Hi all! I was wondering if anybody has any experience with the new HID look-a-like bulbs. I'm thinking of getting a pair of Hiper Whites. I'm also wondering if it's ok to use 80/85 watt H4's instead of 55/60 watt ones. I have european headlights on my car, not the plastic US ones. Thanks for the help!

Hiper White!!?? I know I heard it some where before, just can't remember it.....

Anyways, I used to have a pair of PIAA SuperWhite(80W/110W) on mine. It's very bright, despite some ppl say that it's dimmer, and it lights up very well during the night(though still not better than real Xenon). I would say(if you use over-watt)at least 60% better output than stock bulbs.

My car is Canadian(or US Spec), but I have no problem with over-watt bulbs.

P.S. Did I mention they look very cool??

Happy Motoring...
Andy Kuo


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• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  
• AMG Shocks/Springs
  

Hi Guys,
Just wondering why is there 2 wattage readings (i.e xxW/xxW) and I've heard of fuses being blown due to higher wattage bulbs.

80 wattages is low beam 100 wattages is high beam.

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MB STARS Master Guild Technician,12 years MB tech
5 years independent shop owner

Kevinjh,

Yes, and the fuse burn outs will most likely happened to Japanese cars. Don't know why, but it happens. My 1993 240SX SE can't even stand a 5W increase, and burn the fuses 3 times(the fuse burned right always when you turn on the headlight).

The PIAA bulbs I used read 80W/100W - 110W/130W, meaning it consumes the amount of electricity needed to run 80W/100W, but the light output is equal or greater than 110W/130W. And I never had any problems with the fuse or wire with over-watt bulbs....

Andy Kuo

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• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  
• AMG Shocks/Springs
  

hi there...akry...
where can i get these bulbs? i am very unhappy with my stock lights...
i got a 95 C36 AMG...i am also concerned with my fuse blowing...where can i verify it is ok? how long have you had these bulbs in your car? take care....

Whan,

I have those bulbs on my car for more than a year now. It's very bright, lights up the road very well. When I first have them in my car, I didn't know it's over-watt bulbs. I notice it later on, when I was getting rid of all the garbage, and saw the label on the plastic case that came with the bulbs(PIAA). There's alot of sites that sell PIAA and other brands Superwhite, Ion Gold, Ion Blue bulbs. I would stick with reputable brands(like PIAA, Solaris..etc), though maybe not be the brightest, the quality is un-matched and well worth the premium over others.

If you don't mind order stuff online, then check those links...

AutoSupermarket
http://www.autosupermart.com

Opt Auto
http://www.optauto.com

I will post more ASAP....

P.S. If you live in Vancouver, Canada, there's a store that sells those bulbs. I will try to dig out the info, and post them ASAP.....

Hope this helps....
Andy Kuo


------------------

• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  
• AMG Shocks/Springs
  

[This message has been edited by akry (edited 11-03-1999).]

Hi Jason,

Well, when I bought the PIAA, I didn't even notice it's a over-watt bulb, 'til one day I was cleaning out my garage and saw the label on the case(yes, those light bulbs came with a plastic, expensive looking case). So, with stock wires on my 400SE, I have no problem at all. Just make sure that don't touch it with bare hand, it's more sensitive to greas, oil from your fingers then regular bulbs...

As for where I got it from, check out the two car accessory shop in Parker Place, Richmond, they should have it. Oh, one more thing, the first SuperWhite is called, well, SuperWhite, then PIAA has a improve one called Plasma SuperWhite.

SuperWhite has blue tint on the glass, and Plasma has bluer tint at low-beam area, and same SuperWhite tint at high beam. So, for about the same price(maybe 10 bucks difference, but shop around, sometimes, it's the same price), I would go for Plasma SuperWhite, for it's more Xenon look with low-beam.

Here's the fun part, as for the price, PIAA SuperWhites are not cheap. Prepare to pay $114 CDN for a apair. However, as for the quality and result of cool look/light output, PIAA may as well be the best.....

Happy Motoring...
Andy Kuo


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• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  

ICQ#26950002

Here is a interesting site that discusses the pros and cons about HID and Incandiscent Lamps.

http://lighting.mbz.org/

H. O. Tyler, member
90 560 SEL
85 300 SD
83 240 D

hi akry...
thanks for the sites to buy the bulbs...
do you think mercedes will install these bulbs for me? what is the best way for me to install these bulbs? is it hard to do it myself?

Whan,

Changing the light bulb is very eays, and it should be stated clearly in the Owners' Menu. Just follow it step-by-step, you should get it done in no time.

I doubt that dealer will install it for you, since,

1. The bulbs are not from them...
2. They would tell you that ANY blue-tint light bulbs are illegal, which is not true. PIAA is DOT approve, so, it's legal to have it on the car.

In my W140, all I have to do is release two clamp that holds the back cover of the light assembly, unplug the connectors, release another 2 clamp that holds the bulbs, take the bulbs out, and reverse the process. It may seem to be very complicated at first, but take time looking through it, you should able to figure it out.

Oh, by the way, if C36 headlight assemble also have a cover hold with 2 clamp(or steel wire thing), and if you have those, too...you may need to use a little force to make them loose)

Hope this helps and post again, if you have problem....
Andy Kuo


------------------

• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  

ICQ#26950002

Well, personally, I would say YES and NO...

Yes, blue-tint make those bulbs dimmer, and blue-color has shorter wavelength than other color. However, by making the filement burns hotter, it should at least balanced out. However, with PIAA over-watt bulbs, I am certain it's alot brighter.

Jason, as we all live in Vancouver, you should know that the lane-lines(white lines on the road)are very hard to see when it's raining, but with PIAA SuperWhite I have, I can see the lines just as well as a nice, clear night.

Oh, one thing we all have to keep in mind, that the article stated(and I believe the tests are done in US, with US-spec headlights)that it's NOT suitable for US-spec headlights, because of the beam pattern(or the pattern on the headlight cover), and as for Mercedes(or any other European/Japanese made), there should have any impact on it. But, I wouldn't say the same if those bulbs are put on American mades....

Andy Kuo

------------------

• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  

ICQ#26950002

alvichang:

Did your car come with the Euro headlights, or did you add them later? If you added them later, did you notice a large difference in light output and beam pattern? I have been thinking about Euro lights for my car, and there are a pair of allegedly new Bosch Euro lights being auctioned on ebay for current bid of $215. However, I don't want to put out that kind of money if there are only minor improvements, and would like to find out more before I bid. Thanks for any input.


------------------
JCE
87 300E 58,000 miles
Smoke Silver

JCE,

Go for them, Euro lights will have different beam pattern, and will put the light on the ground more efficient than OEM US-Spec. With original bulbs, you should see about 30% improve in lighting, and with over-watt bulbs, you should gain at least 50% or so....

Hope this helps..
Andy Kuo


------------------

• 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
  
• Moonstone Grey/Black Leather
  
• Blue/Red Headlights
  
• Xenon-Look Foglights
  

ICQ#26950002

Hi all! Just wanted to update everyone on my lighting upgrade... I just installed my euro lights today and they look great! The also produce a lot more light. I decided to give those HID look-a-like bulbs a try afterall and got a pair of HyperWhites off eBay for $20 including S&H. They are a LOT whiter than stock bulbs, but it's hard to tell whether they output more or less light. I only changed the main H4 headlight bulbs to the HID type and not the fog H3's, and when I turn them both on you can CLEARLY see the difference. The fog lights look very yellow beside the clean, white headlights.