converting 1990 500SL headlights for Canada

[Stirling500]

Hello all,
The headlights on my '90SL are aimed for a RHD market (Japan) and I would like to convert them for a LHD market (Canada). Is this a big project or simply a matter of changing the lens?

Any recommendations on whether I should go to a Canadian or European spec?

Stirling

[unesl]

Go ahead and convert to european specs. Canada never had the draconian laws regarding U.S lights. We just ended up with them since our market is smaller. Some european cars sold in Canada had euro lights as standard before the U.S. changed the laws to allow more freedom in light designs.

[Stirling500]

Thanks unesl, I'll look for Europeans then.

Do I just need the lens, or is there more to it than that?

[Dr_Joe]

Originally Posted by Stirling500

Thanks unesl, I'll look for Europeans then.

Do I just need the lens, or is there more to it than that?

The Euro lights have a completely different housing, reflector, and lens. It's a full unit replacement, but it's pretty straightforward.

I got mine from Bekkers but had a very bad experience with them. Adsitco has them too, and a better price. (I wish I knew !)

In addition the Euro lights have an additional 5 watt "position" light built in. Your headlight plugs might only have 3 wires if they were intended for the US lights. You can plug them in the way they are and just not use the extra "position" light. (US cars use the two filament directional for position (or parking) lights.

The car does really look nice with the extra "position" light working though, and it's a pretty easy task to add a connector into your headlight plug and "jump" a wire into it from your existing "parking" light right next door. Then they'll both operate with the first click of your headlight switch.

The connectors that fit in the plug can be had at any MB parts department, or I've even seen them for sale online. (I just can't recall where)

[Stirling500]

thanks for the info...I was reading elsewhere that the euro light standard (ECE) is pretty well the common one outside of North America, so that's likely what my Japan market SL has. I'll see if Adsitco can help me out.

Next is to get a new radio to replace that Japanese 70-90 FM band.

[ken garchow]

rhd ones

drkgar@msn.com

[MSpielberg]

You may not need to replace the radio. Check out http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_Bekr.html which relates to resetting the Becker radio from European to US standards. It may work on yours. May not. Good luck

[Stirling500]

Thanks for the link. I don't think this will fix my problem directly - my issue is the radio will not tune above 92 at all, not just that the increments are different - however the link does take you to a good deal on a replacement unit that will fit the bill nicely.