A product of five year’s extensive development at Mercedes’s state-of-the-art CAVE facility, the SL class R230 was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2001. It was used as safety car at the German Grand Prix the following month and quickly gained a reputation for its trademark high-capacity engine and overall build quality; the SL class R230 can truly be counted on in the long term. With this particular model, the pre-facelift R230, remaining in production until 2005, the lighting technology used in these cars is however 15-20 years old today.
Factory-fitted options included H7/H7 halogen and D2S/H7 bi-xenon headlights, both made by Automotive Lighting.
The halogen version features an H7 reflector that produces an average light beam even when new. In many cases, its light output has been further compromised as bulb heat and general ageing cause the reflective layer to peel off.
The bi-xenon setup features a 3.0-inch projector, designed in the late 90s. These projectors are known to lose their reflective layer right to the point where they become black inside, causing dangerously low light output.
Needless to say, buying new or used original headlights for your Mercedes SL R230 is not recommended. But there is fortunately no need for that. Whether your car was factory-fitted with H7/H7 halogen or D2S/H7 bi-xenon headlights, there are upgrade kits that will fit inside your existing headlights.
These complete retrofit kits not only provide you with superior brightness and durability; they are also more affordable than average Mercedes SL R230 xenon headlights with bulbs and ballasts, and since all components are brand new, they come with a 2-year warranty. Additional benefits over OEM headlights include Canbus-proof designs and effortless halogen-to-xenon conversions. What’s more, the levelling systems will work without any adjustments to the headlight connectors, and you can use any ballasts that you might already own to save further on xenon upgrades.
No matter which retrofit upgrade kit you pick, you will improve the light output considerably, making for safer and more enjoyable driving. And, of course, your Mercedes SL R230 will look awesome with the luxurious bright light of the latest xenon technology.
![Mercedes SL-Class R230](http://retrofitlab.com/cdn/shop/collections/SL_R230.jpg?v=1650023019)