According to the description that I read on "search", my car,(80 300 SD 116) has the euro style headlights. These have a single glass lens over the whole assembly. The bulbs are # 9003LL. Contrary to what I have been reading, the performance of these is really terrible. To the extent that I drive at night only when absolutely unavoidable. My question is: is it possible to physically and electrically replace these with the regular sealed beam type that has two lights on each side? Or---am I totally missing something here? Thanks in advance. Willie (Poor Soul)

If you are not satisfied with Euro code headlights then you either have a wrong bulb or they are not properly adjusted. The generic bulb type is H4 55/60 watt. I'm not sure what a 9003LL is.

The low beam cutoff is horizonatal on the left with a 15 degree rise on the right. Proper adjustment places the horizontal cutoff 3" below the center of the lens at a distance of 25', and the intersection between the horizontal and 15 degree cutoffs should be dead center ahead of the lamp.

The best way to adjust is to find a LEVEL surface with a wall. Place the front of the car 25' away from the wall, make the measurements and place pieces of tape on the wall 3" below the vertical lamp center distance from the ground as your targets. Adjust the lateral aim first, then the vertical.

The foglights can be adjusted in the same way. IIRC they only have a vertical adjustment because the beam is very wide with a horizontal cutoff all the way across.

Duke

I recently upgraded to the phillips star bulbs for my 600SL, with its pathetic US spec headlamps. There is a marked difference in clarity and color temperature with these bulbs and I would recommend them to anyone looking to improve over a normal bulb.

My car uses the 9300 bulb (though the manual says 9400 for some reason). There is a marking of H4 on the base of the bulb.

Justin

Thanks Guys, for your response I dont know where those adjustment locations are but sounds like it might be worth looking into.I will be checking out the bulb types. The 9003 is an H4 and the LL is the designation for long life. Its rated at 55/60 watt and it was in the car from PO. My lights are so bad that I cast a shadow on the road when someone follows me closely. no kidding.! Meanwhile, I wonder if I should be even thinking about switching to the 4 head light system. I have to do something.
Thanks, Willie(Poor Soul)

Willie, have you taken a close look at the headlamp? Moisture can ruin the reflective surface over time. The units can be disassembled for repair, although I'm not sure how much luck you'd have finding replacement parts. Reflectors certainly can be resilvered by shops that specialize in that process.

Otherwise, I wonder about the condition of your wiring and switch, and even system voltage (alternator). A set of euro lights should blow away any sealed-beam setup you can install, bar none. I'd use a multimeter to test voltage at the bulb socket and especially resistance on the ground wires (should be close to zero ohms).

Whatever you do, resist the temptation to install overwattage (80/100) bulbs without rerouting the power source through relays. The excess current through dicey circuitry could burn it out -- in fact, I wonder if a previous owner might have subjected the lighting system to that kind of abuse.

One possible fix, assuming your alternator is producing adequate juice, is to install an aftermarket relayed wiring harness. You'll get plenty of lighting power from that upgrade, along with the ability to upgrade to high-watt bulbs if you like. You'll probably find that you don't need them, though.

HTH
Russ M

Russ You may have brought up the real answer to the whole problem. This in addition to a prior response indicating a possible fault with the adjustment of properly aiming the lights. I felt reluctant to put in a 100 Watt replacement bulb thinking that the original wiring would not support the extra current. I seem to recall that when I first acquired this car I picked up a replacement headlight unit from a semi-local yard(why?) and noted that the original had rusty reflectors.The availability of a replacement from a second hand source is practically out of the question but I will be examining the existing setup to see if the reflective units are as they should be and if not that will be the focus of my efforts. Thanks for your input and I hope that all the good people on the forum remain as the resource for those of us that are not the sharpest tool in the shed.Thank you very much. Willie (Poor Soul)

Willie,
My "87 300TD also has a problem with lighting, so bad I drive with the brights on and no one notices, and with the fog lamps on so I can see the lines.

I read that the E-class cars pre-93 had less then satisfactory headlamps with plastic light housing which limits my max wattage to 60. I also read that it could be upgraded to a metal European unit which with modifications could go as high as 160 watt high/beam. But too expensive for my pocketbook.
Anyone have any ideas to get bighter without that option?

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1987 MB 300TD, 245,000 miles running great, converted to WVO.
1996 Ford F350 2WD,PSD,CC,DRW custom conversion, soon to run on WVO.
2003 Toyota Matrix,4WD (wifes)

I am reasonably sure that the root of my problem is in the reflectors behind the hi/lo beam bulbs. Seems like the best course would be to replace/repair those components. I sure cant consider replacing the whole unit.(platinum plated gold). Does anyone have a part number or a source for the reflectors?
I am looking into the replating option as well, and will post here if I have any success. Meanwhile, I thank all for pointing me in the right direction.
Willie (Poor Soul)

The light from the following vehicle is added to your own lights' output in the areas not shadowed by your car's body, causing a shadow in the area directly in front of your own vehicle which only receives one set of headlight's worth of light. It is also true, though, that Long Life bulbs, whether for houses or cars, will have somewhat less output than normal life bulbs.

Thanks, I was not aware that the LL units give less illumination than regular units. You would have to see the shadow that I cast to appreciate the problem that I have. I dont even plan to attempt adjusting the aiming until I can find a way to get better reflectors. I am trying to find a shop that rechromes same. Does anyone have any experience in that direction? Does anyone know of a reliable shop that does this work without having to mortgage the farm? I have emailed a bunch of them but so far no response.
I will post here if any progress. Thanks to all who have responded.
Willie (Poor Soul)

No question about it, Euro lights are great. Very bright lights on my 95 E320 with Euros. Brightest standard (non Xenon) lights I have seen is on my 95 4.0 Range Rover. They are called "twin pocket" lights and are incredibly bright.

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2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
2005 Land Rover LR3 V8 SE
1999 Audi A8 4.2L quattro