Clueless newbie W201 sealed-beam headlight fix question
 

Our trusty 2.6 190E has, in the past week, lost the low-beam on the passenger-side headlight and the high-beam on the driver-side. Scipio has the North American sealed-beam lamps, so I'm trying to figure out my options...

I've checked eBay for replacement sealed-beam lights and, after factoring in the shipping cost to Canada, I'm looking at at least $200 for a pair of used headlight assemblies. So I'm thinking of going with the BOSCH euro assemblies, but they're something like $700 each through the dealership.

On ebay there are some cheap non-OEM replacements (e.g. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=320322117289) which would run me just less than the cost of the used OEM sealed-beams, but I'm nervous of the quality and the seller's no-returns policy!

Some places on-line (e.g. ***************) seem to have very good prices -- less than half -- for OEM Bosch headlights, though it'd still run me $600 or more all told.

Our beloved car runs well, has only 170,000km, and is otherwise in great shape. Would it be a false economy or just a matter of inviting frustration to go for the non-OEM replacments from eBay. Should I bite the bullet and buy the BOSCH lamps from the net?

Any advice would be welcome. I know this is a pretty basic issue, so I offer apologies and thanks in advance.

Why not just replace the bulbs in your exhisting headlamps? $10-15 each.

Parts store?
 

Can't you just go to the local parts store and buy the correct replacement bulbs?

SteveM

Hmmm...
 

Well, I'm glad I asked the question. I was under the (clearly mistaken) impression that the sealed-beam units meant that the whole assembly had to be replaced, not just the bulb. Count me enlightened -- thank you for the solution!