I've had this car only a few months and have been slowly fixing all the small problems. Recently, I got the front dome light to work properly on this '85 300D. My question is, is this the correct light for this car? Is there supposed to be some kind of bezel or trim piece going around the light? The light fits all the way inside the headliner and you can see insulation around the light. This is a 3 lead light.

I think you have the 1st generation dome light in a 2nd generation 123.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Ahhhh..... 2nd generation. Would the correct light be the one that has the extra lens on it? Some call it a map light or reading light?

Hmmm I have an 85, and it looks similar to that. I will check tomorrow. There is no bezel.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The 1st generation dome light has a smaller on/off tab than the one pictured here. The on/off tab looks like a 2nd generation light tab. I think the OP has a deformed dome light hole.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Speaking of W123 generations, I've heard there are 3:

1. 1976 to 1979
2. 1980 to 1982
3. 1983 to 1985

But most folks lump 1980 to 1985 as one generation.

To answer the OP's question that looks like the right one.

But you can upgrade to the even later style (same size, direct plug-n-play) that includes an independent map light. The dial now has 4 options (off, on with door open, all ON, map light only).

W123 dome light with reading light?

__________________
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Figures I'd end up with some oddball. The current light falls all the way in. It stays in place but wobbles loosely. You can clearly see where something larger used to be there by the impression on the headliner. If the hole us deformed I can't imagine why or what could have been there. My car does have Euro lights and bumpers. Would that make a difference in the light that should be there? MBeige recommends upgrading to the style with the map light but if the lens dimensions are the same as my current light I'll still have that unsightly look. Does anyone know the dimensions of the various lights.?

This is my hunch too, the surrounding material is deformed making it wobbly. Or perhaps the metal mounting tabs are just in need of adjustment to tighten up the fit?

By comparison here's the early style front dome light. On off only like Joe above said.

__________________
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg