I love Euro lights and, when these get cracked or crap out, I will install them. I believe, though, that “Euro” spec lights are technically outside U.S. DOT regulations. Who enforces that, I have no idea.

The issue is the U.S. DOT mandates SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) conformity and, by complying with ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) standards, Euro lights do not meet SAE standards. It boils down to the light beam pattern.

Look at section 5.1.1: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.asp?rule_toc=777&section=571.108&section_toc=2075.

I think they cheated on the lights for our SL. They look like SAE lights but function like Euro lights. Meaning they are brighter than SAE lights up to a certain horizontal point and then there’s an abrupt cut off. They work well. Is there such a thing?

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Michael

1988 300 SL (5 Speed)
1994 E320 Wagon
1997 C230