Here are the pictures of my car:

The first picture shows my car with the Euro headlights installed.

The second picture shows the end of the air intake (the port to the right) which comes out behind the right headlight. The engine draws all its air from behind the headlight. I noticed one small hole on the bottom of the recessed headlight area and one small hole on top that allowed some (but much less than ideal) air to enter, which would explain how the car was able to run. The Euro headlights fit flush around the frame of the recessed area and use a seal to seal it. When the light is installed no air can enter this area except for the two small holes previously mentioned. If no air can get into the area behind the headlight, how can the engine breathe?

The third and fourth pictures illustrate the two small holes as mentioned before where some air is able to enter but certainly not enough for the engine to perform properly!

The fifth picture shows the Euro light fitting flush against the frame of the recessed headlight/air intake area and sealing it off.

The last two pictures show how the original USA lights "float" and allow air to flow freely into the area behind them, into the intake port. There is ample room for the air to flow, maybe 1" or so all the way around them.

I hope you understand what I am talking about now that I have pictures. All I wanted was to put on some nice Euros, only to find out that they cause the car to run poorly!

Is there a snorkel that can fit between the headlight and the condenser/radiator you can reroute the air intake hose to?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1243721824

In other models (126/201/124) the air intake snorkel inserts into these spots, instead of above the headlights as in the w123.

No diesel S-Class in europe till the W140. 1995 I think. Hence why the euro lights don't clear the air flow meter on the diesel :(

-J

That's what I am thinking of doing. There is a W126 300SD at Pull-A-Part I might take a look at to see if I can rig something up. For now maybe I will just remove the tube going from the intake port to the air cleaner. It will be running on hot air from the engine compartment instead of cold outside air, is all.

I removed the tube going from the intake port to the air cleaner and then placed a sock over the air cleaner opening so no debris would enter the housing. Then I drove the car and it had it's full power again. What a difference! I was right, suckas (ha ha)! :P

Remove the sock it will get sucked in.

I have it clamped on with two hose clamps.

It will last no longer than a month before it is sucked into your turbo.

Have to totally agree with Winmutt socks are for feet not turbos. :D

Even if it does get sucked in, wouldn't the air filter keep it from getting past the air cleaner (unless the turbo does not use filtered air--port for turbo is before the air filter in the air cleaner)? Maybe I will ditch the Euro lights as they do not work on a 300SD without losing power (I don't care what anyone says--if you block off the air intake port the car will not run correctly).

I belive that a sock might have enough mass to knock the air filter off and maybe...maybe get sucked into the turbo. I am sure Winmutt has a different theory but there is mine. And I personally would get rid of the lights until you can better figure out a configuration that will work for you. Still a nice benz!

I'm not sure how it could knock off the air filter if it is a tight fit in the air cleaner and sealed on all sides by pressure from the top cover. I would say it is 99.625% impossible.

But, I think I will remove the lights and sell them (along with my other 5 sets or so of less than perfect Euro lights I have accumulated). I did not forsee the installation of the European lights to interfere with the operation of the vehicle. I think the 300SD is the only model W116 to have this problem and it was the only USA-only model as well. I guess the USA-type lights have less parts to go bad and are less expensive to maintain.

Well, mine has had Euro lights on it for a year and a half and runs very well. There are many others who have made the switch to Euros without issue.

There must be something different with yours to restrict airflow so severely that it affects performance. Or, perhaps something about mine and others setup that allows more air flow.

I will have to take a close look at my air intake and see if that reveals any clues.

Take that sock off their. Quite a risky move that you dont need to take. Just run with out the tube from the air pick up to the air intake. No need for a sock.
I have had that tube off my SD for some time now with no adverse affects.