Folks,
I was searching for a pair of E-Code headlamps for the 300D.....found "Susquehanna Motorsports" via a search on Amazon. I actually phoned them to see if their price was for a pair and not an individual light.

http://www.rallylights.com/default.aspx

http://www.rallylights.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=367

I ordered a set of Hella Lamps with 85/80W Osram Hyper H-4 bulbs, a pair of relays, connectors, and a fuse block for about $130.00 including shipping. The guy that I spoke to had a 300D and knew exactly what was necessary, they also sell an "in house" "Plug & Play" harness for $80.00 and he talked me out of that. Because their harness isn't vehicle "specific", and would not make as neat of an installation as a talented DIYer can do.

They also have the best description of E-Codes that I have seen.....

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/Beams.aspx#ece

And "Bulbs 101 - Bulb FAQ"

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/BulbHelp.aspx

These folks sell just about any kind of light that you could want on your vehicle, and then some.....and although I have not priced any driving or fog lights, if their pricing runs as it does for the 7" round headlamp upgrades....then these folks should be a good find for us folks here.

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

Wow, and only about 70 miles from my house. When you talked to them, did they mention whether they have a walk-in shop or is it just the internet business?

I'm just looking into headlight upgrades for better winter night driving.

Thanks for mentioning this place, so far I was only looking on ebay.

*edit*

After reading about e-codes I have a question. It says these lights are not certified for use on public highways...does that refer to only the high-beam portion of the lights (because its right after the high-beam description) or to the light as a whole? I assume it refers to the light as a whole, but I just thought I'd ask the dumb question and see what kind of answer I get

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1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

Phone them up......they have a shop/store.....the guy that I spoke with uses the "Yellowstar" bulb for winter/foul weather....told me that it would not help my problem...deer, he told me that whiter light helped to show them up.....

Look around in that website, there is all sorts of "good" info on lighting and they have all sorts of rallye/racing stuff....

SB

I had the wrong link in the first posting, I edited it a bit ago.....

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

The lens itself does not met DOT specifications on several counts, including the light pattern and absence of aiming lugs.

Run the 60/55W H4 VisionPlus (from RallyLights).. and cannot tell the difference between the ECodes.
the light pattern/quality of light make stock lights positively unacceptable.

Now 60W H1 Yellowstars that have running as fogs are a DOT different story.. but make bad weather driving hilarious.
(and blast those bixenon idiots out there if needed)

Rallylights has been around for a while, I got their Hella H4 7" conversions over there and always recommended them in headlight threads I find here and on other fora.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

+1 for Susquehanna Motor Sports. Ordered my second set of H4's from them last week. I have received only the best customer service there.

Everyone who owns a 123 should have at least 60/55W H4 7" round euro lights. They make driving the car so much more enjoyable and safer.

I cant imagine 60/55W bulbs not being enough...I see every critter so far off. I even get people occasionally upset at me thinking my high beams are on. My lights are properly aimed too. I think folks would be militant with higher powered bulbs round here.

dd

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

They worked very well for me. The service was good.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=174444&highlight=dave+code+light+300td

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Another alternative to Hella E-codes are Bosch E-codes, although they're a bit more expensive from what I've seen so far and harder to find. One of the most expensive ones are the Cibie units. Somebody on the forum said they found theirs else where when Daniel Stern did not respond.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

When I phoned Susquehanna Motorsports, as I said initially I was surprised that their prices were close to half that of most other sources. I was initially interested in 100/80W H4's.....their customer service was excellent, and the person to whom I spoke told me that 100/80W bulbs would not do as well, brightness and color wise, for spotting deer and such.....explained that the 85/80W Osram Hyper bulb has no blue coating and was closer to "daylight" and would show up the deer and other critters better.....very knowledgable in regard to their product line as well as application to MB W123's......I was very impressed, the person could have sold me what I initially inquired about and I would have been none the wiser.....

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

I have looked into the lighting aspect for several months. No expert by any means. On the 240D, I have Hellas. One Euro, the other DOT. I think I have Osram 30+ or 50+. I plan to upgrade and maybe go with the Cibie with city lights, and hook up the fogs with them. I haven't had it out at night yet though.
I bought some new lens for a Ford Contour I have. Water was getting into the housing, plus the weathering of the plastics. What a difference. I did ask Candle Power about Navra Rangerpower 50+. Their response was that Toshiba HIR would give better light. They are about $24 a bulb though. I am happy at the moment with my setup there.
Tom

that was probably me. over at BW. I have Cibie 7" rounds with Osram/Sylvania 60/55w Silverstar Ultras. They put out great light and have the __/__/. I also did a mod to my foglights (also with Silverstars) so I can operate them independent of the headlights. I use those as my "citylights".

I didn't go with the version of the Cibies with built-in citylights because I didn't have any idea how I'd switch them. If I did it again, I might get them and try to figure that one out though.

the foglight mod is here

What's the point in having city lights if you don't drive in Europe?

The citylights mod is not worth the trouble. It requires cutting the headlight buckets.

The foglight mod is very much worth it. Not having the headlamps on with the fogs greatly reduces light bounceback from the fog and really improves vision.

By the way, I have used E-codes from Hella, Bosch and Cibie on the 123. The Cibie's are first, the Bosch is second, Hella is third, factory Euro is fourth and factory USA is a far fifth. Not only is the Cibie the brightest, it has the LEAST glare to oncoming traffic.

Also, in general, stay away from blue tinted bulbs. They LOOK brighter but illuminate worse.

Right now, I have Cibie 7" e-code for primary lights, Cibie H1 high beams with yellow Xpel protectors in the fog location on their own switch (replacing the radio fader) as driving lights and rectangular fogs under the bumper wired per the fog mod mentioned above. Looks stock and really lights things up where I need it.

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Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

I ordered my Hella 500 fogs from Susquehanna Motor Sports - good deal and they are great lights (the original outboard fog lights on my W115 had been broken off). Just last weekend, I replaced my sealed beam headlamps with Bosch H4's. Yes...they are great! Considering that it is almost impossible to find Euro headlights in the US for a W115 car, and getting them from E-bay Germany would be expensive, this seemed to be an attractive solution. The beam pattern has a MUCH better cut-off and they do a much better job putting the light where you need it. I love them....plus they have a flat lens which I think looks more like the Euro lens, and IMHO it's much less wasteful to replace just the halogen capsule than the entire sealed beam unit.

What should have been a 15-minute install turned into several hours though....I destroyed the screw head on the left side headlight assembly and ultimately had to drill it out. Finding an equal size screw in my large collection of small screws took the rest of the time. Funny how the easiest of jobs can turn out to be frustrating.

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1976 240D "Katja"