Ok...just got these lights from another wonderful member of this forum and have since come up with some related questions.

1) What thoughts are there regarding hookup of the 'parking' lights? Since the DOT lamps didn't have these, where should they be connected? I've seen talk of just hooking these up to the side flashers...which I take it would just give me 'blinkers' in the front too.

2) How much risk of overheating the lamp assembly OR over powering the stock wiring if I were to install 100/80W bulbs?

3) I've done a search and I cannot find any kind of "how-to" for doing this converion to my 300SD. Mainly, I'm concerned about the plug conversion. Do I need to buy another plug as part of this conversion??

__________________
Chris
1985 300SD - 'Grace' (198K mi.)
2018 Honda Civic Sport
2018 Honda CRV LX
2010 Honda Fit Sport (RIP)
2013 Honda Accord Sport (Sold)
1996 Lexus LS400 (Retired)
1995 Ford Contour SE (Retired)
1976 Porsche 914 (Sold)
1972 Datsun 240Z (RIP)

ck42,

I have done this to W123 cars a few times and used plugs from the rear lamp assemblies I got from the junk yard. It has been a while, like nearly 20 years, but I recall the side marker lamps in the US blinker housing are powered by the line going to the little bulb in the European head lamp assembly. If you want that to light as well, you can put in a little jumper. Most of the job is just moving the connector pins in the plug to the right spot to power the right service (high beam, low beam, fog light, side marker light and blinker, and then if you want the little lamp that lights the head lamp housing if when the light switch hits the first position in the clockwise direction). Can't recall the colors of the wires, or help on the higher wattage bulbs. Hope this helps, and good luck, Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Jim. Thnx.

Ja, as far as the little bulb in the main housing, it seems like a great idea to have this set to come on when the parking lights are on.

Would also make it so that if one of the main headlamp bulbs burned out, I'd still have some light showing in that housing...for the sake of safety.

Looks like I need to buy a couple of 6pin plugs for the conversion.


Still would like to hear about the possibility of using 100/80W bulbs.

__________________
Chris
1985 300SD - 'Grace' (198K mi.)
2018 Honda Civic Sport
2018 Honda CRV LX
2010 Honda Fit Sport (RIP)
2013 Honda Accord Sport (Sold)
1996 Lexus LS400 (Retired)
1995 Ford Contour SE (Retired)
1976 Porsche 914 (Sold)
1972 Datsun 240Z (RIP)

I have these in my W126 300SDL as the one pleasant result of a fender-bender. The small bulbs that go in the bottom of the fixture are 5W "city lights". Saw 'em on my one trip to Germany. I have mine hooked up to the side marker circuit that does NOT flash with the turn indicators. I run 90/110W H4's in my main fixtures, no problemo, but the fixture wiring is new and might be ble to stand the inceased current better. One thing's for sure: I can see better at night than I ever could with any other car I've had.

Suggest you do a search on member Barrie's name. There's lots of good stuff on the hookup, even how to use your lights' wipers again.


Tom Kanis
300SDL 157K

Tom:

Good deal. Last question. Is your 'new' wiring the same guage as the original or did you install larger wire when you put the new stuff in?

I'd be happy just to have the 100/80W bulbs in there...if I could still use my stock wiring and not have heat issues.

Thnx for the info.

__________________
Chris
1985 300SD - 'Grace' (198K mi.)
2018 Honda Civic Sport
2018 Honda CRV LX
2010 Honda Fit Sport (RIP)
2013 Honda Accord Sport (Sold)
1996 Lexus LS400 (Retired)
1995 Ford Contour SE (Retired)
1976 Porsche 914 (Sold)
1972 Datsun 240Z (RIP)

The guage appears the same as stock units. The folks at Capitol West know these units well and can make recommendations for you.

Tom Kanis
www.bravecannons.org