Were HID's an option? What are xenon headlights? I am familiar with the xenon bulbs, but was there an option for "xenon" HID'S on the '98 w210?

I have just bought one and it is being shipped to me, the PO doesn't know what kind of headlights it has. How can I tell what it has? Looking at the pic's they don't appear to be projectors. If it has HID it would be the projector style, correct? If not, would I be better off with some aftermarket projectors? The car has a leather interior, would the HID's have come as part of a package with the leather?

I know this is a lot of questions but I haven't been able to find my answers by searching

Thanks in Advance,

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

if you have headlight washers...and you have this metal finned brick attached
to your headlight (in rear) then you have HID...which may have been an option
for your year (i dont know as I only have 99 product brochures)..then you have
HID/xenon. if no brick, then you have simple H7 halogen. pop the bulb and
compare with Google photos. easy to do

you do NOT have projector designed HIDs

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-- raymond~
47º 34'N 122º 18'W

The prior owner of my '98 W210 E300TD seems to have put HID/xenon bulbs and ballasts into the existing reflector headlamps. Not as good as the HID projector beams I have in other vehicles, but better than the factory halogen setup, in my opinion.

There is a well-documented way to put bi-xenon projector lamps in the W210, but you'll spend several hundred bucks and invest a lot of DIY labor in the project. I have neither the time nor the money right now.

Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

You probably do not have HID lamps in reflectors designed for halogens. HID lamps were an option, and would come with different reflectors, since the light originates from a different point. If you have them, you'll also have the levelers.

Matt L -- I think what is in my prior-owner HID conversion qualifies as a ghetto-job. Is there an obvious way to tell looking at the headlights or under the hood? Hey, I make bright, even light with a good cutoff while driving, so all can't be too unwell!

I know the last owner left two HID bulbs rolling around in the glove box...

Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

I don't know of any obvious signs that you have the wrong reflectors, other than a very bad light pattern. Since yours isn't bad, the reflectors must be made for the bulbs (or the bulbs made for the reflectors).

I believe I've seen HID retrofit kits with bulbs that have been redesigned to work with traditional reflectors. Perhaps that's what is in there -- I have no real way of knowing. Thanks for the comments -- sorry for any thread hijack!

Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

Your question was so closely related to the original post that I would hardly call it a hijack. Lots of people have purchased second-hand cars with modified headlights, and just might need to see your question.

I also don't know how to tell if you have retrofit bulbs. I have only seen the OEM halogen lamps in person. They work very well on my car, giving me really no desire to change them. Well, change them again. I bought a pair removed from Ernesto's (BENZ-LGB) car when he installed HID's. Mine were cloudy, his were crystal clear and the right price.