W211 upgrading HID bulb

[pachanga 231]

2003 model with factory HIDS
Recently replaced both bulbs with Philips 4300k bulbs as originals were going faulty.
The headlamp lens is alittle cloudy but the light output is really poor, the bulbs aren't faulty or anything.

Has anyone stuck to the original factory ballasts and upgraded bulbs to eBay jobbies 6000k or similar?
On motorway a halogen bulb is probably brighter LOL

 

[pachanga 231]

Hi

Anyone shed some light.....

 

[whitenemesis]

Polish the cloudy lenses.

Stick with 4300k or 5000k max as light output drops off above that.

 

[Wolfie1]

Yea just buy hid bulbs from ebay but dont buy the kits as they are different so they wont work with your oe ballast

 

[DSM10000]

Check the low voltage supply at the input t and also check the earth connections.

 

[E63AMG]

Polishing made a noticeable difference on mine.

 

[GordonTarling]

Yes, polishing certainly made a difference on mine, too.

 

[b1g1an]

Yea just buy hid bulbs from ebay but dont buy the kits as they are different so they wont work with your oe ballast

Almost guaranteed to get fakes from eBay unless you're buying from a respected traditional retailer with an eBay store. Same with Amazon, only buy ones dispatched and sold by them, not just fulfilled by.

 

[350cls]

Polishing made a noticeable difference on mine.

Cracking job you have done there. What methods did you use getting them results? Mine need doing very similar to the first photo you uploaded.

Thanks, Tom

 

[E63AMG]

I used the Autoglym kit Tom.

Headlight Restoration Complete Kit. Think I got mine off eBay. £20 approx.

Follow the instructions to the letter & don't be scared it won't work, as at the last minute it all comes good! It probably took me a couple of hours to do both, that was masking up & being cautious.

Worth doing I promise you. Not only does the car look better, but you notice the difference in the brightness of the headlights.

Nige

 

[guyvert1]

You could probably run a small mobile biz for this sorta stuff

 

[DSM10000]

You could probably run a small mobile biz for this sorta stuff

Do not take it to Dragon's den.........................Affordable Mobile Headlight Restoration by the Touch Up Guys

A little more thought on the business name would have also been advisable!

 

[Wolfie1]

Almost guaranteed to get fakes from eBay unless you're buying from a respected traditional retailer with an eBay store. Same with Amazon, only buy ones dispatched and sold by them, not just fulfilled by.

So whats the problem with that? They will have the same light output and are at most half the price. Have fitted many and have never had a problem yet and on the beam tester have lined up perfectly

 

[markjay]

So whats the problem with that? They will have the same light output and are at most half the price. Have fitted many and have never had a problem yet and on the beam tester have lined up perfectly

I think his point is that you risk buying fakes which may not be as good as the originals.

It is not clear from your post if you are saying that you bought bulbs off eBay etc and received originals as per your order, or perhaps you are saying that you knowingly bought fakes because they were cheaper and they worked just as well as originals?

 

[350cls]

Thanks Nige, I will purchase one of those. Will attack it once this weather warms up lol.

Tom

 

[Wolfie1]

I think his point is that you risk buying fakes which may not be as good as the originals.

It is not clear from your post if you are saying that you bought bulbs off eBay etc and received originals as per your order, or perhaps you are saying that you knowingly bought fakes because they were cheaper and they worked just as well as originals?

Yes what you in the last part of your post

 

[pachanga 231]

Polishing made a noticeable difference on mine.

great job, what did you seal them with after?
i had mine done and they looked great for a while i dont think they were sealed though, not sure it affected the light output by that much.
i think whats made them worse is when the carwash guys spray the degreaser (or whatever it is) on before the jetwash.

 

[E63AMG]

I sealed them with normal car wax after - that’s what was recommended. They lasted fine whilst I had it, but I’ve sold it now.

 

[E63AMG]

I sealed them with normal car wax after - that’s what was recommended. They lasted fine whilst I had it, but I’ve sold it now.

 

[pachanga 231]

Just had mine cleaned up, came up a treat. Output is slightly better at night, still thinking of changing bulb to a 6000k to get better light on road. Will post some pics.