My New To Me - 400E.....
 

Just drove this awesome ride 2200 miles home. Car is fantastic. The only thing that needs addressing right away is the lenses that cover the fog lights. Does anyone know if clear lenses are available out there?. Can the lighting be brightend up a bit?. I am sure this is one of many questions to come

Thanks in advance

Mike

Oh, sorry... It's a 1993 400E with just 56000 miles. I actually spoke to the 74 year old widow that owned it......

If you had the European head lights, you could replace the lenses, but you have the U.S. DOT head lamps, which are sealed.

They are also ugly.

The single most popular and best upgrade that you could do for your car is to purchase and install the European head lights. Many people on this site have done it, including me. The lights not only look better, but they put out an incredible amount of light.

Also, many people have installed the 500E style European lights, which put out even more light, and are chromed on the inside.

Here are two good threads that will help you:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-performance-paddock/30369-500e-e-code-lights-anyone.html?highlight=So+Cal+euro

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/off-topic-discussion/39449-souther-cali-meet-up-euro-light-install.html?highlight=euro+install

Nice aquisition Mike!

I'm sure you've already found the power of the M119 engine to be truly addicting and effortless for freeway cruising. Sounds like you got one in simliar condition to my E420 (which has the same engine as yours by the way), old lady who owned it bought mine Starmarked and only put 8k miles on it in the three years she owned it. Now I have a barely broken-in Pearl Black Beast to enjoy a nice long honeymoon with! :)

I really love mine in all aspects, perfectly docile and comfortable around town, but some quick manual shifting or nice freeway on-ramps and there's loads of power everywhere :D

Nice car, post some pics when you get a chance

Regards,
- Ryan

Congratulations on the new toy and welcome to Mercedesshop.com!

In answer to your question, the easiest way to change the fog lights to clear is to remove the yellow glass "cap" that is between the fog light and the reflector. You will gain a little light output and no longer have yellow light. The job is pretty easy. To change the front lens, you can buy the part here, but I’m not sure you can just buy the lens. It might only be sold with the bucket as well (yikes). If that turns out to be the case, take the opportunity to put in euro assemblies, or perhaps one of the xenon conversions that are available from a number of vendors.

Enjoy!

The headlight door covers the foglight and surrounds the headlight. THey are not sealed beam, they probably take 9004 bulbs. To gain access to the fog light yellow cap, you take off the headlight door and pull it off.

Taking the headlight door off can occur a couple ways, just by using a screwdriver to take the plastic latches off on top and bottom, but whenever I do this, even with precision and car, I usually brake off the tab, which means you have to get a new bucket which is expensive, so take the turn signal out, then take the whole unit out, and then the door is easily taken off, no problems.

And EuroLights look much better.
Without going to the 500E lights, you can have regular euroLights chromed (as I did) and achieve a different look.
Good luck with your acquisition.
Attached, pic of mine with euroLights.

I finally just tried out my new Euro's after having the US Dot Lights and all I can say is you absolutely NEED to change the lights.

You'll truly be amazed by the difference. I struggled to see anything with my old plastic lights (which by the way crack easily) and now it's literally night and day.

By the way you can purchase new lenses for the dealer but I can bet for about $80 more you can get the whole Euro light assembly.

If you want to keep the wipers I can give you a step by step on how to do the conversion, it takes some time but isn't too difficult.

euro covers
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1848842627

they may not clear the DOT approved junk.

Well...I have an extra set of brand new euros that will fit the 124 if interested. STILL IN BOX and never been installed (my fiance had me sell hers for an ML) and they're sitting in the garage shelved. ;)

I don't mind parting with my babies for relatively cheap as I can't use them and they'll be outta here in September when I take them to the NOPI show here in Atlanta. These are the real deal with vacuum adjustment, heavy as hell, HUGE, 100% glass,etc and took me forever (it seemed like) to get them from Germany.

I did see the ebay link and this is correct that the LENSES go for about $200+ but you can't use em if you don't have euros anyway.I'll give my babies up for adoption for a reasonable asking price of $300 obo for the pair and you won't have to wait for customs and pay a crapload of $$ for shipping (I paid $120 just for shipping them here with insurance,etc). Let me know if I can be of assistance by contacting me at anewkirk@sjha.org and good luck!:D

Alan