stockC43

Great, something else I need to buy for my 220 jk looks nice. I've alwise thought that the headlights could be better. My fogs are almost as bright as my xenon low beams. I assume a 220 uses the same lenses in their bixenons.

desired_speeds

yea, same thing 3 in. diameter. I'm going to order a pair of the lens tonight and do it when I have the time.

tbal

DIY please !!!!

mikey33

I think I am going to go ahead and do it also! I need another car project to keep me busy on the weekend Pictures would be great and the tubes were shipped today from my manufacturer, so I will have them early next week

desired_speeds

I'll snap a few pics when I do it. Parts should be here in a few days.

black06c230

sorry been busy with work but will get pics up tonight or tomorrow at the latest.

its been like 6mths since i did it so i will do my best to remember exactly how it goes but the pics and once you start it will make sense.

And Chris thanks for the update on the tubes, I can't wait!

Also I don't have any after pics but it did make a difference. The car won't be back home until about Wednesday next week and then I can get some lens/bulb/cutoff pics for everyone.

outrun

Hey where'd you get those yellow fogs at? I had a Lexus before my E55 and that had amazing HID's with yellow fogs. Which IMO is a pretty suite look. How are those? Do you have pics with them and the HID's on?

cal1

I had once heard that xenons light spectrum includes infrared and that is why they seem to illuminate road signs the way they do. Can anyone confirm or is this just craziness?

black06c230

Ok as promised a how to on the lens swap. This is with active headlights so if you don't have this you can still use the steps and photos as a guide, you will just be able to skip a few steps which you should be able to figure out.

I did this all by myself, including taking off and reinstalling the bumper. Took me about 3-4 hours taking my time, taking pics, and trying to make sure on the 1st one I did I didn't break the active motor. The 2nd light took me like 30min to complete.

Key points to remember:
DON"T FORGET THE BROWN WIRE INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT THAT CONNECTS TO THE PROJECTOR ITSELF
AND
DON'T FORGET THE LITTLE GREEN WIRE THAT CONNECTS TO THE BULB HARNESS WHEN YOU PUT THEM BACK ON THE CAR.

Parts I used:
Osram Cool Blue Intense D2S (need 2 of these so about $200) they are true 5000k bulbs with 20% more light. Don't go cheap, these are by far the best bulbs I have ever installed on a car!!!

Lens swap to ZKW-R $40
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=136

I have some more pics but these should be enough to get you through this. I will post nighttime pics when my car is back home next week.

PM or reply if you need help, ENJOY!

1.
Remove headlights following this, thanks Steve from Fabtech. This will show you how to remove and open the lights up.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...rojectors.html

2.
Once open and chrome shroud is taken off you will see how to unmount the projector itself. I don't have a pic but its like 3 white thumb screws. Then remove the chrome trim ring.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688637896/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688637896/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

3.
Once removed you will have this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688625292/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688625292/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

4.
Take off black plastic shroud
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688624254/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688624254/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

5.
Remove these 2 top screws and remove the metal clip thing with a flat head screwdriver. I think this only applies to active headlights.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688622200/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688622200/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688655864/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688655864/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

6.
Pry up the metal tabs holding the OEM lens in place
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688649524/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688649524/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

7.
Then remove the metal ring
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688647840/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688647840/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

8.
Then push the lens back and move the black frame forward and slid the lens out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688644772/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688644772/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

9.
Old lens with ridges
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688641338/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688641338/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

New lens, nice and clear
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688642280/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688642280/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

10.
Slide the new lens in carefully, just as you slide the old one out. And slowly reverse order and put it all back together.

11.
Don't forget this little brown ground wire
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688633134/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688633134/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

It clips here to the projector
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688632184/http://www.flickr.com/photos/44467369@N07/7688632184/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/44467369@N07/, on Flickr

12.
Then before sealing all back I suggest putting a bulb in and then plugging it all back in to make sure its all working. Then back in the oven to heat the adhesive, once removed use oven mitts to press it firmly back until it cools back down some, about 3min.

13.
Reinstall headlight and bumper and enjoy!!!

desired_speeds

one thing is that there is a notch on the clear lens, position it on top them plug in the bulb and test it out. Compare the cutoffs lines of both sides to make sure they're similar. If not, then rotate the lens 45 degrees and try again. This is to make sure the cutoff has the same level of sharpness and color.

tbal

Would love to do this... but taking the headlights apart... scary...

djrabbi

Send them to me...I will do it for cheap

tbal

No thanks

black06c230

Tony
If you weren't on the other end of the country from me in AL I would say I could meet up and help you. Its really easy, esp if you don't have the active headlights.

H

lowprofile

Thanks for the pics black06c230. I have the ZKW-R lens sitting here on standby. Just waiting for some down time to install them.

tbal

Appreciate that bro! I have the active headlights... light output really sucks even with new Phillips ultions... Might have to attempt it

black06c230

Do it!!! promise its not that hard, my pics should help you along the way. If not I can give you my number and kinda walk you through as you do it.

Dostovel

Ditto.

mikey33

I am doing the headlight lens swap right now! Such a PITA

desired_speeds

I did my lens swap and when i had the headlight apart, I decided to paint the bezels. made a mistake because the weather was overcast. turns out it was too humid and the paint turned all hazy. I had to strip all the paint off and a few hour project turned into weeks already. :S

black06c230

Chris if you need help at all just PM me.

mikey33

Thanks

desired_speeds

Clear lens + facelift headlight upgrade + plastic lens replacement

Before (you can see how the headlights were foggy):


After:

Hellzno

looks great. where you get new plastic lens?

mikey33

+1 on the lens. I assume u bought depo headlamps off eBay and did the switch? If not where can they be bought from? Thx