Euro headlight +++ I WISH....

[Mark DiSilvestro]

kpb,
The information I have, shows the bottom 35W light to be a fog lamp. I've installed small, modern 55W amber foglamp units in place of my missing original ones. The sockets were missing from my original headlamp bowls and the silvering was poor anyway, so I installed a pair of H4s. They don't have the tiny overnight lamps, but if I want to add them, I found adapter kits for the H4s, in an aftermarket VW catalog.

I need to replace the bubble clips on one of my Euros before I can install them on my Finnie.

I too am wondering about the added 15 to 20 watt load on my headlight switch. (At least have a spare switch, just in case)

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

I had also been pondering my light switch which has a dark green lens-thingee in it. Inside the switch I could discern a tiny socket. Found a bulb to fit in there but it still would not alight in any position. Finally figured out (with my trusty $1 test light) that this socket is energized when the pull out switch is in the second position. I read somewhere that this second detent was for an optional single rear fog lamp. Saw a picture of a 300 with such a light in place. Now I have to figure out how to make use of this as well. Since the original harness had the wiring in place for supplemental front lights through this switch, I'll bet I can find the wiring for a single rear unit also.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I picked up a '60s Bosch rear fog lamp unit, for $5, at last year's Import Carlisle flea market.
It's a semi-rectangular chrome housing with a red glass lens. Chrome is a bit rough (but so's the rest of the chrome on my '60 Finnie!) I haven't decided if I should use it as a 'vintage' high mounted brake light on my rear shelf, or as it was originally intended.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

whaddyathink? took about six hours to configure the way I wanted using the original light switch to control the supplemental Bosch lights.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I like it! When I'm finished with my 13 to 14 inch tire conversion, I can resume my headlamp conversion. Meanwhile, watch out for wayward motorists in parking lots!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

Yeh, those motorists worry me as this is essentially my daily driver. Anyway, the increase in light output is a pleasant surprise. Hope to see your installation soon (including that rear fog -- on the bumper, NOT the rear deck )

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Our cars were originally designed with the 'Euro' headlamps. The stacked headlamps were a concession to the patchwork maze of federal and state lighting and safety regulations which pretty much dictated "sealed beams only". Such features as the 'flash to pass' on the turn signal were effectively outlawed in the US, at least on the early Fintails. (Does your SE have this feature?)

In the late '70s, my Dad bought a Euro '66 250SE, with stickshift and the 4-band Becker Mexico signal seeking radio. The car's headlamps had been converted to the stacked sealed beams but it still retained the factory Hella foglamps, mounted where the bullet and faux-fog turn signals would have been on the USA versions. In order to pass our first Virginia safety inspection, the inspector made us remove the foglamps and CUT the wiring so they couldn't be easily reinstalled! Some stupid VA regulation about not allowing more than 4 headlamps on the front of the car.

Many years ago, I remember occasionally seeing some '50s imports, such as VWs or Morris Minors, that originally came with the 'Semaphore' flip-out turn signals mounted on the door posts. Usually they were disabled. The car's owners would tell me that they had to be removed or even broken off, at the insistence of some safety inspector!

Thankfully, having antique tags in Virginia, means I no longer have to put up with safety inspector tyranny.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

Since I am in the hinterland of Ohio, safety inspections are unknown to me

You ask if my SE has the flash to pass feature-- absolutely (and it is well-used.) Good to hear about your history and autos, keep us up to speed on the tire and headlamp issues.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Well, after delays due to IRS payments and unexpected repairs to my Honda fuel system and Fintail driveshaft (drudgery!), I now have a pair of Euro Fintail headlights ready to swap in.

First I need to repair where a previous 'mechanic' ripped loose the headlight mounting nuts from behind the buckets, leaving the screws to spin uselessly, while maintaining a death-grip on my original sealed beam units. (Then that moron drilled and installed assorted sheet metal screws next to the stripped ones!)

Kpb,
How much trouble was it to change your headlight wiring? I was hoping my Euros would simoply plug into my existing harness but after reading your post, maybe not. My Fintail DOES have the turn signal/parking lights mounted on the headlight chrome, not next to the grill.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[wbain5280]

Mark, I like the little bullet lights, especially when they are the amber ones. I also think the Euro lights look great.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

As an early Fintail, my 220S never had the 'bullets', just the TS/parking lamps in the little wedge shaped lenses in the chrome headlight surrounds. So did my Dads '60 SE. I'm hoping my setup, with all the lights in the bucket, will simplify installing the Euros. I have a 'blank slate' next to the grill to add foglamps (though the Euros do have foglamps built in)

Happy Motoring, Mark

[norbtx]

I really like the giant clear fog lights on these models. Especially on a silver car, all that chrome looks wonderful.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

GOOD NEWS....for owners of early W111 Fintails, Coupes & Cabrios, without the bullet turn signals. The Euro headlamps simply plug into the stock harness - no rewiring required. I installed one Euro on the driver side and the high/low beam, fog and turn signal are working. Parkng lamp was out but just needs a new bulb. I still have to deal with the stripped screw nuts before I install the passenger side. Of course if I install extra fogs over the bumper, like some of the early Fintail rally cars, I'll need extra wiring and probably a switch. I've acquired extra Euro lenses and chrome so I feel more comfortable with leaving these on my Fintail (and of course, I'm saving my original sealed beam assemblies too). And, with antique plates, I'm no longer subject to the whims of state inspectors. These Euros are awesome!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

Congrats I know I have a difficult time not studying my 108 every time I can because I like the Euro look so much. I guess you discovered the answer to your wiring question, good for you--my conversion was not of the "plug and play" variety.

I recently tinkered with my control set-up and presently have a unique system for controlling my lights. One notch to the right lights up the tiny bulbs (4w) in the main reflector. Next notch brings on the 35W fogs in the lower rectangular reflector (with yellow bulbs.) To illuminate the main beams, the turn lever is pushed forward to bright (which actually turns on the high beams, re-aimed so I get no flashes from oncoming traffic). Finally, to bring in my Bosch driving lights, a pull out of the knob to the first notch. I did this because the low beam headlights seemed inefficient when aimed properly but the high beams are quite useful. So, I simply decided my highs would be my lows and my drivers would be my highs!! Make sense?

kpb

[Mark DiSilvestro]

You certainly have a unique lighting setup.
I just checked and my left clearance light is working too but my 4W parking light is burned out. (I do have the option of switching on the 35W fogs as parking lamps) The Euro low beam seems at least as bright as the original sealed beam and the high beam seems much brighter. For the sake of simplicity, I'm leaving my light switches and wiring stock. Will try to install the right side Euro tommorrow, if I can get the stripped lamp mounting screws/nuts out.

Happy Motoring, Mark