W124 BiXenon lights to be fitted

[Campbell]

I am looking into fitting HID Bi Xenons to my 1996 W124. After investigation I have found the right kit as these cars have H4 bulbs. My question is - has anyone already done this and if so where and how did you attach the ballasts - as I dont want to drill into the bodywork. The options are sticky pads or plastic ties. Any other firrings tips would be appreciated.
I am thinking of using the following supplier:

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/contact.asp

Thanks
Campbell

 

[star]

Used these on a diff car, just brilliant. expect to get some comments on h/lamp dip and wash wipe? Spoke to my local mot place and these are not req to pass an MOT.

 

[Campbell]

bi xenons w124

Thanks for the tip. I have headlamp washers as standard and the lamps can be adjusted in height from inside the cabin so hopefully should all be legal..

Did u fit them yourself or get a garage to do it ?

 

[star]

Thanks for the tip. I have headlamp washers as standard and the lamps can be adjusted in height from inside the cabin so hopefully should all be legal..

Did u fit them yourself or get a garage to do it ?

I am a garage, but it is a very easy job, they just plug in.

 

[Bolide]

On the W124 there's a cover on the back of the lamp assembly. I doubt that there will be room inside for the ballasts so they'll have to stay outside. The lamp units have & plug & socket so you'll either have to modify the loom or run the cables back out of the lamp to the ballast and back in. This means drilling the cover

With 280s and 320s it's very tight behind the o/s light due to the air filter box & inlet

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[ninja9r]

Did you fit these OK and what is the final result like?

My lighting could do with an upgrade!!

 

[Campbell]

W124 bi xenons

Hi

I am awiting new bulbs as they have just announced an improved bi xenon bulb - so I havent fitted them yet.

Will advise everyone when I do

 

[Renoir]

Dudes, are you not concerned about any consequences of installing xenon on W124?
I mean in my country you cannot pass the compulsory technical check-up which has to be undergone once a year when you have some lame xenon on.
The requirements for a "legal" xenon include automatic headlamp adjustment and washing.
Headlamp adjustment from the interior wont do. Nobody drives with their finger on that adjuster... as it should be in fact.
Besides, if you take a look at the headlamp glass, the models with original MB xenon have them different too. A perfect example is W210.
In my view changing just the bulbs and adding ballast sucks. We got such lame xenon cars all over the place in Latvia and when you meet one on the road at night you have to close your eyes to be able to pass it. It may be blinding. Because they dont have automatic adjustment and the glass is wrong and perhaps the system is installed brutally too. Plus, all those smartasses have to take that system off when they go to the check-up and then put it back on... quite a pain indeed.

 

[wireman]

Renior has avery good point, your lamps are designed for filiament bulbs which have a different illuminous radiation pattern than the xenon things. All you will achive is dazzle and it is against UK law to cause dazzle (road vehicle lighting regulations section 27) because it is dangerous. Why do you or anybody else need a tunnel of bright light to drive in? your vision of the parts of the road not immediately lighted and its environs will become less due to the limited dynamic range of the human eye this must be a retrograde mod if any was.
Is it just a desire to be different that drives some folks to add more and brighter lamps to their cars despite the addition having no practical use? In the UK where is it that anybody needs extra power in the vehicle lighting system? in our towns the need is to be seen by others and normal dipped seems OK for this, on our motorways most are street lit and dipped goes OK here to. The country lanes are probably the only place that full beam is needed and here any extra will just allow excess speed in a vehicle who's driver has reduced ability to see in the areas outside his lighting pattern, due mostly to the increased contrast of illumination levels.
The tendency for the stupid amongst our road users having unnesescary lights turned on (typicaly fog lamps) seems to be gaining a pace just as the health and safety nazis are starting to make it even less pleasent for us to drive.
Roll on the day when joe law starts to prosecute the stupid so and so's who insist on infringing the lighting rules.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Renior has avery good point, your lamps are designed for filiament bulbs which have a different illuminous radiation pattern than the xenon things. All you will achive is dazzle and it is against UK law to cause dazzle (road vehicle lighting regulations section 27) because it is dangerous. Why do you or anybody else need a tunnel of bright light to drive in? your vision of the parts of the road not immediately lighted and its environs will become less due to the limited dynamic range of the human eye this must be a retrograde mod if any was.
Is it just a desire to be different that drives some folks to add more and brighter lamps to their cars despite the addition having no practical use? In the UK where is it that anybody needs extra power in the vehicle lighting system? in our towns the need is to be seen by others and normal dipped seems OK for this, on our motorways most are street lit and dipped goes OK here to. The country lanes are probably the only place that full beam is needed and here any extra will just allow excess speed in a vehicle who's driver has reduced ability to see in the areas outside his lighting pattern, due mostly to the increased contrast of illumination levels.
The tendency for the stupid amongst our road users having unnesescary lights turned on (typicaly fog lamps) seems to be gaining a pace just as the health and safety nazis are starting to make it even less pleasent for us to drive.
Roll on the day when joe law starts to prosecute the stupid so and so's who insist on infringing the lighting rules.

I agree with what you say - especially the growing 'fad' to put front foglights on, regardless of driving conditions.!! BMW drivers, please note.

 

[Campbell]

Umm
You have a point as I don't want to produce glare and so dazzle on coming traffic but for anyone who owns a W124 will tell you both the main beam and deep are awful - especially on unlit roads

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Umm
You have a point as I don't want to produce glare and so dazzle on coming traffic but for anyone who owns a W124 will tell you both the main beam and deep are awful - especially on unlit roads

Just upgrade the bulbs to 'Xenon white' - or whatever. Makes a big difference to the yellow lights. And easier to do.

 

[television]

I would go along with Jez in the above post

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Umm
You have a point as I don't want to produce glare and so dazzle on coming traffic but for anyone who owns a W124 will tell you both the main beam and deep are awful - especially on unlit roads

There ya go -

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

 

[Myros]

I fitted Ring Bulbs, 100w/80w

and got about as good lighting as I do from the standard set up on the 202. About £6.99 each as I recall from A1 motorstores. The factory set-up was abysmal though.

 

[Bolide]

Brighter bulbs improve W124 lights a bit. But not enough. Dip beam is truly appalling

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[A210AMG]

Jez,

What make did you fit? are they better? any pics


cheers

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Jez,

What make did you fit? are they better? any pics


cheers

Can't recall the make, I'm afraid - and no pics BUT they have made a huge difference. I do a lot of motorway miles, most of which are on mainly unlit (M40, M4, M6 etc). I find that the Xenon 'blue' offer a whiter light and are able to pick out cats-eyes, road signs etc MUCH better than standard (glow-worm) bulbs. If you feel that you can get away with it - go for the 110watt. I have, and the car passed the MOT with flying colours. Providing that the headlamps are adjusted correctly, there is no dazzle to other drivers.

 

[fullmeister]

Just upgrade the bulbs to 'Xenon white' - or whatever. Makes a big difference to the yellow lights. And easier to do.

Hmmmm sorry chums but I must disagree , having owned all kinds of BMW,s Fords and various Japanese stuff I find the W124 has the best lights I have ever used.
I drive 80 percent of my time on unlit (and very crappy) Polish roads .
Dip beam is more than enough and full beam with the front fog lights is like the second coming ........
The set up is standard but I did take Nick Froome's advice and cleaned up the reflectors.
Maybe its because it is so dark in Poland
Do you really need aircraft strength lighting?

 

[megah0]

I use Osram Nightbreakers in my W124 and the difference over standard bulbs is tremendous, they were pretty pathetic before, particularly on unlit A-roads etc but now I have no problems at all.

Fully road legal and very easy to swap out. Quite reasonably priced too.