W211 Headlights - Help help help!!!

[donnynsc]

Hi, I'm trying to convert my 2003 E320 (W211) to HID Xenon headlight. I know there are few members in this forum has already done it, but seems like I just couldn't find a thread which can tell me how to locate the existing halogen bulbs.

Would appreciate if someone could tell me where to find the covers & the existing bulbs (Pics would be better ) in order for me to convert them to HID.

Cheers

 

[MBManInKen]

A lot of these conversions are either fake, i.e. they do not install real xenon lights, or they are plainly illegal:

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

If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.

[...]

In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.

 

[gurpz]

I know these aint the actual HID bulbs but its the clusters themselves for the xenon lights, if you dont already have them i suggest getting them there going very cheap

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCEDES-BENZ...oryZ9855QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[timskemp]

Hi, I'm trying to convert my 2003 E320 (W211) to HID Xenon headlight. I know there are few members in this forum has already done it, but seems like I just couldn't find a thread which can tell me how to locate the existing halogen bulbs.

Would appreciate if someone could tell me where to find the covers & the existing bulbs (Pics would be better ) in order for me to convert them to HID.

RTFM - replacing bulbs is in the manual. Simple clue, they're at the back of the headlamp units. Main beam ones quite easy to access, twist the holders anticlockwise and then pull out. Dipped ones obstructed by SBC on one side (just need small hands) and coolant tank on other (pop out the plastic rivet at the top and it will lift out of the way).

As for replacing with a xenon kit, don't think it's gonna be easy as the kits I've seen depend on the bulb being held in with a spring clip and a cable adapting the existing connector to the ballast for the xenon. How you'll do this in a 211 I'm not sure...

I settled for fitting Vision Plus blulbs instead. Also will help to give the lenses a bit of a polish.

 

[digisatman]

yeah, i got xenons put on my w211, fairly simple job. Well worth it.

Apparently, aftermarket xenons are illegal because some are too bright, but take a look at how bright factory range rover lights are!

 

[Dieselman]

yeah, i got xenons put on my w211, fairly simple job. Well worth it.

Apparently, aftermarket xenons are illegal because some are too bright, but take a look at how bright factory range rover lights are!

It's not the brightness it's the beam pattern and lack of self levelling.

 

[donnynsc]

RTFM - replacing bulbs is in the manual. Simple clue, they're at the back of the headlamp units. Main beam ones quite easy to access, twist the holders anticlockwise and then pull out. Dipped ones obstructed by SBC on one side (just need small hands) and coolant tank on other (pop out the plastic rivet at the top and it will lift out of the way).

As for replacing with a xenon kit, don't think it's gonna be easy as the kits I've seen depend on the bulb being held in with a spring clip and a cable adapting the existing connector to the ballast for the xenon. How you'll do this in a 211 I'm not sure...

I settled for fitting Vision Plus blulbs instead. Also will help to give the lenses a bit of a polish.

I did managed to find the main beam, side light & indicator light before. But I just couldn't find the dipped beam location. Is the dipped beam covered by a soft plastic cover? I really have no idea.

Can someone brief me more pls...

 

[timskemp]

I did managed to find the main beam, side light & indicator light before. But I just couldn't find the dipped beam location. Is the dipped beam covered by a soft plastic cover? I really have no idea.

Can someone brief me more pls...

Yes it is, the outer ring of the soft cover rotates anti-clockwise slightly then removes (and falls into the front bumper...)

 

[glojo]

Aren't 211 xeons actually bi-xeons?

Regards
John

 

[donnynsc]

Yes it is, the outer ring of the soft cover rotates anti-clockwise slightly then removes (and falls into the front bumper...)

Thx Timskemp, I have actually guess tht soft cover is the cover for the dipped beam, but I was worried tht I might break it if I rotate it too hard or in the wrong way. Since I know tht's the right one now, I might give it another try tomorrow.

I just love this forum~!

 

[donnynsc]

Aren't 211 xeons actually bi-xeons?

Regards
John

Mine is elegance model, came with halogen dipped beam as standard

 

[timskemp]

Thx Timskemp, I have actually guess tht soft cover is the cover for the dipped beam, but I was worried tht I might break it if I rotate it too hard or in the wrong way. Since I know tht's the right one now, I might give it another try tomorrow.

I just love this forum~!

Grab it by the outer ring, not the soft cover. Newer ones (had one replaced) have a hard cover, which is smaller, so harder to grab when it falls into the bumper...

 

[glojo]

Mine is elegance model, came with halogen dipped beam as standard

Yes, sorry for any confusion I meant the xeons that are fitted to the 211 as standard ar bi-xeons?

Regards
John

 

[donnynsc]

Grab it by the outer ring, not the soft cover. Newer ones (had one replaced) have a hard cover, which is smaller, so harder to grab when it falls into the bumper...

One more question, how did you manage to re-route the cable (from ballast to the new H7 Xenon bulbs) into the housing with the cover closed then???

 

[timskemp]

One more question, how did you manage to re-route the cable (from ballast to the new H7 Xenon bulbs) into the housing with the cover closed then???

It was questions like that that pursuaded me not to try a simple upgrade kit - sorry!

 

[MBManInKen]

Isn't anybody bothered by the legality of all this??

 

[donnynsc]

It was questions like that that pursuaded me not to try a simple upgrade kit - sorry!

Is tht mean I need to drill a hole to bring in the cable???

 

[timskemp]

Isn't anybody bothered by the legality of all this??

Oddly, no. AFAIK there's not been a case of anyone being prosecuted for having swapped their H7s for H7 sized HIDs.

As long as they aren't dazzling, are well installed, clean, maintained etc then I don't think anyone gives the slightest about the legality, I'd rather fit OE than an aftermarket bodge as I doubt the beam pattern would be right or the component quality the same, not only that but on the 211 (and many others) it looks like a real nightmare of a job to fit out well. My last three cars (the 211, the 168 and the Volvo S60) have all had Philips Vision Plus fitted and I'm happy with that.

 

[donnynsc]

Isn't anybody bothered by the legality of all this??

Mine is from www.hids4u.com which I thought should be legal?

 

[MBManInKen]

then I don't think anyone gives the slightest about the legality

Well, I would, I guess that makes me the odd one out!