Headlight conversion question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

snookwhaler · #1 02-02-2010, 03:43 PM

I did some searching and could not find the exact answer I was looking for. I have been looking into doing the "conversion headlight thing". Replacing the sealed beams with a set of E-code H4's. It looks like the actual conversion is VERY simple and straightforward.

I would really like to get a set with the "city lights", just because I like that look and it reminds me of seeing cars when I was stationed over seas. Anyway, my question is how much (if any) does the city light affect the performance of the headlight overall? It seems to reason that the city light bulb is lowering the performance of the headlight when it is on high beam right? Is it really that noticeable? Or is it not even really a factor?

winmutt · #2 02-02-2010, 04:06 PM

I certainly never noticed. H4 is so much better than the sealed.

compu_85 · #3 02-02-2010, 05:00 PM

You can legally use city lights... look at a 99+ vw golf or 01+ passat... the front turn signals don't light up, they just have a clear light in the high beam housing.

Their placement in the reflector would only affect the high beam, and i really doubt they impact the beam pattern much at all.

-Jason

snookwhaler · #4 02-02-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

Their placement in the reflector would only affect the high beam, and i really doubt they impact the beam pattern much at all.

-Jason

This is my main concern as we live in a rural part of the county. We use the high beams a lot. Lots of wild life on the road around here at night.

If the city light will affect the beam pattern... I will just go with the regular E-codes.

PanzerSD · #5 02-02-2010, 06:02 PM

I notice no ill effects from having a city light, not any advantage. I think it's a non factor.
I did this with my SD and was very satisfied with the quality of light over the sealed beams, One step further would be to find a REAL european headlamp set (I see em on ebay) and that is a 7" reflector with fog behind a glass lens. Looks awesome. I would find a pair of bosch 7" H4 replacements, the toucan brand or cheap chinese stuff on Ebay is inadequate. Hella Jetco and Bosch are good.

::matthew · #6 02-02-2010, 07:27 PM

I have a passat with city lights and I can't say that I've noticed them affecting anything.

If I did it again, I'd go with the city lights for my Cibies

MBeige · #7 02-02-2010, 07:30 PM

The city lights are basically to replace the park lights in the corner lamps, when European setup is used. European setup requires no amber light separate from the main headlight assembly, so the city light is what's used in its place.

4W bulbs are used for city lights, same with the US DOT park lights (21W when blinking, 4W when used as park lights).

No effect on main headlight beams (low/hi).

However, if you have US version lights, having city lights might make it confusing since you basically have double corner lights (on the corner lamps, and in the low beam housing in the form of city lights).

Wodnek · #8 02-02-2010, 08:57 PM

For my 123, i bought Hella E code headlights. With just the standard wattage bulbs I loved them. The light pattern was so much better.
Highly recomend.

mobetta · #9 02-02-2010, 10:39 PM

I believe that some makes you'll need to trim the light bucket to fit the citylights

compu_85 · #10 02-02-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

However, if you have US version lights, having city lights might make it confusing since you basically have double corner lights (on the corner lamps, and in the low beam housing in the form of city lights).

This is how I have my car set up... and I don't think it is confusing at all. With the parking lights on the headlamp simply looks very dim.

-Jason

MBeige · #11 02-02-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

This is how I have my car set up... and I don't think it is confusing at all. With the parking lights on the headlamp simply looks very dim.

-Jason

You're right, it looks like the car has the headlights on, but just dim.

When it's dusk, I turn on the park lights. In front I have the city lights, without corner lights. Same thing before day break.

I feel it looks weird if I have just the corner lamps (as in the US DOT setup) turned on when driving.

compu_85 · #12 02-02-2010, 11:02 PM

Oddly enough I find that cars look weird without the US corner lights

I'm getting a set of euro lights for my Jetta and am going to have to come up with a way to get the euro turn only lights to be parking lights too....

-Jason

mplafleur · #13 02-03-2010, 09:21 AM

How do you calibrate the beam pattern? I don't mean where they are adjusted, I know how to make the beam go up/down, back/forth. But how do you know when they are correct. My brights go somewhere that is useless and I can see my dims, one goes forward and the other is down and over a bit.

tangofox007 · #14 02-03-2010, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplafleur

How do you calibrate the beam pattern? I don't mean where they are adjusted, I know how to make the beam go up/down, back/forth. But how do you know when they are correct. My brights go somewhere that is useless and I can see my dims, one goes forward and the other is down and over a bit.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

snookwhaler · #15 02-03-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

Ha.... Beat me to it. That is a good write up. I follow that and modify it a bit. It seems if you follow that to the letter that the low beam does not reach out enough.

Thanks again for all the input above! Looks like I am going with the basic Bosch H4 e-code conversion.