euro 500sl light switch question

[jimsclub]

On my 1984 euro 500sl, when I turn the headlight switch clockwise to position 1, I get front and back running lights and position 2 I also get the headlights. Now when I go to postion # 3 & 4 I get nothing. I have replaced all the light bulbs front and back and still nothing. Does anyone out there know what should come on for 3&4. Also between the light switch and the parking brake release there is a wheel with 0,1,2,3 positions on it. What does this wheel do?

[dugald]

Originally Posted by jimsclub

On my 1984 euro 500sl, when I turn the headlight switch clockwise to position 1, I get front and back running lights and position 2 I also get the headlights. Now when I go to postion # 3 & 4 I get nothing. I have replaced all the light bulbs front and back and still nothing. Does anyone out there know what should come on for 3&4. Also between the light switch and the parking brake release there is a wheel with 0,1,2,3 positions on it. What does this wheel do?

I think 3 & 4 should turn on the LH and RH side marker lights respectively, for narrow-street parking.
I don't know about that wheel.....maybe headlight aiming.

[sublettd]

The two positions left of 12 o'clock are your side markers for parking along the streets at night in Europe. Two positions right of 12 o'clock are as you state. The 0, 1,2,3 are vertical adjustments for the headligths, which you might use (if still connected after being converted) if there is a load in the rear end.

[coleyjf]

Hi

Yes the 3rd and 4th postions are for marker or parking lights (or "side lights" as we call them in the UK).

This is so you can park your car legally in Europe (again in the UK it's illegal to park without lights on an unlit street or within 15meters of a junction at night and in Europe variations of this apply) and the reason there are 2 postions is so you can switch left or right lights on to park either side of the road (also allowing for the fact that UK and Europeans drive on the opposite sides of the road) without too much drain on the battery.

As "Sublettd" indicated, the 0 1 2 3 rotary switch is a fairly standard European function for raising and lowering the headlights (main beam and dipped) to allow for varying loads, but I believe (from previous threads on the forum) that as this is not legal in the US so I guess this was disconnected when imported (if it was brought in and modified "properly"!) - if not be careful you don't get a ticket for dazzling a traffic cop!

Cheers

Jim

[tiehacker]

So how can it be "re-connected"? My lights barely make it past the hood and I've just about gone crazy trying to find some way to adjust them. Is this just disconnected behind the dash or has it been rendered inoperable?

Thanks in advance for any help you might give me on this one
Tiehacker

[JollyRoger]

Originally Posted by dugald

I think 3 & 4 should turn on the LH and RH side marker lights respectively, for narrow-street parking.
I don't know about that wheel.....maybe headlight aiming.

That is the way it works on my 83 280SL.