123 Driving Light Suggestions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SwampYankee · #1 01-31-2007, 04:07 PM

We've got a summer place up in ME and do a lot of driving on unlighted roads and stretches of highway. I'd like to get at least some semi-period correct looking bumper mount driving lights for my TD. I know that they probably aren't as strong or intense as some of the newer, high-intensity ones but I'd like to keep things looking right and they'd still be an improvement over not having them. Any suggestions?

Biodiesel300TD · #2 01-31-2007, 04:09 PM

Start with some Halogen headlights. They will make a big difference without adding extra lights on. I put some on my wagon and they are waaaay better than the hold sealed beams.

toomany MBZ · #3 01-31-2007, 05:09 PM

I install Hella's in my benz's. Do da, do da. Allright, they will help. Lens and bulb. Try here http://rallylights.com/hella/7in.asp see if you still need help. A brochure came with them offering driving lights, etc. some with RF switches, very small and unobtrusive. Unfimiliar with period look after market lights. Except for the 126, wanting to do the euro headlight thing.

mobetta · #4 01-31-2007, 05:19 PM

I suggest getting some 7" e-codes,(hella $80ish, cibie $110ish, autopal $40ish), that will help a lot.

it is also possible to replace your fogs with high beams. or low/highs, and run a true 4 lamp system.

winmutt · #5 01-31-2007, 05:40 PM

Just get euros an be done with it.

Shawn D. · #6 01-31-2007, 06:24 PM

As "toomany MBZ" suggests, check out the offerings at Susquehanna: http://www.rallylights.com/hella/Auxiliary_Lamps.asp

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Just get euros an be done with it.

Sorry, but I have to ask: how is that going to be a solution to wanting driving lights? Aren't the inner positions just fog lights? Sure, E-code lights are better than US sealed beams, but I doubt Euro W123 lights are any better than Hella E-Code 7" lights -- actually, I bet they are worse than the Hellas.

Since I'm not an "MB look" purist, I'm replacing the fogs on my 300td with Hella 5-3/4" high beams. I wanted the extra light and would never use the stock fogs anyhow (which are poorly positioned in the first place). I also like the fact that doing so irritates some of Y'all!

rwthomas1 · #7 01-31-2007, 06:48 PM

I have 7" Hella E-codes and they work way better than the sealed beams. I have but not installed yet a set of Hella 5 3/4" high beams to replace the fogs. As noted the fogs are not in a particularly good location. The combination should throw enough light for most situations. I am also considering a set of Hella 530 fogs under the bumper, this is New England after all. The 530's have been around a while so they should be "period correct" enough for me. RT

Shorebilly · #8 01-31-2007, 06:53 PM

I mean no offense to you "city folks".....but......as I live way beyond what most of y'all consider to be "the boonies", I'll just state the facts......

A good set of halogen or bright stars will do you well....e-codes will be better.....

If you must install a big set of what I would consider "off road" lights....please, please remember to dim them when you come up on another vehicle.....no matter which direction you are approaching the local hillbilly ********* from......and one wonders why nice folks get pissed with the inconsiderations of the visiting city folk.....

I don't know anyone locally who burns an extra set of lights....excepting those on motorcycles.......look around at the local vehicles the next time that you visit......

SB

MTUpower · #9 01-31-2007, 07:12 PM

I've got some 5 3/4 H3 high beam lights instead of the fog lights. They work great. I do miss the extra close light from the fogs when the low beams are on, however. Square euros and H4's with the H3 high beams are about the same if you ask me. Driving lights under the bumper don't do much good as the are very low- and dont illuminate much except air. I had a set and it wasn't worth the effort to install them. Fog lights under the bumber would be a better choice.

SwampYankee · #10 02-01-2007, 07:59 AM

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I do want to keep the fogs since I use them on my other vehicles fairly often. I think I will replace the headlights with halogen ones. I will check out those sites also. I would be mounting them above the bumper. I'm not looking to light up the night sky by any means, I just want to supplement the headlights with some that I could angle slightly towards the roadside on either side. Of course I'd be turning them off for oncoming traffic.

Shorebilly, I know exactly what you mean. The house has been in our family for well over a century. My uncle was born there (father, too) and has lived two houses down full-time for over 30 years now. He's been a town cop, a fireman, an alderman, town engineer amongst other town related jobs. He's still considered a flat-lander by the locals because he went to school in CT prior to attending U. of ME and then onto the Navy. I don't want to piss them off to much, but then again, I'll fire back

WD8CDH · #11 02-01-2007, 08:51 AM

My vote is for putting the driving lights in the fog light position since that is a good height for them and replace the fogs with aux fogs below the bumper where they would work better than the stock position anyway.

POS · #12 02-01-2007, 09:01 AM

Get some Euros for the car first - real Euros. Mine on my w123 are bright enough to piss off anybody on a dark road. If that doesn't do it, then go for the bumper-mounted Hellas.

Graminal95 · #13 02-01-2007, 09:06 AM

I have always been into having great headlight in my car and so this is what I did.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=173929

I have 100w/80w H4's in the headlight and 100w H3's in the Bosch driving lights. The lights are 80's NOS I got from a friend years ago for my Saab rally car. I never was able to race the car and decided a better place for them would be on my 240.

The headligth wipers do wonders on the salty roads of NH.

Oh I make sure they are on low anytime I am near another car. I hate being blasted with high beams myself and I would never want to be hit by mine.

dmorrison · #14 02-01-2007, 01:17 PM

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=174444&highlight=hella+ecode+lights+dave

Bought the ecode lights for my daughters car first to try them out. Love the light pattern. Far superior to any US made light pattern. Bought 2 more sets. One for the wagon and one for my sons 65 Mustang.

Got the lights from

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/7in.asp

Ordered the H6024M

Dave

Surf-n-Turf · #15 02-01-2007, 02:34 PM

Something a little different. I have these on my W115 1976 240D. They look decent IMHO.