Euro headlamps on W116 300SD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bgiovan · #1 01-20-2011, 09:29 PM

At some point in my 1979 300SD's past Euro headlamps were installed. They look great except one thing...air for the turbo cut off. Any thoughts as to the practicality of keeping the Euros on it or should I go back to the US Spec rounds so air gets in the turbo?

Thanks!

Doktor Bert · #2 01-20-2011, 10:36 PM

You should go back to U.S. Spec rounds and sell the Euro's to Doktor Bert....

I think you will need to plut the inlet duct somewhere else with the euro lights....

mike-81-240d · #3 01-20-2011, 10:37 PM

Talk to SquiggleDog about this. He solved the same problem.

Squiggle Dog · #4 01-20-2011, 11:00 PM

What I did is disconnect the intake pipe where it connects to the "funnel" behind the headlight. I let it float so it sucks in air from under the hood, then I used black spray can cap to cover the top of the "funnel". There may be a better way of doing this.

I vote Euros all the way. They are so much brighter than the practically useless US-spec lights.

bgiovan · #5 01-21-2011, 08:59 AM

Thanks Guys. Squigg, shoot me a pic and send it along. What did you do with the hole left in the back of the headlamp assy or was that the paint cap? Sorry, a little dense today. Feel like I'm a half step off from everyone else around me.

Doktor Bert · #6 01-21-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgiovan

Thanks Guys. Squigg, shoot me a pic and send it along. What did you do with the hole left in the back of the headlamp assy or was that the paint cap? Sorry, a little dense today. Feel like I'm a half step off from everyone else around me.

maybe try a section of PVC/Vinyl tubing and route the inlet out under the bumper????

Squiggle Dog · #7 01-21-2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgiovan

Thanks Guys. Squigg, shoot me a pic and send it along. What did you do with the hole left in the back of the headlamp assy or was that the paint cap? Sorry, a little dense today. Feel like I'm a half step off from everyone else around me.

The paint cap covers the opening where the air cleaner duct used to attach to keep water from getting in there. You could also remove the funnel altogether and form some metal to fit and screw it in place using sealant.

Instead of the end of the air cleaner duct being connected to the funnel, it floats and points straight ahead. The picture below is of a 300SD I used to have and it illustrates this.

Also, here is a pic of someone else's car:

And, see my thread below:

My New Euro Lights Are Causing My 300SD To Be Slow (Time For a K&N Air Intake?)

bgiovan · #8 01-23-2011, 09:42 PM

Holy shyte Squigg. Never ran across that thread in my search. Sorry! Well, I'm going to try to find a way to make this work. I really do prefer the look and have the Euro bumpers that are going on also...

Stay tuned I guess. Actually began the turbo rebuild process today. Interesting!

http://picasaweb.google.com/116318077355015592300/300SDTurboDisassemble#

bgiovan · #9 01-23-2011, 10:01 PM

Take a look at where the air intake snakes out on the 126's. Maybe something that peeks out the side of the radiator...

Also note the valve cover. I may just have to copy that! Have the whole top half of the motor out, might as well make it look pretty...

Finally Completed My Engine Rebuild For My 300SD

Squiggle Dog · #10 01-24-2011, 12:30 AM

Those pics may come in handy as I plan on rebuilding the turbo at some point as it works intermittently.

The W126 has the air inlet on the side of the radiator (no room on a W116 unless you do some cutting) and a W123 has the inlet attached to the radiator core support so it sucks in air from under the hood. I suppose with some drilling an inlet from a W123 could be attached to a W116 in a similar fashion.

Creativity is key.

bgiovan · #11 02-06-2011, 11:00 PM

Figured out what I'ma gonna do. Now that I have the entire engine bay torn down for the head and turbo rebuild, I'm going to snake a tube under the battery tray and under the headlamp assy. The metal trim is grooved to allow air in and by golly, I'm going to get some of that cold air.

Squiggle Dog · #12 02-06-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgiovan

Figured out what I'ma gonna do. Now that I have the entire engine bay torn down for the head and turbo rebuild, I'm going to snake a tube under the battery tray and under the headlamp assy. The metal trim is grooved to allow air in and by golly, I'm going to get some of that cold air.

That will work, the only thing is that you will have to remove the air funnel that connects to the battery tray and will lose the battery-cooling function. But it will work okay for the air intake.