Good work, Jim! Mercedes has a kit (2108260582) for replacing those driving light bulb sockets for some models of this vintage. I’ve gotten them before, in fact, I’ve got a pair of them for my CL600 I have yet to install. The halogen lamps in these drew too much current for the original harness and as a result, the wires would melt as would the socket.
The kit is a new socket with pigtails on it and costs about $12 from online sellers like mbpartsource.com<http://mbpartsource.com> (MB of Laredo). -D On Sep 10, 2023, at 2:41 PM, Jim Cathey via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: We lost a D2R (HID) bulb, and my ordered spares came so I could replace it. Such a difference when compared to the hour-long cluster-f**k that is that job on the X5! Simply release the bayonet locks on the hatch cover, socket, and the bulb retaining ring, replace the bulb, and reverse to reassemble. Done in under a minute, if you've done it before. As planned, while I was there I investigated the puny high beam on that side. Apparently the bozo who last replaced the H7 bulb didn't get it bayonet-locked into place, so it had fallen back into the housing away from the reflector. I re-seated it, properly I hope, and it's now a lot brighter. To gain access to the high-beam hatch you have to slide the headlight-washer reservoir up and out of the way. Also, some ham-handed SOB broke the bayonet lock on the city (parking) light socket in the same housing. (Push and twist, gently, to remove. Don't force it!) While I have another bulb holder from a spare non-HID headlight I bought I'd have to cut and solder the socket in, and that'd leave the donor headlight assembly, which has nice clear lenses, crippled. Not really worth it, I just wrapped electrical tape around the socket body so it fits more snugly without the bayonet lock, and pushed it into place. I think it'll be good enough. I'm going to experiment with an LED replacement for the H7 high beam. They claim brighter than an H7, and I guess we'll see. I don't care if the beam spread is a bit off, as high beams are deer spotters around here, and the more the merrier. (NOT true for low beams, where lighting pattern is critical!) They're complete crap for oncoming traffic anyway, so I don't see how it could be bad if the light pattern is even remotely close to what it should be. And, brighter is better. What I've noticed is that it's barely worth putting on the high beams on this car. Not sure if that's just the natural disparity with HID vs halogen, a result of the un-seated high beam on the driver's side, or what. Anyway, 40-odd dollars and in a few days I'll know more. Will it work? Will it be brighter? Usably? Will the lamp-out system get pissed? Will it be too stupidly blue? Will it burn out quickly due to piss-poor thermal design? I'll let y'all know. -- Jim _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
