2 Questions for Euro W126 owners - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jimm1009 · #1 04-22-2013, 07:04 PM

I have2 questions for owners of European spec W126 cars.

#1 Can you tell me what the color coding is for the rear fog light wire?
On the cars with the steering wheel on the left side the inner most bulb is the fog light. There is no disassembly involved other than if you were changing out a defective tail light bulb. If you remove the light cover from the trunk you can see the wires that lead to each socket. The far right bulb as you are sitting in the seat is what I am referring to.

#2 Do you have the part number for the bulb and for the socket that is plugged into your headlight switch knob? This socket and bulb is used for the indicator light that indicates when the rear fog light is turned on. It glows an amber or orange glow in the center of the knob.
If you do not know, if I could borrow the VIN for your car I can look it up myself, or at least try to look it up. If I use your VIN then I will need to know if your car was delivered in Europe versus Japan, etc.

My socket is made from plastic and is aged to the point of flaking apart when touched so I need to order a new one and my car is a 1991 N.A. US Spec 420SEL so that socket & bulb part numbers do not come up when I look at my car.
Thank You,
jimm1009 here on the forum or e-mail me; jimm1009@yahoo.com

Jim B. · #2 04-22-2013, 07:59 PM

While I can't furnish the information you need, I hope that you'll share the requested information here when you get it.

A call to the Mercedes Benz Classic Center parts center in Irvine might help -

As some of the w126ers now are 25+ years old now, and no longer subject to gray market restrictions, maybe the parts you need are available right from them. Tell them your w126 is a 1982 or any model year up to a 1988, ie, a 25 year or older car when you call.

Get also, the proper grain-of-wheat bulb for the headlight switch on the dashboard, on the w126 euro cars - so when you turn on the fogs, the ornge dot on the middle of the headlight switch will illuminate as a reminder the fogs are turned on.

jimm1009 · #3 04-22-2013, 10:58 PM

Someone gave me their VIN so I was able to pull up the picture from EPC.

See the attached PDF page.
Item #284 000 545 37 04 Headlight Switch
Item #299 202 545 00 81 Knob, Headlight Switch
Item #305 000000 001061 Bulb, Rotary Light Switch - The older, now superseded part number is; 000 825 00 94

Note: There is no part number for the socket so I am assuming that the bulb and socket come together. I do know that the bulb is an extremely small wedge base, push-in style bulb similar to an industry standard 303 which is much larger.

I am going to look for the bulb used in the generation 2 trim bezel around the headlight switch but this car is a 1984 so the bezel in it was not illuminated and that is why that part does not show up.

jimm1009

jimm1009 · #4 04-23-2013, 10:00 PM

Did not receive the wire color for the rear fog light from anyone yet.

E-mailed the MB Classic Car Center in Irvine, CA and am waiting on a reply.

Will post the information when it is received for the light bulb and socket for the headlight switch.

jimm1009

compu_85 · #5 04-24-2013, 12:06 PM

Jimm,

I did some reading into this a while back. On the Gen II cars the wiring that would be used for the rear fog lights is used for the rear side markers. I think Gen I cars are similar. There is no space available on the tail light electrical plug for rear fog wiring.

The headlight switch RF indicator light is a 1.2 watt lamp. I forget the model but it's the same package as the lamps for the other dash backlights, the little thin kind.

If your switch doesn't have the socket you need to replace the switch. One from a late W124 will work. You can get the tail light socket from another W126 / W123 at the junkyard.

It started out as a rear fog lamp install...

While you're back there make your brake lights brighter too: $6 brighter W126 brake lights

(I wouldn't use the high output lamp in the rear fog, it's bright enough with the standard lamp.)

-J

jimm1009 · #6 04-25-2013, 10:29 AM

My
US OEM headlight switch has the pins for the socket to plug into but it is not present as there is no design intentions for US spec cars as we know.
If I wanted to use my US switch all I would need is the socket and bulb.

I do however have a generation II Euro light switch from England and the socket and bulb are present.
My only problem with that switch is that the bulb is burned out and the socket is so old that the plastic is flaking away.
In EPC the bulb is shown but not the socket.
I sent a help message to Classic Car Center in Irvine California three days ago but have not received feedback as of today (Thursday) AM.

I guess I will use the same bulb for the headlight switch bezel nightlight which is the same as the transmission know nightlight bezel (or is supposed to be).
So all I need is the color coding for the wire going to the back and the socket part number for the fog light bulb indicator that is in the center of the headlight switch and I will be good to go.
I'll post the M.B. part numbers when and if received so that all can have it for future use if needed.
Thanks,
jimm1009

jimm1009 · #7 04-25-2013, 10:29 AM

My
US OEM headlight switch has the pins for the socket to plug into but it is not present as there is no design intentions for US spec cars as we know.
If I wanted to use my US switch all I would need is the socket and bulb.

I do however have a generation II Euro light switch from England and the socket and bulb are present.
My only problem with that switch is that the bulb is burned out and the socket is so old that the plastic is flaking away.
The socket can be removed as it is only two push-pins held by friction and is meant to be replaced just as a bulb is replaced.
In EPC the bulb is shown but not the socket.
I sent a help message to Classic Car Center in Irvine California three days ago but have not received feedback as of today (Thursday) AM.

I guess I will use the same bulb for the headlight switch bezel nightlight which is the same as the transmission know nightlight bezel (or is supposed to be).
So all I need is the color coding for the wire going to the back and the socket part number for the fog light bulb indicator that is in the center of the headlight switch and I will be good to go.
I'll post the M.B. part numbers when and if received so that all can have it for future use if needed.
Thanks,
jimm1009

compu_85 · #8 04-25-2013, 10:57 AM

The socket is not a replaceable part. Its one big molded plastic piece that goes down into the headlight switch. The switch is not easy to disassemble and reassemble.

Unless we're talking about different things? Could you take a picture of this? What I am calling the socket is the bit of white plastic you see at the end of the metal post where the knob attaches:

As I said, there is no wire going to the back of the car, and there is no space available on the driver's side tail light plug to add a wire for the rear fog light. You'll have to run a new wire.

When was your 91 produced?

-J