Mercedes E 211 series HID install
| What to look for when buying a inexpensive system. |
Here are some items when looking for a inexpensive system. Note not all cheap systems are the same.
If a system advertises itself as ' plug and play ' Make sure they know what plug and play is! It should have
a connector for your headlight to plug into, not just a pair of terminals that you shove into you headlight
plug. Yes even some of the cheap systems have this!
If a system advertises itself as ' plug and play ' Make sure they know what plug and play is! It should have
a connector for your headlight to plug into, not just a pair of terminals that you shove into you headlight
plug. Yes even some of the cheap systems have this!
This kit already has the proper female
connector for your original headlight
connector to plug into.
connector for your original headlight
connector to plug into.
This kit does not have a connector and just
has some wires with terminals to shove into
your headlight plug.
has some wires with terminals to shove into
your headlight plug.
| There are some vendors out there that will sell you the proper connectors. This way if your system is lacking the proper connector you can install it yourself. This one was found for $15 a pair online so do your research! |
Look for product support and a website. Ask your questions now as you may
not be able to contact them at a later time. The better companies have
telephone numbers. Some of the sellers on ebay will give a lot of answers
before a sale but will pretend you don't exist after the sale.
not be able to contact them at a later time. The better companies have
telephone numbers. Some of the sellers on ebay will give a lot of answers
before a sale but will pretend you don't exist after the sale.
See what the return policy is. If your system does not work as advertised will
you be able to return it? Is there a restocking fee? Unfortunately not everyone
speaks English and what they interpret as returnable and not is something
you should get in writing.
you be able to return it? Is there a restocking fee? Unfortunately not everyone
speaks English and what they interpret as returnable and not is something
you should get in writing.
Asked of there have been any installs on a car like yours, You may be the
first. If they have install a kit before on a car like yours there is a better
chance of support.
This will be especially important if they claim no on board computer errors.
If you are buying off of ebay look at the feedback. 98% feedback is nothing if
there is three thousand total and all bad ones are in the last three months
and say poor product support or bad packaging. Read between the lines or
email the ones that left bad feedback to determined if you should purchase.
When shopping by price please look at the total cost of the item. Many kits
may have a buy it now for less than $10 but have a shipping charge of $150
or more. This is ok if you are aware of the total cost. It is also good if you get
charged tax as tax is charged only on the purchase price not the total cost.
Where it is bad is when you are promised a full refund of the price of the
product but none of the price of shipping!!!
As the better systems get better and as the copy cats get better, the pricing
will get cheaper. Some of the original kits are not as good as the new copy
cats so don't buy on just price alone.
If you purchased and installed one of these systems and would like to share
the brand, seller, and your experiences with them I can start a list with your
comments. This can save some people the trouble of purchasing certain kits
that just will not work on your type of car, email me the info
If you have any comments or constructive ideas that I can add please email
me at
healthservices@cox.net
first. If they have install a kit before on a car like yours there is a better
chance of support.
This will be especially important if they claim no on board computer errors.
If you are buying off of ebay look at the feedback. 98% feedback is nothing if
there is three thousand total and all bad ones are in the last three months
and say poor product support or bad packaging. Read between the lines or
email the ones that left bad feedback to determined if you should purchase.
When shopping by price please look at the total cost of the item. Many kits
may have a buy it now for less than $10 but have a shipping charge of $150
or more. This is ok if you are aware of the total cost. It is also good if you get
charged tax as tax is charged only on the purchase price not the total cost.
Where it is bad is when you are promised a full refund of the price of the
product but none of the price of shipping!!!
As the better systems get better and as the copy cats get better, the pricing
will get cheaper. Some of the original kits are not as good as the new copy
cats so don't buy on just price alone.
If you purchased and installed one of these systems and would like to share
the brand, seller, and your experiences with them I can start a list with your
comments. This can save some people the trouble of purchasing certain kits
that just will not work on your type of car, email me the info
If you have any comments or constructive ideas that I can add please email
me at
healthservices@cox.net
| Update! Feb 6 2009 Well my cheap lights lasted almost 2 years now. But the other night one fog light just stopped working. Then within 3 hours of use the opposite headlight died! I swapped the ballast from the good fog to the bad one and it turns out that was the problem. Bad Ballast. Two bad ballast at just shy of the two year mark... And the remaining two are having problems! |
It's been a while and the HID systems have
got even cheaper. From some input from
some of the forum members I purchase a
cheap HID system with slim ballast. Hoping
that I would not need to run a capacitor again
this time. This set cost ~ $80 delivered.
got even cheaper. From some input from
some of the forum members I purchase a
cheap HID system with slim ballast. Hoping
that I would not need to run a capacitor again
this time. This set cost ~ $80 delivered.
I was not that lucky. I ran into basically the
same scenario, flashing lights. Here is a
picture from the ebay listing.
I emailed the vendor to see if I get a
response. This is a picture of the system they
sell
same scenario, flashing lights. Here is a
picture from the ebay listing.
I emailed the vendor to see if I get a
response. This is a picture of the system they
sell
Here is a video of the capacitor unplugged
and flashing, Then I plugged in capacitor with
the new Slim ballast.
I think I like the big ballast better because
they at least give you a mounting bracket. The
slim system just gives you two sided tape.
and flashing, Then I plugged in capacitor with
the new Slim ballast.
I think I like the big ballast better because
they at least give you a mounting bracket. The
slim system just gives you two sided tape.
