LED headligh bulbs

[Longblackcoat]

I've got a 56 plate E220 CDI Mercedes which is brilliant at many things, but has the world's shittiest headlights. I've tried high-power bulbs, which make approximately fuck-all difference.

 

In an ideal world I'd have Xenon headlights, as on my other cars, but the cost to convert would be outrageous.

 

I'm now thinking about LED bulbs; I don't want to get stupid dazzle-the-world ones, but something that would at least let me drive on country roads without cacking myself.

 

Pros and cons? Difficulty of fitting? Anyone done this? I know it's illegal, obviously.

[cobblers]

They're dogshit, don't bother. The beam pattern will be totally fucked up, they'll dazzle other people and then pack in after a couple of months tops.

If your lights are particularly poor, make sure the lenses are crystal clear, put some good normal bulbs in and make sure the wiring is all good so the bulbs see a full 13V when they're on.

[richardthestag]

you will fall foul of Mr MoT man also. clean the headlamp unit inside and out makes a big difference

[Longblackcoat]

They're dogshit, don't bother. The beam pattern will be totally fucked up, they'll dazzle other people and then pack in after a couple of months tops.

If your lights are particularly poor, make sure the lenses are crystal clear, put some good normal bulbs in and make sure the wiring is all good so the bulbs see a full 13V when they're on.

The wiring is ok, lenses are crystal clear - everything works as it should, with the best quality bulbs I can find. It's just dismal compared to anything with Xenons (or the Audi with LED lights I drove the other day).

[cobblers]

The aftermarket drop in Xenons or LEDs are doomed from the start - cars that come with them from the start have lenses and reflectors designed to work with them.

If you put LEDS in normal reflector lenses, nothing works right.

 

You can get projector retrofits that drop into your existing lights to turn them into decent HID/Xenons.

[DodgeRover]

Is the wiring actually ok? Mine (30 years old admittedIy) tested ok for voltage but I fitted relays recently and its given a marked increase in lighting output. The only way I guess to test them correctly would be to monitor voltage and amps over a period of time.

Given that merc wiring lately has a reputation for returning to nature a little early thats where I would start.

I would be disappointed on a premium quality automobile if they were crap from the factory?

[Longblackcoat]

Is the wiring actually ok? Mine (30 years old admittedIy) tested ok for voltage but I fitted relays recently and its given a marked increase in lighting output. The only way I guess to test them correctly would be to monitor voltage and amps over a period of time.

Given that merc wiring lately has a reputation for returning to nature a little early thats where I would start.

I would be disappointed on a premium quality automobile if they were crap from the factory?

Sadly, that's the case. I've driven an almost identical xenon-equipped version of mine that was massively better. The standard lights just aren't very good, sadly.

 

And honestly, the electrics on mine are fine, as are the reflectors. I've checked, tested voltage etc and there are no issues other than they're not very effective.

[wuvvum]

There seems to be a variance in aftermarket LED headlight bulbs.  There are those that are basically shaped like an H4 / H7 / H1 or whatever with a cluster of LEDs on the outside of where the quartz would be on a regular bulb, which will indeed royally shag your beam pattern,  Then there are the newer style ones with COB-type LEDs which follow much more closely where the filament would be on a halogen bulb - although they're obviously not quite exact, they should be a lot better.

[gordonbennet]

All moderns etc, its shit sharply cut off beam patterns allowing no gentle light scatter like previous designs did.

 

My 2005 Landcruiser is just the same, when i got it the lights shocked me how bad they are, so ordered a pair of Osram nightbreaker bulbs, now they are better but still shit compared to the 2000 LC i've just sold, headlights of which were starting to cloud up plus it had standard H4's but it needed nothing else because the beam pattern wasn't two arrow straight lines heading up into the trees on the left, this side of the line bright, the other side total blackout.

[Longblackcoat]

All moderns etc, its shit sharply cut off beam patterns allowing no gentle light scatter like previous designs did.

 

My 2005 Landcruiser is just the same, when i got it the lights shocked me how bad they are, so ordered a pair of Osram nightbreaker bulbs, now they are better but still shit compared to the 2000 LC i've just sold, headlights of which were starting to cloud up plus it had standard H4's but it needed nothing else because the beam pattern wasn't two arrow straight lines heading up into the trees on the left, this side of the line bright, the other side total blackout.

 

I take your point; thing is, I've driven a Xenon-equipped Mercedes S211, which has genuinely awesome lights. It's just that the halogen-equipped version - mine - is every bit as rubbish as the Xenon version is good. It's therefore not a headlight design issue (as far as I can see), just that these particular headlights are designed to work with a shedload more power than they get from halogens.

 

Ive tried Nightbreakers and even fitted the Philips Racing Vision (+150%) in an attempt to get something usable from the headlamps, I've made sure the reflectors are in good nick (they are) and that the electrics are delivering the right amperage and voltage (all OK). One option is to slow down on country roads, but it's a bit daft to only be able to go 40mph in wintertime.

[AMC Rebel]

I think X Type Jags suffered from this problem - projector headlights but a tiny glass area - not so much of a big deal with HIDs (which a few had), but trickier with the halogen lights, and the slightest bit of muck (of which there's plenty at this time of year) really affects them.  Lots of Jag beards put HID kits in 'em - not legal but plenty reckon they get through the MOT with them.  Like the LEDs - some swear by them, others swear at them.  I know I'm tired of being dazzled by (some) people's HID retrofits, but there are a few that seem OK.

 

Are the halogen lights projectors?  I know some of the earlier Mercs had projectors for the HIDs and "normal" reflector lenses for the halogen versions.