pure WHITE light bulbs

hello...
does Mercedes have any really WHITE headlamp bulb upgrades for a c class? (non Xenon lights)and how much $$?


thanks....

[Rocky]

There is a super white bulb for the C-class made by Toucan Industries. they are called EuroLites. But stay away from them, they blow out real easily. I had like 6 bulbs in 3 weeks so i swictched back to the stock bulbs. Other then that, i don't think anyone makes a H7 replacement bulb for the c-class.

[E55 KEV]

Go to www.autosupermart.com they sell DOT legal Super White bulbs from two companies. I am not sure but the Eurolights may be illegal. Their chart states that there are two type bulbs used in C-Class. For 1994-96 it is H4 which is a hi/low combo and for 1997 up it is H7 for low beam and H1 for high beam. They sell PIAA Platinum Super White in H4 for $69.50 and $79.99 for the new Super Plasma Blue in H4. The new Plasma bulb is supposed to be all the rage right now and it and the Solaris both burn at 4300K which is close to the brightnes of H.I.D Xenon! The Solaris Ultra White bulbs are $79.99 for H4, $99.99 for H7 and $79.99 for H1. It appears that only Autosupermart sells the Solaris brand, however many other webstores sell the PIAA brands for lower prices. Both these companies have great warrenties

[Rocky]

One question that always popped in my head is how does the higher intensity bulb affect the electrical system?

[akry]

Actually, from what I was told by PIAA is that Super White/Plasma Super White bulbs has high gas mixture inside the bulbs. And alone with higher gas mixture is Xenon gas, therefore the filement(do I spell it right??)in the bulb burns hotter. It's not that it uses more electricity.....

Happy Motoring....
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
71,118 KM

[JCE]

I have started to try to upgrade the lighting on my 300E, which has poor lights with 9004 bulbs. I started by reading the info at Stern's website on bulbs and bulb types. On several other sites I read that the Wagner 9004BL "Xenon brightlites" were 55/60 watts instead of the 45/60 watts, and are legal. http://www.se-r.net/electrical/bright_lights.html I installed a pair, ($20) and didn't notice much difference.

Over wattage bulbs (55/100 or 80/100) may or may not affect the wiring, and a number of reviews claim that blue bulbs actually result in less usable light in wet weather.

Several sites complained that the PIAA white bulbs had melted connecters and/or wires on their mustangs, camaros, and mini trucks, so I have avoided this $80 option (PIAA claims the wattages are OK, but I guess the extra heat mentioned above by akry is too much for some cars).

The Stern site points out that even a small voltage drop can have a major effect on light output, and posts schematics for installing dual relays and heavy guage wire to ensure that the bulbs get the full 12 volts. http://www.autoindulgence.com/ offers a pre-made relay and wiring plug in system, but it is designed to be connected directly to the alternator. If the alternator puts out the 14 volts claimed by this site, I would think that the bulbs would certainly be brighter, but also hotter, with possible damage to wires or compnents.

I am leery of incrementally spending half as much money as just installing Euro lights at the start, and winding up with only marginal gains, but Euro lights would mean scrapping the headlightwipers or installing new motors, etc. Has anyone made the switch to Euro lights? Is it worth the estimated $500?

------------------
JCE
87 300E 55,000 miles
Shadow Silver

[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 09-18-1999).]

[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 09-18-1999).]

[akry]

To JCE and all,

JCE, you have the point. The heat of PIAA bulbs is really a problem. Although PIAA is not DOT approve, and stated on their product saying "Safe for plastic headlight cover/assembly", but I strongly advice, do NOT use PIAA Super Whites if you have plastic headlight cover, it will not only melt your headlight "sits"(what do you call it??), it will also melt(yes, and I am not kidding, it's MELT" your headlight covers. I saw couple Civics with "soften" headlight cover(and eventually crack).

I have PIAA Super White 80/110 - 110/130(the first is the "normal" wattage, second is the output claimed by PIAA), I have to admit it BRIGHT, and if you leave it on High-Beam, you would basically blind the other drivers. And let the PIAA run for 10 min, and the glass headlight covers of my W140 will heat up significantly(I will say about at least 10C increase on surface of the headlight compare to normal, factory light bulbs), though, I have no problem what so ever with the "melting your wires/switch/assembly" issue.

So, my final word is, unless you have late model. mid-luxury european(BMW, Porsche, MB, Audi...etc), don't even touch PIAA bulbs...

Happy Motoring....
Andy Kuo
'92 400SE
71,118 KM