Better headlights - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DCM · #1 01-03-2006, 10:54 PM

Recently, one of my low beams burned out so I replaced both low beams with new Sylvania sealed beam bulbs.

Instead of a decent lighting pattern, I have one round spot on the right side of the road and a figure 8 shaped spot on the left. Terrible lighting.

I rode in a friends new Chrystler a few weeks ago and the road lighting was terrific and he does not have the high intensity lights. He does not like them.

Is there a sealed beam bulb available that will provide good lighting? I don't want to rewire my car or any part of it. Just want to drop in two new low beams that will actually light up the road.

Forgot to mention the year of the car when I posted this. It is a 1980 300sd.

Thanks

Brian Carlton · #2 01-03-2006, 11:31 PM

How about using Hella E-code lamps?

No rewiring necessary. You get a very good reflector that takes a replacement H4 bulb.

You don't mention the vehicle, but these fellows have both the smaller headlamps for the W116 and the larger headlamps for the W123:

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/headlamps.asp

The SD currently uses one of those Hella conversions and the result is excellent.

Hit Man X · #3 01-03-2006, 11:32 PM

Sealed beams put out poor lighting. I threw in new ones on the SD and they're far brighter. I used the cheapo AutoZoo ones, they're reboxed Phillips.

Hella has a bulb that replaces the sealed beam then uses a far brighter light that sits within it...

Oilbrnr · #4 01-04-2006, 12:30 AM

I agree with Brian. The Hella E codes are very nice. I've used both the rectangular and round versions on past vehicles and loved them. The output/pattern is far superior to DOTs. Well worth the $$$.

DieselCJ · #5 01-04-2006, 12:50 AM

I got the Sylvania SilverStar sealed beam bulbs, and like them a lot, though I am sure there is something better.

-John

Ara T. · #6 01-04-2006, 01:48 AM

Fastlane has some Bosh headlamps you can buy.. non seal beam units and coupled with Silverstars they are 100X better than the US spec crap.

#7 01-04-2006, 02:33 AM

As brian as sugggested, I have had E-codes in my 300SD. They worked WONDERFULLY and put out the exact same amount of light and pattern as the full euro light setups.

All you have to do is drop them into the US-spec housings and you are set...no harder than replacing a sealed beam light except now you get to swap them out.

I rewired my car so they would have more power for my high beam circuit but you can check out my website about the conversion. Pretty simple.

Mine leftover sealed beams are actually no longer in the car as I got eurolamps (for the vac level adjusters)

If you wanted my set, I'd sell them to you. They are in perfect condition as they only got a few thousand miles on them. No pits/cracks anything. Just went with the full setup for my vac level adjustment stuff.

Lemme know

pawoSD · #8 01-04-2006, 08:29 AM

What is the best place to purchase these Hella E-codes?....I also want to start using the H4 bulbs......either that or I'll use the bosch ones from fastlane.

I am predicting I'll lose my right side headlight sometime in the near future, it is a different brightness than the left, and it "quivers" when the car is idling....probably a loose filament or something in there going bad. Plus both of my "sealed" beams get water inside them when it rains hard....

phidauex · #9 01-04-2006, 10:54 AM

The Hella, Cibie, and Bosch e-code sealed beam conversions are nice, but if you don't have much to spend on the project, look into Autopal. They are made in India, but I've been using a set (including the 'included' bulbs) for over a year, and about 15,000 miles, with great results, plus, they are less than 30$ shipped. Search on ebay for 'autopal', and you'll find a guy with an autopal store. He sells a bunch of them, in several different varieties, but the basic 7" round euro-style lights are a drop-in replacement for the standard sealed beams, and are vastly better in light quality and brightness.

peace,
sam

rs899 · #10 01-04-2006, 12:37 PM

Along the same lines as the Autopal , I have just installed sets of Neolite H4 conversions on my 240D and 300D. These are also Indian-made and are about the same price as the Autopals. I opted for these because they are a carbon copy of the Cibie Z beam light ( and I have a set of those on my 300SD until I figure out the Euro light wiring). I just like the look of the lens- it's probably no better than the Autopal light in reality.

They seem much better than the sealed beams once you get them aimed properly.

Rick

tenknots · #11 01-04-2006, 12:43 PM

I installed a set of Autopals E-codes two days ago and I'm very happy with them. Holy cats, are the lights bright! Very white and great pattern. The high beams will scorch your neighbors paint. Best $30 I spent this year.

The lights come with bulbs and it only takes 5 minutes longer to install them than sealed beams.

I got mine from the same guy as phidauex. Shipping was three days.

Eskimo · #12 01-04-2006, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

What is the best place to purchase these Hella E-codes?

See Brian Carlton's post earlier in this thread. I don't know if they're "the best" place, but my limited interactions with them have been wholly satisfactory.

#13 01-04-2006, 12:46 PM

I ran the Hella sealed beam replacement with H4 bulbs in my cars for YEARS before upgrading my cars to Euro lamps.

On the 123 cars a great poor boy headlight system would be the Hella E codes and then use halogen high beam sealed beams from the dual headlamp cars of the late fifties and sixties. These sealed beams will fit right in place of the fog lamps on the US lighted 123's and maybe other MB's. You then turn on the fog lamps with the fog lamp switch OR rewire with a relay so that they come on with your high beams.

Good luck,

pawoSD · #14 01-04-2006, 12:57 PM

How good are those Hella Lamps on Fast Lane, the ones that use the H4 style bulb....any better than a good x-travision sealed beam?? Our 83 has two of those x-travision sealed ones and it lights up the road pretty darn good.....

pawoSD · #15 01-04-2006, 12:58 PM

How good are those Hella Lamps on Fast Lane, the ones that use the H4 style bulb....any better than a good x-travision sealed beam?? Our 83 has two of those x-travision sealed ones and it lights up the road pretty well.....compared to mine anyways...