I had factory MB/Hella 300E Euro lights on my 87, MB star logo on all the parts as well as the Hella markings. After they were vandalized, I chose to replace them with new Hella 500E lights. Aside from the obvious difference of the chrome surround and the driving light instead of a fog light, I noticed some interesting differences.

1. All the numbers on the 500 light access plates and light body matched the numbers on the MB300E lights, but wherever there was a MB star on the 300E lights, there was a melted circular blob on the 500E lights. Obviously the MB was cast in, then removed when Hella sold them commercially.

2. Internal parts (such as the vacuum adjuster black 'tuna can') which had Hella and MB marks on the 300E, were a different supplier and had no MB markings.

3. The Headlight reflector in each had identical Hella numbers.

4. The fog light reflectors had different numbers and seemed to be a different shape than the driving light reflector on the 500E lights. These were the only Hella numbers on the lights that were not a perfect match to each other! So maybe the lens AND the reflector may be different between the two??? (

5. The lenses on the 500E lights were positioned about 1/8" - 1/4" lower on the light than the 300E light lenses. It looks as if there is considerable wiggle room when the glass is glued to the removable frame - I don't know if the lenses being slightly lower is intentional or just manufacturing variance.

6. The ___/ ___/ cutoff pattern on the 1987 300E factory lights is much more defined and sharp than on the new 500E lights, regardless of which H4 bulbs were installed (standard H4, Phillips +30, or Phillips Vision +50).

7. The near edge of the high beam pattern is much more scalloped and ragged on the 500E lights than on the old MB lights.

8. The driving lights are amazing: I have not re-arranged the pins from the old lights, so the city light is still inactive, and the driving light is controlled by the fog light switch, giving me 3 lighting levels from which to choose.

9. The Phillips Vision Plus 50s are really great. Installing a standard H4 that came with the 500E lights (marked 'Germany H4) in one light, and the +50 in the other, the entire headlight pattern was much brighter and more white for the +50. Also, the center and bottom of the beam pattern on the +50 was especially brighter than the standard H4 lights.

All told, the lights look very nice on the car, and still have a phenomenal improvement in lighting over US DOT lights. However, in comparison to the old factory Hella/MB units from the late 80s, it seems that there is a slight decrease in quality of beam pattern over the 15year old design.

I will post pics after I finish everything.

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E