hey guys i dont wanna sound like a noob but i am. my parents just bought me a 2002 c240 and i really love it but i dont like the halogen lights, i really would like to have the bright white lights. so some people have told me that either i could just get the bulb for like $50 and replace it and some other people told me taht i gotta get the like $800 kit. so i dunno which is correct. can someone please give me the correct information
Justin

 

The white lights you are talking about are called HID (High Intensity Discharge).

They are loosely known as Xenon lights. They have a whole different power source and connection.

The MB OEM set can be purchased for around $1,000. (Forum fathers correct me if I am wrong.)


Now....

...don't be fooled by $30-$50 halogen replacement bulbs. The characteristics of such bulbs are:

(1) they replace standard 55-Watt halogen bulbs in a plug-n-play fashion,
(2) they are blue-color tinted bulbs,
(3) they run on 12V,
(4) their life span is much shorter than standard halogens,
(5) their bluish colors are funny at best, if not harmful,
(6) some of them burn very hot, and melt the parts in the lens assembly, and
(7) although not true, many of them claim to be DOT-approved or legal.


If you cannot afford to part with your $1,000 yet, try Sylvania SilverStar. It is very bright; the best non-yellowish yellow bulb I've ever seen.

 

http://www.autobarn.net/silverstar.html
so do u think that these are better, cause i know for sure that my parents arent gonna let me but the $1000 ones so these are $20 a piece and i think that these are the right ones.
Justin

 

below are lighting upgrade options...

- light bulb (~$40)
- depo headlight + light bulb (~$440)
- refurbished bi-xenons (~$1200)
- new bi-xenons (~$2200)

 

so does anyone know where i can get the sylvania silverstars for a decent price?? because a few people have told me that they are very reliable and are the best bulbs.
Justin

 

Just about any auto parts store. Maybe Wal-Mart. They aren't rare bulbs. They're easy to find.