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olasdeplata
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2006
Location: At the Beach in Hatteras
Vehicle(s): 280GE convertible 84, 300E 89
Posts: 396
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
jeremyw - 9/23/2013 11:02 PM
Always give and takes with modifications...I was thinking about adding in an aftermarket xenon/HID kit to my factory ZKW lights, but the issue is that often the xenon's won't fire off, or they'll flicker on/off, so you have to turn your headlights off and then back on in hopes of the light coming alive. Sure, the DDM Tuning HID kits are like $30/ea kit, but IMHO they appear to be made in such great volume that I'm not sure of their long-term reliability. If it fails, you get a new one for pennies. But, to wire it in cleanly and meticulously would take hours--then if you have to replace it when it fails, it's hours again. And where to mount the ballast where it's easily accessible yet will stay put? So I shy'd away from the xenon kit myself due to the potential failure/hassle.
That being said, could an LED lamp fail and leave you without headlights as well? Yes. No doubt the old halogen's are the lowest cost option, and easily field fixable if a bulb fails...but the light output is dimmer and old technology.
Again, pluses and minuses to all the options IMHO.
I decided to upgrade to the Hella E code H4 bucket (vs the DOT Hella Vision Plus... read that they provide better illumination E code vs DOT) and use Osram Night Breakers 55/60 that are rated at plus 90. The cost is $60 per Hella bucket and $20 for the Osram H4s, total of $160. I am aware the bulbs last around a year, but they are probably worth the trouble for the extra safety in winter.
Now I have a DOT sealed H6024, so probably ANYTHING will be better. |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
olasdeplata - 9/24/2013 10:26 PM
...I decided to upgrade to the Hella E code H4 bucket...
Did the same on the baby G. I like the light intensity, color, and pattern of E-code H4s. Got my setups from Sean @ Eurotruck. These include the spot for the city light but not the bulb socket, and the hardware for that was lost in the federalization so my running lights are still on the wing tops in this one. 20 minute job start to finish and they came out of the box aimed just right. Like Jer says, I don't think this is a "one way is best" thing. Overall effectiveness of lighting varies by the individual, not just the lumen number on the box, nt to mention plain old personal preference on the myriad other considerations involved. Good luck Mariano!
PS - if I could get these Nolden things in a 4" round hig/low beam I'd build a mount to put them in my MC. The bike has H4 bulbs in a bespoke reflector assembly that's losing its silvering and was never great to begin with. Other options I've looked at don't seem promising. Still waiting for a Bi-LED 4" round high/low with H4-or-better output/beam pattern.
-Dave G.
Edited by hipine 9/25/2013 9:08 AM
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jeremyw
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Vehicle(s): '03 G500 O'erlanderwagen
Posts: 846
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
hipine - 9/25/2013 5:59 AM
olasdeplata - 9/24/2013 10:26 PM
...I decided to upgrade to the Hella E code H4 bucket...
Did the same on the baby G. I like the light intensity, color, and pattern of E-code H4s. Got my setups from Sean @ Eurotruck. These include the spot for the city light but not the bulb socket, and the hardware for that was lost in the federalization so my running lights are still on the wing tops in this one. 20 minute job start to finish and they came out of the box aimed just right. Like Jer says, I don't think this is a "one way is best" thing. Overall effectiveness of lighting varies by the individual, not just the lumen number on the box, nt to mention plain old personal preference on the myriad other considerations involved. Good luck Mariano!
PS - if I could get these Nolden things in a 4" round hig/low beam I'd build a mount to put them in my MC. The bike has H4 bulbs in a bespoke reflector assembly that's losing its silvering and was never great to begin with. Other options I've looked at don't seem promising. Still waiting for a Bi-LED 4" round high/low with H4-or-better output/beam pattern.
-Dave G.
Dave, would a 90mm round work? That's 3.5". |
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Otiswesty
Administrator
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
jeremyw - 9/6/2013 7:33 PM
You're very welcome for the write-up guys.
Still need to confirm W460 fitment--
http://www.puchg.net/ersatzteile-spare-parts-shop/lichter-leuchten/
Like this...
Edited by otiswesty 9/26/2013 1:25 AM
 (ledhdlt.jpg)
Attachments
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 ledhdlt.jpg (73KB - 1 downloads)
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jeremyw
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Vehicle(s): '03 G500 O'erlanderwagen
Posts: 846
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
Badda bing! Thanks Eric.
Was waiting on Tony for my own W460 fitment confirmation. |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
jeremyw - 9/25/2013 10:58 PM
Dave, would a 90mm round work? That's 3.5".
I'll PM you as this really has zero to do with G's. Thanks for your interest in helping me though.
-Dave G. |
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jeremyw
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Vehicle(s): '03 G500 O'erlanderwagen
Posts: 846
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
hipine - 9/26/2013 9:25 PM
jeremyw - 9/25/2013 10:58 PM
Dave, would a 90mm round work? That's 3.5".
I'll PM you as this really has zero to do with G's. Thanks for your interest in helping me though.
-Dave G.
Certainly Dave! |
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jeremyw
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Vehicle(s): '03 G500 O'erlanderwagen
Posts: 846
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
Just a heads up that I(and Tony, thx Tony!) did confirm W460 fitment! Will post pics soon with a headlight bucket part number to confirm your W460 has the correct buckets. |
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olasdeplata
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2006
Location: At the Beach in Hatteras
Vehicle(s): 280GE convertible 84, 300E 89
Posts: 396
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
I ended up buying new Hella Euro Code buckets (not the DOT approved), that are better than the vision plus in reach, and have less dispersion than DOT, I installed Osram's Nightbreakers, that sadly I know will last a bit less than a year, but will almost double the lumen at normal wattage of factory lights. All for around $120. Looks like I "doubled" the amount of light.
I am VERY happy with the results! |
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olasdeplata
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2006
Location: At the Beach in Hatteras
Vehicle(s): 280GE convertible 84, 300E 89
Posts: 396
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
just in case someone wants the specific info, since they are not very easy to find: 6024 Hella 7" Round E-code Hi-Lo Conversion Headlamp Kit.
http://www.rallylights.com/h6024-7-round-e-code-hi-lo-conversion-he...
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thebigblue
Date registered: Jan 2012
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
Thanks, appreciated. I might try this, since it seems the replica MB lights I bought a year ago is not for outdoor use:
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Idaho460
Member
Date registered: Aug 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Vehicle(s): 83-280GE, 74-MG GT, 15-KTM 500EXC, 87-GMC Diesel,
Posts: 20
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
olasdeplata Thanks a bunch for the link to the correct Hella lights. They appear to be just what I have been looking for to fit into my 460. Also. good discussion on other options in the thread.
Cheers |
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jeremyw
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Vehicle(s): '03 G500 O'erlanderwagen
Posts: 846
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
Anyone compared these to USA-spec ZKW's? |
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Fenalaar
Elite Veteran
Date registered: May 2006
Location: Narvik, Norway
Vehicle(s): 2001 ML270CDI, Polaris 400L Big Boss
Posts: 826
| RE: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
No, no, no, no...
You DON'T get a H4 bucket and install a Xenon converter kit. They're illegal and dangerous, because the optics aren't designed for the filament pattern of a Xenon bulb, an they'll give off huge amount of stray light that'll dazzle and blind oncoming drivers. Do you want to cause accidents?
The buggers selling the HID aftermarket crap and saying its ok should have their entire inventory inserted where the sun don't shine... 
Here's why: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conve...
What you can do to get much better lights is get the Hella buckets, mentioned above, get the Osram Nightbreakers mentioned above and install a relay kit like this: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/relays/relays.html
Johan-Kr
Edited by Fenalaar 10/29/2013 8:25 AM
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Rangek1d
Member
Date registered: Feb 2018
Location: Calgary, Canada
Vehicle(s): 03 G55 Brilliant Silver
Posts: 25
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
Hey Jeremy,
I read your write up and absolutely fell in love with the idea of these lights. I own an 03 G55 and today I tried to hook up the Nolden headlights which I recently purchased. My headlight does not come with the position light so there is only one connection in the back (H4 plug). I turned them on and got a error on the screen, likely because I don't have any resistance on the position light so I saw that coming.
Next I tested the high beam and that's where everything went south. I pulled on the high beam lever and the headlight turned off. There would be a millisecond of light after pulling the high beam lever and then the headlight turns of permanently, even the low beam doesn't work until you don't restart the wagen. |
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King_GH
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Oct 2011
Location: London
Vehicle(s): 95 G300 RHD
Posts: 324
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
Guys I'm still not sure why a German company can craft headlights that throw such good light output and not bother with investing in the design? It looks so cheap I feel it doesn't deserve to be put on a Gwagon. This thing looks like a cheap chinese designed light you'd get on ebay. I was critical with JW Speaker on their newest design but it still looks way better. Sorry but I think they need to invest in a good design for the money they're asking for these units. I go by this rule ... Aftermarket should look better at least. I hope they read these threads. |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Re: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
The easy answer to that question: The "Nolden" is designed and manufactured by Giant Light of Taiwan (link). Also marketed under the name "Pilot". A pair can be had for $500 in the USA. I have a pair and they work very well. Exact same part, right down to the mold markings.
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Rangek1d
Member
Date registered: Feb 2018
Location: Calgary, Canada
Vehicle(s): 03 G55 Brilliant Silver
Posts: 25
| RE: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
Update To My Issue:
So it seemed like the only option left was to install resistors. I ended up installing 6 ohm 50W resistors in to a H4 harness that I then attached to the stock H4 harness coming from the body. All the high beam problems have gone away, everything is functioning as it should with a random flicker on start up once in a blue moon. I also added the same resistors to the park lights so I don't need any bulbs there. Got the 2013+ LED headlight covers running as my DRL.
The headlights do need a bit of adjustment obviously, but the light distribution is pretty great, and while purchasing them I knew they were not going to look as good as the original headlights, but I have been proven wrong, they actually look very nice. |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| RE: Nolden 7" round Bi-LED headlight review!
Can't you just get the lighting module reprogrammed to fix this?
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