Dim Headlamps on 2003 S430
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
Dim Headlamps on 2003 S430
Hi! New member, with a newly purchased 2003 S430L, with one problem (so far).
The halogen low-beam projectors are so dim as to be unsafe to drive.
I spent the afternoon checking the left unit (both sides are dim).
- Checking from a constant-hot unused circuit in the left fusebox, there is slightly less than 0.2 volts voltage drop from full battery voltage when checked at the bulb.
- Voltage at the bulb is 14.3 VDC at the bulb at engine idle.
- There is virtually zero voltage drop from the ground at the bulb to a solid engine ground.
- Powering the bulb with a 16 gage wire from a direct connection on an unused circuit with full battery voltage directly to the bulb connector made no visible difference.
- Connecting a parallel 16 gage ground wire directly from the bulb to a solid engine ground made no visible difference.
- The bulb was a Chinese H7 55 watt bulb. Changing to a German Osram H7 55 watt bulb made no visible difference.
- The headlamp lenses have been sanded, polished and buffed - they are crystal clear.
- There is no visible dirt or discoloration inside the reflector or on the projector lens.
- The bulb and lens appear to be undamaged and in the proper positions.
Any ideas? I am somewhat bewildered at this point.
Wally
The halogen low-beam projectors are so dim as to be unsafe to drive.
I spent the afternoon checking the left unit (both sides are dim).
- Checking from a constant-hot unused circuit in the left fusebox, there is slightly less than 0.2 volts voltage drop from full battery voltage when checked at the bulb.
- Voltage at the bulb is 14.3 VDC at the bulb at engine idle.
- There is virtually zero voltage drop from the ground at the bulb to a solid engine ground.
- Powering the bulb with a 16 gage wire from a direct connection on an unused circuit with full battery voltage directly to the bulb connector made no visible difference.
- Connecting a parallel 16 gage ground wire directly from the bulb to a solid engine ground made no visible difference.
- The bulb was a Chinese H7 55 watt bulb. Changing to a German Osram H7 55 watt bulb made no visible difference.
- The headlamp lenses have been sanded, polished and buffed - they are crystal clear.
- There is no visible dirt or discoloration inside the reflector or on the projector lens.
- The bulb and lens appear to be undamaged and in the proper positions.
Any ideas? I am somewhat bewildered at this point.
Wally
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
2012 E350
Hi! New member, with a newly purchased 2003 S430L, with one problem (so far).
The halogen low-beam projectors are so dim as to be unsafe to drive.
I spent the afternoon checking the left unit (both sides are dim).
- Checking from a constant-hot unused circuit in the left fusebox, there is slightly less than 0.2 volts voltage drop from full battery voltage when checked at the bulb.
- Voltage at the bulb is 14.3 VDC at the bulb at engine idle.
- There is virtually zero voltage drop from the ground at the bulb to a solid engine ground.
- Powering the bulb with a 16 gage wire from a direct connection on an unused circuit with full battery voltage directly to the bulb connector made no visible difference.
- Connecting a parallel 16 gage ground wire directly from the bulb to a solid engine ground made no visible difference.
- The bulb was a Chinese H7 55 watt bulb. Changing to a German Osram H7 55 watt bulb made no visible difference.
- The headlamp lenses have been sanded, polished and buffed - they are crystal clear.
- There is no visible dirt or discoloration inside the reflector or on the projector lens.
- The bulb and lens appear to be undamaged and in the proper positions.
Any ideas? I am somewhat bewildered at this point.
Wally
The halogen low-beam projectors are so dim as to be unsafe to drive.
I spent the afternoon checking the left unit (both sides are dim).
- Checking from a constant-hot unused circuit in the left fusebox, there is slightly less than 0.2 volts voltage drop from full battery voltage when checked at the bulb.
- Voltage at the bulb is 14.3 VDC at the bulb at engine idle.
- There is virtually zero voltage drop from the ground at the bulb to a solid engine ground.
- Powering the bulb with a 16 gage wire from a direct connection on an unused circuit with full battery voltage directly to the bulb connector made no visible difference.
- Connecting a parallel 16 gage ground wire directly from the bulb to a solid engine ground made no visible difference.
- The bulb was a Chinese H7 55 watt bulb. Changing to a German Osram H7 55 watt bulb made no visible difference.
- The headlamp lenses have been sanded, polished and buffed - they are crystal clear.
- There is no visible dirt or discoloration inside the reflector or on the projector lens.
- The bulb and lens appear to be undamaged and in the proper positions.
Any ideas? I am somewhat bewildered at this point.
Wally
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
I have ordered a set of headlamps - supposed to have German projector lenses with plug'n'play HID (low beams), and supposedly TUV approved. We'll see...
