AvTech72

Hello Scholars & Gentleman,
This is my first thread and as I have looked through many threads of similarity, I feel my problem is a bit different. I would appreciate a direct answer/solution. My issue is that the passenger headlight low beam has been intermittently working. Sometimes I turn on the car and it works. Sometimes I turn it on and it does not work. Both times the high beam continues to function as normal. Turn signal does not work either for this headlight.


Now for a while now(about a month), the low beam completely stopped working. Then about 2 days ago, in some colder weather, the low beam decided to work. Then the next day neither the low or high beam worked.


I replaced the headlights about 6 months ago and there was a plug left unused, but everything continued to work as normal. The headlights were given to me so I can't say if theyre aftermarket or oem.


They are projector xenons I believe.


Thank you in advance for your kind support, I wouldn't like to get pulled over anymore considering I work the night shift at the airport.
Thanks again for your attention!!!

Zach8131

That will definitely be the ballast. The unused plug is for cars without xenon lamps (h7 halogen bulbs).

The ballasts take the electricity and convert it, stabilize it, and pump it into the bulb (essentially). They are "supposed" to be replaced every 50,000 miles or so, or every 5 years but most people seem to wait for them to die. As they age, they are more prone to acting up when the weather gets cold, because they don't get hot enough... or when you go over a speed bump, etc.

If you replace it by itself, find a used one as one new and one old will cause one light to be brighter than the other. Otherwise, if you want new then you should replace both. They should also be dealer parts, but two new ballasts would set you back a pretty penny.

I hope I was direct enough for you, as you requested.

AvTech72

Thanks for the direct answer!

Yes that sounds about right. Now my only other suggestion I've read many times is to just go ahead and buy a whole new aftermarket hid kid which would replace all units for maybe $150 all included.

Do you think that would be worth it considering the other ballast might go bad at any point?

But yes thank you for helping narrow the problem down for me, at least i can make an informed decision now!

Zach8131

If you plan on doing that I would highly recommend that you buy the facelift aftermarket clear lens lamps on eBay. They're about $190 for the pair. They will come with all bulbs (conventional H7 halogen) but look the same. Then you can add the HID kits to those in the future.

Aftermarket HID kits won't work on the OEM lamps because they are auto-leveling and computer controlled. The ballast is included in that computer programming and you will get a slew of error messages on your dash if you do it that way.

Just a heads up

Zach8131

If you plan on doing that I would highly recommend that you buy the facelift aftermarket clear lens lamps on eBay. They're about $190 for the pair. They will come with all bulbs (conventional H7 halogen) but look the same. Then you can add the HID kits to those in the future.

Aftermarket HID kits won't work on the OEM lamps because they are auto-leveling and computer controlled. The ballast is included in that computer programming and you will get a slew of error messages on your dash if you do it that way.

Just a heads up

AvTech72

But does that come with another ballast, i just looked it up and it says nothing about another ballast

AvTech72

This is what came up when i looked up the facelift aftermarket clear lens

Zach8131

It does not, however it will cancel out the auto-leveling of the OEM lights, and you can safely add on aftermarket HID'S.

AvTech72

Ok, thank you. Is there a way to tell if they are not oem headlights? They were given to me from another car, most likely they are the oems because whoever gave them to me mustve bought new aftermarket headlights and did not need the oem ones anymore.

AvTech72

I found a used ballast, what do you think?
too good to be true? Haha

AvTech72

Or this one? This seems to include the ballast.
By the way, i really appreciate all your help on this. You are a true champ for your knowledge and insight!

Zach8131

03-06 will not work on your car. OEM headlamps for your year are 1) stamped with Mercedes logos all over 2) hazy and gross with all those blurring lines in the lens.

AvTech72

so if I do have aftermarket, because the lens is not all hazy, I can go ahead and replace the full hid kit?
I also had a recommendation for checking the sam module???

tusabes

Just buy the exact same part number used ballast on ebay thats in your car

Zach8131

Post a picture just to make sure, but if they're already aftermarket headlamps with aftermarket HID's then yes you can go the route of aftermarket HID'S