Let's talk 126 headlights

[Junkman]

The paint is new. No point in keeping the old crappy sealed beams. In addition to relays, what do I need to help old eyes see at night?

[Diseasel300]

Get some Bosch Euro-spec lights and run Sylvania Silverstar or your favorite brand's equivalent bulb. The improvement of light output and pattern is several orders of magnitude better than the sealed beam or US-spec lights on the Gen II's. They're every bit as good as any modern car with reflector style lights. If you don't want to pony up for a set of real Bosch lights, supposedly the Depo lights are a good substitute.

[oldsinner111]

plastic headlights suck

[Knownworldwide]

I rather like to think my US sealed beams provide a good amount of well directed light at night. Of course I will be switching to the more updated euro style headlights purely on looks alone.

[Diseasel300]

Originally Posted by Knownworldwide

I rather like to think my US sealed beams provide a good amount of well directed light at night. Of course I will be switching to the more updated euro style headlights purely on looks alone.

Drive a car with well-aimed Euro lights. You'll immediately change yours out. There's no comparison between the poorly-defined "oval" US-DOT pattern and the "cutoff" pattern of the Euro lights, especially if you live in an area with lots of wildlife or twisty narrow roads.

[H-townbenzoboy]

I have a Hella ECE sealed beam conversion kit on my 300SD paired with Phillips Xtreme Vision 9003/H4 60/55w bulbs (bulbs were recommended by Daniel Stern and Candlepower Forums). My current setup is much better than the original sealed beams but there's room for improvement. The Hella ECE kit has issues with vertical jump between high and low beam, meaning if you aim the low beams where they're supposed to be, the high beam will be too high, and if you aim the high beams where they're supposed to be, the low beams will be too low. Of course, I didn't find out about this issue until after I'd installed them.

The lighting experts say Hella's Vision Plus SAE/DOT conversion kit is better in terms of focus and vertical jump between high and low beam. The Hella Vision Plus SAE/DOT kit isn't E-code, but today's SAE/DOT headlamps paired with quality bulbs like the Phillips Xtreme Vision or Tungsram Nightbreaker bulbs perform leaps and bounds better than sealed beams. The most important thing is aim. Properly aimed SAE/DOT lamps perform better than crappily aimed ECE lamps or properly aimed sealed beams.

Daniel Stern of Daniel Stern Lighting has recommended the Bosch ECE conversion kit as the best in terms of performance for the H6054 type unit used on the 81-85 W126. They're hard to find, though he can order some for you. For the 7" round headlights on the W123, he recommends Koito H4 conversion kits.

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

I have a Hella ECE sealed beam conversion kit on my 300SD paired with Phillips Xtreme Vision 9003/H4 60/55w bulbs (bulbs were recommended by Daniel Stern and Candlepower Forums). My current setup is much better than the original sealed beams but there's room for improvement. The Hella ECE kit has issues with vertical jump between high and low beam, meaning if you aim the low beams where they're supposed to be, the high beam will be too high, and if you aim the high beams where they're supposed to be, the low beams will be too low. Of course, I didn't find out about this issue until after I'd installed them.

The lighting experts say Hella's Vision Plus SAE/DOT conversion kit is better in terms of focus and vertical jump between high and low beam. The Hella Vision Plus SAE/DOT kit isn't E-code, but today's SAE/DOT headlamps paired with quality bulbs like the Phillips Xtreme Vision or Tungsram Nightbreaker bulbs perform leaps and bounds better than sealed beams. The most important thing is aim. Properly aimed SAE/DOT lamps perform better than crappily aimed ECE lamps or properly aimed sealed beams.

Daniel Stern of Daniel Stern Lighting has recommended the Bosch ECE conversion kit as the best in terms of performance for the H6054 type unit used on the 81-85 W126. They're hard to find, though he can order some for you. For the 7" round headlights on the W123, he recommends Koito H4 conversion kits.

It's interesting that commentary would lay the blame for vertical jump on the reflector. The vertical location of the light source, the filament, within any given reflector will determine the vertical position of the projected pattern. Lower the filament, and the pattern will rise. Raise the filament, and the pattern will descend. A bulb that has the filaments too far apart vertically will exhibit greater jump. One other possibility does exist to cause excessive jump: the filaments are mis-located fore & aft, and are not at the focal point of the reflector. In that case the blame may indeed fall on the manufacturer of the reflector.

A few years ago Stern's recommended 6054 replacement was one from Ciebie. It is possible that that is no longer available.

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by Frank Reiner

One other possibility does exist to cause excessive jump: the filaments are mis-located fore & aft, and are not at the focal point of the reflector. In that case the blame may indeed fall on the manufacturer of the reflector.

That's probably it since it happens no matter what bulb you use.

Originally Posted by Frank Reiner

A few years ago Stern's recommended 6054 replacement was one from Ciebie. It is possible that that is no longer available.

They're NLA.

[83w126]

Last I asked him about it, Daniel Stern said these would be the best for a W126. https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8900-evolution-2/

The euro lights are so expensive and even then most don't have very good reflectors anymore.

[Junkman]

Originally Posted by 83w126

Last I asked him about it, Daniel Stern said these would be the best for a W126. https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8900-evolution-2/

The euro lights are so expensive and even then most don't have very good reflectors anymore.

I'll have to see whether my relative can get me a deal. I'm cheap & at $336 each, they'd better give good lights and perhaps a kiss (or more). I sent an email to Daniel but haven't received his response.

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by 83w126

Last I asked him about it, Daniel Stern said these would be the best for a W126. https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8900-evolution-2/

The euro lights are so expensive and even then most don't have very good reflectors anymore.

When I asked him, I only asked what was the best option for a H4 conversion kit with the ECE lens pattern. That JW Speaker light might be the best performing overall. I think it looks a little out of character for an old Benz, but I wouldn't doubt that it's a good light.

[WDBCB20]

This probably needs its own thread, but since there was mention of optimizing aiming the lights I was wondering if anyone has retrofit the vacuum adjust feature?

I've got a set of Bosch Euro's with the vacuum connection and the switch I pulled from a Euro 126 but there's quite a bit of other plumbing involved?

[83w126]

Originally Posted by Junkman

I'll have to see whether my relative can get me a deal. I'm cheap & at $336 each, they'd better give good lights and perhaps a kiss (or more). I sent an email to Daniel but haven't received his response.

He also mentioned these as a cheaper option: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ED7HNY/?tag=2402507-20

[dude99]

Originally Posted by WDBCB20

This probably needs its own thread, but since there was mention of optimizing aiming the lights I was wondering if anyone has retrofit the vacuum adjust feature?

I've got a set of Bosch Euro's with the vacuum connection and the switch I pulled from a Euro 126 but there's quite a bit of other plumbing involved?

Nope, really easy. Been years since I did mine, but I seem to remember its just vacuum to the switch, then out of the switch to the headlights. The switch will fit in place of the factory stereo fader which is where I put mine since I had long ago bypassed the fader.

[dude99]

As to this thread, don't waste your time or $$$ with the US headlight enclosures or upgrades. The euro headlights are outstanding, and honestly you won't believe the important. My wife's current daily driver is a 420SEL with euro headlights and when I drive it at night its better than a lot of newer cars out there. The optics in them are excellent.