Well 5.75" hi/lo's won't fit where the fogs are.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rwthomas1 · #1 02-09-2003, 09:10 PM

I had this idea to replace the factory fog lights with regular 5.75" hi/low halogens as a cheap upgrade/alternative to E-codes. ARRGH!! They don't fit in the buckets! Would have been nice to have 4 low-beams and 4 high-beams........ I may scour the boneyard and get some buckets to modify ala Dremel/hacksaw as I still think its a viable idea. Too bad it ain't a bolt-in though. RT

Erikir · #2 02-10-2003, 12:21 AM

Maybe a machine shop will modify them for ya in exchange for a case of beer. Being a beer drinking machinist myself, I know I'd be happy to do it

Check out this site for some wiring tips on the lighting conversion - http://www.jaimekop.com/240D/lights/

rwthomas1 · #3 02-10-2003, 11:40 AM

When it gets right down to it Hella E-codes seem to be the easiest option. By the time I get what I need to make this happen I might as well have spent the $70 on the Hellas. I am into this for $50 counting lamps, relays, wiring, etc. right now. Taking it all back and swapping for E-codes. Besides, beer and I are not easily parted.... Bass Ale-worth its weight in gold! RT

#4 02-10-2003, 11:50 AM

Tom,

I just did what you are trying to do. I was going to replace the 5.75 with cibie H4 Hi/low beams. The fit in just fine but one of them was rusty so I took them both out and put in two 5.75 5006 (i am Fairly sure that it the number) sealed beam High beam. lights. Now the rest of what I am going to say is just my opinion,

the inherent problem with the four headlight system that we are talking about will attract negative attention from other drivers and the boys in blue because I dont think that any car has four headlights on at low beam....sure lately everyone seems to be running fog and driving lights but they are usually below the bumper so they dont appear to be driving around with there high beams on. Here is what I did to my benz. I put in two cibie 7 inch with standard wattage (for now, I am strongly thinking about upgrading) If money is of no concern then run two cibie 5.75 H1 driving lights. You must relay them in to run when your hibeams go on. It is not hard to do and there is alot of info available. What I also did was to pull out the fog light power source wire into the engine bay so that if I want to hang some fog lamps I can easily.
However if you go with the cibie lamps you dont really need fog lamps, they are that much of on improvement. I may hang some driving lamps (that will appear to all other drivers to be fog lamps because they are below my bumper.)

Cibie 7 are 50 so two will be 100, plus relay 10 plus H1 plugs from a junk yard 5, plus two sealed beam driveing lampls 10, and some wire 5, 80/100 bulbs (optional) 30

150 bucks and you got yourself some lights

Good luck with it.

Bob c

#5 02-10-2003, 11:52 AM

PS

they should fit. Be sure to have all the wire out of the way. The dont set all that great but when you clamp them down the will seat just fine.

good luck

bob

rwthomas1 · #6 02-10-2003, 12:02 PM

Bob,
I think the problem is the standard 5.75" high/low halogen has different alignment lugs on it than the 5.75" high does. I suppose I could look into an E-code 5.75 high/low but if I were to do that I might as well just upgrade the 7"s...... For now I think the Hella 7" E-codes will be fine. I like Jamie Kop's setup so I will copy it..... Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I realize that a 4 high/low lamps system would attract attention but I was going to set it up with relays so that I could choose the amount of light I want. My thoughts are that 4 low-beam lamps would be perfect when running on dark highways late at night. More light without killing the oncoming traffic. If you have ever driven the western Mass pike late at night you will understand what I mean. RT

The Warden · #7 02-10-2003, 12:42 PM

I'm just wondering, what are you going to do with the old fog lights?

Erikir, thanks for that link!

rwthomas1 · #8 02-10-2003, 01:50 PM

Warden,
If I replace the fogs I will Ebay them. Unless you want 'em... RT

The Warden · #9 02-10-2003, 04:08 PM

Depending on the price, I may be interested...mine work great, so all I truly need is one lens (someone replaced one of my amber lenses with a clear lens; I don't particularly care what color it is as long as they're the same, at this point), but if you want to get rid of them as a whole set, again depending on the price, I'm flexible.

rwthomas1 · #10 02-10-2003, 08:55 PM

Warden,
Believe me the price will be right, probably darn near free as I will just want them gone. Happy to help a fellow MBZ owner out. If you can wait a bit, I need to scrape together the cash for the E-code driving lights first. btw, I just popped for/installed Hella E-code 7"s. I am gonna have to aim those puppies, they are MUCH brighter with better patterns than US halogens. RT

The Warden · #11 02-10-2003, 09:17 PM

I'll take 'em

I'm in no hurry, so take your time

Where'd you get the Hella set? I was originally planning on just geting some Sylvania XtraVisions, but it sounds like these are a lot better...also, how much did you pay for 'em?

I might have to do this with my truck too

rwthomas1 · #12 02-11-2003, 12:04 AM

Warden,
I have been wanting to do the E-code light thing for a while. A local import parts house had Hella 70476's for $80/pair. Not cheap but apparently worthwhile. The bonus is the bulb is replaceable so just the initial investment is high. Try here for the Hella's, they have 'em for less than $70.....

http://www.susquehanna.com/susq/index.htm

RT

The Warden · #13 02-11-2003, 12:22 AM

RT, thanks for the link!

However, I noticed on the top of that site that it said that the lights they sell are not DOT approved for on-road use. Does that apply to all of the Hella kits, or just the ones they sell (I noticed them saying that they do something special)?

I like the 100/80 watt bulb setups

but don't want to get pulled over...

rwthomas1 · #14 02-11-2003, 12:46 PM

Warden,
Thats right. They are not DOT approved. Apparently the easy way to tell if a lamp is DOT or not is those three little "nipples" placed in a triangle on the perimeter of the lamp. They allow a mechanical lamp aiming device to be attached. The Europeans adjust their lamps visually as E-code lamps have much better patterns than the DOT crap. This is the key: A correctly adjusted E-code will put out far more light but in a very controlled pattern so that it is actually LESS blinding to oncoming drivers even with 100/80 bulbs!! Correctly aimed E-codes should attract no more attention than regular DOT lamps. I always figure the cops will go for the "low hanging fruit"... All the nutjobs in ricegrinders with pseudo-HID-blue-ice-ionsupercalafragalistic-dilithium-crystal lamps that are ALL incorrectly aimed! If you need DOT's to get through an inspection or something it is easy to swap them in once a year. btw, Hella does make a DOT approved lamp, I think its the 70477, but I don't think its as good as the true E-code 70476..... RT

The Warden · #15 02-20-2003, 04:48 PM

Okay, cool...I will definitely need to do that upgrade when $$ allows.

Erikir, that site you linked...I just tried to go back to it today, and it wouldn't work. I don't know if that page is yours or not, but if it is, just wanted to let you know...all I can say is darn; I wanted to re-wire the fogs today, but don't remember which wire was which.