Best H7's for 2015 Merc ML350

[TechGuru]

What would be the best H7's (low and high) for a 2015 Mercedes ML350?

I know the proper thing to do would be to obtain the factory HID upgrade... ;-P

I was thinking Philips NightGuide Platinum in the lows highs and Philips VisionPlus in the highs lows...

 

[EJR]

These Vosla 65w versions HERE.

 

[och]

A merc with halogen headlights probably has projector optics? I know I'm going to catch a lot of criticism for it, but I'd get a quality HID kit for it. Usually the light distribution with HID bulbs inside halogen projects is fine, only issue is they don't have self leveling mechanism so they will create some glare over bumps, but it wont be too bad.

 

[EJR]

A merc with halogen headlights probably has projector optics? I know I'm going to catch a lot of criticism for it, but I'd get a quality HID kit for it. Usually the light distribution with HID bulbs inside halogen projects is fine, only issue is they don't have self leveling mechanism so they will create some glare over bumps, but it wont be too bad.

No its not fine. The emission behavior of a xenon arc and a halogen filament are vastly different. And since the halogen lamp was optically designed for a halogen filament the beam distribution will NOT be the same.

 

[och]

No its not fine. The emission behavior of a xenon arc and a halogen filament are vastly different. And since the halogen lamp was optically designed for a halogen filament the beam distribution will NOT be the same.

I know, but its generally pretty good, and a far cry from HID in a halogen reflector housing. I had HIDs swapped in a 2013 Suzuki GV, and a 2013 Mazda 3 - both with halogen projector options, and beam distribution with HID was wide, without glare, and with very sharp cutoff.

 

[EJR]

I know, but its generally pretty good, and a far cry from HID in a halogen reflector housing. I had HIDs swapped in a 2013 Suzuki GV, and a 2013 Mazda 3 - both with halogen projector options, and beam distribution with HID was wide, without glare, and with very sharp cutoff.

But the foreground intensity is blown out, which hurts long distance vision, and exceeds the maximum allowed. This is common in just about every case with a HID kit. As well as some measured glare in the upper right quadrant, just above the cutoff meant for sign illumination. I can confirm this for the 10-13 Mazda 3 H11 Koito projector.

You have to understand that a headlamp has intensity requirements at various angles above and below the cutoff. Some have minimum, some have maximum and some have minimum and maximum. Improving one angle at the sacrifice of another angle doesn't always make it a good thing.

 

[RHS-113]

What would be the best H7's (low and high) for a 2015 Mercedes ML350?

I know the proper thing to do would be to obtain the factory HID upgrade... ;-P

I was thinking Philips NightGuide Platinum in the lows and Philips VisionPlus in the highs...

If you want to stick with 55W H7s you could try the Philips Racing Vision H7 or XtremeVision Pro150, but I have no clue how much, if any improvement the XV Pro 150 might have over the NGP 130. Or, if you can find it, the Tungsram Nighthawk Xenon H7 would be decent as it doesn't have much blue tint. I'd skip the Philips vision plus in the high beams as high beams are used LESS often than low beams, so why would you want the dimmer, longer life bulb in the less used high beams?

I'm gonna do what Virgil would typically do and that is to tell you to check the aim and the condition of the headlamps and to replace the headlamps with genuine Mercedes items if they're in poor shape. I can personally attest to the fact that headlight aim and lens/reflector condition do significantly affect your ability to see at night.

 

[TechGuru]

I'm gonna do what Virgil would typically do...

Where is @-Virgil- and @Alaric Darconville ? They have not been seen in over a month judging from post history.

 

[RHS-113]

I have about as much clue as you do. I wish they'd come back soon, the automotive forum wouldn't be what it is without them.

Forgot to add: OEM HIDs are something like $3000 a pair, and the car's computers are likely going to require reprogramming in order for them to not throw a fit.

 

[jzchen]

Seems like they are no longer moderators? 😭

 

[EJR]

Seems like they are no longer moderators? 😭

Interesting. They both no longer have moderator status.

 

[John_Galt]

There was some disagreement about how this subforum was moderated after posting issues in the thread about flashing brakelights.

Imho they were the same person. But thats just my take and likely as incorrect as anything else I've ever posted.

For the topic at hand, I think it would be worth reaching out to Daniel Stern at his website, as he had a batch of H9's rebased on H7's, resulting in a bulb that would outperform any other H7, especially high wattage variants which typically have lower than stock wattage filament intensities.

Also going to put a hard "No" on the discussion of HID kits. Even high quality rebase jobs using good burners from Philips or Osram are a non-starter. Even if the bowl geometries were exactly the same, halogen projectors have much larger squirrel finder cutouts to allow illumination of overhead signage, meaning they will allow way way too much light above their horizontal cutoff, causing excessive glare for other drivers.

 

[jzchen]

Daniel Stern's H9 capsule on H7 base has been a perennial recommendation @Virgil would make. I agree with that recommendation, except Virgil seemed to know whether the specific vehicle/lamp was an appropriate candidate....

 

[EJR]

Daniel Stern's H9 capsule on H7 base has been a perennial recommendation @Virgil would make. I agree with that recommendation, except Virgil seemed to know whether the specific vehicle/lamp was an appropriate candidate....

The OPs vehicle is a halogen projector lamp so it definitely is an appropriate candidate for the Vosla 65w H7.

 

[jzchen]

The OPs vehicle is a halogen projector lamp so it definitely is an appropriate candidate.

When I asked about a "14 Scion iQ I was recommended H9 modified to fit the H11 plug/socket. I was concerned about the extra current/wiring capacity. I was assured this wasn't a concern. Then when I opened the hood and found the wiring it truly was thick gauge. I wasn't worried.

I guess the appropriate next step would be to try them and if they seem starved to replace the harness with more current capable wiring...

 

[TechGuru]

The OPs vehicle is a halogen projector lamp so it definitely is an appropriate candidate.

Haha, NO! Just got blinded by someone who did that on another Benz the other day. Every time they'd go over a bump the cut off would flash up in my eyes. Got to have the auto leveling of a factory HID system.

 

[EJR]

Haha, NO! Just got blinded by someone who did that on another Benz the other day. Every time they'd go over a bump the cut off would flash up in my eyes. Got to have the auto leveling of a factory HID system.

I don't understand. Did what exactly? Put in Vosla 65w H7 bulbs??

 

[jzchen]

Haha, NO! Just got blinded by someone who did that on another Benz the other day. Every time they'd go over a bump the cut off would flash up in my eyes. Got to have the auto leveling of a factory HID system.

The factory HID systems would not be able to compensate for a bump in the road as well though....

Our suggestion is a 65W H7 halogen bulb, which outputs 2100 lumen because the capsule portion is actually an H9 capsule.

 

[TechGuru]

I don't understand. Did what exactly? Put in Vosla 65w H7 bulbs??

No, installed 6500K HID or LED retrofits.

 

[Danintex]

www.headlightrevolution.com has really nice LED h7 bulbs. If 'timed' correctly they will be close to the correct beam pattern, with a lot more light.