European Head Lights 1984 380SL

[Sieb]

Hello, just bought a 84 380SL and have a question. Did any of the 1984 380SL's in the US ever come standard with european head lights or had it as an option? I am the third owner and the person I bought it from is a relative that bought it in 1990 from the orginal owner. I was told that he bought it that way and to his knowledge everything was orginal. Only has 34,700 miles and is in great shape. Not that I don't like the headlights just was curious.. Thanks..

[DaimlerChrysler]

Nope, all of the US R107 bodied cars(yours and mine included..both 380SL's) came with DOT approved sealed beam headlights. I replaced mine with a euro (actually world wide version) as soon as I could. I like the look and I can't really tell the difference in lighting...HOWEVER (don't you love caveats?) they are more difficult to change when one of them burns out. The only way that your 380SL could have been built with euro headlights to begin with is if it was a "grey market" car that was bought in Europe and imported to the US and I'm not sure that the 380SL might have been a US only car...Europeans would have wanted much more power! You'd also be able to tell because you wouldn't have the large 5mph bumpers on the front and the back.

BTW....the versions of Mercedes that we get in the US are US designated. All others are considered world wide versions...not simply limited to Europe. Only the US requires that changes that we have...the R107 that you'd buy in Brazil is the same as the one you'd have bought in Stuttgart.

[Sieb]

Ok thank you for the reply. Also since Michigan does not require a front license plate this guy removed the front plate bracket and rubber bumper guards and installed a rear rubber bumper guard. Went to local MB place and bought plate bracket and orginal bumper guards.. One last thing at what milage does the O2 sensor light come on?

[bobw]

The 380SL was not a USA only car. It was produced between 1980 and 1985 and was sold in many territories. Over 53000 were sold, most in the US. There were some major differences between USA and European specs, apart from federal bumpers and sealed beam lights. The engine on the USA version produced 155bhp whereas the Euro version produced 218bhp. Early USA models also had the dreaded single row timing chain, Euro cars had duplex from day one.

Changing euro style headlights is more difficult than changing sealed beam units. The small panel below the headlamp unit has to be removed and if the screw hasn't been moved for a while it can be a real pain.

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bobw
1983 380SL
1991 BMW 735iSE