Euro headlight +++ I WISH....

[1967250s]

Originally posted by Mark DiSilvestro
Dan, ............
Did you ever resolve your headlight nightmare? Thanks to your photos, I know what I may have to deal with.
Happy Motoring, Mark

I got nearly all of the money from the insurance; but still feel "dirty" from that little white lie. May contact them for the rest of the $$$ and/or post neg. feedback.

Dan

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I won't be suprised if I need to do some restoration on mine. I just hope they don't arrive smashed.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

Mine are coming from OZ so I am brimming with trepidation re: their safe arrival. The good thing is, I am buying from a forum member so I presume he will properly safeguard them with copious padding. Dunno what I'll find re: bulbs and availability here in the Buckeye state...

[Mark DiSilvestro]

kpb,
The only issue, if yours arrive in good shape, is that they're probably setup for right hand drive and could tend to blind oncoming traffic. Of course, I don't yet know the country of origin for my lights so I could wind up with the same problem if they're from a British market car.

Dan,
Did you have to return the lights for the insurance claim? Could you replace the smashed glass with the good glass from the bad light and at least have one decent light unit to compensate you for your aggravation?

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

Mark, I've thought about that blinding problem and have seen some posts re: an inner shield, which, in OZ, I assume is on the right light which I should be able to install (or switch the shield) to the left unit. Make sense?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Yes it makes sense but we won't know for sure until our lights arrive. In Dan's photos, the main headlight, under the broken glass bubble, consisted of a 7 inch reflector with a black metal bulb shield. In one of the Ebay photos of the lights I'm getting, The glass bubble has been removed and there is a 7 inch light and lens unit under the glass. I'm wondering if this is a later design or someone fitted a complete H4 headlamp unit under the glass.
We'll see.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Well, my Euro headlamps arrived with lemses unsmashed but other flaws to deal with, most of which I knew or suspected when I bought them (See my post at 'More 'Jewels' for 'Miss Daisy') so now I have a new project to test my creativity.

Thanks to Dan for his headlamp photos.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Just one more question (as Columbo used to say). What happens if the glass gets broken? Are individual parts, such as the glass bubbles, for the Bosch Euro headlamps still availible or does one need to buy another overpriced set on Ebay to get spare parts?

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Today, on the way to a job, I spotted a W108 sedan sticking out of a driveway with a 'for sale' sign in the back window. On my way home I stopped to talk with the owner. It's a '67 250S, WITH A MANUAL 4 SPEED. Power steering, no AC. Car came from Seattle, where it spent most of it's life. It's cream with a red Tex interir. Except for surface nicks and a ding beside the R F headlight, it appears to be mostly rust free. The only cancer I could see was a couple of one inch spots at the rear fenders, behind the wheels.
Owner started taking things off to prep it for painting/renovation. Dash pad and windshield wood is in the back seat. Front bumper and headlight assemblies are off but with the car. Has a bad power brake booster, a cracked windsheild and will need other work due to sitting. Owner wants $1500 as is. If possible, I'm going to take a better look this weekend when the weather is nicer.
I need another car like I need another hole in my head! Maybe some other local Mercedes Shop Forum member will want it and remove this temptation from me.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Tomguy]

I actually have a "spare" booster I could yank off eBay, for $1500 it sounds like a good chassis to drop my engine/tranny into Too bad it's on the other end of the country!

Mark: If you DO decide to buy it and want that booster (and it doesnt sell after the auction's over), let me know!

[Mark DiSilvestro]

OOPS!
I meant this last post as a 'new topic' but hit the 'reply' button by mistake. Anyway It's now correctly re-posted.

Tom,
Thanks for your offer. I'll keep it in mind.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Snibble]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2463485044&category=33710

Anyone looking for this?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

As you can see, that seller wants more for one glass than I paid for one headlight assembly!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

You gonna keep us apprised of your install of the euros? Mine are on their way from OZ so I'm hoping they arrive in good, ie., intact, shape.

kpb

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I removed the 'Mickey-Mouse' sealed beams from my original Bosch reflectors but the silvering isn't in great shape and I need to fabricate bulb sockets for them. I'm now kind of leaning towards fitting a pair of H4 7" round headlamp units, with brackets added to connect to the original mountings and adjusters. Also a pair of small aftermarket halogen fogs could fit in place of the missing originals. These updates would vastly improve weather resistance over the original design. One question I have is wether most H4 Headlamp lens designs would conflict with the original Bosch bubble lens as far as light distribution is concerned.

A friend installed pair of clear-lens Pilot brand 7" H4s in his '65 Ford van and told me he got them from Auto-Zone. Of course, when I went to look for them, Auto-Zone no longer stocked the round headlamps, only the recangular ones!

Other projects have put my headlamp conversion on hold, including brake repairs and the search for replacement tires for 'Miss Daisy'.

Happy Motoring, Mark