Xenon Bulbs - Advice Needed

[Noddy 99]

Hello, chaps,

2009 W211 E280 CDI Sport with BI-XENONS.

My manual says D2S bulbs
Osram's compatibility checker says D1S bulbs

Can anyone adjudicate?

Many thanks in advance...

 

[LostKiwi]

Pull one out and look?

 

[Noddy 99]

Everyone says it's a nightmare to get at them...

Also the manual says that owners MUST NOT attempt to change xenon bulbs themselves. Is this just bluff? If I disconnected the battery would I be OK?

 

[LostKiwi]

Xenon's operate on high voltage so you need to be careful they can't operate while your fingers are nearby.
Disconnect the battery to be safe.

I would have thought they are D1S (my 251 is) but that's no guarantee.

 

[Noddy 99]

Scouring the Autodoc site, it SEEMS that D2S were fitted to cars BEFORE 06/2006. As mine is an 09/2009, it looks like D1S.

This would explain why my online manual is showing D2S - it probably dates to cars with an original build of 2002-2006.

 

[Tony Dyson]

Better not to touch the components of these lamps as well against popular advice, they don't get hot enough to boil any oily deposits and explode like Halogen lamps may, but they will burn and discolour over time, clean cotton gloves are ideal.

 

[Wighty]

Scouring the Autodoc site, it SEEMS that D2S were fitted to cars BEFORE 06/2006. As mine is an 09/2009, it looks like D1S.

This would explain why my online manual is showing D2S - it probably dates to cars with an original build of 2002-2006.

move the coolant tank to one side , take the black cap off and you can see what bulb rating is fitted . It’s a 2 minute job on that side .

 

[M80]

When I bought mime one had fallen out, I put it back with ease.
I've always considered xenon to be 12 volt filament and HID to be hi voltage, are they filled with xenon gas?

 

[MJJ]

I replaced my bi-xenon bulbs a couple of weeks ago, on my 2009 S211 E220. They were D1S, and they were 5 minutes per side to change - pulling one out to check would be no hassle. My belief is that the bulbs went from D2S to D1S at the facelift.

The V6 engined versions may be harder to access, but on mine, access was pretty straightforward. Twist the rear three inch diameter plastic cover 30 degrees or so anti-clockwise to remove, twist the bulb anti-clockwise to detach from the headlight lens, manoeuvre bulb such that the wiring plug can be disconnected, then swap the plastic bulb mounting sleeve over from the old bulb to the new bulb. Repeat in reverse, as they say.

Martin.

 

[Tony Dyson]

When I bought mime one had fallen out, I put it back with ease.
I've always considered xenon to be 12 volt filament and HID to be hi voltage, are they filled with xenon gas?

Xenon/Bi-Xenon are HID (High Intensity Discharge) lamps where the glass capsule is fitted with electrodes at each end and filled with Xenon, an inert gas, A High Voltage is applied to the electrodes which ignites the gas, Xenon is used for car headlights for the colour which burns at near daylight with hues of blue, Sodium and Mercury are popular alternatives used in other applications.
Tungsten Halogen lamps are a complicated incandescent lamp consisting of a Tungsten filament surrounded by a mixture of inert and Halogen gasses in a quartz glass tube or bulb.
HID = High Operating Voltages, lower capsule temperatures, Light temperature quality
TH = Low Operating Voltages, High capsule temperatures, warmer Light Temperature qualities.

 

[Noddy 99]

OK; changed bulbs today and they are indeed D1S.

Helped by Wighty's write-up, I found the job easier than expected, even with my big hands. The toughest part was just getting the last quarter-turn on the driver's side ballast - you can get your fingers in but not your thumb. Anyway, got there in the end.

I know Wighty had a bad experience with cheap bulbs but I decided to give these a punt:

TECTICO D1S Xenon Bulbs 35W 6000K Ice White 9000 Lumens +400% Bright Racing Vision 24V / 12V Headlight Bulb Discharge Hid Kit, 2 Lamps https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085XQ7...t_i_TXDHMQDT5TXX0D0TDMHK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Very professional box and instructions + free white glove! 6000K gives me a bright white light and they're working well - no flickers or clicking sounds.

As a side note, I've adjusted the range. I did it completely randomly by just twirling the allen socket. Took it for a drive and wasn't flashed once, even though the lights are clearly pointing higher.

Feeling pretty satisfied with the job, all told.

 

[Gazwould]

Don't forget about testing out the 9000 lumens on the dyno !

 

[Noddy 99]

Don't forget about testing out the 9000 lumens on the dyno !

You're only jealous because you haven't got 9000 lumens!

 

[Gazwould]

Nothing is good until it's proven

There's a few people here that just bomb about buying stuff without consulting the good people of this forum.


I certainly wouldn't be buying HID's that are advertised as having 90000000000000000 lumens and only have 7 purchase reviews .

 

[Noddy 99]

Maybe you're right but they only cost £30 so definitely worth a punt...

Also, I've road-tested them. They are as bright and white as very bright and white things...

 

[mioba]

sorry Noddy, just looking at the advert pics reeks of poor quality. just my gut feeling.

German made Philps quartz glass

Comes in nice gift box

just seems cheap chinese stuff,
30 quid is still quid

 

[Noddy 99]

I totally get what you're saying but you look at Osram Night-breaker Lasers and they're £115! All I want is bright, white light and these seem to be delivering at the moment; time will tell, of course.

Chinese stuff is always a risk. All I can say in these early stages is that they look high quality, fitted perfectly, threw up no codes and are a massive improvement on the Philips ones I removed.

If they screw up, I'll get back on here to warn people against them...

 

[LostKiwi]

I went the £115 option and very happy with them. Bright with good spread of light.

 

[mioba]

I went the £115 option and very happy with them. Bright with good spread of light.

show off

 

[LostKiwi]

show off

I'm just too lazy to want to do it again!