W211 AMG Discuss the W211 AMG's such as the E55 and the E63
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Any aftermarket headlights that will actually look okay?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 05-23-2017, 09:56 AM
  #1  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
MACEDON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 1,116
Received 78 Likes on 68 Posts
05 E55, 98 CLK320
Any aftermarket headlights that will actually look okay?

Mine are a bit faded, thinking about replacing both of them (can't clean em up, cracks let moisture build up under the cover)

Question 1: E63 lights should be an exact fit, no?

Question 2: Has anybody done aftermarket lights that will look decent without it being too ricy?
Old 05-23-2017, 10:18 AM
  #2  
Super Member
 
BoostedAero's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 599
Received 120 Likes on 96 Posts
2004 E55
Originally Posted by MACEDON
Mine are a bit faded, thinking about replacing both of them (can't clean em up, cracks let moisture build up under the cover)

Question 1: E63 lights should be an exact fit, no?

Question 2: Has anybody done aftermarket lights that will look decent without it being too ricy?
You are pretty budget minded like myself from what I have read.... why not just put new lenses on your existing housings?

I think they are around $50-75 on Fleeebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Benz-W21...tY3hZz&vxp=mtr

These are from China gut I think I had some saved that were shipping from LA... search a little if you are interested
The following 2 users liked this post by BoostedAero:
AMGdrivR (05-28-2017), MACEDON (05-23-2017)
Old 05-23-2017, 11:01 AM
  #3  
MBWorld Fanatic!

 
Yuille36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,993
Received 516 Likes on 432 Posts
07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
Provided that these lenses are good quality, I would split my existing lenses open with a heat gun, and wedges, and just replace them. As this is the cheapest route. But quality is hard to come by with anything product coming out in China.
The following users liked this post:
MACEDON (05-23-2017)
Old 05-23-2017, 11:42 AM
  #4  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
tlambert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SC
Posts: 1,676
Received 254 Likes on 216 Posts
2005 E55 AMG
Pull the lights. Which involves pulling the bumper. Remove the plastic/rubber ring covers that go around the lens.

If you are having moisture getting in the lens get this to seal around where the lens and housing are put together.

http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-u...3193984&rt=rud

Talk to a body shop about re-clearing them. Tell them to sand the headlight lens with 600 dry on a palm sander removing the damaged layer until it looks like an even finish (no discoloration of the exsisting finish). Then sand with 800 dry with the palm sander. Mask the black housing because there is no need to clear that part. Clean the lens with wax and grease remover and clear the lens with a good automotive clear coat.
Give them a good day to dry and reinstall your fresh lights!

Care is needed with sanding them, someone that has good common sense. Not some dumb a s s in a hurry wanting to make money off of you.

Oh if you're thinking of sanding and polishing them to make them look better. It will make them look better but will be messy and won't last on a daily driven car.

I hope this helps out!
The following users liked this post:
MACEDON (05-23-2017)
Old 05-23-2017, 11:47 AM
  #5  
Former Vendor of MBWorld
iTrader: (1)
 
shardul's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Houston
Posts: 12,139
Received 293 Likes on 242 Posts
2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600
Depo makes good quality ones.
The following users liked this post:
MACEDON (05-23-2017)
Old 05-23-2017, 05:14 PM
  #6  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
MACEDON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 1,116
Received 78 Likes on 68 Posts
05 E55, 98 CLK320
Originally Posted by BoostedAero
You are pretty budget minded like myself from what I have read.... why not just put new lenses on your existing housings?

I think they are around $50-75 on Fleeebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Benz-W21...tY3hZz&vxp=mtr

These are from China gut I think I had some saved that were shipping from LA... search a little if you are interested
Originally Posted by Yuille36
Provided that these lenses are good quality, I would split my existing lenses open with a heat gun, and wedges, and just replace them. As this is the cheapest route. But quality is hard to come by with anything product coming out in China.
Originally Posted by tlambert
Pull the lights. Which involves pulling the bumper. Remove the plastic/rubber ring covers that go around the lens.

If you are having moisture getting in the lens get this to seal around where the lens and housing are put together.

http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-u...3193984&rt=rud

Talk to a body shop about re-clearing them. Tell them to sand the headlight lens with 600 dry on a palm sander removing the damaged layer until it looks like an even finish (no discoloration of the exsisting finish). Then sand with 800 dry with the palm sander. Mask the black housing because there is no need to clear that part. Clean the lens with wax and grease remover and clear the lens with a good automotive clear coat.
Give them a good day to dry and reinstall your fresh lights!

Care is needed with sanding them, someone that has good common sense. Not some dumb a s s in a hurry wanting to make money off of you.

Oh if you're thinking of sanding and polishing them to make them look better. It will make them look better but will be messy and won't last on a daily driven car.

I hope this helps out!
All of these are great options and I want to thank you for taking the time, especially tlambert for the write up.

Part of the problem is that my driver side is cracked not only the cover but also the housing frame, the nice people at Sam's club pressed on it a bit too hard and I had to ghetto rig it with a nut and washers for it to stay up. I'll post a picture later on. So the whole headlight is... ****ty really, and I want to do things right so I gotta get a completely new unit and hope that the mounting holes around it are in good shape. I do seem to have uh... HID bulbs? They look pretty cool when they're on, blue glow. I hope no complications will arise when I swap for new lights. Only downside is having to remove the bumper... I'm a little scared honestly.

Originally Posted by shardul
Depo makes good quality ones.
Noted, I see them on ebay.
Old 05-24-2017, 08:43 AM
  #7  
MBWorld Fanatic!

 
Yuille36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,993
Received 516 Likes on 432 Posts
07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
Then your only option is to replace the whole head light bucket.
Old 05-24-2017, 10:13 AM
  #8  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
MACEDON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 1,116
Received 78 Likes on 68 Posts
05 E55, 98 CLK320
Originally Posted by Yuille36
Then your only option is to replace the whole head light bucket.
Yeah it would appear so... I'm dabbling with the idea of just applying a light tint because I think they look good if they were a bit darker, is this a douchy thing to do? Because it will, for the time being (until I replace them), mask the fog a little bit...

I want to swap out the lights and install a heat exchanger while the bumper is off when I do decide to do it. Gotta pace myself with the spending on this car, currently I'm dealing with my airmatic sagging
Old 05-24-2017, 10:22 AM
  #9  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Strigoi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Richmond, CA
Posts: 3,249
Received 256 Likes on 233 Posts
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
Lamin-X makes a tinted film for the front lights. I have it on my E63 (clear headlights, yellow fogs) and it's good stuff. Nice and thick plus it's easy to install.
The following users liked this post:
MACEDON (05-24-2017)
Old 05-24-2017, 01:16 PM
  #10  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
MACEDON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 1,116
Received 78 Likes on 68 Posts
05 E55, 98 CLK320
Originally Posted by Strigoi
Lamin-X makes a tinted film for the front lights. I have it on my E63 (clear headlights, yellow fogs) and it's good stuff. Nice and thick plus it's easy to install.
I also wanted to hit up Don Nguyen (you've probably seen his threads), he sells film, but I want a slight tint not too much, just so you can barely tell it's there but enough to mask the fog a bit

EDIT: Oh I see these are exact fit
Old 05-24-2017, 01:32 PM
  #11  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Strigoi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Richmond, CA
Posts: 3,249
Received 256 Likes on 233 Posts
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
I know Don, he did some work to my old E55 years ago. Hopefully going to have him do a clear wrap on the front of my E63 the next time he's up in my area.

I think I have the yellow Lamin-X pieces for the headlights (not the city lights) just sitting in my garage. I could send them to you if you want to check it out what the stuff is like. I'll check when I get home from work.

Last edited by Strigoi; 05-24-2017 at 01:35 PM.
Old 05-24-2017, 01:43 PM
  #12  
MBWorld Fanatic!

 
Yuille36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,993
Received 516 Likes on 432 Posts
07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
I think tinting your headlights is probably the best course of action right now, until you can buy those expensive headlight buckets. As for your sagging airmatic issue, take it to a indy shop and have them put it on Star Diagnostic, they will definitely determine where your issue lies. I hope that it's not a bad AirStrut or AirSpring, as these parts aren't cheap.
Old 05-24-2017, 01:57 PM
  #13  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
MACEDON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 1,116
Received 78 Likes on 68 Posts
05 E55, 98 CLK320
Originally Posted by Yuille36
I think tinting your headlights is probably the best course of action right now, until you can buy those expensive headlight buckets. As for your sagging airmatic issue, take it to a indy shop and have them put it on Star Diagnostic, they will definitely determine where your issue lies. I hope that it's not a bad AirStrut or AirSpring, as these parts aren't cheap.
It was just there.

Front lower and upper control arms need replacing to nobody's surprise, rear shocks are leaking (bags are fine) and front left strutt is leaking apparently. The air compressor is new. The car does ride but I'm putting that compressor into overdrive.

The weird part is that the car has 95k, and arnott all around already, and still I'm having leaks... while I can replace the air strutts myself (there is tons of info out there), I'm a bit disinterested in doing so because for the price of 2 strutts I can get a full blown coilover kit and get it all done that way.
Old 05-24-2017, 02:05 PM
  #14  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Strigoi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Richmond, CA
Posts: 3,249
Received 256 Likes on 233 Posts
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
I'd go with coilovers and just be done with it. That's what I'll be doing as soon as any of my Airmatic parts crap out.
Old 05-24-2017, 02:08 PM
  #15  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
MACEDON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 1,116
Received 78 Likes on 68 Posts
05 E55, 98 CLK320
Originally Posted by Strigoi
I know Don, he did some work to my old E55 years ago. Hopefully going to have him do a clear wrap on the front of my E63 the next time he's up in my area.

I think I have the yellow Lamin-X pieces for the headlights (not the city lights) just sitting in my garage. I could send them to you if you want to check it out what the stuff is like. I'll check when I get home from work.
That would be dope honestly, lmk if you find em, I actually really want to make them yellow but I'm not sure if it will look stupid on my car, I'll rock those until I get new lights if you can find em.
Old 05-24-2017, 02:09 PM
  #16  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
MACEDON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 1,116
Received 78 Likes on 68 Posts
05 E55, 98 CLK320
Originally Posted by Strigoi
I'd go with coilovers and just be done with it. That's what I'll be doing as soon as any of my Airmatic parts crap out.
Only thing that worries me is that I like riding around with my car raised

1) Ride is fantastic, really smooth
2) Better for my already repaired cracked CLS55 wheels

really worried about the rims with coilovers honestly. I live in FL so theres not many deep potholes here but still.
Old 05-24-2017, 02:28 PM
  #17  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Strigoi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Richmond, CA
Posts: 3,249
Received 256 Likes on 233 Posts
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
Originally Posted by MACEDON
That would be dope honestly, lmk if you find em, I actually really want to make them yellow but I'm not sure if it will look stupid on my car, I'll rock those until I get new lights if you can find em.
I'm 99% sure I know where they are. PM me with your address and I can get them in the mail tomorrow. Shipping will only be a few dollars so don't worry about that, I'll cover it.

edit: You can see the color of the yellow film on my fogs in this pic. I also had it on the city lights for awhile which is why I only have the 2 headlight pieces left.

Any aftermarket headlights that will actually look okay?-vglzdyc.jpg

Last edited by Strigoi; 05-24-2017 at 02:36 PM.
The following users liked this post:
MACEDON (05-24-2017)
Old 05-25-2017, 09:30 PM
  #18  
Member
 
Ders's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 164
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
2005 E55 AMG
Good lord that car is gorgeous

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Any aftermarket headlights that will actually look okay?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:03 AM.