[vattyboy]

This is my story and process of upgrading the headlights of my Benz. This will also help the owners of Skoda Superb, Octavia, and other german cars having Bi-xenon HIDs.

How the itch began!

During my initial years of ownership, I was impressed by the intensity and throw of the headlights because all my previous cars had halogen reflectors. Tata Tiago used to share the garage with Benz and used for daily city rides, markets, and grocery shopping. Life moved on and I bought a Kia Seltos Htk plus and it took place of the Tata Tiago in the garage. Both Seltos and Tiago have halogen bulbs so after driving them whenever I drove Mercedes, its headlight was definitely brighter, and also whitish due to HIDs.

As you all know, how inadequate the headlight power and throw of Kia Seltos Htk plus/ Hyundai Creta S/E is!! So I began my search and ordered Osram 25-watt Hb3/Hb4 Led from Amazon and I installed them in my Seltos by the DIY method. The difference between Osram Led's and stock bulbs was HUGE. I will make a separate post on this later.
It portrays how technology is evolved i.e Today 25 watt LEDs are 2 times brighter than 60W halogens
After this modification, the headlights of seltos became so bright and powerful that whenever I drove Mercedes its bi-xenon HID felt extremely underpowered, Now those late-night highway drives were not easy and fun anymore.

More about Mercedes-Benz CLA's Headlight

After deciding that upgrade is a must for these headlights, I began my search. Firstly I searched here on Team Bhp and couldn't find a single thread on the Mercedes Headlight upgrade. Then searched online and saw n number of youtube videos to know more about headlights and the process to change them. Eventually got to know that it has bi-xenon projectors with D3s type 35W 4300K Phillips Xenstart HID bulbs made in Germany.

The funny part is I called multiple Mercedes ASS asking them about the specification of the headlight of my CLA and how to change/upgrade them. All the SAs were blank, Some said "Bulb change not possible sir because the headlight doesn't have any bulb, it has only gas. Really? Oh god! Mercedes should focus more on the SA recruitment process.

This is Stock HIDs

Now I began searching for D3s led bulbs online but it is very difficult to find this type of LED because this setup is very rare in the aftermarket. So went to a trustable car accessories shop and he suggested to me that there are very few options and between them Maxxlink Led's is good.

Maxxlink Led's I purchased

Maxxlink provides a 1-year warranty on its LEDs.

Many of you will think about how this powerful 95W led will fit when stock HIDs are just 35W. On this, I want to say that this is just a marketing gimmick followed by many companies nowadays. Only big brands like Osram or Phillips mention the real Wattage of their Bulbs. I can see many LEDs in the market nowadays of 100W or 130W and even 150 watts and I don't believe any of them, their real wattage may vary from 20W to 35/ 40 Watt maximum. These 95W maxxlink LEDs are ~ equivalent to 25W Osrams in my Kia

Process Of Changing HID with LEDs

1. Above both the front tires there is a small window to access the headlights. There is a clip at the top of this window for opening it.


2. Now open the dust cover.

3. After opening the dust cover the HID bulb is visible. Now unplug it by taking out the socket downwards.

4. Rotate the bulb anticlockwise and take it out.

5. Fit the Maxxlink LEDs in the headlight by rotating them in a clockwise direction, after that fit the dust cover and the process is complete.

The best thing about these LEDs is that it is specifically designed to fit in place of hid ballast.

Low Beam Throw

Both Low Beam and High Beam ON

Although I know that the left beam throw is slightly above the right beam throw, can you see in my case? I think the left beam throw is very up?

Will also update you later on about their reliability and quality after a few months.

Thank you for reading bhpians,
Adios.

[Rehaan]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[revvharder]

Originally Posted by vattyboy

Although I know that the left beam throw is slightly above the right beam throw, can you see in my case? I think the left beam throw is very up?

Will also update you later on about their reliability and quality after a few months.

Thank you for reading bhpians,
Adios.

The LED's in your headlights are not aligned properly, they should be installed vertical and the low beam throw shouldn't be like this, as it blinds oncoming traffic even on low beam. If the LED's are installed in correct position and still the cut off is like this then it's a case of poorly designed bulb and you should return it to the seller.

Below is an example of what a low beam cutoff should look like.

[vattyboy]

Originally Posted by revvharder

they should be installed vertical and the low beam throw shouldn't be like this, as it blinds oncoming traffic even on low beams.

Yesterday, I checked this matter. Turned on merc with the low beam on then took my other car and drove it in front of merc, tried with all angles and distances, and no it is not blinding others on low beams

[automind]

hi, i have a c class w204, the car came with Philips 35W D1S Xenon bulbs in projectors.
I found the light to be inadequate and hence last week, i had installed Maxxlink Led at a cost Rs 11,000/-. The Maxxlink Leds are definitely brighter and emit more light. The Maxxlink Led are fine for low beam, but in high beam, there is a lot of light scatter, there is no focused beam as one would get with HID bulps, hence on the high way were high beam is needed to see object's at a distance the Maxxlink Leds are impractical. Even in your high beam photo i can see the same light scatter without any light cut off pattern.

I am planning to return the Maxxlink Leds, and will probably install a Led light bar or small auxiliary laser lights below the Number plate.

Thanks

[krishnakumar]

Originally Posted by vattyboy

Yesterday, I checked this matter. Turned on merc with the low beam on then took my other car and drove it in front of merc, tried with all angles and distances, and no it is not blinding others on low beams

Not sure how you checked if it is not blinding others. Don't get me wrong, this is something you cannot possible establish without being on the other side. The headlight focus does seem to be completely off (maybe the distance from wall and camera angle) and it should be as shown in the earlier post.

Originally Posted by revvharder

Attachment 2391804

The headlight focus and calibration has to be done using a calibration chart which the manufacturer publishes. You should be able to get this online from 3P websites or from the service center itself. You should follow the instruction on this chart to fix the right focus, otherwise it will not give you optimal performance but in turn blind oncoming traffic as well.

If you do not get the above, another approach would be to plug the HIDs back into the projectors, park the car from a vertical wall using a standard distance, say 5m from the wall and measure the brightest portion, cutoffs etc. from the road/ground level.

Now you can plug the LEDs back into the projectors and align them according to earlier measurements.

[vattyboy]

Originally Posted by automind

hi, i have a c class w204, the car came with Philips 35W D1S Xenon bulbs in projectors.
I found the light to be inadequate and hence last week, i had installed Maxxlink Led at a cost Rs 11,000/-. The Maxxlink Leds are definitely brighter and emit more light. The Maxxlink Led are fine for low beam, but in high beam, there is a lot of light scatter, there is no focused beam as one would get with HID bulps.Even in your high beam photo i can see the same light scatter without any light cut off pattern.
I will probably install a Led light bar or small auxiliary laser lights below the Number plate.

I purchased these Maxxlink Leds for INR@9500.
OEM HIDs had a more focused beam but it was making any sense because they were very underpowered, so I am finding these maxxlinks way better. I did one highway drive at speeds of 120kmph after installing them and there was an ample amount of light on the road.
Don't get me wrong, You have a MERCEDES plus a Mercedes sedan, and any aftermarket led bars or auxiliary lights will not look good on it, it will decrease its Class!!

Originally Posted by krishnakumar

Not sure how you checked if it is not blinding others. Don't get me wrong, this is something you cannot possible establish without being on the other side.

I checked the low beam from the other side, as I mentioned in my last reply. I parked merc on the road then took my other car on the other side i.e opposite merc for 500m and started driving towards Merc for 500m and checked and it is not blinding anyone.
Next time I will ask ASS to recalibrate my light for a more accurate cutoff pattern.

[revvharder]

Originally Posted by automind

I am planning to return the Maxxlink Leds, and will probably install a Led light bar or small auxiliary laser lights below the Number plate.

Thanks

What i would suggest you is to upgrade your current HID setup to 55w HID, in the current market there are a lot of options available.
Also if you have some good accessory shop near you another option is to try GVAA led in your projector in the evening and check the output as the current LED's available in India are still hit & miss.

[automind]

I absolutely agree that the LED light bar will spoil the look of the car, hence was thinking of fitting it under the front number plate in the front bumper cavity, where it will not be visible during the day, but now as suggested by revvharder sir, I think I will proceed to try out an HID 55W upgrade kit from a good brand. Thanks

[Cresterk]

Good job! The Chinese/non-big brand companies always advertise the wattage of the equivalent halogen bulb on their LEDs. It’s very misleading but when they write 90W, they mean that is that is equivalent to a 90w halogen bulb. Some of them go even further than advertise by adding the outputs of the 2 LEDs together for an even higher number

[Kosfactor]

That is not how a headlight beam should look like on any vehicle, I suggest you get this replaced with OEM HID replacement bulbs and get the headlamps aligned. Its not just the brightness but the pattern is equally important , else you`d miss things on the road and get into an accident.

[abhishek0303]

Hey guys,
I own a 2014 Fortuner and the bulbs on my car need replacing. I believe they are HID bulbs as well. The issue here is that I have already replaced the bulbs from Toyota itself twice already in the time that I’ve owned it. The bulbs cost 11k per unit and so I don’t intend to install them again and rather look at an option in the after market. I’m looking at installing a led solution where I do not need to change the bulb holder or wiring to install led bulbs. Would really appreciate any inputs or suggestions for the same.

[Desmosedici]

Originally Posted by abhishek0303

Hey guys,
I own a 2014 Fortuner and the bulbs on my car need replacing. I believe they are HID bulbs as well. The issue here is that I have already replaced the bulbs from Toyota itself twice already in the time that I’ve owned it. The bulbs cost 11k per unit and so I don’t intend to install them again and rather look at an option in the after market. I’m looking at installing a led solution where I do not need to change the bulb holder or wiring to install led bulbs. Would really appreciate any inputs or suggestions for the same.

I have a pre-owned Octavia which had the Philips HIDs. I swapped them with Osram Night Breakers+ HIDs. Plug n Play. There is a 25% improvement, nothing more. I did not experiment with LED due to the color temp. I still would want a lower color temp as there is less dispersion however nothing available.

Am I satisfied with Osram NightBreakers+? Not really however its better than before and its a simple fit and from a reputed brand.

Cheers,
Raj

[vattyboy]

Originally Posted by revvharder

The LED's in your headlights are not aligned properly

Originally Posted by automind

hi, i have a c class w204, the car came with Philips 35W D1S Xenon bulbs in projectors.
I found the light to be inadequate and hence last week, i had installed Maxxlink Led at a cost Rs 11,000/-. .

Thanks

Originally Posted by krishnakumar

. The headlight focus does seem to be completely off (maybe the distance from wall and camera angle) and it should be as shown in the earlier post.
.

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

That is not how a headlight beam should look like on any vehicle

Originally Posted by abhishek0303

Hey guys,
I own a 2014 Fortuner and the bulbs on my car need replacing.

Check out nearby car accessories shop and try 2 3 brands and go with the you like. I suggest you to go with maxxlink, I got them aligned today and now they are very good.

UPDATE
Today I went to the car accessory shop again and got the LEDs checked by them and they found out that the left bulb was not aligned properly, it was the fault of their mechanic, the bulb was not vertical so they corrected it.
After that, I went straight to MERCEDES ASS and got my headlights aligned properly and now the headlights are really good
These maxxlinks have impressed me now.
They are 2.5x brighter than the stock HIDs and now after alignment cutoff pattern is good and there is no high beam scattering.

Low Beam

High Beam

[mura]

https://www.osram.in/ecat/XENARC%20N...7/ZMP_4057844/

This is what you need. Not LEDs.