Page 79 of IMPCO cat. #28M shows 7" round Hella headlamps assemblies as replacements for orignianl units on w123 (81 300D in my case). Are these units significantly brighter than Halogens now in use? Is the gain (if any) in brightness worth it ($51.95 ea.)? TIA

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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

wilton,

I agree with moraine, the clear film trick sounds great.

I drive 20 miles through winding, narrow, paved, farm to market roads, just to get to the highway. In the winter I do all 40 miles of this in the dark, dodging deer and escaped livestock.

I put a set of the Hellas on my 240D ten years ago. Just after that was the Red River flood of '90. I had to ford high water a few times and did discover one of the lights was flooded until it was too late, the silver was ruined. If you use them, seal them good, even though you probably don't live on the Red River.

Several years back another one got broken (I should have used moraines clear film trick). Aftwer that I bought a pair of Sylvania XtraVision halogen sealed beams. They are about 85or 90% as bright as the Hellas. Just recently I bought a parts car for the engine. The parts car had a set of Euro lights complete with the dash mounted elevation adjuster. These are the way to go if your budget can stand the $400.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Hi

I have used Hella in the past with happy results. Recently I have ordered Bosch H4's from VERTEX [www.**********.com] @$39ea. I am equally pleased, if not more so because of the price. These types of lighting provide a superior illumination with the 55/60 bulbs that come with them. Depending on where you live, you can get even better results with 55/100's. I think that the dazzle from the 90/100's is unsafe. Installation is a breeze.

Good luck
'83 300D-T
'86 911turbo
'73 Volvo164E

Thanks to all who replied with tips about the Hellas. Installed them a few days ago, and, WOW! what a difference!! 'Told friend that when I first turned them on, I threw so mush light down the road, I thought I felt a bit of rearward thrust!!

Moraine, please tell me more about the 3M plastic film. This is evidently a film attached directly to the outer surface of the lens, right? TIA

BTW, state (NC) inspection due next month. 'Think the lights will be OK?

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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

Terry, and/or others: where do you get this 3M film from and what is the true name? I just ordered the Hella's and got a great deal, I think, from http://catalog.com/susq/index.htm They are in PA, but he buys all of the separate parts from Hella and puts together any bulb and housing that you would like. I got a pair of the 7" housings with the 80/100 bulbs for $76! I have read a good deal on these and figured these the best way to go because they apparently do not seem any brighter to oncoming traffic due to the superior shape of the beam. I will post the results when I have installed them, and maybe us poor saps in our old cars can finally see what these chaps in the new cars with HID have been seeing! Have a bright future!

[This message has been edited by zachv (edited 04-29-2000).]

Don Munger on MBCA list says that StonGard, Bellevue, WA, (206-646-0670) has it cut to fit some models and also in sheet form. 'Haven't tried to get it yet.

BTW shouldn't this be good for my 91 350SDL lights, too?

Click on catalog address in zachv's post, above, for photos of clear acrylic stone shields by Hella.


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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

Just passed state (NC) inspection with Hellas on the 300D!! I thought they were aimed slightly high; they were; 'set them during the inspection with the "aimer"

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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

OK, I just received the well packaged box from Susquehanna Motorsports and installed the lights. What a snap, and I am impressed with the Hella quality components. I like the flatter appearance of the Hella lenses and I will report to ya'll how the 80/100 watt bulbs work tonight as I have a 2 hour drive to a business meeting. So far I am definitely happy with the purchase.