A new look - 123.133 - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

H-townbenzoboy · #31 08-14-2008, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thecorrupterx

now who on earth would go out of their way to look like the french?

It's to provide amber fog lights, which are better than white fog lights in foggy conditions. US spec lights had yellow fogs too after 1981.

75Sv1 · #32 08-14-2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowriderdog37

I painted my grill about a year ago with engine paint, haven't had even a chip yet.

I like the euro headlights...only because I can put different bulbs in there. I would like to get a set whenever I stumble upon them. I want a real set though, I am worried about the ebay set out there because of the possibility of melting with strong bulbs.

??? I put different bulbs in my round setup. I had to buy some Hella lens though. Cibie or ($$$) Marchals would do also. I plan to put some city light type and a driving light with fog lights setup.
I personally, like the old setup on the yellow car. On the brown one pictured the euros look good. On the grill, I like the dark gray better. Both look good though.
Tom

bgkast · #33 08-14-2008, 11:03 AM

I would paint the "grills" in the headlights to match the radiator grill.

Stevo · #34 08-14-2008, 04:16 PM

Really looks sweet. I like the gray grill and the euro lights, ummm, umm

Stevo · #35 08-14-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgkast

I would paint the "grills" in the headlights to match the radiator grill.

Can you get into the back of those things to clean or paint. I thought of doing that and didn't see an easy way to get in there.

Boardmonger · #36 08-14-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

Is there a preference for 15" Bundts - ATS or Centra? The ones I got were Centra but I do know there are other brands (just like some companies back in the day made 14" Intra/Ronal/Fuchs "replicas" of the Bundts).

Wait, so you did get the 15" bundts? Man we are all going to rolling the same way. Euro lights, bumpers, 15" bundts, etc.

I personally prefer the ATS, and I wish that was what I had, but no, I think I got the Centra's from Curtis. They still need to be refinished, but now I think I want proper ATS AMG Pentas. Tough choices eh?

I will have headlamp wipers/sprayers though

MBeige · #37 08-14-2008, 07:20 PM

I'm also debating on whether to add headlamp washers/sprayers

The Euro bumpers with washers are harder to find. Yes I did get the 15" Bundts, and they're also Centra. Yours are chrome right?

Thanks guys, I'm glad you like the dark gray grille insert. When I sprayed it black two years ago, I thought it was too vulgar. So now I'm trying this dark gray color instead. I might go ahead and paint the headlight plastic frame dark gray also but I can't find a matching color that's also heat resistant.

Boardmonger · #38 08-14-2008, 08:26 PM

Yea, chrome, but not for long! I'm debating some other wheels. I'll PM you.

bgkast · #39 08-14-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

Can you get into the back of those things to clean or paint. I thought of doing that and didn't see an easy way to get in there.

You can on the early round euros, so I think you should be able to on the newer ones. You have to pull the lense and then they unscrew from the back of the light.

Mark DiSilvestro · #40 08-14-2008, 11:01 PM

My '84 Euro 300TD came with the Euro lights, but both lenses were broken, and a PO had started 'Americanising' this car with new fenders, a repaint, and a US front bumper. In addition to the broken glass, one of the Euro headlamp reflectors appeared to be moisture damaged, so I picked up a pair of complete US W123 headlamp units at a Pick-n-Pull for $24. I think these cars look great either way, though I have a slight preference for the Euro lights, and unfortunately, I gave up the wagon's headlamp level adjustment when I removed the Euros. Otherwise, the US lghts are easier to find and cheaper to repair after rock damage or a parking mishap. And I'm thinking of finishing the Americanising by replacing my remaining, but damaged, rear Euro bumper with a US one - $30 from the same Pick-N-Pull!. While the Euro bumpers look very nice, the W123 alloy US bumpers are decent looking too - much more attractive than Mercedes mid '70s battering-rams. and much better protection for my TD than the flimsy Euro bumpers.
I also picked up an extra pair of slightly ratty W123 plastic headlight surrounds from the same Pick-N-Pull. I'm planning to repaint these in matching body color, as I've seen others do on their W123s, just to see how I like it.
Later, I may splurge on replacement glass for my Euro lights, so I can have a choice of three different looks for my diesels.

Happy Motoring, Mark

MTUpower · #41 08-14-2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

It's to provide amber fog lights, which are better than white fog lights in foggy conditions. US spec lights had yellow fogs too after 1981.

No such proof of yellow lights being better in the fog than white. If it were so then why did MB abandon yellow "fogs"? If there is a modern lighting study that says yellow is better, I (meaning we here at SF) would love to see a link to it.

I have a wagon with square euro's and a wagon with hella h4's and yellow fogs and I'm split on which is better. Some cars look better with the black grille insert, and some look better with dark grey.

Mark DiSilvestro · #42 08-14-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

No such proof of yellow lights being better in the fog than white. If it were so then why did MB abandon yellow "fogs"? If there is a modern lighting study that says yellow is better, I (meaning we here at SF) would love to see a link to it.

I have a wagon with square euro's and a wagon with hella h4's and yellow fogs and I'm split on which is better. Some cars look better with the black grille insert, and some look better with dark grey.

Personally, I prefer the amber fogs, even if the yellow light might not actually work better. A few years ago, I got some Euro headlamps for my Fintail 220. The glass bubble-lens was clear, but the integral turn signals and foglights had amber bulbs, which produced a neat effect when they were lit. Unfortunately, when one of the fog-bulbs died, I found that amber replacements were no longer availible. I think I might be able to tint the foglamp reflectors in the Euro loghts (including those for W123s) with some type of clear yellow lacquer to provide an amber look.

Happy Motoring, Mark

MTUpower · #43 08-14-2008, 11:35 PM

I agree amber fogs look much better IMHO, but I have no proof that they WORK any better.

MBeige · #44 08-16-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

No such proof of yellow lights being better in the fog than white. If it were so then why did MB abandon yellow "fogs"? If there is a modern lighting study that says yellow is better, I (meaning we here at SF) would love to see a link to it.

I have a wagon with square euro's and a wagon with hella h4's and yellow fogs and I'm split on which is better. Some cars look better with the black grille insert, and some look better with dark grey.

This link should be helpful: http://danielsternlighting.com/tech/lights/light_color/light_color.html

And I quote,

Quote:

So, why do yellow fog lamps work better? It's because of the way the human eye interacts with different colors of light. Blue and violet are very difficult for the human optical system to process correctly. They are the shortest visible wavelengths and tend to focus in front of our eyes' retinae, rather than upon it. To demonstrate this to yourself, find a dark blue store front sign or something else that's a dark, pure blue against a dark background in the absence of white light. From any appreciable distance, it's almost impossible for your eyes to see the blue lighted object as a sharply defined form...the edges blur significantly.) Blue also is a very difficult color of light to look at if it is at all intense...it stimulates the reaction we call "glare". So, culling the blue out of the spectrum lightens the optical workload and reduces glare. For more in-depth discussion of the matter, see Bullough & Rea's excellent study on the topic.

And in particular, this is the study Daniel Stern was referring to:

http://www.lightingresearch.org/programs/transportation/pdf/SAE/2001-01-0320.pdf

I'm debating on whether to paint the reflector yellow, or just get yellow bulbs. Don't want to ruin the Euro lights. There's a third option to, if it's similar to the W124/W201/W126 setup, to get the yellow "caps" that cover the fog light bulbs to give the illusion of a yellow reflector. The car currently has "standard" white fog lights, but I like the yellow light better, because it's more pleasing to the eye. Doesn't make me want to squint. I suppose that's what Daniel Stern mentioned above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

My '84 Euro 300TD came with the Euro lights, but both lenses were broken, and a PO had started 'Americanising' this car with new fenders, a repaint, and a US front bumper. In addition to the broken glass, one of the Euro headlamp reflectors appeared to be moisture damaged, so I picked up a pair of complete US W123 headlamp units at a Pick-n-Pull for $24. I think these cars look great either way, though I have a slight preference for the Euro lights, and unfortunately, I gave up the wagon's headlamp level adjustment when I removed the Euros. Otherwise, the US lghts are easier to find and cheaper to repair after rock damage or a parking mishap. And I'm thinking of finishing the Americanising by replacing my remaining, but damaged, rear Euro bumper with a US one - $30 from the same Pick-N-Pull!. While the Euro bumpers look very nice, the W123 alloy US bumpers are decent looking too - much more attractive than Mercedes mid '70s battering-rams. and much better protection for my TD than the flimsy Euro bumpers.
I also picked up an extra pair of slightly ratty W123 plastic headlight surrounds from the same Pick-N-Pull. I'm planning to repaint these in matching body color, as I've seen others do on their W123s, just to see how I like it.
Later, I may splurge on replacement glass for my Euro lights, so I can have a choice of three different looks for my diesels.

Happy Motoring, Mark

I was able to get a pair of brand new European Bosch (square) lenses for slightly more than a pair of brand new US DOT headlight covers. I might also invest on some headlight protectors (those thin plastic "shields" on the lenses) if they won't ruin the look.

Mark, we have the same view of the bumpers - practical and decent enough and won't ruin the look as much.

JimmyL · #45 08-16-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

I agree amber fogs look much better IMHO, but I have no proof that they WORK any better.

Looks like you do now William.......