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#1
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123 Driving Light Suggestions
We've got a summer place up in ME and do a lot of driving on unlighted roads and stretches of highway. I'd like to get at least some semi-period correct looking bumper mount driving lights for my TD. I know that they probably aren't as strong or intense as some of the newer, high-intensity ones but I'd like to keep things looking right and they'd still be an improvement over not having them. Any suggestions?
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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15 '06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod) |
#2
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Start with some Halogen headlights. They will make a big difference without adding extra lights on. I put some on my wagon and they are waaaay better than the hold sealed beams.
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Andrew '04 Jetta TDI Wagon '82 300TD ~ Winnie ~ Sold '77 300D ~ Sold
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#3
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I install Hella's in my benz's. Do da, do da. Allright, they will help. Lens and bulb. Try here http://rallylights.com/hella/7in.asp see if you still need help. A brochure came with them offering driving lights, etc. some with RF switches, very small and unobtrusive. Unfimiliar with period look after market lights. Except for the 126, wanting to do the euro headlight thing.
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83 SD 84 CD |
#4
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I suggest getting some 7" e-codes,(hella $80ish, cibie $110ish, autopal $40ish), that will help a lot.
it is also possible to replace your fogs with high beams. or low/highs, and run a true 4 lamp system.
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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven. 1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven. |
#5
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Just get euros an be done with it.
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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg 1995 E420 Schwarz 1995 E300 Weiss #1987 300D Sturmmachine #1991 300D Nearly Perfect #1994 E320 Cabriolet #1995 E320 Touring #1985 300D Sedan OBK #42 |
#6
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As "toomany MBZ" suggests, check out the offerings at Susquehanna: http://www.rallylights.com/hella/Auxiliary_Lamps.asp
Sorry, but I have to ask: how is that going to be a solution to wanting driving lights? Aren't the inner positions just fog lights? Sure, E-code lights are better than US sealed beams, but I doubt Euro W123 lights are any better than Hella E-Code 7" lights -- actually, I bet they are worse than the Hellas. Since I'm not an "MB look" purist, I'm replacing the fogs on my 300td with Hella 5-3/4" high beams. I wanted the extra light and would never use the stock fogs anyhow (which are poorly positioned in the first place). I also like the fact that doing so irritates some of Y'all! |
#7
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I have 7" Hella E-codes and they work way better than the sealed beams. I have but not installed yet a set of Hella 5 3/4" high beams to replace the fogs. As noted the fogs are not in a particularly good location. The combination should throw enough light for most situations. I am also considering a set of Hella 530 fogs under the bumper, this is New England after all. The 530's have been around a while so they should be "period correct" enough for me. RT
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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops! 84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K 03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K 93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K |
#8
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Speaking from experience......
I mean no offense to you "city folks".....but......as I live way beyond what most of y'all consider to be "the boonies", I'll just state the facts......
A good set of halogen or bright stars will do you well....e-codes will be better..... If you must install a big set of what I would consider "off road" lights....please, please remember to dim them when you come up on another vehicle.....no matter which direction you are approaching the local hillbilly ********* from......and one wonders why nice folks get pissed with the inconsiderations of the visiting city folk..... I don't know anyone locally who burns an extra set of lights....excepting those on motorcycles.......look around at the local vehicles the next time that you visit...... SB
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Diesels: '85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG '84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG '77 240D (parts car) '67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP) Gassers: '94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG '85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car '58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG |
#9
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I've got some 5 3/4 H3 high beam lights instead of the fog lights. They work great. I do miss the extra close light from the fogs when the low beams are on, however. Square euros and H4's with the H3 high beams are about the same if you ask me. Driving lights under the bumper don't do much good as the are very low- and dont illuminate much except air. I had a set and it wasn't worth the effort to install them. Fog lights under the bumber would be a better choice.
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#10
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Thanks for the suggestions guys. I do want to keep the fogs since I use them on my other vehicles fairly often. I think I will replace the headlights with halogen ones. I will check out those sites also. I would be mounting them above the bumper. I'm not looking to light up the night sky by any means, I just want to supplement the headlights with some that I could angle slightly towards the roadside on either side. Of course I'd be turning them off for oncoming traffic.
Shorebilly, I know exactly what you mean. The house has been in our family for well over a century. My uncle was born there (father, too) and has lived two houses down full-time for over 30 years now. He's been a town cop, a fireman, an alderman, town engineer amongst other town related jobs. He's still considered a flat-lander by the locals because he went to school in CT prior to attending U. of ME and then onto the Navy. I don't want to piss them off to much, but then again, I'll fire back
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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15 '06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod) |
#11
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My vote is for putting the driving lights in the fog light position since that is a good height for them and replace the fogs with aux fogs below the bumper where they would work better than the stock position anyway.
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Ron Schroeder '85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO '83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980: '83 Mercedes 240D '80 Audi 4000D '83 ISUZU Pup '70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel '76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel '86 Golf Several diesel generators All with 2 tank WVO conversion LI NY |
#12
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Get some Euros for the car first - real Euros. Mine on my w123 are bright enough to piss off anybody on a dark road. If that doesn't do it, then go for the bumper-mounted Hellas.
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- Brian 1989 500SEL Euro 1966 250SE Cabriolet 1958 BMW Isetta 600 |
#13
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I have always been into having great headlight in my car and so this is what I did.
New Headlights and Wipers I have 100w/80w H4's in the headlight and 100w H3's in the Bosch driving lights. The lights are 80's NOS I got from a friend years ago for my Saab rally car. I never was able to race the car and decided a better place for them would be on my 240. The headligth wipers do wonders on the salty roads of NH. Oh I make sure they are on low anytime I am near another car. I hate being blasted with high beams myself and I would never want to be hit by mine. |
#14
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Hella Ecode headlight beam pattern pics on my daughters 240D
Bought the ecode lights for my daughters car first to try them out. Love the light pattern. Far superior to any US made light pattern. Bought 2 more sets. One for the wagon and one for my sons 65 Mustang. Got the lights from http://www.rallylights.com/hella/7in.asp Ordered the H6024M Dave
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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990 1980 240D, owned 1990-1992 1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993 1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004 1999 E300, owned 1999-2003 1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD 1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995 1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons) 1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004 2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver 1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold) 2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car |
#15
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--------------------------- No matter how many times you explain it to me, I'm still right.....Surf-n-Turf |
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