71 280se- Are the 4 triangular headlights supposed to work?

[TxDave]

Are there supposed to be bulbs in there that work?

[psfred]

There are three main configurations for the headlights -- the US one (that you have), the standard ('euro") one the rest of the world usually gets, and the "fake US" ones with halogen bulbs.

Most of the world got the single cover euros (which I passed up a couple years ago on eBay and deeply regret) -- these have a top yellow lamp and turn signal. Fog lamps in the bottom. No triangular sections.

There are also the "fake US" lamps with halogens in reflectors instead of sealed beams with the turn signal in the triagular sections, yellow bulb. In this case, the fog lamps were mounted on the fender where the US turn signals are.

The US configuration is four sealed beams with the turn signals on the fender where everyone else got fog lamps with nothing in the triangular sections, but we got side marker lamps.

Peter

[TxDave]

"The US configuration is four sealed beams with the turn signals on the fender where everyone else got fog lamps with nothing in the triangular sections, but we got side marker lamps."

That sounds like what I have. Personally, I like the side marker lamps. Although there's no point, it could be fun to fab some lights to stick in thos triangles. I have bigger fish to fry.

In your explanation of the single cover euros I'm missing where the actually headlights are?......

You sound extremely knowledable about all this stuff. Any pictures? I was browsing ebay and everyone kept saying "low grill". What does that mean? I notice some have different numbers of the cross bars in the grill. How serious do people get about valuating all this stuff? What where those single cover euro lights you almost got on ebay going for?

Interesting.

Dave

[300SDog]

Design is throw back to pre-'63 220Sb headlights - where outer triangles were operative front signal lights...... before bullet signal lights appeared in the space between headlights and grill that later morphed into fake fog light / signal lights on later 108s.

Parking/clearance lights were also housed in those triangles. As i remember it - the outer triangle housed tiny 2 watt clearance light bulb and two-filament combo bulb that activated both signal light and parking light. The inside triangle lens was a dummy without any bulbs, unless a leader ran to one lone bulb activated by parking lights..... am relying on 20 yr. memory for this info, maybe someone will correct me if i'm wrong.

Basically, the outer triangle lens on very early 220Sb carried the same features as front fender 'taxi cab' light assembly amidships on pre-65 190c and 190Dc (also on low end Ponton models), except the taxi cab lights had no parking light feature - just signal light and 2 watt clearance light bulb behind multi colored lens that was yellow, white and red on sides, front and back respectively. Those taxi cab lights are genuine piece of work.

Evolving in spiral fashion, vintage MBs carried traits reminiscent of their predecessors..... just like taxi cab lights on chassis 110 cars and low end Pontons are throwback to primitive semaphor signal arms on more ancient models.

[cbdo]

As far as the "low grille" bit--The coupe and cabriolet models, known as the 111 body, got the traditional grille revised a bit in 1970 with the new profile a little lower and (I think) just a little wider. Check frontal photos and you'll see a difference. The 108 and 109 sedans didn't change.

[MikeTangas]

Dave,

Don't be too confused about where the headlights are located on the single lens cover Euros. The headlights reside below the yellow turn signal.

[TxDave]

240 Diesel Dog,

One of the things I like about Mercedes is you can sit behind the wheel in a 2004 model and invariably find at least one thing that exists in the older cars. If not an exact swap out, a very obvious draw from a previous design. Some people might think of it as a lack of forward thinking in design, but personally I like the fact that the gauges and finishes still look the same.

I don't know why mercedes tends to hold on to design more than other makers, but I like it. One person explained to me that there are many Mercedes owners out there that have stuck with the marquis through all these years. They like to hop into a new car and feel at home. That could be hot air regarding "why" mercedes does it, but I believe other owners have noticed and appreciated the same thing.

[psfred]

The euro spec W108/109/111 headlamps have a single glass lens that covers the entire assembly -- kinda weird by modern standards. Under it are the headlamps, fog lamps, and turn signal/marker lamps in separate reflectors.

I want a set someday....

Peter

[pj67coll]

TXDave. If you check out this link...

http://members.cox.net/pjcoll1/index.html

you can see an example of one of the pseudo US configurations on my first Mercedes. My 71 108 280S in South Africa.

The orange triangluar lights are the indicators. The internal clear triangular lights are empty glass covers. The lower lights were the driving lights and the top lights were the high beam. The clear lights on the bumpers were the fog lights, and exceptional fog lights they were too.

- Peter.

[psfred]

I beleive that one of the reasons that MB doesn't change some things is that they were researched well to begin with, and weren't there for simply stylistic reasons.

To whit the location of the ignition lock. This has been in the same relative position on MB automobiles since at least the 50s -- it appears to be the ideal location for ease of use and avoiding hand injuries in accidents (that is also why the top of the key is plastic, by the way, with no metal in it -- saves brocken hands and wrists in collisions). It's there for a reason, not by whim. Notice that the ignition switch isn't lighted on new models, either -- no need, it's right where your hand ends up when you reach for the dash anyway! Same place on every car....

Ditto for instruments -- they are designed for the best readability and ease of use, not for style, so the dash hasn't changed since the W108 chassis in any major way -- speedo largest and in the center or to the right, guages and clock smaller with the temp, fuel gauge, and oil pressure on the left. Clock at center or lower right. Easiest to read, the guages are always in the same place, no matter which model, logical thinking. These are really driver's cars, by and large, and good drivers appreciate this.

[TxDave]

psfred,

Another thing I've heard is the non adjustable steering wheels. Mercedes never bought into that. Or at least they were the last hold out if any of the new models have adjustable steering wheels. I've always been told it was a safety thing and Mercedes never bought into steering wheels that weren't firmly in place.

[psfred]

I suspect that the angle of the steering wheel has been chosen to provide the best cushioning to the chest of the driver, and that altering that angle increases chest injuries.

Remember that both MB and Volvo take collision protection VERY seriously, and in fact have "go out" teams that investigate accidents that result in injury in any of their cars in Europe. They didn't get the reputation for building extremely safe cars by happenstance!

Peter