its philips too... but how did you kill the ballast where is it located ?
and only 4300k? isn't that low i do want a bluish color to it. have you seen the cadillac lights or the bmw? thats exactly what i want i wish i knew what temp their lights are !!
plus my concern do i have to take the bumper out? or take out the headlight to change a bulb or is it .. just simple twist the bulb?
and only 4300k? isn't that low i do want a bluish color to it. have you seen the cadillac lights or the bmw? thats exactly what i want i wish i knew what temp their lights are !!
plus my concern do i have to take the bumper out? or take out the headlight to change a bulb or is it .. just simple twist the bulb?
You do not have to remove the bumper. It is under a plastic cover on the lens in the engine compartment.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: ON, CA
2003 S430
great, so no chinese cheap bulbs but one last question i saw on amazon 5000k and 6000k temp bulbs made by GE and philips. are those still good would they work? or kill the ballast because its more k temp.?
thank you
thank you
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Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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I wouldn't worry so much be the temps just that they are a known brand. The bulbs I got were "no-name" and cheap. So they never really seated right and just wiggled lose and shorted out. Actually I saw the smoke come up from the last one.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: ON, CA
2003 S430
ok great i found Halo lights a company called Halo i did hear good stuff about it .. only 50$ pair.. but then i saw GE each one for 66$ thats huge price diff. so im not sure which to get still debating GE is 5100k and Halo is 6000k
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
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2000 s430
My 2000 s430 head lights have been flickering so i bought a HID kit with some 6000 bulbs. How do i wire it all together thou. Ive done other ones on simpler cars and its literally plug and play. Any one have any DIY pictures, videos or walk throughs? Getting the lamp out is easy enough the wiring is the hard part.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
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2000 s430
I got xenon lights, the original bulbs are d2r. theres a ballast attached under the lamp casing with a weird looking plug, unlike anything ive seen in other pictures (thin rectangular inlet which the balast plugs into). Im assuming that thing between the balast and the bulb itself is the ignitor for the xenons. That ignitor piece has 2 wires to the bulb red and blue and then a black wire going out of it into the ballast but its laced inside the plastic lamp casing and pretty hard to pry loose.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 769
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From: New York
Mercedes S55 AMG
I just changed my xenon bulb on my S55, it was very easy. I got the OEM bulb online for $55 bucks new, you can find it for around $80 at autohauz but I got it on ebay. (Sylvania D2R 35W xenon)
It's very easy to change, and took me 5 minutes. Just pop the headlight cover off, take out the connector, unscrew the black cylindrical piece, and the bulb comes out. To put it in, just make sure to line the square part of the top of the base with the part in the car, and it goes in easy.
Definitely look for the OEM bulb, it's 4300k and looks great, plus will last a long time.
It's very easy to change, and took me 5 minutes. Just pop the headlight cover off, take out the connector, unscrew the black cylindrical piece, and the bulb comes out. To put it in, just make sure to line the square part of the top of the base with the part in the car, and it goes in easy.
Definitely look for the OEM bulb, it's 4300k and looks great, plus will last a long time.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6
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2000 s430
Yeah but i need to replace my balast and ignitor. I was able to figure out all the connections and parts except for the the two leds red and black from the ignitor that would connect to the car. The plug coming from the car is like a 4, 6 or 8 prong plug cant remember now. This hid kit has 2 leds. So how do i connect the leds to the plug coming from the car, its not a direct fit? I can slide the 2 led cables into any of the slots on the plug but i have no idea how the plugs are built, ie: ground, power, signal....
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2014
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w220 w210 wagon
heatlights
Las week I just ordered a new headlight for my benz w220 from eBay. new aftermarket. just gotthem this Friday. to be honest they look very well made and good price too. This weekend I'm planning on re moving the old ones out and install the new ones.,, I know the bulbs are rally not easy tochange on this guys no room at all. 
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 190
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From: Providence RI
2003 S 500 4 MATIC , 2001 S 430 , 2003 ML 500
I just ordered an HID kit for my 2001 s 430 I was under the impression that there are no ballest ? because the original lights are not hid ? I heard only the s 500 or s 55 came with hid ?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,150
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Mercedes
You could have either halogen or xenon in a s430
I have xenon. You can tell the difference if you see the headlights "level up and down " when you first turn them on. If they level they are hid, if not they are halogen
I have xenon. You can tell the difference if you see the headlights "level up and down " when you first turn them on. If they level they are hid, if not they are halogen
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,284
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From: North Carolina
2003 S500 - Toyota Corolla (in the rain)
One thing to remember when changing the bulbs. Don't touch them with your fingers. The oils from your body will cause them to wear out quicker. Just use a pair of vinyl or rubber glove.
