Hello again, I've been thinking about upgrading my factory Halogen headlights on my 1999 SL 500 to OEM Zenon headlights that were an option for this year on up and then standard equipment, my question is can this be a simple remove and replace or is this a technical challenge that involve sensors or warning lights and such.
Your advice is very apreciated

Curiously, "Halogen" headlight bulbs generally do not contain any of the halogen elements (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine) except in combination with the tungsten of the filaments. The usual gas in the bulb is argon, a noble gas (neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon). Substituting one noble gas for another may be good for marketing, but has little effect on performance.

That was a nice lecture that had nothing to do with the question asked. Too bad it was a waste, as Xenon is far brighter and more efficient when used in automotive applications.


Carlos,

The lights plug directly into the factory harness, however you will have to mount the "XENON" ignitor ballasts in various positions in the engine bay. I don't know those positions exactly, because the 500SL 6.0 AMG I work on is an 89 and has them on an aftermarket strut bar. Everything else is plug and play.

Some housings have built in adjustment motors, that have a harness ran through the entire car for some sensors on the suspension - you will not need those. Just adjust the headlights to where they need to be and you'll be motoring with MUCH MORE light on the road.

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Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....

All of the above sounds pretty accurate, but I am unsure of the reflector housing on the SL model. If the model you have has the proper projector housing, then you should be fine. If not, I would HIGHLY recommended getting the proper projectors so that: 1) you aren't blinding oncoming traffic, and 2) you are maximizing the light usage by having it properly reflected.

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1990 190E 3.0L

The oem Xenons are used with projector assemblies. Whole different lighting assembly MB put together for the car. Kind of makes it look bug eyed


Sent from my toilet paper phone because it's a piece of shi....

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Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....

Oh....got it! Well, I've seen the lights before, but I wasn't sure if the OP was just trying to ditch only the bulbs and put the Xenon bulbs in. I've converted my W201 to the HID bulbs and the results are amazing.

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1990 190E 3.0L

The factory xenon option includes an adjuster that mounts at the axles. See this: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/r129-sl-class/1562113d1439055614-xenon-headlight-auto-leveling-control-module-retrofit-xenon-headlamps.pdf

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Prost!

There are two choices here:

Aftermarket Xenon bulbs / ballasts that plug into the harness / existing headlight assembly.

Self adjusting factory Xenon projector lights.

The first option is inexpensive but reaiming the lights is a must as is driving past your own car to determine light pattern.

The second option requires. Xenon headlight assemblies, ballasts, headlight aiming computer, suspension height sensors for front and rear + wiring.

I have a spare Xenon that does not have a height adjuster and the donor car never had height adjustment, I don't recall the year.

My 97 SL320 has Xenon with adjusters. I think that 99 got a different Xenon ballast and / or height adjuster computer.

I think that Carlos originally thought one could just change bulbs. I have a '97 CL600 that came stock with Xenons. It is curious that a '99 didn't have them.
Anziani
'97 CL600 52K

Thank you guys that is some interesting reading, I was offered a pair of OEM Zenon headlights projector assemblies with their small ballast that came from a salvage 1999 SL 500 no other parts are included,hence the post, are there two different versions for this car? This ones do not look like they have any moving parts in them, and yes they make the car look kind of cross-eyed but I will like to have them nevertheless, AND they are not cheap. Anybody have an original retrofit set for sale?