They are probably prohibited by federal law.

I've run them for many years on SAABs. If they're properly adjusted, they just glare less in the eyes of oncoming drivers. I've never had a problem, but I could have gotten an equipment ticket from MO, had any officer cared to give me one.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

Thanks Arthur, it reads a bit complicated but anyway is something I can and should try. Need to find a wall with enough distance on level ground. Any legal input?

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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

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1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

When I bought the euro lights, (Bosch H4 Hella) it said in plain English on the box they came in "For Off Road Use Only"

So, they are not DOT legal in any state, probably. Once installed and adjusted, though, they gave a far superior look and performance than the original DOT beams.

I would not worry about them. I have never heard of citations being issued by the state troopers for them, probably they don't even know the difference.

It's not likely the insurance companies know about them, or would deny coverage because of them.

You should keep them, after all that hard work and Ernesto's great advice to help you get them installed, it would be a shame to get rid of them.

Once you have the beam pattern just right, the night visibility is so much improved over stock, it could help you avoid an accident, like a deer running in front of the car.

A little bit of discussion on the legality
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3055998

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Jawohl Jim, "bis zum bitteren Ende" and as the German also say "legal, illegal, scheissegal" .

What is the equivalence of "scheissegal"? it is a bit of a strong expession for "legal, illegal, all the same sh.." (scheiss = sh..).

Forgive me if it is inapproppriate, just wanted to bring back a little good mood to myself.

__________________
1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

That's basically the same advice I gave Tex: "get them adjusted and don;t sweat it!"

Geniuses all think alike! <<

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

I can make it simple for your lights..
take a magic marker , a measure tape , and some duct tape...go close to dark to a shopping center and drive around the back of a building..they always have a good level spot with a straight cinderblock wall

Pull the car straight up to the wall and get out..mark the wall with the tape ..one spot exactly where the center of each headlamp meets the wall..now, back straight from the wall til your headlamps are located 25 feet from the wall. Now, go back to wall and measure down 3 inches
from each headlamp mark..that is the normal drop you want for that car with 1/2 tank gas.
Those two spots are where you want the cut-off line to run across the wall and they are also the spots where you want the rise angle to start it's rise....That's about it..

Look at the first diagram from that site..that clearly shows the cut-off line and the rise angle

The cutoff line is to keep the lights out of the trees and on the road, and the rise is to light the right side of the road for the driver and to keep the lights focal points from glaring oncoming drivers...
..and finally,you do not set high beam on euro lights like you have..that is in the lens configuration, so just set the low beams ..and fogs if you want

I think I need someone with me to go to the back of a shopping center. First for the weight of the driver while I am out marking, measuring and adjusting. Second lest some carjacker could feel tempted

__________________
1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

Whatever..I just write the procedure..you find the Wall..

... you find the Wall-Mart ?

jokes and smileys aside I much appreciate your valuable tips. Have printed the procedure out to go. Thanks!

__________________
1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

My less concern is a ticket but could one lose insurance coverage in accident case?

The reason I replaced the lights are the nice pix from people on this forum showing their cars, I did not give any thought about legal aspects. I might put the stock lights (an eye sore btw) back.

__________________
1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE