CAUTION!!! Not ALL Euro headlights are created equal!!! CAUTION!

[Pbalias]

Hello Everyone...

Be careful when purchasing Euro Lights. I was about to bid on a pair on Ebay, but they were not listed as Bosch or Hella. So I email the seller and ask him what brand they were because if I'm going to spend that kinda money, I want quality. Well he told me they were TYC and in same if not better quality than Bosch or Hella. He also told me TYC is a German company that makes these lights for Mercedes only. Bullcrap! TYC is a company based in Taiwan (TYC Brother Industrial Co., LTD) I have 2 bodyshops of my own. I have used TYC lights before, and they ARE NOT anywhere near the quality of American headlamps! Tell me then...how can they be comparable to German lights???????? YEAH RIGHT!!! For instance on a chevy truck headlight: the TYC reflector is not completely silver, it's part white. Also, the lens itsel is different, AND the housing has drain pipes that the factory lights dont! Plus, the housing is shaped slightly different, and they rarely fit right. The major difference is the beam pattern though! TYC beam pattern is horrible, it's not centered to where it's supposed to be centered. Anyway...before I write a novel, take this home with you: Unless you realllllly can't spare the extra change (Come on, your MERCEDES is worth it!), buy Hella or Bosch. Don't let anyone fool you, aftermarket is almost never the same quality as OEM.

...just my word of caution to my fellow MB owners...

Peter

'Reminds me of a situation several years ago when I was inspecting a house; seller was trying to tell buyer (my client) that roof covering was SLATE. I finally had to tactfully break into their conversation & try to explain to them that the roof covering was NOT SLATE, though it looks like slate to some people, it is CEMENT/ASBESTOS (man-made during 30's & 40's) - not even near slate quality, etc.
Isn't it amazing the way people become convinced that they have the "real thing"?

Friend (PO of my 81 300D) had been in hospital several years ago. Couple of days before he was coming home, I called his wife & asked her if I should check/drive, etc., his car. While I was there, she asked me to remove the worn sheepskin cover from the driver's seat & replace it with a new one she had purchesed. New one would not fit & was some sort of imitation/synthetic, etc. Friend's wife swore it was sheepskin. Again, I had to very tactfully and carefully tell her that what she had bought was not sheepskin.

Yes, indeed, be careful making a purchase to determine if you're getting the "real" thing.

[ronald_m]

I agree with you pbalias that tyc is a product of taiwan.

[brianw]

Thanks for the heads up! As has been stated on here before, be careful when purchasing things off ebay. That would be a good bit of "feedback" to give the seller for others to see!

Take care,
Brian W.

[Ashman]

I'd rather pay $200 more for real bosch or hella units than save the $200 thats why I havent done the euro lights yet.

But what about the Ffft or whatever its called in italy that makes euro lights. Have you checked on those. I know those are also not mercedes original, and are aftermarket, but perhaps they are of the same quality/design as the bosch or hella units.

I plan on doing the bosch or hella ones, even if I have to buy em used and put on new lenses.

I'd rather change to the euro lights on the car and keep it within the factory brands, then go aftermarket.

Alon

[DALE DORIA]

I would be EXTREMLY cautious about any purchases on E-Bay for my Benz.....Why would you spend all that money on a Benz and then try to cheap it out with substandard aftermarket parts?....And then you find out you want to return it to the seller...GOOOOOOD LUCK!!!!!!!! I don't think soooo.... Stay with the brand and a parts house such as Mercedes Shop and know that you are purchasing safely and the parts WILL WORK!

[420SEL]

The only Benz stuff I've bought on ebay have been sales brouchures and a few old magazine ads (all in great condition and I was pleased with them) I wouldn't buy anything for my car.

[Pbalias]

Hey everyone...

I am not degrading EBAY in this post...just advising of the possible lack of integrity of some of the sellers. I have only bought 2 things from EBAY, both for my Mercedes, and have had good results. I purchased some H&R springs which I love, as well as some Bosch clear corners. This post is just a "heads-up" for potential problem sellers. My advice: Check the seller's feedback, and ask the seller as many question as you can about the product BEFORE you buy. Every conversation b/w you and the seller is documented and saved on EBAY's database. If you have a problem with a product you recieved that was not what the seller claimed, EBAY WILL take action.

Just keep your eyes peeled!

Peter

[Pbalias]

Ashman...

Haven't checked into the Italian lights....I will though. I'll let you know!


Peter

[MBenzNL]

Pbalias,

I totally agree with you that every mercedes is worth Hella or Bosch light units!!!
This only makes me wonder why mercedes changed their strategy and went shopping at Valeo for their C class head light units (amongst other parts)???
The W202 C class ("93-"00) in europe comes with Hella or Valeo head lights and the C220D(iesel)s came with Valeo fuel pumps (that broke, and still break, down a lot).

greetingz,