Headlight bulb replacement?

[Paulthemilky]

Hi, For our sins we decided to buy a used Mercedes ml250 on a 14 plate,my wife and myself love the car,it runs like a dream. One thing I find that does not suit me are the standard headlights, I find them dim and not good for me.Does anyone know of a reasonable alternative that doesn’t cost hundreds.
something that is brighter but not blinding to others.I would be very grateful for any suggestions for any ideas to make my driving more pleasurabl,Thanking you all in advance. Paulthemilky

 

[Wighty]

Have a read of Osram Nightbreaker bulbs . Unless of course you have these new fangled LED thingys

 

[DSK]

Assuming you have halogens then…..

Cheapest is always a bulb upgrade such as the latest version of Osram night breakers, it’s always the starting the point.

Sadly I’ve found that if the stock bulbs are in good condition, as well as the lenses and reflectors, yet the light performance is poor then a bulb upgrade is not going to help. My bazillion year old Supra and Volvo have great performance on standard halogens, as did my old BMWs and my disAstra GTC. In comparison, my CLS should not have left the factory and it’s shocking how it passed any OEM test without back handers. Upgraded bulbs were was a waste of money, LEDs a lot better but, a total ball ache! (Never again). Should have just trusted myself and dropped a 5k HID kit in. Now thanks to Mercedes woeful quality, I will never buy a car without adding a night time test drive on an unlit road.


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[Chrishazle]

OMG here we go again, the perennial headlight bulb questions. First point is what are the original fitment bulbs and thus reflectors?? If they're halogen, a search on here will give you chapter and verse on the law, the differetn light patterns of "others" compared to halogens, and the fact that without major other upgrades (self levelling, headlight washers amongst no doubt others) are illegal and an MoT fail. Hence if originals are halogen, the only cheap and easy betterment is to change the bulbs from MB's crappy originals to the likes of Osram Nightbreakers (other manufacturers versions are available). I've been down this road with all 3 MB's I've owned including the current 2, and have read I've lost count of how many threads on here and t'other side about this question.

However, if your car came equipped FROM NEW (check the build sheet via a VIN decoder site) with something other than halogens, then if you make your question more specific (i.e. by specifying exactly what you have and want to improve) there are knowledgeable folk on here who will help.

 

[Snake Charmer]

One thing I find that does not suit me are the standard headlights, I find them dim and not good for me.

Welcome to the jungle.

What are you comparing the ML lighting to and under what conditions?

 

[Chrishazle]

Never mind "what are you comparing the ML lighting to", as that could be a different make of car etc. What's initially important is what does his car currently have and what did it come from the factory with?? If it originally came with halogens, then the headlight units will be designed solely for halogen bulbs with their light distribution - which is markedly different from HID or LED bulbs. I'm no expert on what type of lights a 2014 ML would leave the factory with, so the OP needs to rather more specific before the knowlegeable folk on here can give proper and legal advice. All 3 of my MB's had/have halogens from new, and changing the factory fit bulbs to Osram Nightbreakers - initially just NB's, subsequently NB+, NB Ultimate and NB Lazer - improved things without breaking the law or risking an MoT fail.

 

[Snake Charmer]

Never mind "what are you comparing the ML lighting to", as that could be a different make of car etc. What's initially important is what does his car currently have and what did it come from the factory with?? If it originally came with halogens, then the headlight units will be designed solely for halogen bulbs with their light distribution - which is markedly different from HID or LED bulbs. I'm no expert on what type of lights a 2014 ML would leave the factory with, so the OP needs to rather more specific before the knowlegeable folk on here can give proper and legal advice. All 3 of my MB's had/have halogens from new, and changing the factory fit bulbs to Osram Nightbreakers - initially just NB's, subsequently NB+, NB Ultimate and NB Lazer - improved things without breaking the law or risking an MoT fail.

What conditions would you consider the OP to be finding his lighting lacking?

 

[EmilysDad]

Never mind "what are you comparing the ML lighting to", as that could be a different make of car etc. What's initially important is what does his car currently have and what did it come from the factory with?? If it originally came with halogens, then the headlight units will be designed solely for halogen bulbs with their light distribution - which is markedly different from HID or LED bulbs. I'm no expert on what type of lights a 2014 ML would leave the factory with, so the OP needs to rather more specific before the knowlegeable folk on here can give proper and legal advice. All 3 of my MB's had/have halogens from new, and changing the factory fit bulbs to Osram Nightbreakers - initially just NB's, subsequently NB+, NB Ultimate and NB Lazer - improved things without breaking the law or risking an MoT fail.

I think a point being made is that the standard headlights on a car that purports to being a premium brand are sh1te. My R Class had standard H7 projector lights & they were cr4p .... especially compared with the mere 1999 Vauxhall I'd had beforehand had come with HiD's as standard. When I bought my current ML I made sure I looked for a car with HiD's

 

[Paulthemilky]

Thank you all for your swift reply’,I will go away and find out exactly what bulbs are in now, I’ll come back with the answer

 

[Blobcat]

Thank you all for your swift reply’,I will go away and find out exactly what bulbs are in now, I’ll come back with the answer

Worth doing a vin decode as that will show what it left the factory with