Lights - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

KNanthrup · #1 10-02-2003, 07:18 PM

Haha, please forgive me for asking this, but for some time I have noticed the lights next to the headlights on the inner side, and for some reason never really thought about it until now, but what makes these come on? I don't think I have a bulbs in there but there is wiring going to it. I've never seen a switch or anything and most w124's I see don't have them lit up but I've seen a couple.

Have mercy on me

haasman · #2 10-02-2003, 11:22 PM

Fogs .... they are your fog lights.

To activate, turn your lights on and then pull out the switch.

If you pull the switch even further (depending on your car) you will also activate the single rear fog light.

No sincere question is a dumb question in my opinion.

Haasman

KNanthrup · #3 10-03-2003, 01:26 AM

Hahaha! Simply amazing! I ran outside and pulled the switch and they worked! Imagine that!

Sorry, but it's amazing how I seem to learn something new about my car every day... and I''ve had it for 2 years.

Now, on another note they are horrendously yellow... is this because of the lens or the bulb? the bulb seemed like a regular color bulb, but I didn't see anything in the lens that would cause it to come out yellow either. Would a different color bulb help? Like an ultra white?

Oh and also you mentioned the rear foglight... if I were to have this where would it be? My switch pulled out 2 positions, the first turned on the front and the 2nd didn't seem to do anything. Would this be what the empty sockets on the tail-light assembly is for?

MikeTangas · #4 10-03-2003, 01:44 AM

If you have DOT light (ie: US lights) the fog bulb has a yellow cover that snaps over the assembly to give the yellow beam. Most of the Euro lights have a while fog light. Cadmium coated bulbs will also emit a yellow light, but Cad bulbs are getting harder to find.

When driving, you really won't notice the yellow so much, not like you see when looking at the lights.

Best upgrade you could do is to convert to Euro lights if you are equipped with DOT lights. They make a MAJOR difference, so much infact that on the 560SEL, my low beams on the Euro lights are as bright as my DOT high beams were (from the driver's perspective) and I find I only have to go to high beams when well away from town.

If the driver's side tail light didn't brighten on the second notch you don't have rear fogs. That would be what the empty socket is for.

haasman · #5 10-03-2003, 01:51 AM

Kevin

These are great cars! I am having fun hearing you discover these things.

They are yellow for several good reasons: The yellow doesn't offer as much "glare-back" in fog, where of course these lights are typically used. Also, driving with your yellow fogs on, even all the time, makes your car more conspicuous in traffic (noticeable if you will). If you change them to a "white" light and turn them on, most "American" drivers will automatically think you have your brights on and flash the hell out of you. I recommend staying with the yellows. I had a car where someone changed to the whites and after a while I converted them back to the yellow.

Yes, the empty socket is most likely the rear fog in the left-rear tail light housing. I forgot which bulb it requires, but you manual I believe will list it. DONT buy a cheapo bulb. Go to a parts store that sells OEM bulbs. They are often in a silver metal casing instead of the typical brass.

Get the right one or your bulb-out indicator will go on and you'll think you've got wiring problems. Did I say "Get the right bulb"?

Now for fun, discover how to make your hood open full vertical for easy access to the engine and fuse box.

I sometimes, when waiting for someone in the car, will pull out the manual and try and find something new that I don’t know about the car. I am embarrassed to say it, but often I will find something I didn’t know. The more I learn about these cars the more I like them.

Haasman

KNanthrup · #6 10-03-2003, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by haasman
Kevin

These are great cars! I am having fun hearing you discover these things.

They are yellow for several good reasons: The yellow doesn't offer as much "glare-back" in fog, where of course these lights are typically used. Also, driving with your yellow fogs on, even all the time, makes your car more conspicuous in traffic (noticeable if you will). If you change them to a "white" light and turn them on, most "American" drivers will automatically think you have your brights on and flash the hell out of you. I recommend staying with the yellows. I had a car where someone changed to the whites and after a while I converted them back to the yellow.

Yes, the empty socket is most likely the rear fog in the left-rear tail light housing. I forgot which bulb it requires, but you manual I believe will list it. DONT buy a cheapo bulb. Go to a parts store that sells OEM bulbs. They are often in a silver metal casing instead of the typical brass.

Get the right one or your bulb-out indicator will go on and you'll think you've got wiring problems. Did I say "Get the right bulb"?

Now for fun, discover how to make your hood open full vertical for easy access to the engine and fuse box.

I sometimes, when waiting for someone in the car, will pull out the manual and try and find something new that I don’t know about the car. I am embarrassed to say it, but often I will find something I didn’t know. The more I learn about these cars the more I like them.

Haasman

Splendid! You guys are a wealth of knowledge to me, and I thank you.

I find it interesting that the rear fog light is only on the drivers side. Any peticular reason for this? And ANOTHER peculiar thing that I've always wondered about my car is... why can you turn on either individual blinker/parking light on the front with the headlamp switch? I haven't made full logical use of it yet, but I have pulled up behind friend's before in the dark while flashing from right to left making them thing I was a cop

I did not know about the vertical hood thing either... can't wait to try that tomorrow! I love your approach to learning new things about cars... it's amazing the details that such fine engineering can create and yet go un-noticed. Anything else I may be missing?

Once again, an honest thanks for your help guys.

haasman · #7 10-03-2003, 04:29 AM

It is interesting to know that the reason there is only one high intensity rear fog lamp is so drivers following are not confused with two that could be brake lights.

The positions of the switch for the lights, turning counter clockwise, are for parking. They are so your car is visible to traffic, but won't wear down your battery overnight, such as leaving all four of your parking lights on would. The left sidelights position is when you are parked on the right side of the road, and visa-versa.

In the ends of both rear doors are slots, near where the door lock/latch is found. Using a key I believe, will allow you to flip a latch that will prevent the inside door latches from working. A child safety thing.

The windshield washer fluid is heated. This of course prevents freezing in the winter and clears windshields rapidly, but in the summer, hot windshield washer fluid clears bugs much more effectively.

Older cars really benefit from a simple, easy to do, replacement of the front and rear sway bar bushings. On the 124s it only takes an hour, front and rear. Be sure to see whether your rear sway bar links need replacing as well. Your car will corner flatter and feel more in control. You can order them from this site or from a dealer.

Haasman

neileg · #8 10-03-2003, 06:36 AM

One or two rear fog lights

The legislation in Europe varies from country to country, although it is being brought into line. In some countries, only one fog light is allowed and this must be on the driver's side. In the UK you can have one or two rear fog lights, but if you have one it must be on the driver's side and if you have two they must be symmetrically placed.

cbdo · #9 10-03-2003, 08:44 AM

The reason why you can turn the parking lights on one side at a time is also legislative. Europeans are more likely to have to park in the street, and need to light their cars for visibility if the street's not lighted. IDK about now, but at least in Germany in the past it was illegal to leave your car on an unlighted street without parking lights, and if another driver hit your unlighted parked car the accident was your fault. What you'd think of as the normal parking light position, one click before the headlights, was considered city lights, as in large cities was illegal to use headlights at normal brightness; again, not sure about current laws.

400E · #10 10-03-2003, 09:00 AM

Kevin,

If you didn't get an owner's manual with your car, you can call 1-800-FOR MERC and order one. There is a wealth of info in there!

ebennz · #11 10-03-2003, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeTangas
If you have DOT light (ie: US lights) the fog bulb has a yellow cover that snaps over the assembly to give the yellow beam. Most of the Euro lights have a while fog light. Cadmium coated bulbs will also emit a yellow light, but Cad bulbs are getting harder to find.

When driving, you really won't notice the yellow so much, not like you see when looking at the lights.

Best upgrade you could do is to convert to Euro lights if you are equipped with DOT lights.

They make a MAJOR difference, so much infact that on the 560SEL, my low beams on the Euro lights are as bright as my DOT high beams were (from the driver's perspective) and I find I only have to go to high beams when well away from town.

i have h4 french-yellow glass baloon covers, i use these every winter and if i know i will be in a very foggy area.

they produce a lot less glare. they do take a bit of getting used to.

get yourself some euros. do a search. lots of info.

peter

dakota · #12 10-04-2003, 11:46 AM

The parking-light-on on one side is called a 'standing light.'

KN, I don't think you will be able to get the rear fog light to work unless you rewire. I believe the '80s US MBs (up to '91?) had the foglight socket in the taillamp, but they weren't wired. If anyone knows an easy way to add the wiring, I'd be interested in knowing.

haasman · #13 10-04-2003, 12:00 PM

If the rear fog light is not wired and you are not interested in it, find two sockets at a junk yard and rewire them using the sockets for additional brake lights. Very effective to seem five brake lights from behind.

I have done this on all the cars I have had where the rear fog isn't wired.

Haasman