Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / June 2007

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

'96 SL500 Headlight Bulb Replacement

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
MOJO80 - 21 Jun 2007 00:08 GMT
Looking for recommendation for a brighter headlight bulb(s) replacement.
Dealer only recommends stock, Auto Zone useless.  Is Xenon the way to go?
One bulb for high/low beams?  Part No. & Source much appreciated.
Tiger - 21 Jun 2007 03:14 GMT
It won't work right if you tried to retrofit a HID kit into your existing
headlight. You will blind all traffic.

However, your car did come with HID as an option so you can retrofit a
factory HID headlamp complete... for example Bekkers.com have a set but
whoa... they are asking $2600 for the kit. The performance is 4 times
brighter than european headlight

The second alternative is buy the European headlight kit... for about $1000.
This will improve your headlight performance by 3 times when compared to
factory headlight.

The third alternative is to replace those yellowed headlight lens with new
one... about $160 a pair. Install  Plus 50 or Plus 30 headlight bulb for
marginal improvement.

If you are handy with used parts... you could try to score a used set of
Mercedes HID headlight for your car.

Last alternative is have someone install projector HID lens into your
existing headlamt and  that will bring it up to HID level. This probably
will cost about $900 to do it... Make sure your headlight lens is perfect.
MOJO80 - 21 Jun 2007 13:41 GMT
Whoa is right.  Thanx for the input...still confused.  Performance shops
pushing various bulb replacements ($15-$90 ea) leading to the confusion.
My lens' are crystal clear, just looking for a brighter bulb w/o blinding
others.
Tiger - 21 Jun 2007 15:28 GMT
Those bulbs you are talking about are junk... don't even bother. If you do
want to get a better bulb, then go to Pep Boys, Advanced Auto or Autozone...
and pick up what they call plus 30 or plus 50... cost about $16... spend
anything past $20 per bulb, you are basically giving someone more money for
snake oil.

Other suggestion is use the fog light too... pull out that headlight switch
to activate the fog light... that's an instant double brightness.

Last suggestion is make sure your headlight is properly aimed... Quick test
is... On flat ground like your garage, measure from floor to middle of your
headlamp... then transfer that measurement to the wall... measure 0.40" down
from that measurement.

Park car 5 feet away from the wall... with low beam on... the top of low
beam should hit that mark. If you see that slight angle upward to the
right... then where that angle start upward (in the middle) is that target
point.
gw - 21 Jun 2007 20:34 GMT
> Those bulbs you are talking about are junk... don't even bother. If you do
> want to get a better bulb, then go to Pep Boys, Advanced Auto or Autozone...
> and pick up what they call plus 30 or plus 50... cost about $16... spend
> anything past $20 per bulb, you are basically giving someone more money for
> snake oil.

Very true.  It is all advertising.  Especially those Xenon Zenon or
what ever the blue tinted lights they are pushing.

The jury is out on the retrofitted HID systems.  Major manufacturers
(like Hella) are making HID retrofit kits.

Kind regards,

gamini
MOJO80 - 21 Jun 2007 21:57 GMT
Thanx for lighting the way in cost avoidance.
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.