Aftermarket LED projector options?

[evranch]

My headlight assemblies are in pretty rough shape, not just the doors but even one of the lenses is cracked. Previous owner ran into something pretty hard and the front end was repaired, but not the headlights.

Seems like a good opportunity to upgrade to proper LED projectors, but I'm not seeing many options out there for W124.

Anyone done a conversion that looks and performs good? Stock look isn't ultra critical, it's not a show car, but of course I don't want it to look ridiculous. And I don't want to lose the fog lights, either.

I love using the fogs in combination with the high beams on rural roads, great visibility, but it drags down the alternator. Basically the same thing in LED would be great.

[martureo]

Please don't.

Seriously, don't run LED projectors and blind the rest of us with that nonsense.

[JHZR2]

I know for my 190d there are drop in headlights. What about for the 124 lights? New glass with some quality 4300K LEDs won’t be obnoxious. Some random projector sounds like a recipe for glare.

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by martureo

Please don't.

Seriously, don't run LED projectors and blind the rest of us with that nonsense.

I will second that, in spades.


Read this: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Aaf689e10-6a06-4829-b852-34a574df2cd5&viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover

[evranch]

I totally agree with you guys, which is why I was hoping to find complete projector modules that are available for some cars. These will focus properly and throw a good beam pattern.

An example would be the image attached, DOT approved W124 LED modules (unfortunately these are not currently available anywhere)

On the other hand reflectors are a disaster with aftermarket LEDs, as I found and also is stated in the document you linked:

In particular, reflector headlights appear to offer a much larger challenge than projector headlights, because the reflector design requires the luminous element (e.g., the filament) to be located in a specific direction and to have very specific dimensions and shape.

I tried conversion LED bulbs in reflector housings once, I only put them in the high beams. Great out on abandoned rural roads, also great to be able to kick back down to incandescent low beams if there was even the sign of another car as the pattern is blown absolutely everywhere.

Where I live my driving is 90% rural with no other cars for miles - the limiting factor for my night travel speed in any vehicle has been out-driving the headlights, so I like a lot of light if possible.

[martureo]

Depo lights are still available. I would go for a set of these (if you can't source an original pair) and a decent set of bulbs.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-depo-parts/1994-1995-mercedes-w124-european-headlights-set/440-1108p-ld-e~d/

[87tdwagen]

Depo/Tfc lamp assemblies are awesome. I've had mine going on 16 years and 150k miles, still look new, no chips, reflector fade. Higher output bulbs help. The pattern is crisp and clean.

Note that you will need to ditch the headlamp wiper and probably will want to use a blank filler panel below the headlamp. Something to prep for if you go this route.

[evranch]

My car never had the wipers, and I already have the blank panels so that's perfect. These Depo assemblies look great, all glass instead of yellowing plastic like I have.

It's not the extreme brightness of LEDs, but high output bulbs and a higher output alternator might just do the trick. I see the 1993 units are out of stock there but I'll see if I can source some somewhere, too bad Pelican only has the same plastic headlight doors that I had.

[Phillytwotank]

Originally Posted by martureo

Depo lights are still available. I would go for a set of these (if you can't source an original pair) and a decent set of bulbs.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-depo-parts/1994-1995-mercedes-w124-european-headlights-set/440-1108p-ld-e~d/

This is what I’m running. Works great!

[evranch]

It looks like I finally have a line on some Depo headlights in stock to ship to Canada.

Just checking if I also need to order side marker lamps or if the Euro style headlight assembly just drops into the same spot?

[87tdwagen]

The Depo units replace the headlight/fog assembly as a complete drop In. Side markers remain OE. I changed my side markers to clear lens ones and thus had to change to a yellow bulb for US DOT compliance. If you use the OE yellow side markers, no need to change the bulb.