MOT fail?

[Tony sirett]

Just looking at the headlights on my E220, and one of them is really milky, would it fail an MOT for it at all? Also are xenon headlight units different to led units?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Not seen that before on a 212, I’d pop into your local MoT station and ask the question my opinion is yes it would - can’t understand what’s caused that

 

[LostKiwi]

HiD are a totally different technology to LED and you can't convert one to the other just by changing bulbs (that is an MOT failure).

If you are referring to milkiness on the inner white circular part that's no issue - it's a projector unit and some look like that new.
If you're referring to the outer lens you can easily make them crystal clear again. There are various kits or just use progressively finer wet and dry sand paper (1500 to start and 3000 to finish) finishing off with Brasso and polish.

 

[Tony sirett]

thank you, what i meant was is there a difference between the headlamp uits themselves? are xenon headlamp units different from led units, the luck i have i'll spend a fortune on a new unit to find it doesn't fit.
the milkyness is on the inside of the lens so can't be polished out.

 

[mioba]

xenon and led are different.

 

[LostKiwi]

To change from one technology to another requires a different light unit as the focusing of the light by the reflector and lens is different for each light source.

 

[Tony sirett]

To change from one technology to another requires a different light unit as the focusing of the light by the reflector and lens is different for each light source.

Thank you, I wasn't going to change from xenon to led, just wondered if the light units were different.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Never seen a lens go quite like that. It looks as if some solvent has attacked it.
LED units may use the same "lens" as the focusing is primarily by the geometry of the back section of the lamp. I believe that LED headlamps have more cooling than HID units as well as the LED "bulb" has a lower temperature threshold than the HID one.

 

[mioba]

Thought the same, looks like its had something spilt on it thats etched the plastic. Have you tried the back of your nail to see if it scratches off or is etched on.

Prestige parts or dronsfields?

 

[Tony sirett]

Had a look at it, it looks like the previous owner has used super glue on the bottom edge of the light, oh well time to start looking for a new xenon headlight unit.

 

[mioba]

Yes seems that way. Super glue and clear plastic doesnt go well.

I posted a couple of breakers above who may have something, also look on the bay at cars being broken to get some
overall prices.

Good luck

 

[Tony sirett]

Holy cr4p...... I see why he tried to repair it himself.

 

[Noddy 99]

That's a bit steep for a used one. I had to buy a replacement for a Skoda Superb a few years ago - I ended up getting one for £325 after seeing plenty advertised at £600+. I understand that Skoda isn't Mercedes but I would still shop around a bit if I were you...

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I can see headlights units will start to go ‘missing‘ just the same as catalytic converters during the early hours this is getting ridiculous

 

[Taffy7hfa]

This is a coming problem for the second hand car market, as Malcolm says headlights will start disappearing from peoples driveways, who could imagine that a couple of cloudy headlights could potentially make a car uneconomical to repair.

 

[EmilysDad]

It's usually possible to remove the 'glass' from a headlamp with a bit of heat & care - I've done it on an Omega to repair the adjuster on the up/down of the reflector - it was glued on with a Sikaflex type goo. I wonder if it would be possible to polish the inside of the 'glass' as you might the outside of one that had yellowed.
Or a cut & shut with AN Other failed led light from a breaker ????