Quote:
Originally posted by Mr.W123
A couple days ago I was phoning around town looking for a place that sells Sylvania Xtravision headlights for my '82 300D Turbo, and one place told me they only sell regular incandescent 7 inch sealed beam headlamps. This got me wondering about how North American drivers faired driving at night before 1978(when sealed beam halogens became legal). I read on Dan Stern's automotive website that non-halogen sealed beam headlights are "...extremely dangerous. At 50 mph on a dry day, you are out-driving them". I find this statement very hard to believe. I mean would you be driving without any light ahead of you at say 65mph?
So are these headlights really that bad  .I figured that you classic Benz owners would be most knowledgeable about this matter.
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So, getting back to the Question...
I drove many years with regular incandecent sealed beam headlamps. They really aren't that bad. But the original European headlamps for 108 chssis cars were REAL scarry. I always figured they were not intended to be driven at night.
As for the "out driving them at 50 mph" statement...well, the guy does SELL lights, right? I could see where Einstein would disagree strongly with that statement.
Prior to the "legal" halogen lamps, we used S.E.V. Marshall and Cibe's for serious night driving and removed them before the yearly safety inspection that was once required. Halogens offer whiter light and a bit better beam or "focus"(depending on the lens). But I really don't see the sealed beam lights as a hazard.
Regards,
Randy D.