Adding xenons to a W210??

[gIzzE]

I have fallen for my W210, really do love it, only thing that lets it down are the headlights, they are really weak, but I have had xenons on my cars for the last 5 years and going back is a bit of a shock.

Is there a cost effective way of adding them??

If I do I would want to add projector light housings too as my pet hate is being dazzled on the road, mainly by people with HIDs and not the right light housings!!

Can anyone recommend either a projector housing on its own or one with the hid built in?

Mine is a post sept 99 car.

Thanks

 

[Dieselman]

The OEM xenons are not projector but you can buy aftermarket projector lamps from makers like Depo but the light output is a bit pants because the lens isn't very good.
One recommendation is to get Depo lights and a lens from a BMW X5 as they are very good.
In addition the front clear lens/cover tends to need sealing with silicon.

Other than that they are good..

 

[gIzzE]

Other than that they are good..

Thanks for the reply, are the depo ones adjustable for RHD, I see some advertised from Taiwan for RHD or LHD but not both.

 

[gIzzE]

Thinking about this, if the OEM xenon is not in a projector can I add an HID set up to the existing light housing and get good results without dazzling others??

 

[lynall]

I am pretty certian by law to have xenons the vehicle must have headlamp washers and self levlling headlamps, but this doesnt seem to stop the boy racer brigade



Lynall

 

[C240Sport97]

fit some Phillips Extreme Power .. they are amazing (I have them on my 210 estate) and quite cheap

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=81

 

[gIzzE]

Xenons only have to have self leveling lights and washers on new cars.

But you do have to make sure you are not dazzling oncoming traffic and if the beam strays on the MOT test it will fail.

I may try those bulbs, thanks for that.

 

[gIzzE]

After reading a couple of reviews the Phillips Extreme Power, Nightbreakers and Halfords Extreme Brilliance seemed to be the ones on top, had to get a fog bulb last night so bought a pair of the Extreme Brilliance bulbs.

Have to say I am extremely impressed with the results, still not xenons but they are not that far behind and no longer feel I need full beams on all the time.


Can you take the headlights apart easily on these cars?? I am sure 10 years worth of dust build up on the back of the glass never helps matters with older light units. Or are they sealed??

 

[Dieselman]

Thinking about this, if the OEM xenon is not in a projector can I add an HID set up to the existing light housing and get good results without dazzling others??

No.

Xenons only have to have self leveling lights and washers on new cars.

Wrong.

 

[Doodle]

I'm sure this has been covered at great length (hell, we probably should make a sticky thread of it). From what I can recall it goes a little something like this:

HID's require levelling and wash under EC regs for Construction and Use (or similar, I forget the exact title of the document), hence all new cars with HID's have them.

However, once the car has been Type Approved/SVA'd and sold to the customer, nobody really checks. MoT does not cover this at the current time, only aim and function.

As a result: Illegal - yes. Likely to get pulled up on it - no.

 

[gIzzE]

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps