Just put in some really good H4 bulbs, thats what I think. If you put the aftermarket kit, it just blinds people. I have my Euros adjusted. I spend a few hours every night on them, they are tuned, and I can see really good with 100/80 bulbs.

When I ordered my 210 car when they first came out back in '96, I paid ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS extra for Xenon headlights only to find that they are Xenon on LOW BEAM ONLY. That will teach me to read the details.

All of them I've seen are low beam only. Since then I've learned that good lighting is all in the reflector shape. If you have an early Benz, use Euros and regular bulbs. If you have a late model, you have no problems, they are the same as Euro.

Have a great day,

All of this info leads me to believe that I should really upgrade to high power H4 bulbs rather than HID.

I really do need more light at night 'cause its too easy to overdrive the megre range I have with stock H4 bulbs and we do have alot of wildlife on the roads up here.

Perhaps that bergwerks kit is the answer - I will study it. Thanks to all for the help :)

Things are changing. The new SL R230 has Xenon lights on low AND high beam (at least the one I examined up close...).

I'm very interested in upgrading my ML's lights to HID, but I'm taking my time to see how the choices all sort themselves out.

Nearest solution to ideal seems to be to order a Bi-Xenon assembly from PP for a 2002 ML. If I understand correctly, it's only one bulb with deflectors which move on highbeam activation to spread the light beam. I think that's how they solve the problem of the Xenon firing up. Not sure I've got it right, but anyhow this is an expensive route to go... The replacement bulb/ballast solution with my existing reflector may do at half the price!

Darn CLK, has me laboring with black paint care and hankering for Xenons on the ML....

Yes, some of the new EXPENSIVE MB's like the S Class have a shutter mechanism to provide instant high beam light. With the previous system and the retrofits, the Xenon is low beam only. Since you wouldn't get high beam light for several seconds if you were to use the Xenon without the shutter mechanism.

Dean, I think you missed my point. Higher Wattage bulbs are NOT the answer. It's all in the reflector shape. That's why the Euro lights are so much better. Putting High Wattage bulbs in early US lights just generates a lot of heat that ruins everything in the light and sometimes wiring, switches, etc. The payback for all these headaches is very minimal improvement in your headlights. Euro Headlights with standard bulbs is the best way to go. Been ther, Done that!

Best of luck,

I posted a follow up on Benzsport about the HID install and the tricks necessary to get them to work correctly in Euro reflector housings. I have spent quite a bit of time tweaking mine and they don't blind people. The HID's overload the OE reflectors, so its necessary to restrict some of the reflector, similar to this

http://www.2phast.com/d2s.jpg

By utilizing a small reflector in the bottom portion of the headlight reflector, you cut down the majority of light that is reflected up into the sky (and on coming drivers eyes). This will also allow you to aim your headlights up more, thus projecting light further down the road.

2phast, now your getting really tricky! So far I'm leaning more towards doing absolutely nothin :(

BTW, I like your paint color...it would be a blast to have a side by side photo of yours/mine :)