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  #1  
Old 10-24-2002, 10:01 PM
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Question Replacement headlight bulbs

I'd like to upgrade the lighting on our 1992 300TE 4 Matic wagon, because at night on dark, winding, New England roads, the visibility is downright poor. And the OEM fog lights are practically worthless. I've been looking at the PIAA Super White and Extreme White replacement bulbs as one option, or mounting PIAA driving lights, 959's or 510's on the bumper as another option. Has anyone upgraded their lighting? The bulbs are about $80 pr. and the lights about $200 pr., so before I commit to one or the other, I'd welcome all advice and/or experiences. Thanks.

1962 MB 220SEb "Fintail" Sedan
1963 Vespa VNB Motor Scooter
1992 MB 300TE 4Matic Wagon
1995 Subaru Legacy AWD Wagon

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  #2  
Old 10-24-2002, 10:13 PM
CJ CJ is offline
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Pay the money to buy the "true" european lights for your car, you will be very hapy.
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  #3  
Old 10-25-2002, 01:20 AM
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As a recent covert to E-code lighting, let me say it is a day/night difference. Get some E-codes and stock bulbs, you'll be happy.
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'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
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  #4  
Old 10-25-2002, 03:46 AM
John_Schwarz
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Two parts - PIAA bulbs:

On my '95 E420 I use the PIAA super whites and have been very, very pleased. The look is good and their wattage is the same as the OEM H4s, so no additional strain on the alternator. This is a consideration if you've upgrade your stereo system with a couple of amps & a sub-woofer.

I've used other brands, but the PIAAs have the best durability and difference between them and Sylvannia types - pardon the pun - is day and night! I don't care for the purples - if you don't have projector type headlights, it just looks cheap and like a wanna-be. The super whites blend in nicely and don't out of character with 124 body.

Also, any above the super whites and you'll constantly get flashed by people. It's fun to flash them back with Boeing 757 High Beams, but it gets old after awhile. Also, at night you just drawing more attention from the police and a possible citation for not having US street legal lighting.

And part II, DEPO lights:

Within one month of moving to Seattle (about a year ago) one of the headlights picked up a rock chip (about the size of quarter). So, I replaced the headlight with the DEPOs and put in the same PIAA super whites (both in the headlights and fog lights).

WOW! It looked a thousand times better. Even my friend who don't know jack about MBs said they looked good (and without me prompting them for compliments). With the S600 grill, new headlights & clear corners, the front end looked like a much newer car.

The only thing I don't like about the DEPOs is that they are had to adjust (the adjusters are hard to reach and you need a finger tip grip like King Kong).

In a prior post I said the quality wasn't as high as the original lights. Tonight I sat down and compared the two. Turns that the difference is the E lens vs the DOT lens. With the E lens it's easier to see through the glass and see the internal headlight workings. So, it's easier to see a gap at the bottom of the light (on the inside). The same gap is present on the OEMs, but the DOT lens obscures/distorts your view to the inner-workings, so it isn't as noticeable.

As the others suggested, go for the headlights first since you have the older style. If they still are not bright enough for your taste, add the PIAAs.

Good luck.
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  #5  
Old 10-25-2002, 08:01 AM
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Thanks for all the advice; I think I'll follow it and go with the true Euro headlights. But of course now I have even more questions for you all: Am I correct to presume that the "DEPO's" and "e-code" lights referred to in a couple posts are the Euro's? What does "DEPO" and "e-code" stand for? (Sorry for my obvious ignorance). Where is a good place to get the real Euro headlights for my '92? Do they come with the built-in fog lights? Is it a simple swap that I can do myself, or is there some "fitting" that needs to be done?
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  #6  
Old 10-25-2002, 09:50 AM
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E-code means European code headlights, DEPO's are a name brand of headlights. The fog lights are built in to the the light bucket, just like the DOT lights, but there is one large lens covering both sections rather than separate lenses for each light. The install is pretty simple and straight forward. On the 124's I read about some hard to reach/access screws, but on the 126 I avoided that by simply removing the filler panel below the light. That allowed access to everything with ease. You do have to swap the 4 pin plug for a 6 pin plug on the light harness, a very easy job. Part numbers for the plugs and a how to can be found doing a search on "euro lights" and user name "barrie", or I can provide later this evening.

I haven't looked here at PartsShop/Fastlanes for Euros, they might have them. I got mine from Import Vision .
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'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.
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  #7  
Old 10-25-2002, 11:02 AM
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fintail fan

the problem isn't you,it's the crappy dot lights on the early w124 cars.
personally i always thought the best thing about them [dot] was the fog lights.

changing bulbs won't help you. i've been there, i know what i'm talking about. here's a couple of links for you to check out.

http://www.mbca.org/w124.htm

http://lighting.mbz.org/faq/#ecode

also as mike tangas suggested do a "search" on euro lights, they are so SUPERIOR you won't believe it until you see it for yourself.

i changed to oem bosch euros within 2 months of owning my car.

there is NO question, IT"S THE BEST MONEY I'VE EVER SPENT!!!

personally i "feel" oem lights [hella or bosch] are the best quality.

www.puma-access.com has hella about $300.00 pair,includes bulbs

the best brand of euro has been hotly discussed here at times.

the choice is yours. do some research.

the MOST IMPORTANT thing is to be able to see at night!

i would be glad to help you with this if you would like.

enjoy that wagon!

peter
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  #8  
Old 10-26-2002, 08:33 AM
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Thanks for everyone's advice and the links. I've checked'm out, (very helpful!), as well as done a search on this forum - I should've done that first, as it's clearly a subject well discussed. Anyway, I'll do a bit more research on brands, DEPO vs Hella, Bosch, etc., but the euro's are definitely in my '92's future, especially if they'll look as sharp on my car as they do on ebennz's! One final question, are the conversion instrucitions for the '88 300E, (at the link www.mbca.org/w124.htm), the same for a '92 300TE? Thanks.
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  #9  
Old 10-26-2002, 10:46 AM
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Those instructions are are a bit more involved than what you need. All that is needed is a pair of 6 pin plugs and covers. Once you have those, it is a simple matter of removing the 4 pin, placing the wires in the 6 pin in the proper order. Nothing more to do, unless you want the city lights.
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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.
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  #10  
Old 10-26-2002, 12:36 PM
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I think your other option if you really want is to buy the 500E's E-Code headlights.

However if I'm not mistaken the 500E's headlights don't have fog lights or something? Instead the fog lights are in the bumper?

I think it has DRL's instead... somebody shed some light on this?
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  #11  
Old 10-26-2002, 10:19 PM
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fintail fan
the article i posted the link to is way more in depth than you need for just installing some regular euro's.

i have the beam adjuster, it is very cool to be able to raise and lower the headlight beams from inside the car. installing this would probably add about $125 to $150 to this process.
if you want to discuss this e-mail me.

it isn't neccessary to install relays. there are standard watt bulbs out there with some extra kick.

holson brought up 500e euro lights. i now have these.
depending on where you live, these are probably not worth the effort. instead of fog lights in the headlight assembly, they have driving lights. a very intensely bright driving light.
they have a chromed inside part of lense [which is sharp], as opposed to a silver inside for standard euro's.

other than the appearance of these lights, i'm not super excited about them.
what i mean is the fog lights are much more useful in everyday situations. you can have them on and people don't wig out and you are not stressing them either. the fogs xan be used as daytime running lights, or in the rain. they also have a very good periphreal [sp] view. great for spotting wild life on the road sides.

i will post a picture of the 500e lights.

we'll also need to discuss the true euro spec clear [white] turn signal covers. mine are bosch.
clear turn signal covers brand and quality has been HOTLY debated here also.

www.adsitco.com has new and used bosch oem euros

www.bekkers.com best [that i know of] overall price on bosch lights and clear covers.

www.puma-access.com super price on hellas [oem] lights and clear corners.

www.capitolwest.com bosch euros

i'll be glad to get you more info and or pictures and or help you find the best quality at the best price.

peter
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  #12  
Old 10-27-2002, 09:52 PM
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I'm doing some shopping for the euro's now and am leaning toward the euro for the 500E for the brighter light. I know the 300TE chassis is a w124, but what is the chassis number for the 500E? Thanks.
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  #13  
Old 10-27-2002, 11:17 PM
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The 500E is a W124.
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  #14  
Old 10-28-2002, 09:09 PM
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500e lights

bob

my e-mail is acting up today.

the best place [almost only place] to get 500e euros [hella brand] is at www.puma-access.com
talk to paul,tell him you are in the mercedes shop group buy thing. i don't think it was ever "officially"a group buy.

i think they are 350.00 something/range per pair. get '92 ones.
you can upgrade to a +50% hella h4 bulb [standard watt though].

some of the guys here did that.

i can give you a bunch of links/info on aiming them.

peter

http://members.lycos.nl/Mercedes500E/index.html
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  #15  
Old 10-29-2002, 10:09 AM
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Okay, I just ordered myself a pair of the Hella 500e euros for my '92 300TE from Paul at Puma. I paid $475 pr., plus $10 for the H-4 bulb upgrade. They should ship next week, so I should have'm by the following weekend. I can't wait!
I just have one last question: are there any modifications or changes that will need to be done to the headlight wiper system when I install the 500e euro's? I asked Paul about it and he said the question had never come up, (?), so I presume no changes? If anyone knows different, let me know.
Thank you Richard, and everyone else for your help and advice. This board is the BEST!

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