W211 AMG Discuss the W211 AMG's such as the E55 and the E63

W211 E55 Xenon headlamp different types?

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Old Jun 6, 2011 | 08:38 AM
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W211 E55 Xenon headlamp different types?

I want to replace my lamps but whats the reason for the two different types of headlamp designs pre facelift? I prefer the lens that is flush inside the lamp.

Why does one lens design stick out and the other one sticks in.

I know the facelift design is completely different and dont really like it, just my personal opinion.

Any help would be appreciated as I cant find any info on this.
Attached Thumbnails W211 E55 Xenon headlamp different types?-headlamp-1.jpg   W211 E55 Xenon headlamp different types?-headlamp-4.jpg  

Last edited by £ C43 £ AMG £; Jun 6, 2011 at 09:53 AM.
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Old Jun 7, 2011 | 08:08 AM
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Found it

The Head lamps that have active cornering have a larger bezel and a larger gap around the main projector.

can I install and program via star?

Last edited by £ C43 £ AMG £; Jun 7, 2011 at 08:18 AM.
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Old Jun 7, 2011 | 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by £ C43 £ AMG £
Found it

The Head lamps that have active cornering have a larger bezel and a larger gap around the main projector.

can I install and program via star?
I think so...I believe the only thing that changes, other than the headlamp, is the software.
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Old Jun 7, 2011 | 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by GT-ER
I think so...I believe the only thing that changes, other than the headlamp, is the software.
I believe the active cornering can be installed, but there has been a general theme around here that the active leveling function cannot be added in - though I don't think anyone has actually tried it.

If it came on the car at one point, I don't see why it cannot be added in given the right equipment.
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Old Jun 7, 2011 | 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by bobgodd
I believe the active cornering can be installed, but there has been a general theme around here that the active leveling function cannot be added in - though I don't think anyone has actually tried it.

If it came on the car at one point, I don't see why it cannot be added in given the right equipment.
I don't see why not. I've seen the menu's in the SDS and in my car they say "active" and the other option is "not installed". It also has a note saying that you must have active headlamps installed in order to put the menu in "active".

It shouldn't be complicated.
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Old Jun 7, 2011 | 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by GT-ER
I don't see why not. I've seen the menu's in the SDS and in my car they say "active" and the other option is "not installed". It also has a note saying that you must have active headlamps installed in order to put the menu in "active".

It shouldn't be complicated.
I don't think it would be all that complicated, I just think nobody has tried it before?

I did hear that there was a sensor that worked in conjunction with the active leveling that was not installed on cars unequiped, but I don't know that for fact.
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Old Jun 7, 2011 | 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by bobgodd
I don't think it would be all that complicated, I just think nobody has tried it before?

I did hear that there was a sensor that worked in conjunction with the active leveling that was not installed on cars unequiped, but I don't know that for fact.
It should work with the steering angle sensor and as far as I know all E55's have this sensor due to the ESP.
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Old Jun 7, 2011 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by GT-ER
It should work with the steering angle sensor and as far as I know all E55's have this sensor due to the ESP.
My brain wants to tell me that logically the steering angle sensor would aid in the active cornering function of the headlights, but couldn't possibly help determine the level of the car... But again, I really don't know much about this so I could very well be wrong.
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Old Jun 7, 2011 | 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by bobgodd
My brain wants to tell me that logically the steering angle sensor would aid in the active cornering function of the headlights, but couldn't possibly help determine the level of the car... But again, I really don't know much about this so I could very well be wrong.
The leveling information of the car should be done by Airmatic. I can't think of a single extra sensor necessary to upgrade to active headlights.
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Old Jun 12, 2011 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by GT-ER
The leveling information of the car should be done by Airmatic. I can't think of a single extra sensor necessary to upgrade to active headlights.

Thanks guys.

I just ordered the active cornering lamps. I have reset the levels on my original headlamps and as you say the option in DAS is asociated with the airmatic suspension which all E55's have.

I hope your right and all I have to do is recode the variant in DAS. No major loss if the function does not work........ but cant see why it wont work?

I did try to turn the function on with my current headlamps and my dash came up with an adaptive headlamp malfunction.

I wont have time to do this until next month as I need to take the front end off and also have projector fog lamps to install at the same time.

Will try to report back with the results.

Good luck and all the best
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Old Jun 12, 2011 | 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by £ C43 £ AMG £
I want to replace my lamps but whats the reason for the two different types of headlamp designs pre facelift? I prefer the lens that is flush inside the lamp.

Why does one lens design stick out and the other one sticks in.

I know the facelift design is completely different and dont really like it, just my personal opinion.

Any help would be appreciated as I cant find any info on this.

Also just to let everyone Know if you want to fit the face lift lamps, its not a straight swap as the wiring plugs are different and dont I fancy chopping my loom....
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Old Jun 12, 2011 | 08:36 PM
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They use different bulbs as well. Best way to get the facelift (look) I think would be to swap the lens from the new one to the original light.

Last edited by bobgodd; Jun 13, 2011 at 08:41 AM.
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 05:18 AM
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Originally Posted by £ C43 £ AMG £
Also just to let everyone Know if you want to fit the face lift lamps, its not a straight swap as the wiring plugs are different and dont I fancy chopping my loom....
You will need a lot more than chopping the loom. The headlights are canbus controlled in the facelift model, but in the pre facelift it is controlled by the front SAM-units.

Non-xenon to facelift non-xenon are pretty straight forward, only the connector differs.

Regarding enabling the active cornering on the pre facelift i believe you just need to connect them and activate the option in DAS.
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by SwedeE55
You will need a lot more than chopping the loom. The headlights are canbus controlled in the facelift model, but in the pre facelift it is controlled by the front SAM-units.

Non-xenon to facelift non-xenon are pretty straight forward, only the connector differs.

Regarding enabling the active cornering on the pre facelift i believe you just need to connect them and activate the option in DAS.

thanks sound great, cant wait to get them installed, I would do it sooner if the bumper did not have to come off...........
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Old Jul 2, 2011 | 11:12 PM
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Headlamps installed.

Changed the coding on the cluster and left/right front sam units to curve illumination active but I still get this message.

maybe the headlamps are wrong?
Attached Thumbnails W211 E55 Xenon headlamp different types?-imag0182.jpg  
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Old Jul 3, 2011 | 11:09 AM
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You may need a loom.
Steve @ MbenzNL can help.

http://www.mbenznl.nl/

Last edited by Yacht Master; Jul 3, 2011 at 11:14 AM.
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Old Jul 3, 2011 | 02:37 PM
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[QUOTE=GT-ER;4707304]The leveling information of the car should be done by Airmatic. I can't think of a single extra sensor necessary to upgrade to active headlights.[/


The leveling information for the xenon headlights is from a separate sensor on the front of the vehicle suspension as we added active headlights to the wife's 211 and added the sensor for the headlight level
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Old Jul 3, 2011 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by SwedeE55
You will need a lot more than chopping the loom. The headlights are canbus controlled in the facelift model, but in the pre facelift it is controlled by the front SAM-units.

Non-xenon to facelift non-xenon are pretty straight forward, only the connector differs.

Regarding enabling the active cornering on the pre facelift i believe you just need to connect them and activate the option in DAS.
One can add model update 211 headlights to a early 211with the correct pin connectors and plugs...
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Old Jul 3, 2011 | 05:28 PM
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thanks guys for the info.

My car originally had self leveling headlamps, but I replaced them with what I thought were lamps with the cornering function that move left and right when you turn.

What additional sensor or loom do I need?
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Old Jul 5, 2011 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Yacht Master
You may need a loom.
Steve @ MbenzNL can help.

http://www.mbenznl.nl/
Yacht Master many thanks for recomending steve as he really knows his stuff. Really recomend him also.

Ok this thread needs correcting,

the projector lenses which stick out by 2 inches and have a chrome surround are not an active cornering type headlamps, only self leveling.

My car is too early to have all the required coding in 4 of the various control units needed to get these to work, so I give up and will save my time and money.

Last edited by £ C43 £ AMG £; Jul 5, 2011 at 07:51 PM.
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Old May 28, 2023 | 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by £ C43 £ AMG £
Yacht Master many thanks for recomending steve as he really knows his stuff. Really recomend him also.

Ok this thread needs correcting,

the projector lenses which stick out by 2 inches and have a chrome surround are not an active cornering type headlamps, only self leveling.

My car is too early to have all the required coding in 4 of the various control units needed to get these to work, so I give up and will save my time and money.

My apologies for re-hatching an old thread, but when you say that the model year of your E55 was too early, what model year do or did you own? Also, would that mean that the '06 model year could upgrade to active cornering headlights if it wasn't factory equipped with them? I want to purchase a brand new set and have my car coded with an MB Star system. Please advise! Thank you!
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Old May 28, 2023 | 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by nkctb7
My apologies for re-hatching an old thread, but when you say that the model year of your E55 was too early, what model year do or did you own? Also, would that mean that the '06 model year could upgrade to active cornering headlights if it wasn't factory equipped with them? I want to purchase a brand new set and have my car coded with an MB Star system. Please advise! Thank you!
if you get active lights then yes you can code them in STAR to be turned on.

Problem will be making sure the lights you order are active. I had to order like 2-3x bc they stated active but weren’t when they arrived. So make sure to ask seller to verify so no issues if you need to return then.

new lights are a big improvement and if you feel extra froggy tear them down and replace the progjector with a Morimoto EVO

my led G wagon left side vs Morimoto EVOs and Osram CBB in my E on the right





Last edited by black06c230; May 28, 2023 at 08:39 PM.
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Old May 29, 2023 | 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by black06c230
if you get active lights then yes you can code them in STAR to be turned on.

Problem will be making sure the lights you order are active. I had to order like 2-3x bc they stated active but weren’t when they arrived. So make sure to ask seller to verify so no issues if you need to return then.

new lights are a big improvement and if you feel extra froggy tear them down and replace the progjector with a Morimoto EVO

my led G wagon left side vs Morimoto EVOs and Osram CBB in my E on the right
Thank you so much black06c230 for the prompt response and highly valuable info. as I greatly appreciate it! I have read great things about the Morimoto EVO projectors. I know that the factory bi-xenons are no longer available from dealers, but there's an eBay seller that has over 10+ units per side available. Going by the factory part number that they've listed in the description they are active curve, but I will definitely make certain before purchasing them. Based on your pic, you have me sold on the Morimoto EVO'S as they look incredible next to the factory LED of your G wagon. Thank you again for your input and advice!
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Old May 29, 2023 | 11:33 PM
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Here is the thread I made from doing my lights


https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...rome-swap.html
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Old May 31, 2023 | 07:39 AM
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Originally Posted by black06c230
Here is the thread I made from doing my lights


https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...rome-swap.html
Thank you kindly as that is an awesome and very helpful thread!
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