Headlight upgrade options for the W166 ML350

[RockDriver]

So obviously my halogen lights are so ridiculously bad, it's like one of those anecdotes where you have to actually check they are on.

I almost never use high beams, so I've been looking at upgrading my low beams. They are the standard lens projectors (or whatever you call them) that the W166 comes with.
I found these VLAND aftermarkets: 12-15 Mercedez Benz W166 ML-Class HID Edition 3th Gens Vland OE Styles Headlights Without Control Unit
They seem to be certified, but it doesn't say if you can swap the standard halogen headlights with them. I would assume so, because otherwise what's the point? They look exactly like the factory Xenons.


VLANDs are out of stock though, so because I have to take off on a long trip in a few days, I've been looking at the HID conversion kits and LED bulbs. LED bulbs seem to be a straight forward solution and if the right ones are used, apparently no dazzling is caused. Some retrofit LED bulbs are already certified in France and Germany as far as I know, so the legal adoption is spreading.
I was thinking about these or similar: Philips Ultinon Pro9100 LED H7 I PowerBulbs UK
Not sure if some sort of additional bracket is needed though. Also, some of these bulbs can trigger some CANbus error, whatever that is?

Anybody got experience with the above?

Ultimately I'd like to get my hands on the VLANDs though, but in the mean time I need some short term solution.

 

[Blobcat]

LED bulbs seem to be a straight forward solution and if the right ones are used, apparently no dazzling is caused. Some retrofit LED bulbs are already certified in France and Germany as far as I know, so the legal adoption is spreading.
I was thinking about these or similar: Philips Ultinon Pro9100 LED H7 I PowerBulbs UK
Not sure if some sort of additional bracket is needed though. Also, some of these bulbs can trigger some CANbus error, whatever that is?

Anybody got experience with the above?

Ultimately I'd like to get my hands on the VLANDs though, but in the mean time I need some short term solution.

As a driver of a low SLK I can confirm that LED’s dazzle really badly - especially when fitted to SUV’s

Clean your headlights daily and fit Osram nightbreakers for a legal upgrade.

 

[RockDriver]

As a driver of a low SLK I can confirm that LED’s dazzle really badly - especially when fitted to SUV’s

Clean your headlights daily and fit Osram nightbreakers for a legal upgrade.

Yeah, but you probably are talking about the LED retrofits in crappy reflector headlights, in which case I'd agree with you. But mine are projector lens and if some LED bulbs are already legal in France and Germany than surely they can't be dazzling?

 

[ajlsl600]

Cud try changing bulbs n slowing down I wud happily launch missiles at some cars these days some plainly don't care if anyone else can see!! I have a 2013 ml250 can't say I have thought the headlights are too bad. But I am well over tearing about at night now.

 

[RockDriver]

Cud try changing bulbs n slowing down I wud happily launch missiles at some cars these days some plainly don't care if anyone else can see!! I have a 2013 ml250 can't say I have thought the headlights are too bad. But I am well over tearing about at night now.

Well, I'm not out to dazzle anyone, hence I'm doing my research and if I decide to fit the LEDs I'm gonna make sure the beam pattern hasn't changed. I will then also get a pair of Philips X-tremeVision Pro150 halogens to compare and keep as a backup.

 

[Blobcat]

Yeah, but you probably are talking about the LED retrofits in crappy reflector headlights, in which case I'd agree with you. But mine are projector lens and if some LED bulbs are already legal in France and Germany than surely they can't be dazzling?

@Craiglxviii can probably give the full type approval details.

One of the biggest issues is where the light source is even in projector lenses. If it’s not in the place as designed then it will be all over the place.

I also have Halogens and they’re not as great to drive behind as the LED’s on my BMW bike.

 

[RockDriver]

@Craiglxviii can probably give the full type approval details.

One of the biggest issues is where the light source is even in projector lenses. If it’s not in the place as designed then it will be all over the place.

I also have Halogens and they’re not as great to drive behind as the LED’s on my BMW bike.

Yep, I understand that LED light source spread is different from the halogens and HIDs, which is why I'd be great to hear from someone already experienced with that, otherwise I'd have to resort to trial and error. After my X5's bi-xenons I seriously feel like blind right now.

 

[mioba]

Yeah, but you probably are talking about the LED retrofits in crappy reflector headlights, in which case I'd agree with you. But mine are projector lens and if some LED bulbs are already legal in France and Germany than surely they can't be dazzling?

Legal in FR and GE is of what relevance here.

If your car was made for LED then ok. if not then illegal.

Get a set of top Osrams.

 

[LostKiwi]

Yeah, but you probably are talking about the LED retrofits in crappy reflector headlights, in which case I'd agree with you. But mine are projector lens and if some LED bulbs are already legal in France and Germany than surely they can't be dazzling?

I am pretty sure that no LED retrofit bulbs are legal. This is down to the wording of the UNECE regulations which state the location of the filament and go into detail about construction of the bulb itself. As led do not have a filament or glass envelope they cannot comply with the regulations. It's not unusual for retailers to claim they are certified but this is not the case. Likewise some manufacturers claim certification but it's fake.

For retrofit of HiD there are certain legal requirements that must be met regards self leveling and headlight wash systems.

 

[Gazwould]

Yep, I understand that LED light source spread is different from the halogens and HIDs, which is why I'd be great to hear from someone already experienced with that, otherwise I'd have to resort to trial and error. After my X5's bi-xenons I seriously feel like blind right now.

My dad is in his 70's and put LED in place of H7 halogen behind his dipped beam projectors , he's very happy now that he can see .

 

[Larkone]

My dad is in his 70's and put LED in place of H7 halogen behind his dipped beam projectors , he's very happy now that he can see .

Even though his lights are not type approved for LED so invalidate his insurance and are a potential MOT fail.

Aftermarket LED Bulbs: MOT Rules And Legalities

Can upgrade LED bulbs pass an MOT? We go through exactly what MOT testing stations look for and whether your aftermarket bulbs will pass an MOT.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

 

[Gazwould]

He doesn't care much for the light bulb police , just the ability to see , he's had them for the last 2 years so would of passed the last two tests .

 

[RockDriver]

He doesn't care much for the light bulb police , just the ability to see , he's had them for the last 2 years so would of passed the last two tests .

Yeah, in general there's push for LEDs as replacement for halogen bulbs for various reasons, one of them being halogens are not eco-friendly or something like that. Like I mentioned before - Germany and France are making progress on the subject and other countries will follow, UK included even if they have to be dragged there kicking and screaming. Older cars with halogens aren't just gonna disappear and right now they are at serious disadvantage.

 

[AnthonyUK]

I'm guessing there will be some progress on retro-fitting LEDs at some point.
I saw this on the Autoexpress test so the tech is progressing at least.

To see how LEDs compare, we tried the Osram 64210DWNB LED against the Ring Xenon 200 H7. The halogen bulb had the edge in the test lab, but the LED beam was well controlled, with low glare and a similar pattern. Compared with our test winner here, the H4 9726CW LED had a longer, wider beam, but the halogen’s FOM was slightly better.

 

[LostKiwi]

Yeah, in general there's push for LEDs as replacement for halogen bulbs for various reasons, one of them being halogens are not eco-friendly or something like that. Like I mentioned before - Germany and France are making progress on the subject and other countries will follow, UK included even if they have to be dragged there kicking and screaming. Older cars with halogens aren't just gonna disappear and right now they are at serious disadvantage.

It will require a rewrite of UNECE regulations for LED replacement of halogens to become legal.

 

[LostKiwi]

Even though his lights are not type approved for LED so invalidate his insurance and are a potential MOT fail.

Aftermarket LED Bulbs: MOT Rules And Legalities

Can upgrade LED bulbs pass an MOT? We go through exactly what MOT testing stations look for and whether your aftermarket bulbs will pass an MOT.

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

Gazwould is well aware of this but has an attitude that suggests the law doesn't apply to him or his family.

 

[Larkone]

Gazwould is well aware of this but has an attitude that suggests the law doesn't apply to him or his family.

and does not realise the MOT regs have changed

Please note that since January 2021, the MOT Inspection manual has been updated to include LED bulbs.

Section 4.1.4 now states the following:

“Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.”

This is a brand new update that seems to only focus on headlights.


Or potentially driving an un-insured car because of un-reported modifications

 

[Gazwould]

That is correct , but a tester doesn't check what actual bulb is in there nor can see what type of bulb behind the milk bottle bottom lense of a projector lense .






Halogen , HID or LED ???

 

[Blobcat]

That is correct , but a tester doesn't check what actual bulb is in there nor can see what type of bulb behind the milk bottle bottom lense of a projector lense .

Halogen , HID or LED ???

Irrelevant, 1 is legal, 2 are not

 

[RockDriver]

Or potentially driving an un-insured car because of un-reported modifications

What's "un-reported modifications" in this case? What about just about anything else in the car? Everyone uses 3rd party parts that may or may not be approved on their cars, so why exclude the bulbs? In the event of an insurance incident, shouldn't the car be taken apart part by part to make sure it's 100% legit? There's not gonna be any cherry picking here. Pretty sure given enough time plenty of such issues could be found on your own car.