Retro fit xenon headlights.

[Colin_b]

I have a W204 320cdi, which suits me fine. Except headlights - I live where a street light is seen as a sign of witchcraft.

The standard lights no more than average. (My SLK had xenons, which are excellent).

It is a pain, I do a fair bit of night driving on crappy roads, and I really do feel the best headlights are worth having.

So, how practical is it to upgrade the headlights to proper, legal and decent xenons - NOT just upgrading the bulbs.

I rather suspect, replacing the car might be more cost effective.

Any clues? Eat more carrots, maybe

 

[bpsorrel]

A bit of a half way measure this (a lot cheaper than a full xenon kit!!), but I fitted these H7 high power bulbs to my non-xenon CLS and they have made a substantial difference. Not as bright as xenons, but not bad and have a nice crisp white shine that's almost xenon like...

PHILIPS H7 XTREME VISION H7 100% PHILIPS X-TREME VISION CAR HEADLIGHT BULBS H7 on eBay!

Edit!! Ooops!! Just noticed your line about no upgrade bulbs! Sorry, should read more!!!

 

[Colin_b]

A bit of a half way measure this (a lot cheaper than a full xenon kit!!), but I fitted these H7 high power bulbs to my non-xenon CLS and they have made a substantial difference. Not as bright as xenons, but not bad and have a nice crisp white shine that's almost xenon like...

PHILIPS H7 XTREME VISION H7 100% PHILIPS X-TREME VISION CAR HEADLIGHT BULBS H7 on eBay!

Edit!! Ooops!! Just noticed your line about no upgrade bulbs! Sorry, should read more!!!

I didn't make my thoughts clear

I've upgraded the standard bulbs to the Philips ones, and they did improve things somewhat - OK for summer, but not enough for those long, dark Cumbrian drives over the fells.

The 'no upgraded bulbs' bit was the cheapo xenon kits that just irritate other drivers.

 

[Benzmanc]

You will need to fit a new bumper with the associated headlight cleaning system and also the headlight self-levelling system to be legal, probably cheaper selling the car and getting one with them already on.

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
Ask MB about Retro fit kit, as the earlier models you could buy all that was needed to fit Xenons legally to your car for the price of just one headlight, there were proper work instructions on WIS for doing this.
The only thing that might make this impractical would be as above if you havent got any form of headlamp wash as on a 204 you would need to replace the bumper.
I have retro fitted xenons on my AMG, and that is all aspects auto-levelling, headlamp wash/wipe etc.
I sourced all my parts from breakers, except for the wash/wipe loom an relay.
But like i said worth asking MB if the kit is available.

 

[Moonie]

I didn't make my thoughts clear

I've upgraded the standard bulbs to the Philips ones, and they did improve things somewhat - OK for summer, but not enough for those long, dark Cumbrian drives over the fells.

The 'no upgraded bulbs' bit was the cheapo xenon kits that just irritate other drivers.

I just use the reflections of the sheeps eyes as a rough guide of where the road ends when going over Corney Fell.

 

[Colin_b]

I just use the reflections of the sheeps eyes as a rough guide of where the road ends when going over Corney Fell.

Those sheep are crafty little buggers. They line up to lure you into into a rockpile. Then laugh, if a trifle sheepishly(sorry).

Corney is fun, unless you get the 4mph tourist who doesn't understand 'passing place' or in Corneyspeak, pissing place

 

[Dieselman]

A decent set of Halogen lights should suffice, especially where you can use main beam.

Be careful of the "comfort trap" of Xenon lights.

It's tricky to judge headlamp beam performance without a lot of knowledge, a lot of training and a lot of special equipment, because subjective perceptions are very misleading. Having a lot of strong light in the foreground, that is on the road close to the car and out to the sides, is very comforting and reliably produces a strong impression of "good headlights". The problem is that not only is foreground lighting of decidedly secondary importance when travelling much above 30 mph, but having a very strong pool of light close to the car causes your pupils to close down, worsening your distance vision...all the while giving you this false sense of security.

(extract from)
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

A proper upgrade will cost about £1,000 including all required equipment and coding.

 

[Colin_b]

A decent set of Halogen lights should suffice, especially where you can use main beam.

Be careful of the "comfort trap" of Xenon lights.

It's tricky to judge headlamp beam performance without a lot of knowledge, a lot of training and a lot of special equipment, because subjective perceptions are very misleading. Having a lot of strong light in the foreground, that is on the road close to the car and out to the sides, is very comforting and reliably produces a strong impression of "good headlights". The problem is that not only is foreground lighting of decidedly secondary importance when travelling much above 30 mph, but having a very strong pool of light close to the car causes your pupils to close down, worsening your distance vision...all the while giving you this false sense of security.

(extract from)
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

A proper upgrade will cost about £1,000 including all required equipment and coding.

Good stuff, thanks. The xenon equipped car gives a clearer, sharper and much more defined view of the road ahead. This is really only significant on poor roads when a extra second makes the difference between avoidance of hazard and 'whoops, that was sudden'.

Necessary, probably not. Bit like ABS, you only appreciate it when you need it.

 

[whitenemesis]

I went through the xenon retro-fit experience.... expensive! BUT very much worthwhile. The improved vision is massive. The one 'problem' is getting the dipped beam setting just right. Too high and you will annoy oncoming drivers, too low and you can see each and every piece of gravel but it's real dark further ahead!

 

[Dieselman]

The xenon equipped car gives a clearer, sharper and much more defined view of the road ahead.

Too high and you will annoy oncoming drivers, too low and you can see each and every piece of gravel but it's real dark further ahead!

Which is exactly what Daniel Stearn says is the problem.

I found that since making my headlamps actually work as intended, without significant voltage drop, the forward vision is fine. The first thing to check is the voltage at the bulb, if it isn't full battery voltage with engine running, the output will be seriously reduced.

 

[Starky]

Still on the subject, why do you need head light washes with Xeon lights?

I know no help to the OPS question.

 

[whitenemesis]

But when correctly set xenons are literally 'night and day'. I wouldn't go back to halogens...

 

[whitenemesis]

Still on the subject, why do you need head light washes with Xeon lights?

I know no help to the OPS question.

The new MoT regs might suggest washers are required for xenons. It's debatable ..

 

[Dieselman]

Washers are required to stop dirt causing dazzle for oncoming drivers.

 

[Dieselman]

But when correctly set xenons are literally 'night and day'. I wouldn't go back to halogens...

Is that halogens working properly or not? Most standard Mercedes halogen lights are not receiving full voltage.

I know someone who went from halogen to xenon on a Laguna and didn't like them because of the lack of forward light. He said the transition from light to dark was too great.

Is this why we keep seeing threads of Mercedes Xenon being set too high and dazzling oncoming drivers?


Maybe Laguna halogen are just better than Mercedes ones, which having driven Mrs Dm car (amongst others) I would think is correct.

 

[whitenemesis]

Washers are required to stop dirt causing dazzle for oncoming drivers.

Never quite understood that. The lights would only be clean for the few seconds after washing.
IIRC some cars were produced with xenons but no washers. Subaru?

IMHO headlamps washers are only good for spraying cyclists ans pedestrians...

 

[whitenemesis]

Is that halogens working properly or not? Most standard Mercedes halogen lights are not receiving full voltage.

I know someone who went from halogen to xenon on a Laguna and didn't like them because of the lack of forward light. He said the transition from light to dark was too great.

Is this why we keep seeing threads of Mercedes Xenon being set too high and dazzling oncoming drivers?


Maybe Laguna halogen are just better than Mercedes ones, which having driven Mrs Dm car (amongst others) I would think is correct.

It's because xenons have such a sharp cut-off that set-up is so important. Halogens sort of fade away..

As for receiving full voltage, the design must be considered as correct. I read your post regarding removing a loom tail(?) to improve the headlamps. Why would that have changed over time?

 

[Dieselman]

IIRC some cars were produced with xenons but no washers. Subaru?

They were produced and certified with halogen lights, Xenons were added as a marketing tool once the cars arrived in the UK, but to be legal must have been below xx lumens of output.

 

[Dieselman]

It's because xenons have such a sharp cut-off that set-up is so important. Halogens sort of fade away..

Which is good for longer distance vision.
The reason xenon have a sharp cut off is to stop dazzling of oncoming drivers. It's the sharp cut-off that causes the lack of periphery vision.

The other thing to note is that xenons are useless in fog and heavy rain, they just create a lot of back glare for the driver.