C280 H3/H4 lights HID upgrade
 

Like everyone else I want the HID look, without the HID cost. I have a 96 C280 and would like to try some look-alike bulbs. My fear is I'll get some dingy yellowish looking ricey glare instead of a pure white/blue light. The application guide at PIAA leads me to the Xtreme White and Super Extreme for driving lights and Extreme White for the fog lights. What’s others experience with these lights/bulbs? Also it only shows low beam bulbs, does that mean I wouldn’t have high beams? What about other suggestions instead of PIAA? Like I said, I'm not looking for ricey; I'm looking for BMW/Mercedes HID look.

Thanks,
Brad

Re: C280 H3/H4 lights HID upgrade
 

THen you must pay the big bucks and get the real thing, otherwise, it's gonna look cheap and ricey no matter what.

David is right.

Ok, so the obvius has been stated which I was trying to work around...I know, The sweetness of a good deal never outlasts the biterness of poor quality. I was just hoping...someone might have a Super-Secret magic bulb ;-). AW who makes a quality kit then to put true HID lights on my car? I want High and Low beams, and truthfully I would rather not install them myself but I might be able to find the time. I know its going to cost $$$ but I plan on keeping the car awhile. Its got 102K miles on and looks/acts like new. And everyone thinks it new too, so I dont correct them. ;-)

If I jump on the boat now will I miss the 2nd generation by a month or something like that or will it be an investment/enjoyment I'm glad I got? any inside info on something like that?

Thanks,
Brad

A must read is Dan Stern's site on lighting:
http://lighting.mbz.org

Specifically his articles on "blue bulbs":
http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/bulbs/blue/

and the myth of PIAA "SuperWhites":
http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/bulbs/superwhites/

Please also read his whitepaper to the NHTSA, "Where does the glare come from".

The PDF is here: http://dms3000.dot.gov/docimages/pdf82/176157_web.pdf

Pay close attention to pages 43-45 of 66 pages total. In short, HID retrofits into a headlamp designed for a tungsten/halogen lamp might yield *brighter* light, but too much glare. HID's are an "arc" and as such, need headlamp reflectors/optics optimized for an "arc".

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

I'll make it a little clearer, by kit I was meaning lights/lens and everything needed to do it correctly. I understand that putting an HID bulb into the Halogen Headlamp creates the glare. I did read the Dan Sterns website about the Super Whites and Blue's, and read the posts here I could find on them also. So far the only kit I could find has been at Performance Products which lists as a "Complete Light Assembly" with a price of $2395 I seen on another Mercedes board a mention of a Bosch HID kits for around $1500 which I would put in the reasonable category where $2400 is a little more then I would like to spend. Does anyone know where to find complete kits, not just retrofits? Bosch or Hella particularly would be desired.

Thanks