want to get OEM HID headlights. is it 100% plug & play?

[ProV1x]

I've been waiting for some used OEM xenon headlight assemblies to pop up on ebay for my 97 E420, but I thought i'd ask here first. Are the xenon assemblies 100% plug & play? or do i have to do any rewiring? also, will the xenon lights trigger any error messages? finally did the oem xenon lights come w/ auto-leveling feature? i wonder if i will still have this on my car.

[firstbenzo]

Hello,


try contacting zam2000 and/or Raymond.

I know zam2000 was building HID using OEM ballasts, using a depo projector, and other parts.

I think I will upgrade to zam2000 headlights if the H7 lights do not make me happy.

Zam2000 headlights are plug and play.

Hope they can help you out.

[raymond-]

P-
OEM HID is a system which requires that auto-leveling telemetry hardware be fitted
into the undercarriage. This is, for the most part, always done at the factory and
rarely....rarely done afterwards, aftermarket, or even at the local/USA dealer. the
labor is cost prohibitive and even the famed Steve K who tours the continents per-
forming MB mods does not tackle this. Parts are extremely challenging to locate
and your best bet is at an auto wrecking yard.

If you were to disregard AL part, it is still possible to plug in the OEM HID into your
MB. It is a reflector HID, with fluted lens.....not the clear lens projector design. It is
unlikely to be plug and play, though it is not too difficult to install. There will be
connector(s) on the headlight shell which will remain unused, as they receive info
from the auto-leveling system in the suspension.

The vast majority of the time, folks just aim the beam low so as not to blind opposing
drivers if their car hits a bump and aims upwards.......where the autolevel would have
jumped in quickly to take over and auto-dip the beam.

Going with OEM HID sans AL can be an economical way of getting an HID system into
your car if you can find a salvaged pair of OEM headlights inexpensively. I tend to see
these used for approx $800.

They use D2R bulbs.....vs the projector's D2S bulbs. Ballasts are the same/similar
Hella brand. OEM bulbs are about $75+- a pair and the ballast avg $150-350 or
so, depending on which generation and brand.

It is possible/likely that you will need to take your never-had-MB-HID car into the
dealer so that they can tweak the setting to "HID PRESENT".

I was lucky. The Hella gen3 ballast I used only sets off the annoying "BULB
MALFUNCTION" message about 3-4x a year. I've not had to bring my car in
for the HID PRESENT adjustment. (but am not using OEM HID, rather DEPO
plus E55 bix projectors)

[Totalfixation]

Sorry to change the subject but I have Xenons on my sports, and wondering are the projectors better or should i stick with the OEM Xenons?

[Diego97]

I recently removed the OEM HID Xenons from my E420 Sport. They were/are very nice, very bright, clean and clear but I have to admit, the RS6 Bi-Xenons i purchased and installed are much brighter, and look really nice, they seem to upgrade my front end to a newer looking benz. I will get an error message if i turn the headlights off first before turning the car off, but i just simply hit the reset button and all is well. I will be putting my OEM's on ebay.

[lkchris]

Conversion to HID is covered in a technical article in WIS and in the W210 Service DVD available from your dealer or by calling 1-800-for-merc

It's plug and play and reprogram.

[raymond-]

Originally Posted by Diego97

I recently removed the OEM HID Xenons from my E420 Sport. They were/are very nice, very bright, clean and clear but I have to admit, the RS6 Bi-Xenons i purchased and installed are much brighter, and look really nice, they seem to upgrade my front end to a newer looking benz. I will get an error message if i turn the headlights off first before turning the car off, but i just simply hit the reset button and all is well. I will be putting my OEM's on ebay.

okay, i changed my mind. now i want to see photos of the beam. so if you
post some, that would be great. I already know how it looks on the car so if
you can capture some of the beam (pattern on wall, foreground, on HIGH beam
etc) that would be great. thx!! r-

[Diego97]

well when i travel back to detroit next month, i'll swing by and blind ya. then you can see (or not) for yourself

[ProV1x]

how much are you looking for, for the oem xenons?

[E420SportGT]

my E420 sport came with HIDs too..but yeah they are not that bright compared to the newer luxury cars... I wonder if by replacing the bulbs to some nicer ones like Philips or a higher temp (like 6000k) will make it "fresher" looking?
And yes the oem HIDs have the self leveling.