Euro Headlights on a W108, anyone?
 

I was going though my random piles of Mercedes bits and I found a really old Hemmings motor news with a post it on an ad for Euro headlights for my '72. Apparently I thought that was way cool in about '94. Not cool enough to actually do though, there are always things to spend functional repair money on.

Like I'm one to talk. Today my car is in for injectors, next week an injection wiring harness. And it still needs some suspension bits and sub frame mounts, later this summer.

Oh well - at least it'll run real good when we are done.

But back to the Euro headlights. Has anyone ever done this conversion and does it look cool or dorky on a 1970s car?

Ann

Either with or with the Euro lights, those old 72 280SEL's look great. It's a matter of taste. If I had the Euros, I'd be really worried about someone nerfing them in a parking lot, though.

There is nothing quite like the rasp of their exhaust.

I'd have to say the W108 was really the body style that truly got me fascinated with these cars. There is nothing quite like them. Theyare so stately, refined and have such old world quality, and are everlasting.

List them on eBay, you'll get good money for them.

I like prefer the over/under lights on the W108 cars.
Also, I believe there is a small bracket attached to the top to mount the US spec light bezel. Not there on the euros.

The W111 S-class Fintails have essentially the same headlamp setup as the W108. I converted my '60 220S to the Euros, and except for damaged, corroded mounting hardware on my right front fender, due to an old, poorly-done, fender repair. the installation was a piece of cake, and the Euros plugged right in to my Fintai's sealed-beam wiring harness.

Now the Euros do have the turn-signal/parking lamp built into the top of the headlamp assembly. Later US-market Fintails, and the US-market W108s had bullet-style, then Faux-fog turn signal lights mounted on the fender panel beside the grill, so if you install Euros on one of these, you'll need to route the turn signal wiring back to the headlamp units, and maybe install real fogs in place of the faux ones, or keep the US turn signals and leave the Euro's turn-signals inoperative.

Another consideration is how period-correct you want your Euros. The glass covers used on the Fintails and I suspect, the early W108s, have a rounded 'bubble' shape that I find more attractive than the flattened-glass Euros used on the later 108s.

Be carefull when shopping for Euros, especially if you're looking someplace, like eBay, and can't see them in person before you buy. Internal parts and reflectors may be missing, damaged or corroded. I wound up buying two pairs, plus a NOS replacement glass cover, in order to get one good pair I could install on my Fintail. But at least I now have 3 decent spare glass covers in case one gets cracked in a parking lot.
Also, the Euro's glass covers were made in LHD and RHD versions to accomodate countries, such as Britain and Austraila, where cars drive on the left

Finally, the Euros have foglamps built into the units below the headlamps. These originally had amber-tinted bulbs which are now hard to find. I'm running clear ones in my Fintail's Euros, but prefer the amber color mine had before my original foglamp bulbs burned out. The Bilux headlamp bulbs are still availble.

Happy Motoring, Mark

I think I want to see some more pictures - especially of the different "bubble" and flat shapes of the glass.

I don't mind making small changes with "period" parts. Just as long as its not as fugly as this...

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2132...45136244VejZlA

I'd like to see some photos of the differences!

I struggle with the idea of "correct" but - the car is a driver and will never be used for any sort of events. And - if its done with period parts, personally I think its ok.

At least its not fugly like this...

http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/59/659/...4VejZlA_th.jpg

Wow! Years ago I came across a Fintail in a salvage yard that had had it's interior completely redone. including the doors and headlining, in day-glo orange vinyl, with black piping!

The only Euros I found for my Fintail were the bubble style, which is correct for that car anyway. Someone on the Forum mentioned the later flat style but there were no photos. I finally saw a set of the later style on a 280SE parked in Washigton DC. I don't have a way of posting photos, but from the side of the car, the glass 'bubble' sticks out from the fender and has a somewhat dome profile, while the later style glass sticks out much less and the profile is almost flat. The later style could also be a bit less vulnerable to parking damage, but I think the 'bubble' style are more gracefull. In my case, if I'm really worried about possible damage, I have the original stacked sealed-beam assemblies, and it only takes a few minutes each to swap them.

Happy Motoring, Mark

before/after

Those look so cool, no wonder why I had them on my list with my first 108...

Now, are those are the flat ones right?

Ann

PS: Al - I do not own them. Merely lust after them and apparently have for some time.

In that case you can find them on eBay!

here you go

In that case you can find them on eBay!


here you go

Here is another. http://cgi.ebay.de/Mercedes-Scheinwerfer-W108-109-111_W0QQitemZ110096913865QQihZ001QQcategoryZ42833QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Although the headlights are vertical instead of horizontal, many aspects of the styling of the fron of the car carried through to the W123.

You guys are totally tempting me.

Arrrhgghh No I can't.

I'm about to leave and go pick up Brunhilda with her 8 new injectors, trigger points and a number of other assorted things taken care of - and I have to go by our OTHER mechanic on Friday and write him a large check for breathing new life into our back up econo box as well.

Sounds like your spending 6.3 money Ann. I'm certain it will drive like a dream.