I have been working with HIDs, performing retrofits using OEM parts for approx
5 years.

any HID lighting not otherwise replacing an OEM part of the same model is not legal in the US.

HID drop in kits have never been made available by Philips or Osram, only direct
OEM replacement

the hot and cold spots on the photos posted by lsmalley approach some of the
worst I've seen outside of HID kits into Depos. rare is it, that you will ever see
OEM HID lighting with this degree of uneveness

OEM Kelvin ranged from 4-5kšK depending on D2R, D2S, or D1S, never higher

the color seen on OEM HIDs are as mike indicated, ie refraction off the top
edge of the cutoff plate. you will not see this effect from D2R reflectors

some folks have had success moderating the glare from HID kits by shimming
the bulb so that the focal point is as close to the halogen bulb's focal point
as possible. but when you view the beam against a wall, invariably you will
see some glare.....definitely more glare than OEM

what I hate is when I come upon an opposing car with poorly assembled HID
kits (most of them are)....on a dark road when I'm on touring on the motor-
cycle. I've been run off the road 2x due to the lack of calibration by such
discourteous drivers who's only thought is THEIR bright light in front of their
car.

here is a good example of proper HID retrofit. I used E55 projector.


here is one of the best I've seen. person used Stanley OEM projector

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-- raymond~
47š 34'N 122š 18'W

Raymond, now those are some amazing photos with excellent lighting. Can't deny those thats for sure.

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1990 190E 3.0L

I think I saw on the road once. Beautiful cutoff.

Now that the have already been retro-ed you should throw some FX-r's in there.

Did you use a relay on the high beam solenoid, or use a diode? I've heard alot of problems caused by just soldering the pig tails to the bulb connector, mainly fried solenoids.

Beautiful.

Solenoids? What are you talking about?

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Roger E.

Bixenon projectors use a electronic solenoid to flip down the cutoff shield to achieve high beam mode.

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1981 300TD 4 speed manual
Euro bumpers, zender valance and skirts, H&R springs, billy HD's, leveled sls, real AMG Pentas 16x8 et11, vdo boost/egt gauges intergrated into ash tray, eurolights, led 3rd brake light