What are these head lights for the W109? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

werminghausen · #1 06-29-2011, 03:40 PM

On the German ebay site I saw these headlights:

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150623218697&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
On my car (1971 300SEL 3.5) I have 'blind' side lenses, no function there, while these have turn lights and probably parking lights integrated?

Do you know if I could change to one of these headlights?
I'd love to have the blinker on the outside headlight.

cth350 · #2 06-30-2011, 06:42 AM

easy switch-over. You will have to reroute a wire or two to get the functions right. -CTH

JPMOSE · #3 06-30-2011, 06:17 PM

This is what my 280SE 3.5 Cabrio have (mine is a Euro version car). Many Europeans liked the look of the dual headlights, so Halogen headlights were offered with H4 and H1 bulbs (I think that's the bulb numbers) as an option...versus the traditional solid glass lens covering the entire chrome frame. Additionally, the parking light was installed as a low watt bulb in the high beam (lower light). The orange triangle was a single filament turn signal, while the clear triangle was the left and right clearance lights (used when car is parked).

To add further confusion, this configuration was also offered in North America, when a customer wanted the optional fog lights, which are located where the USA turn signal lens normally are. In this case, the headlights were sealed beams and the parking lights were the clear triangles -- orange triangles were turn signals.

It should be noted that the replacement halogen headlights sold nowadays have the low watt parking light insert in the upper low beam unit (rather than the lower high beam unit). I have this arrangement, as my units were replaced (probably due to pits or cracks). I would love to find the original style units someday!

If this is confusing...please feel free to ask me questions on this posting or via message.

werminghausen · #4 06-30-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPMOSE

This is what my 280SE 3.5 Cabrio have (mine is a Euro version car). Many Europeans liked the look of the dual headlights, so Halogen headlights were offered with H4 and H1 bulbs (I think that's the bulb numbers) as an option...versus the traditional solid glass lens covering the entire chrome frame. Additionally, the parking light was installed as a low watt bulb in the high beam (lower light). The orange triangle was a single filament turn signal, while the clear triangle was the left and right clearance lights (used when car is parked).

To add further confusion, this configuration was also offered in North America, when a customer wanted the optional fog lights, which are located where the USA turn signal lens normally are. In this case, the headlights were sealed beams and the parking lights were the clear triangles -- orange triangles were turn signals.

It should be noted that the replacement halogen headlights sold nowadays have the low watt parking light insert in the upper low beam unit (rather than the lower high beam unit). I have this arrangement, as my units were replaced (probably due to pits or cracks). I would love to find the original style units someday!

If this is confusing...please feel free to ask me questions on this posting or via message.

Thanks,
My question is: Can I swap? Easily?
CTH says....easy.

I like the blinker function in the headlight (which is the red light?) But then for instance the blinker wiring should be there behind my headlights. I attached 2 pictures from my body renovation. So you might see what is behind my headlights....
Then parking light at he white lens...opposite side?

Do you still think the swap is easy? Which ones are the turn signal wires? If existing they must be just there without any function for the last 40 years.
I have no idea if there is wiring for the parking lights and fog lights?

I am a bit confused with the various versions....

Martin

JPMOSE · #5 07-01-2011, 02:08 PM

Martin,

I looked at my set up and definitely think mine was converted from the all glass unit (typical of Euro cars) to the twin beam halogen setup. This was probably done when my car was exported from Southern Greece to the USA back in 1970's....but who knows! As a result, there were wires cut and spliced, along with soldering new connectors on the wire ends. Everything was done properly but it does appear to be a "can of worms" when I look behind the headlight covers! Using a wiring diagram for your car and an electrical meter, you should be able to determine what wire is for what and hook up everything. But it's going to take patience and time. I also notice that an aftermarket relay was added on each side (attached to the headlight bucket behind the twin units).

So, if you are familiar with auto electronics, you shouldn't have any problems.

Tony H · #6 07-01-2011, 05:50 PM

The relays are probably so the headlight current does not go through the switch but through the relay contacts. My coupe was a Euro car and now has the quad sealed beams-wiring looks similar to what you described. I bought some NOS amber triangle lenses I am going to install some day-they are cool.
I plan to shave the side markers when my project gets back on track. They were added when the car was brought to the states.

mercmad6.3 · #7 07-02-2011, 07:35 AM

Actually,although the American mercedes had the stacked lights as standard,they were originally meant for the V8 cars because the high speeds used in Europe meant that good headlights were mandatory. The single peice tombstone lights,although they also used Halogen,were not as effective at night . Those who have out driven their headlights will know the feeling...

The small out side lights are indicators and in the inside lights were parking lights, and come on when the headlight switch is turned to the left to activate left or right parking lights.
The headlights have small bulbs for 'traffic lights' and there were foglight bulbs in the lower units. 6.3's had Driving lights,not to be confused with foglights in Europe,but American delivered cars had amber foglights.
Relays weren't necessary but in the 50's through to the 70's people had to fit relays to sealed beam equipped cars to get a full 12 volts to the units so the lights would work almost properly.

JPMOSE · #8 07-02-2011, 01:41 PM

Thanks to both of you for the info on the relays! I was wondering why they were added. MERCMAD6.3.....I think I remember reading a post from you on the M100 forum about this subject! I need to keep looking for the lower beams with a small bulb insert...I could only find this on the upper (which I know isn't correct for the Mercedes configuration).

mercmad6.3 · #9 07-02-2011, 06:14 PM

A good place to look is Ebay.de and the best headlights are the euro BMW type ( they have a dark crescent shape) now that it's legal to use them in the USA.