EURO installed today! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BENZ-LGB · #1 06-23-2002, 05:33 PM

I was finally able to free up some time this weekend and I installed a pair of EUROS in my 1991 420SEL. The lights are TYC and not DEPO. The dealer didn't have the DEPO lights in stock and since PartsShop here sells TYC, I figured that TYC were equivalent to DEPO. (I was able, however, to verify that TYC quality is comparable to DEPO).

The installation was a cinch. The lights fit in perfectly. The toughest part was connecting the light socket-plug after the lights were installed because its location is somewhat out of the way. Even after stopping to referee an altrcation between Honorable Daughter #3 and Honorable Son#1, it took less than one hour from start to fiinish. Thanks to Barrie for his earliest post on rewiring the lights' electrical harness. The wiring for his W124 is the same as for my W126. Thanks.

The US wipers work just fine with the EURO lights. No modifications needed. The wiper blade does not sweep the fog lamps, but they didn't do that before either, so that's OK with me--no biggie here.

I did not install the vacuum control. But I am very tempted to do so. Somebody please stop me.

My biggest complaint is that now my fog lamps are "white" and not amber because the EUROS do not have the amber reflector. As JCE mentioned in another post, now when I turn on my fog lamps people will assume that I have my high beams on and will flash me (it's OK if young women want to flash me though

).

Here are the before and after pics. Sorry I have to do it in two posts, but I haven't quite figured out how to do multiple pictures in one single post.

BTW I now have a pair of used, slightly pitted Bosch US DOT lights for sale. Make me an offer.

BENZ-LGB · #2 06-23-2002, 05:36 PM

After the install...

Very nice effect

(BTW, the blueish tint inside my old lights is a reflection from our house, which is painted blue. I DON'T have blue rice lights...honest I don't!)

Holson Adi · #3 06-23-2002, 07:30 PM

That looks really good! Aren't those headlights the best upgrade you ever did to your car? (rhetorical btw..

) The '86+ US W126's at least had the nicer lookin headlights compared to the pre-86 ones (VERY ugly IMO)

I kinds like the white light (as I just transferred my US fog light bulbs to the Euros). In the future I wanna try PIAA's Ion Crystal H3's. They do cost $22 ea. though.

BTW, you might wanna look at the Euro dark orange blinkers. I love those more than the clear ones.. but that's just me.

Imagine clear blinkers with blue light bulbs in a klattering W123...

MikeTangas · #4 06-23-2002, 07:33 PM

Would it be possible to just install the yellow "cup" over the fog light bulb? On the US version, the fog light bulb is covered by a "cup" that simply snaps on.

The Euro's look great, I'm thinking of doing the same for the 560. Maybe once the shooting season is over I will have the time to do the upgrade.

#5 06-23-2002, 08:55 PM

THose Euro Blinkers are very very hard to come buy I had to switch the 500's to US after the wreck because nobody could get them

Holson Adi · #6 06-23-2002, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Benzman500
THose Euro Blinkers are very very hard to come buy I had to switch the 500's to US after the wreck because nobody could get them

Capitol West sells them for $46 at least for my W123.
I have got good offers for used ones.. so I might go for these used ones instead.

JCE · #7 06-23-2002, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Would it be possible to just install the yellow "cup" over the fog light bulb? On the US version, the fog light bulb is covered by a "cup" that simply snaps on.

Good idea, but when I looked at them, the US fog lamp bulb opening was larger than the Euro bulb opening, and the yellow cup was crimped in place (They both use the H3 bulb, so I don't know why they appear a different size, but thats the way they looked when I pulled the lenses off of each.) I would rather do that if I can make it work than keep looking for yellow H3 bulbs, or put out twice the price for the PIAA ion crystals that I used to pay for the Hella Yellow Stars!

Zeus · #8 06-23-2002, 10:36 PM

Good job! They look great!!

BENZ-LGB · #9 06-24-2002, 09:30 AM

For all the positive comments.

It was that big so. California "Euro Install Party" that finally pushed me into action.

As I mentioned, the installation went fairly smooth. But if it hadn't been for all the good info in this forum (as well as all the support) I may not have been tempted to tackle this project. So, again, thanks!

Starting with JCE's great research, Barrie's helpful conversion hints, 420's great pics, Larry Bible timely observations and the rest of you who are always here to support and inspire each other this is just a GREAT site.

I guess the forum is just a reflection of the great cars we drive.

Keep up the good work

PS: Now if someone has any suggestions on how to replace a cracked vanity mirror (without having to replace the entire sun visor) I'd sure like to hear from you.

420 · #10 07-01-2002, 02:14 PM

Looks great LGB!

Question: How did you mount the wiper motors to the lights?
Did the bolt holes line up perfectly? I ask because that was not the case when I installed Bosch Euros on my W126. The existing wiper motor suports were not compatable with my euro's. I solved my problem by installing euro wipers (I planed on it regardless of the mounting problem) but there is another forum member who wants to keep his US wipers but can't figure out how to get them mounted to the euro lights.

Thanks,

BENZ-LGB · #11 07-01-2002, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 420
Looks great LGB!

Question: How did you mount the wiper motors to the lights?
Did the bolt holes line up perfectly? I ask because that was not the case when I installed Bosch Euros on my W126. The existing wiper motor suports were not compatable with my euro's. I solved my problem by installing euro wipers (I planed on it regardless of the mounting problem) but there is another forum member who wants to keep his US wipers but can't figure out how to get them mounted to the euro lights.

Thanks,

As you know, the headlight wiper motors are attached to the light assembly itself at three points and to the chassis at one point. In the case of my lights, the chassis attachment point left the wiper shaft in direct alignment with the valance's original opening. So if I attached the motors only to the chassis I would get a perfect alignment.

I wanted a stronger, more secure attachment, however. So I I went to the hardware store and found a couple of sturdy metal brackets with pre-drilled holes (think of the metal pieces for an Erector set). I then attached/mounted one bracket to each light assembly (like a small bridge). The holes in the bracket then aligned perfectly with the holes in the wiper motor bracket, so I attached the motor mounting bracket to the "bridge" and presto, I now have two solid attachment points: the chassis and the metal bracket (bridge).

It is really a lot easier to do than to explain. Once you take out the light assemblies, (TYC brand) it all becomes self-evident. I only wish I had thought about taking pics to help others along the way. But I was in such a hurry to get done, like a kid Christmas morning.........

I will eventually reverse the wiper motors and use euro wiper arm assemblies. I seen the pics from your install and the lights look better with the longer, black trimmed, Euro wiper.

BENZ-LGB · #12 07-01-2002, 06:57 PM

...look at the front valances (under the lights) and measure the distance from the shaft opening to the outside edge of the valance trim piece? I was just curious whether the distance from the shaft opening to the outside edge of the trim pice is the same in your car as it is in mine.

What's the part number for the Euro headlight wiper assemblies?

Also, what bulbs did you end up using in your new headlights?

Thanks

420 · #13 07-01-2002, 08:02 PM

Sorry, I don't have the part #'s for the euro wipers.

I haven't been able to do any close scrutinizing but it looks like the wipers on the W140 or R129 look very close to the size of the euros on the W126's. Maybe either of those could be used.

The measurements for the euro valance panels are 4 11/16” from the dead center of the wiper shaft to the outside edge of the panel. And I measured 5 13/16 on the US panels. You probably noticed a lot of side-to-side travel on the grommet for the wiper shaft when installing your lights so my measurements could be off a bit.
BUT, here’s is something interesting……As you know there are 2 holes on the valance panels. One opening for the wiper shaft, and one for the washer fluid hose/nipple.
Unfortunately, the holes are opposite on the euro panels, the hole for the shaft is on the outside.

But I noticed that the rough distance from the center of the wiper shaft hole on the euro panel to edge is 4 11/16”. And on the US panel the distance from the center of the washer fluid nipple opening to the edge is 4 11/16”. You just might be able to use the washer fluid nipple hole for the wiper shaft hole. Now I promise that the grommet for the wiper shaft wouldn’t fit in the washer nipple opening without some cutting, and even if you did do that the washer nipples wouldn’t fit on the wiper shaft opening (too big)… but with the dark color of your car and that fact that the euor wipers do a pretty good job of hiding the opening for the washer fluid nipples, you just might be able to get away with using your existing valance panels with some modification.

420 · #14 07-01-2002, 08:05 PM

Oh yea, the bulbs I'm using are PIAA superwhites 85/85 and I'm very pleased with them.

300EVIL · #15 07-01-2002, 11:44 PM

Looks Great!!

Adding Euros is like the difference between night and day!! Did you get the vacuum actuation?