Euro Headlight Assembly Questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Squabble · #1 03-15-2009, 10:09 AM

I recently got French Euros and found out they have broken beam direction adjusting knobs. I cannot for the life of me get these headlights aligned. I haven't exhausted all options but I've started to wonder if I need to buy some regular Bosch euros and mix and match with the French ones to get the perfect set. Does anyone know if this can be done? Can I put regular euro backings on my french assemblys? Can I "part out" regular euros to fix/replace my broken knobs? Does anyone know any tricks to aligning these guys before I start spending more money? Thanks!

JimSmith · #2 03-15-2009, 11:34 AM

It has been a while since I did something similar. I am not sure what the differences between a French set of Euros and a German set is, but when I was importing grey market cars I had quite a few Euros hanging around. Seemed your problem was pretty common, and the issue was the linkage inside, which has a ball and socket joint, had become disjointed. All I had to do was snap the ball back into the socket and the adjuster worked again. Not sure if this is the case with yours, but it worked with mine. Jim

Squabble · #3 03-15-2009, 12:06 PM

Jim, I'll take a look and see if that's it. Without opening them up, the problem has been the actual knobs that you twist on the back being damaged and/or stuck. They seem to be two-part pieces, the center that juts out surrounded by the wing-nut looking dials that actual spin to adjust the lights. Those spinners are either broken off or stuck somehow. Anyone else have any ideas concerning fixing them or can they describe how the back of their euros look and how they aligned them?

KAdams4458 · #4 03-15-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squabble

Jim, I'll take a look and see if that's it. Without opening them up, the problem has been the actual knobs that you twist on the back being damaged and/or stuck. They seem to be two-part pieces, the center that juts out surrounded by the wing-nut looking dials that actual spin to adjust the lights. Those spinners are either broken off or stuck somehow. Anyone else have any ideas concerning fixing them or can they describe how the back of their euros look and how they aligned them?

We should talk.

I think I have a similar issue on one of my Euros. I tried finding parts, but without buying more complete headlamps, the parts can't be obtained. I've been working on a solution, however, and in theory have solved the problem - I just need to take some time to try it out.

I'll try to take some photos tonight of the problem I have, and we'll see if we really are having the same problem. I have to get my daily driver glued back together first, though.

bgkast · #5 03-16-2009, 12:18 AM

Isn't the only thing that makes french lights special the yellow fog reflectors?

KAdams4458 · #6 03-16-2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgkast

Isn't the only thing that makes french lights special the yellow fog reflectors?

That and they actually skew the light to the wrong side of the road for those of us driving in the right lane. Instead of a light pattern like __/ __/ they have a pattern like \__ \__

I know, I know... Horrible example.

I don't know how else to describe it!

bgkast · #7 03-16-2009, 12:38 AM

I think you can adjust that out.

MBeige · #8 03-16-2009, 12:41 AM

The adjusters *should* be replaceable between standard Euros and the French spec ones. As long as they're both the square units then you should be fine. I think the round Euros have different internals. But I could be wrong, I've never compared the internals of the two types.

Somebody is parting out Euros over at the parts section. The adjustment knobs need to have pressure for them to catch on the threads once they're out of the holes. The springs are very good even for their age.

dariod · #9 03-16-2009, 01:18 AM

Isn't France in Europe so what would be difference between Frech lights to Euro lights??

KAdams4458 · #10 03-16-2009, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgkast

I think you can adjust that out.

Technically, not without changing the fresnel lenses, which would obviously defeat the purpose of French lenses - You'd lose the amber.

Eh. The differences are marginal, really.You can crank the French lamps over enough to not worry about blinding on-coming traffic from what I have read. Still beats Federal BS lights.

I gotta see the parts headlamp selection in the parts forum... The last parts headlamp I checked on got pitched before I could get my mitts on them.

JimSmith · #11 03-16-2009, 02:23 AM

If you have some time on your hands and want to do the job correctly, contact this outfit:

http://www.dbdepot.de/www_old/englisch/123/index_1024_e.html

They have a wide range of stocked parts for W123 headlamps. The stuff is not detailed in the English pages so you have to write the guy an email. He will respond. I have purchased a bunch of stuff for Euro 190E 2.3-16's, W123 Euro 230E's and some US W123 240D's from them. NO problems, just shipping time - several weeks.

Jim

Squabble · #12 03-16-2009, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dariod

Isn't France in Europe so what would be difference between Frech lights to Euro lights??

French Euros have amber fogs in them, something you loose when you go from DOT set up to the majority of Euro set ups, round or square. See post number one here: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=247242 for pictures.
Yesterday I tried using three or four washers to kind of shim the assembly to point up higher on the right side, evening them out. They are now aligned horizontally but aren't quite high enough on either side. This is definitely safer and workable until I can figure out a different solution.

As far as the French lights looking like this: \__ \__ , I don't think mine do that. Being pointed so low I was able to see clearly the line on the right side (if driving) that pointed out into the side of the road, __/. Could be construction of the lights or it could be the messed up alignment fixing that issue.

The work goes on...

KAdams4458 · #13 03-16-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squabble

...

As far as the French lights looking like this: \__ \__ , I don't think mine do that. Being pointed so low I was able to see clearly the line on the right side (if driving) that pointed out into the side of the road, __/. Could be construction of the lights or it could be the messed up alignment fixing that issue.

The work goes on...

Interesting. Well, I don't know what to think of your beam pattern, then. Hey, as long as it works.

I still haven't photographed my Euro lamp adjusters, but I'll get to it. I ran in to a little problem while making repairs to my daily driver, so I didn't have time to do anything else. Nothing ever goes smoothly, does it?

lutzTD · #14 03-16-2009, 09:11 AM

I have a box of euro lamp parts from a set I shipped and USPS destroyed. Take a picture of your broken part and I will see if it is still intact in my parts pile.

KAdams4458 · #15 03-16-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

I have a box of euro lamp parts from a set I shipped and USPS destroyed. Take a picture of your broken part and I will see if it is still intact in my parts pile.

Hey, you might be able to help both of us out!