euro car question
 

Does anyone know if the turn signals and tail lights are different on euro 126s? I'm wondering if they converted those along with my headlights when the car was imported. The tag on the inside of my turn signals say, among other things, "USA" and my tail lights have a very small "DOT" on the lens. Sounds suspicious! So if they are different, what's different!?

Sounds like your lights were converted. I know when we brought cars in the lights all had to be modified or exchanged. Sometimes it was to add a necessary light (as in side markers), sometimes it was just to get the DOT cert. Windows are the same thing. The standard is AS2 and AS1. Most MBs came with the proper glass though. Only the cheap versions weren't right.

could be because the Euro front turn signal has a 2-prong connector and that the US version is 3-prong.

the Euro front parking lights are situated in the main headlamp reflector, while the US version has it in the turn signal unit, acting as a clearance light. Furthermore, the US version has a reflector on the side of the turn signal lens while the Euro version does not.

the US rear lamp has an extra bulb that acts as a clearance lamp on the side of the turn signal, which is turned on when the parking lamps or headlamps are turned on. Furthermore, there is also a red reflector on that side of the lens, through which the clearance lamp shines. I have a picture of a rear Euro lamp that does not have both the clearance light, nor the said refector.

the Euro rear lamp also has the foglamp activated (on the driver's side), while in the US version, the connector (and wiring) is not even there.

the above are based on my 190e, and could very well apply to your 126.

Mine have a light added into the housing in the corners (rear) for side facing light. They were just kind of soldered on and the plastic cut out very rough. I do not think the guys that did my conversion did a "quality" job, but then again it is a base model 280se (manual crank windows, 4 speed manual, cloth interior) But it is a great car! I do not think mine are marked DOT, and I have euro fronts.

Speaking purely of my experience with W126s:

The front lamp housings look the same. Euros have a 2-prong socket that takes a single filament bulb, US versions have a 3-prong socket that takes a double filament bulb. Either type of socket fits either lamp housing. The electrical connector on the car, of course, is different.

The rear lamp housings look different. Euros have orange along the side, US versions have a strip of red along the side. My SD has one of each :) I don't know if the internals are different.

US W126s from 86 have operating rear fog lights.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
81 300SD

"US W126s from 86 have operating rear fog lights. "

WOW, wish I'd a known that when I bagged a replacement set of tail lights. I grabbed the cleanest, best condition assemblies off an '85. The complete assemblies that were originally on the car had been thrashed. Guess I need to go back and locate a set from an '86 or newer, and I guess that explains why my harness plug has an extra female socket or two. Good to know.

Too much time on the Volvo list and now I have to eat crow.

My apologies. My SDL and SE do NOT have operating rear fogs.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
81 300SD

D'OH!!!:eek:

And I was so stoked. Might still have to poke around and try to locate a set with rear fogs though, because the left side harness plug on mine has one or two (I can't remember) extra female sockets that the donor car did not have.

What do you guys mean by fog lightS? My car only has one..on the left side I think. When you pull the headlights dial straight back this bright beam comes from the tail light, but only one. Is this what you are talking about?

I have a 88 300sel... I tried looking for the rear fog lights and couldn't find it. What/how/ and where are they found in the back? I was messing with the ligh controls and saw no difference no matter where I turn or pull.:confused:

Well I don't know if mine is different because it's a euro, but if you pull the headlight knob straight out towards you (like you're turning on the front fog lights) there should be (again, at least on mine) a bright red light coming from one of your tail lights, the driver's side if I remember correctly. You can't miss it!!! It's bright! So if your front fogs are on, and there is nothing coming from your tail light, then either you don't have that or it's not working.

My euro '91 300CE 24V has a double position pull switch. The first detent lights the front fogs and the second detent lights the single rear light (drivers side only) in addition to the front fogs
Larry

The single bulb is 21w just like a brake light.

Post from a Euro owner here.

You will notice on the headlight switch that it pulls out twice. On the 1st click the front fog lights should come on, pull again, and the little orange light in the centre of the switch illuminates...and the rear fog is on. My 190 only has on rear fog lamp...on the drivers side.

On US W126s, there's a dead socket on the inboard end of both tail light housings that corresponds to the inboard end of the tail light lenses. The rear fog light bulb goes in one of those sockets; left for LHD cars, right for RHD cars... or maybe that's LHD and RHD roads.

US headlight switches have two pull positions so the wiring might be in place as well. There is no bulb behind the orange dot on a US W126 headlight switch so it's not going to light. I don't know if there's a socket for a bulb.

Mike, is it legal to drive in the US with a rear fog light? It bugs the heck out of me when I see a Volvo, BMW or Jag with the rear fog light on.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
81 300SD