EURO HEADLIGHT QUESTION FOR EUROPEAN MEMBERSuro - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chupr98 · #1 03-07-2002, 02:19 AM

Hi guys,

Can any of the european W124 owner tell me if you vehicles use 80/100 H4 bulbs as standard equipment?

Thanks

mbdoc · #2 03-07-2002, 08:11 AM

The European standard for the H4 is 55W for the low beam. Several countries have different hi-beam standards.

yal · #3 03-07-2002, 11:15 AM

I am not in europe but I have a grey market euro which came from factory with 55W bulb. The quality of the harness and hardware tells me that I could probably get away with going higher.

#4 03-07-2002, 11:52 AM

The european standard is 55/60... I have in the past (with other makes of cars ) used 80/100 and 80/130 but they are not 'e' marked. and in fact say 'for off road use only' on the boxes. So you are not supposed to use them in the european commumnity!

I hve also burnt out switches (Range Rover, maestro) managed to burn most of the silvering on an Audi coupe using 80/130 in headlight and 130 in driving lamps, I suspect I was being over ambitious. Worked very well though.
Also had 80/100 in an Opel Manta, great car, headlights were apalling though.
On our rally car we used 80/100 in the headlights (cibie) with 130 in the 4 spots also cibies , It was like daylight . but they were all run through relays and main power fused straight from the batter.
That was all BC (before children)

In my 300d I use 55/60 zenon (blue) bulbs which give a whiter light which I find better than standard, and pick up deer, rabbits white lines etc not necessarily in order of importance.....
The mercedes lights are good to start with though.

chupr98 · #5 03-07-2002, 01:35 PM

Hi guys,

The reason for my question is whether european unit uses plastic socket for H4 bulb? I have plastic sockets in my Bosch euro that I recently purchased.

I melted the plastic sockets in the OEM US version W124 assemblies when I used 80/100 9004 bulbs. I don't want to melt my euro's socket as well!! But I read from another posting saying euro headlights are designed to use 80/100 H4 bulbs. TRUE OR FALSE??

Thanks

#6 03-07-2002, 05:09 PM

I had a look at mine and it has a metal socket, I will speak to my mate who has a 93 124 and another mate who has an 89 124 and ask what they are using.

In UK and european law headlamp bulbs have to be max 55/60 for a 12V vehicle (70/60 for 24V trucks AFAIR) and knowing car manufacturers, who will save pennies a car. The car is designed around 55/60
I suspect you answer is false

But I would hope as bosch manufacture these bulbs as well, their lamp units would be able to stand it....

I have built rally cars and road cars and have had a fair look at the construction and use regulations what you could do, and what you couldn't do,

with regards to lights type and position, They had to be inspected by the traffic Police before they could be registered.

#7 03-07-2002, 05:51 PM

Even with standard wattages, if the long, narrow blades in the connector get the least bit corroded, the whole mess starts to get hot. If you've got a vehicle that uses 9004 or 9007, don't go above 80 watts, high or low, and use electronic cleaner to clean the plugs every time you change the oil. I've had big battles with these things on my daughter's '90 SAAB 900S and a friend had the headlight wiring harness burn up on his Audi 100CS as soon as he switched to 70/80 watt 9004 bulbs, although with aftermarket 70/80 bulbs in my parents' Mercury Sable and Ford F-150, and several other Ford products in the family, there have been no such problems, amazingly enough.

#8 03-07-2002, 08:33 PM

PIKACHU: Where did you get your euro lights from. I'm have been looking everywhere for a Canadian source but I can,t find anything.
I e-mailled Bosch Canada twice but they never answered me.
And getting those from a US source + freight+ custom etc. becomes very expensive with our micky mouse $$$$
Thanks
jackD

chupr98 · #9 03-08-2002, 01:08 AM

Hi Jackd,

I have a friend imported them for me. They cost me almost CAD$600.00 landed. NO TAXES THOUGH!! Not bad considering our $$.

I like to ask desmondo whether the Cibie that ran 130 watt bulb had plastic or metal bulb sockets?

Thanks

#10 03-08-2002, 06:34 AM

Hi Peter
I checked the cibies (still have them languishing in a garden hut!)it is a metal socket. I have also checked with my mates 124 (88 & 93) and they are both metal sockets.
I looked on in the europarts.com catalogue, and they list 2 types of replacement headlight units for the 124 (85-92) one at 89ukp original equipment manufacturer and one at 59ukp top quality brand. I wonder if the oem is metal and the replacement is plastic

ebennz · #11 03-08-2002, 10:09 AM

hi peter

i'm not european, but would like to comment.

standard wattage is 55/60. i ran 80/100 for about a year.i really like them. i started getting a little paranoid about frying something.

i have a pair of philips + 50's and also a pair of the osram silver star + 50 bulbs. these claim a 50% improvement over stock 55/60.
the philips are in the car now and i am very impressed with them. VERY IMPRESSED. the beam pattern is/seems more distinct. the color is a very nice white, very slight bluish.

i have yet to try the osrams, i understand they may be better.
i got them from www.powerbulbs.com free shipping.

i am 42 and i do not see quite as well at night as i used to [hard to believe,but a fact]. i don't know how old you are but this does play into things.

let us know what you do. have you ordered those other things yet?

peter

chupr98 · #12 03-09-2002, 03:51 AM

Hi ebennz,

I am 2 years older than you therefore in desperate need of more lights!!!

Thank you for the parts #, I ordered them with Mercedes Benz of Canada but they said there is no guarantee to get them or not.

I am not surprised to hear some members claim to have metal sockets in their euro H4 units. Mine Bosch defintely has plastic ( exactly the same plastic that melted in my OEM US lights ), I think I just killed the idea of running higher than 55/65 bulbs.

I am using PIAA Plasma 55/65 that claims to be as bright as 110/130. Somehow I don't think so! Next time I will try some Philips as you recommended.

Thanks everyone!

Thanks

Jim's500E · #13 03-11-2002, 10:25 AM

Sorry to diverge off the thread's original question....

I have a set of regular W124 Euros for pre-94' cars that are nearly new Bosch units that I want to sell...my fiancee has relatives in Montreal and if you are truly interested in getting a set, I could bring them up this summer and save you some cash on shipping and exchange rates...provided you don't insult my intelligence on initially getting the wrong lites for my 500E.

#14 03-11-2002, 10:41 PM

Jim 500E: Thanks very much for the offer.
I think we have a deal.
What's your price?? If it,s reasonnable, I,ll go for it.
pls.advise.
jackD

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