I have read over and over that
HELLA was the only company that made the Euro (e-code) headlights for the 1991-1993 500e. They have done this because so that they could have the driving light that's in place of the fog light and the chrome-vaporized trim instead of the flat grey color behind the lens that makes them so desirable.







Some people bought them and changed the lenses to 06/1993-1995 e500 lenses on these units to make them fit the newer cars.



So my question is why is it that people don't just buy the BOSCH lights? What is the difference between the HELLA and the BOSCH versions?

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

No difference whatsoever. My Euro W124 came with Bosch. But if you want the 500 chromes its a HELLA only item.

Don't the BOSCH lights in the pics have chrome like the HELLA?

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

Simple..

Bosch /hella 300/400 E are basically the same. headlight plus foglight.

For the 500E, the chrome referred to is the plastic housing- not the reflector. IT was only made by Hella. They came with driving lights instead of foglights.

FYI you can buy the replacement 500E glass and install it on a300/400 setup.

Some ppl also put the aluminum duct tape over the grey plastic so the mimic the 500E style. I got mine on a group buy and it was about $100 more for the lights, and I got clear corners- so I though it wasn't a big deal.



Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

Looking at your pics... I cannot tell the differences with the Hell vs Bosch.

It is possible that Bosch is now applying the vapor deposited material to all their replacement lights(?).

Big thing would be fog vs driving lights. Reflector and lense p/n's are different between a 92 300E and a 92 500E when someone in Europe looked them up.

If you are purchasing... you'll be happy with either. I think my maglight has a light pattern close to US lights.

Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

Hey!


Maglites are good

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1992 190E 2.3
150,000 Miles

This is what I would like to know.

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

i doubt it. if I got into a prang and broke just one headlamp, and replaced it with a new part and they didnt match left to right, I would be upset.

Im guessing the early ECE headlamps were grey and the facelifted E320/etc and the E500/500E headlamps were vacuum metalized.

The non 500 headlamps shown (with fog light) are the later lights as you can see the hood/grille line on the lens.

I just realized that the black wide body with the 500 lights is a wagon! awesome!

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2002 VW Golf TDI-169,000 miles B20