Aftermarket HID Conversion Kits & required setting XENON=PRESENT thread

[young]

yes, they know what DAS is. not sure what it stands for... diagnostic and service? what is the STAR software? it's a laptop that they hook up to your car (under the hood somewhere) and it is a menu driven software. i saw the service technician use it when i got my audio level change adjusted the first time at a different dealership.

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[greg230]

i simply called MB of P and 25 minutes later i was sitting in their lounge waiting for the car to be finished. It was that fast. I cant fault their service team, they were quick, polite, and efficient. They didnt ask any questions, and didnt give me any of that aftermarket speech nonsense.

All in all, i can only fault them for not knowing what the norway setting was.

[BrabusCClass]

This may be a dumb question but what is Norway settings?

[tommy]

That's a setting that gives you an audible noise when you set or disable your alarm.

I heard that it doesn't sound all that great, also might make your panic function on your key fob not work.

I'm still getting it done at some point. I think that Flashman has something about it on his faq.

[TimmyC230boy]

When I had it done on my car it was the "netherlands" setting that had to be enabled, and no the panic button doesnt work anymore. But if the panic button is really that important to you go to walmart and get a car alarm and only hook up the siren and use the key fob for a panic button.

[harianto_adi]

hiii
Do you need to program the computer first or not?
Because I already try twice but the computer in my c class 2002 said that please check the low beam and the xenon light didn't work.
Please give me the suggestion. Thank you

[young]

i don't think it matters but everyone changed the computer setting after installation.

also, if you turn the lights on first, without the key in (the engine off), the lights should still work. when they're on, and then you turn the engine on, the error message should not occur. at least, that what happened w/ me. i was able to drive for a few days before i went to the dealer this way.

[BrabusCClass]

The kit is from Auto Direct. On the box it says HID PLUS. Its a Hella kit, made in Germany which i bought thru the link someone had here for group buys on DTM. Everything is packaged very well and nothing looks damaged. I got the H7 kit with purple hue HIDs. I would take pics but I have no digital camera. The lights will be installed on Monday after SEMA. Its gonna cost me $50 or less. Im having it done at my Stereo Shop. The kit was COD UPS $390 to my door. So basically I gave them a check after I got it.

Does anyone know a good priced digital camera? If I can pick it up this weekend I may be able to post pics of the boxes and packaging. Any recommendations?

[edvpt]

Do the H7 Bulbs look like they have been adapted, or do they look like new H7 HID Bulbs? I ask because the Hids4less H7 bulbs I installed were new but the connector end appeared to have been adapted to fit the H7 connectors.

I ask because I like the light output so much I may get them for the High Beam as well.

http://www.dpreview.com/

[Vince]

here's the link

BrabusCClass, how do they look? post pics. I want to get the purple ones too.

[BrabusCClass]

edvpt: They do not look like they are adapted to fit. They look fine but then again they have insulation on them. (a rubber hose) They look stock. I really need a digital camera. Regardless, I will take pics and find a way to post them. Hopefully by this time tomorrow I will have these in. Actually i know I am. Hehe. Cant wait.

[Fuzzo]

BrabusCclass - Do you plan on adding mobile video to your car? just wondering.....

[BrabusCClass]

? I dont understand your question? I am getting the Euro command, running a dvd probably from a PS2, 2 screens behind each headrest, and 1 more screen in my trunk.

[eason]

I don't know if this have mentioned before, is any HID H7 Conversion Kit will work with the C230K or I have to get the one from HID4Less? Because I live in Canada (Stupid custom will tax me hard for purchase in the state) and I recently got a deal on a set of HID Kit for H7. Also, with dealer change the HID setting in the computer, is that mean I can just start the car and the light will on automaticlly without any error message? I noticed people have mentioned about turn on the light first then start the car.
Thanks

[TimmyC230boy]

Myself I would get the kit from hid4less, they have a great warranty and the also have an adapter for those who do not want to get there car reprogramed for the xenon lights. There may be others out there but as far as i know, no one on this board has used anything but hid4less. They are a bit more $ but I think the peace of mind is worth it. There are many kits on ebay, but who do you call for support if something should go wrong?

[Buellwinkle]

Most dealers will change the settings if you bring them what the screens look like and what option to change. I think all the kits are similar as they include HID D2S bulbs adapted to H7 fittings and ballasts to convert the 12v to thousands of volts. From what I've heard, there were lots of issues with HID4Less and I wouldn't buy anything from them. Just stick to a name brand like Phillips, Hella, Osram or anything that looks like the company will stand behind their product. What I like about the Hella kit for about $400 is that it's all Hella (ballasts and bulbs) and it comes in factory packaging. It's not a kit slapped together with odd components like HID4Less that gives you a Panasonic ballast sometimes and a Phillips ballast other times.

[KJ-TypeR]

Why not go with AutoLampsOnline? They seem to have a good reputation!

[young]

couple of clarifications and recommendations:

the hids4less kit - Stage 2 - has hella bulbs - and according to one source, these hella bulbs are some sort of special bulbs (do a search for hids4less - i quoted that person's research) and he said that only hids4less was able to get them in the US. but i can't confirm that.

if you get a type 2 ballast, it is panasonic (imo, panasonic is a very reliable brand) but i don't recommend the 2 piece design.

if you get a type 1 ballast, it seems you get a hella ballast (even though the website shows a philips ballast). hence the slight confusion. i don't think anyone got a philips type 1 ballast.

so basically, if you get a stage 2, type 1 kit, you get hella stuff.

also, most people received their products and are happy w/ the kit.

the problems that arose are more on the billing side. some people were overcharged (and refunds had to be issued). they also charge right away instead of when they ship. and overall, it took longer than expected to receive the kits. the people that work at hids4less - kyle especially, is goofy (that's the technical term ) in my opinion...

i'm a little concerned w/ brabus's experience w/ the kit that he bought so i'd wait until his gets resolved before purchasing that kit - but it is a great price.

dngan installed the philips kit from autolamps and it was fine. the hids4less kits have been fine. i know other people who have ordered from hidkits.com and they are also fine.

if i were to buy again, i'd try autolamps philips kit and hidkits.com (people have had good experiences w/ both companies).

timmy raises an interesting point about warranty. try to make sure that there is some warranty. ebay may be ok if they have good feedback. but i'd still steel myself for some disappointment...

finally, again, if there is an OEM kit available for your car, i'd still recommend that over any other kit. although i don't think the new HIDs option for the coupe can be retrofitted to the 2002 coupes, i'd wait until it is confirmed - especially if they're going to be the projector type. (btw, hids4less now has projector type hids for more moolah ) at worst, you can't get them, but prices should also have dropped by then.

also, don't forget to look at the hids4less, autolamps and timmy's light faq for more info.

[eason]

I was going to purchase the kit from a local performance shop which was in business for 15+ years, as far as warrenty concern, I don't think there will be any problem, also it is better to deal with someone face to face rather then on the phone if problem come across. The ballast it come with the kit is a Type I from Philips, I am sure it's Philips not Hella becasue I saw the kit yesterday. Anyway I think I have to check with my dealer first to see if they will change the setting for me.

[young]

btw, personally, it is not important to me whether it is philips or hella... both are reliable brands.

[blueC230K]

Can someone tell me what's the differences between these two kits? Do I have to worry about it for the H7?or it has nothing to do with it? thx

[TimmyC230boy]

There is a slight difference in the 2 kits but I cant remember what it is, I think it has something to do with a sheild on it or something. But either one should work fine as far as i know

[young]

i'm not totally sure about the differences either. i asked hids4less and that guy said that the D2R is supposed to have less glare - but they didn't really notice any difference.

i also asked autolamps and they basically said that the D2S is fine. i think everyone got D2S bulbs. if you look at autolamps' kits, you can see the little black strip on the D2R bulbs.

[Carter]

let me know how the monitors turn out.... we've tried finding one, but it seems hard since the back of the headrests are hard plastic, plus it isnt that big... let me know how they turn out! thanks!

[eason]

Just finish visiting 3 dealers today, and manage to get one of the dealer to change the Xenon setting with their DAS, but it will cost me $40 CAD. The first dealer just refused me and wants to kick me out of the door. The second one just said MB Canada won't help customer change the car's setting becasue of a aftermarket kit was install. And the last one just simply ask me to bring the car in and set me up with an appointment within 5 min. I will install the kit this weekend and get the car into the dealer next Thru.