w210 headlights

[dogsbody]

I drove my daughters 10 year old Ford Fiesta last night. The headlights are significantly better than my 5 year old W210.
Any idea of how to improve the quality of the lights? New bulbs? Change to quartz halogen? Parafin?

 

[nh2]

the cheapest is to make sure they are adjusted correctly. Try parking your fiesta in front of a garage door for example leaving around 10 ft and then mark the position of the dipped lights then do the same with your Benz, Maybe they need adjusting? This is only a rough test as you gott make sure they dont point to high or in the direction of oncoming traffic.

make sure if you have electric height adjuster its set in the higher position!!

failing that then replace the bulbs with 50% brighter ones from say phillips or osram, that's what i have done..

£20 approx for two.

 

[cobra427]

ah! you're the guy that dazzles me with your bluey lights then....

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Clean the lenses and reflectors. Remember, no more than 55W for headlamps - anything more is illegal.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I have to agree. The lights are dire, even when clean and focussed. I still find the Peugeot has much better lights.

 

[cyps]

I Found the exact same but if you get the bulbs that have a "r" (r being for rally) after them they are around 80w and make all the difference however would suggest keeping the originals for mot's etc

Work great on my w210 cost 5.79 from Halfords each worth every penny i can now kill a bunny rabbit at 500 yards with them

And yes agreed that 55w is the limit but how many times have you had your bulbs pulled out of your car and inspected by the police.

If you drove a go faster spoilered dustbin sized exhausted jap mini car with max power stickers all over it yeah you may get pulled, but other than that your just left alone in a big merc as you dont offend anyone

 

[Zululander]

I drove my daughters 10 year old Ford Fiesta last night. The headlights are significantly better than my 5 year old W210.
Any idea of how to improve the quality of the lights? New bulbs? Change to quartz halogen? Parafin?

You could also install a relay and feed the lights direct from the battery power
without changing any bulbs.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I Found the exact same but if you get the bulbs that have a "r" (r being for rally) after them they are around 80w and make all the difference however would suggest keeping the originals for mot's etc

Work great on my w210 cost 5.79 from Halfords each worth every penny i can now kill a bunny rabbit at 500 yards with them

And yes agreed that 55w is the limit but how many times have you had your bulbs pulled out of your car and inspected by the police.

If you drove a go faster spoilered dustbin sized exhausted jap mini car with max power stickers all over it yeah you may get pulled, but other than that your just left alone in a big merc as you dont offend anyone

Be careful though, the lenses are plastic and the W210 information CD I have specifically warns against using more powerful bulbs as it can over time damage the inside of the lens. No idea if thats just scare talk from Mercedes though, although it seems plausible.

Another thing you could try is rerouting the wiring for the headlamps through a relay, so they get power directly from the battery and are switched by the relay.

 

[flying haggis]

I have to agree with nh2 on the mention of replacement bulbs and from experience i would go the replacement bulb route. Try Osram Silverstar
at roughly £14 a pair x2 for a W210 The type of bulb is an H7
Try e-bay FOS(fergusons of stirling)