SLC/K headlight dust cover mod for LEDs

[Pondi]

Hi

I'm Paul, a new member with a 250d SLC. Love the car but hate the standard dim halogen headlamps. Just had new LED Twenty20 LED headlight bulbs fitted by Auto Bulbs Direct in Southampton. The result is like day
and night. Only gone for bulbs in the projectors as it's on low beam that the car's illumination is very poor. I was mindful of the issues relating to road use of LEDs and concerned about the possible effect on other road users. The pictures show the difference on light and how the LED has a sharp cut off and a good hot spot. I've viewed the lights at night from a distance and experience no glare. The road ahead is now like daytime from the driving seat. All up cost, including fitting, was £110. No CANBUS error messages so far. One issue on the SLC (and I suspect SLK) however is the proximity of the rear of the bulb's fan casing and the headlight dust cover (which is all but touching on one particular spot). I would like to fit a slightly deeper dust cover to increase the clearance but there's not much room to do so with the SLC's tight fitting lamp units. Does anyone know of where I can get slightly deeper (probably no more than 10mm deeper) dust covers? Many thanks

 

[FromEVtoSLK]

I can't help regarding the dust covers (though I did see a video on someone fitting LEDs to a Renault Zoe and they got some dust caps on Amazon so worth a look). I really wanted to know how the LEDs are holding up (and did they pass the MOT ok?). I know there's a possible legal issues with LEDs but I also think being able to see is more important (it seems a lot of oncoming SUVs have declared light war on people sitting lower).

 

[Pondi]

Hi EV
My car passed it's MOT a couple of weeks ago with no problems. Lights are still working really well. I ended up buying a spare pair of dust covers for a few £s off Ebay and modifying them. I effectively cut a whole the size of a spray can cap and epoxied the cap into the whole. This created enough space for the longer LED bulb and allows better airflow. An unmodified dust cover will press against the back of the bulb and restrict airflow

 

[FromEVtoSLK]

Hi EV
My car passed it's MOT a couple of weeks ago with no problems. Lights are still working really well. I ended up buying a spare pair of dust covers for a few £s off Ebay and modifying them. I effectively cut a whole the size of a spray can cap and epoxied the cap into the whole. This created enough space for the longer LED bulb and allows better airflow. An unmodified dust cover will press against the back of the bulb and restrict airflow

Thanks for the update Paul, very useful. I am using Ring 120% brighter halogen bulbs in my SLK, an improvement but still not brilliant, I find I can't see past oncoming SUVs with bright lights even if I look down to the left and I am sure better illumination would help). I think I may arrange a trip to Southampton. Good idea with the spare caps and epoxy, thanks for the tip. Hope lockdown treats you ok. Robert

 

[Pondi]

Hi EV
Must remember to correct spellchecker’s “whole” (as opposed to hole)! One has to accept that these things aren’t technically legal for use on public roads. I also hate driving at night with people’s light blinding me. However, these bulbs transform the night vision, passed an MOT and haven’t resulted in me being flashed once in the many months I been using them. I’ve parked the car up at night and walked a long way off. Not a hint of glare. It does of course come down to how they are adjusted. When done properly they make driving so much safer and enjoyable.

 

[FromEVtoSLK]

Paul, I think the legal issue is more that legislation was introduced before LEDs were an option. I'd rather be able to see than worry too much about a technicality. I will ensure they are correctly adjusted because it seems a lot of oncoming cars lights aren't (much worse for those of us sitting low). I find it disappointing the Mercedes offer such poor lights (I used to have a Megane CC and the lights on that were brilliant even with standard halogen bulbs). My last car was a Renault Zoe ZE40 and the lights were actually worse than the SLK. Thanks for your help.

 

[Pondi]

Hi EV
Must remember to correct spellchecker’s “whole” (as opposed to hole)! One has to accept that these things aren’t technically legal for use on public roads. I also hate driving at night with people’s light blinding me. However, these bulbs transform the night vision, passed an MOT and haven’t resulted in me being flashed once in the many months I been using them. I’ve parked the car up at night and walked a long way off. Not a hint of glare. It does of course come down to how they are adjusted. When done properly they make driving so much safer and enjoyable.

 

[Pondi]

Here’s a couple of pics of the dust cap mod. The red cap is off a fishing rod storage tube. It has a small hole in the cap which helps with airflow. Works a treat.

 

[FromEVtoSLK]

Nice job. I have ended up buying the Philips Racing vision GT200 Halogen 200% brighter bulbs. They are really impressive and hopefully they will last the 250 hours promised. I tried detaching the connector before removing one of the old bulb and it is now at the bottom of the wheel arch liner, it fell out when I moved the clip up - live and learn. I found it a lot more fiddly getting the new bulbs to seat properly that the last pair. If these bulbs burn out quickly I will revisit LEDs again.
Thanks for all your help.