this is the lights I put in mine ,,,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130461120616...ht_4624wt_1037

 

I do not know if this car sold but they will take just over 13k ...65k mile car

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...t_23221wt_1165

 

Here's a video from a BMW guy about their lighting upgrade options, this part of the 4 part series breaks down what hid upgrade kits are, stuff about projectors in housings, etc... useful to us as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqJ8T-GLayI

And here is a related thread talking about the options for W210 cars with factory xenon... a couple of posters say that depo/projector housings + even the "zam" method of xenon retrofit is a downgrade from factory xenon.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...onversion.html

 

I am sorry if I missed something but what is the Zam method?
Thanks,

 

was thinkign same thing but now after reading post before yours im guessing its where they take a set of aftermarket headlights with projectors and swap the jap crap out for a set of better OEM projectors and hopefully using oem ballast and bulbs compared to the cheap xenon kits that most are using if they didnt have stock xenons

 

Project cars are great. specially if you like to shop, are mechanically inclined, know how to find used parts, etc. You can save yourself tons of money and wind up with a really nice car.

The one thing I would stay clear of is accident repair cars, especially if the damage was significant. You mentioned in your original post that the car was in an accident and was not repaired properly. That's a potential nightmare.

Not so much from price, or resale value, or redoing paint and body. But if inferior parts were used, welds not done right or using the wrong materials, repairs not done right, etc it literally could cost you your life. I'm not talking about a door being repainted badly of course.

But when the structural integrity of the car has been affected in an accident, it needs to be restored. If it's not, the car can crumple up if you are ever in another accident and things can go very badly for the occupants. And it's much more difficult to verify proper accident repair work than it is to do a PPI.

Be careful!

Bruce

 

Yes, that's right. Here's a detailed thread where zam talks about the upgrade...
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...n-upgrade.html

 

Thanks Bruce! With that one, I was going to check the repair thoroughly and was factoring in the chance it was doing to need to be fixed further. Since the car wasn't totaled, but the accident did show up on AutoCheck, I was thinking it may not have been too bad.

But I've been thinking long and hard about what to go after now that I didn't get that auction car and I think you are right -- buying an accident car is probably the biggest gamble you can take on a W210. As discussed earlier in the thread, these cars are pretty "bomb proof" otherwise. Buying a car with existing collision damage may still be an option for me as I'd be able to ensure it was fixed properly.

The ideal car would be something where damage seems pretty obviously to be superficial, like a side swipe in a parking lot or something. (My existing E420 was side swiped in a parking lot and all the damage is on the doors -- and I picked up clean, perfect doors at the pick n pull for $39/ea).

 

I actually prefer to buy daily driven cars as I know they were actually driven so that existing problems could show themselves.

 

I'd think twice before buying this one. It has been in an accident. Not only that but apparently the engine cover is not the right piece! Not even sure how they got that cover to fit on the motor. It's from a 550 non-AMG benz. Makes you think... How bad was the accident? It's cheaply priced and low miles. There is a reason

 

+1 that engine cover looks like 500 series no AMG cover. Who knows how bad was the accident ....... it might have E500 engine !

 

3M polishing kit $20 x 2, power drill motor, plus an hour each lens and you are brand new.

 

I've driven a 2002 E55 that was a bit "rough." 145K miles but still fast. He had trouble selling it for $8K. I think he finally did after about a year. Clean title.

 

^ was that the silver one in studio city that was previously hit on the passenger side?

 

I think it was.

 

That one is year 2000 not 2002.

are we talking about the silver one with salvage title 145K miles for $8000 ?

 

Found you a good deal here !

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac...728779845.html

If you are good in DIY, this might be a good one. I think you might able to get it for $3500. Test it and if the repair cost more than $1k still not bad.

 

yea it was listed for a whole year. I'm 100% sure it was an 02, at least the one I'm talking about. I was about to go check it out last year when I was searching for a W210 until I saw the higher quality pics.