Euro headlight +++ I WISH....

[kpb]

I understand that this set-up will win no concours awards BUT, once my other drivers/users figured it out, no complaints have ensued. BTW, I also just swapped in 135W H3 bulbs into the driving lights replacing the original 55W bulbs. Even though I have detected no problems, should I install a relay or some such item?? The driving lights are actually used much less than I anticipated. Even though we live in the country, my twice-weekly 05:00 forays into the office are not really without oncoming traffic for long.

kpb

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I just finished some minor repairs to my right Euro lamp unit so it's ready to install. Tomorrow I'll find out how big a pain it will be to repair the right side mounting screws. Meanwhile, I've got the split-personality look with the Euro on the left side and the sealed beams on the right.

The "pull out" switch position was originally designed for the 35W foglamps. Mine will operate the fogs with the headlamp on low or high beam. If you're now running 135W driving lamps with that circuit, I think a relay is needed.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Well, it took about 30 minutes to install the left side Euro the other day and about 3 hours today to do the right side, what with removing corroded and broken anchor nuts with the headlight screws still stuck in them, then fabricating new anchor nuts. The wiring plugged in just as easy as the first one. Fixed the 4W parking bulb on the drivers side, then discovered my passenger side 35W foglight bulb is burned out. It's one of those golfball-size amber tinted bulbs with an oversize bayonet base. Monday, I'll see how much Phil at MercedesShop wants for one before I have to engineer something. Took 'Miss Daisy' out tonight and the headlights seem noticably brighter than the standard sealed beams, at least as good as sealed halogens. It's weird seeing the turn signals flashing INSIDE the headlamps!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Well, after two months, my left Euro low-beam has burned out. Before I fabricate an adapter to install some common USA headlamp bulb, has anyone here been able to find replacement Euro bulbs. (No luck with my local MB parts place or Phil at Parts-Shop) A German friend says these use a 'Bilux' bulb - quite easy to find in Europe. Also would be nice to find spare fog bulbs - they're a yellow-tinted golfball size, with a bayonet base.
My friend says replacement bulbs in Germany go by wattage and base type, but here in the US every one wants a bulb number - 9004, 9003, 1156, 158, etc... No number and it doesn't exist!
My friend says he will get me some spares on his next trip home.

Not just for me but for others here with Euro headlamps, it would be nice to find an easy US source, instead of shipping from Germany.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[1967250s]

This thread is still going.....

I'm thinking of trading "my" euro headlamp for a set of king pins or right rear caliper!? for "the monster".
If anyone interested, will post pics here.....

Dan

[Gregg Bambo Jr.]

Got rid of the false bullet turn signal during the repaint. Contemplated installing round halogen driving lights in their place but decided I liked the plain front panel look. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=95389

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Something I'm thinking to do on my '60 Fintail, is fabricate a pair of auxiliary light mounting brackets for fog/driving lamps, that can be bolted to the existing bumper bolts that hold the upper and lower bumpers together. On my Fintail, two of these bolts are located in roughly the correct position on either side of the grill.
If I change my mind about the auxiliary lights, the installation can be removed without leaving unsightly holes in the body.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Bumped.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

In exchange for the recent loan of my tow-dolly, a German friend, and vintage Opel collector, brought me some Euro Bilux bulbs back from Germany, for my Fintail headlamps. They're actually H4 lamps with Bilux bases, in the original 45/40 wattage.
Meanwhile, I just completed my final Euro light project by fabricating adapter rings and retaining clips, so I can also install the H4/9003 headlamp bulbs that are common here in the US.
I made the adapter rings out of galvanised sheet steel, with slots cut and tabs bent to correctly align and center an H4/9003 in my Euro headlight bowls. Then I made 2 retainer clips from wire hanger (apologies to the late Joan Crawford) to secure the bulbs and adapters in my headlight bowls. No changes were made to my original headlight bowls, so I can still use the Bilux bulbs. But in the future, I won't need to send to Germany or worry about supplies of Bilux bulbs drying up, as replacements will be as close as my nearest Pep Boys or Advance autoparts store. And I now have a selection of higher wattage bulbs to choose from. My Euros came with 60/55W H4-Bilux, one of which now has a burned out low-beam. I got a pair of Sylvania 9003 60/55W bulbs (made in Germany by Osram) from my local Pep Boys, for about $8 each.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

Mark, this sounds well and good, so... why the frowny-face guy as a title?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by kpb

Mark, this sounds well and good, so... why the frowny-face guy as a title?

Because when I typed my last posting, I accidentally hit the key while scrolling down the reply page and never noticed the tiny icon. But if it got a response, that ain't all bad!

This afternoon, I installed my new, imported from Germany, 45/40W H4-Bilux bulbs and the special foglamp bulbs. These Bilux are definitely not as bright as the 60/55W, but at least they're all working on high and low beam, so oncoming drivers won't need to flash their brights at me. The new fog bulbs are clear, not amber, so I miss the yellow light when they're on. Maybe I can tint them.
The amber turn signals under the headlight glass look really cool!

The H4-to-Bilux adapters that I made, lack the contacts for the tiny parking light bulbs in the headlight bowls, so I'll hold off with that installation until I figure out the best way to power those.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[bikis]

Lets just keep this thread going...
I played with the headlights today. I think middle picture is how the car came originaly: halogen lighting units 541 and additional halogen foglamps 345. Headlights are not sealed beam. The orange blinker is not a dummy and the clear triangle is clearance light each side seperatly.
I will drive with euros for a while, but there was no "original" conection for the additional foglights in euro headlights. I didn't make any new connections, because I will switch back to #2 version. I like a little bit of orange on the front.
#1 is just to see how it looks. I got orange turn/fogs in a junkyard from 108. It's necessary to make different holes to attach them properly.
What do you guys think? Which option do you like?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

bikis,
I prefer the one-piece Euro lights, with or without the extra fogs mounted next to the grill. The Euros were originally designed for the Fintails but were illegal in the US. The original owners purchased my '60 220S in Italy, but equipped for USA delivery, including the stacked sealed beams. Except for some stripped out headlamp mounting screws, swapping in the Euros was very simple as my early Fintail had the turn and parking lamps already installed into those little plastic lights between the sealed beams, so my original wiring plugged right in without modification. The Euros also added built-in amber fog lights on the bottom, though now, with the clear replacement bulbs installed, they're not so obvious.
I don't know why Mercedes went to the 'bullet' and 'faux-fog' turn signals on the later USA cars unless it was to discourage fitting 'proper' foglamps in order to conform to American lighting regulations.
For example, in the late '70s, my Dad purchased a 1966 Euro W108 250SE. That car had been converted to the US-legal stacked sealed beams but still had the factory Hella foglamps. During his first Virginia safety inspection, the inspector made us remove the fogs and cut the wiring, citing some regulation prohibiting more than '4 headlight units' on the front of a car!

After my Euro conversion, the only lighting function still missing is the 'flash to pass' feature. My turn signal switch has the detent but I'll need to add some wiring and a relay to make it work on my car.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[kpb]

bikis, my 108 looked like your number 1 when I got it (Americanized though, without the amber triangle) but now it looks like your numebr 3 so, obviously, my vote is number 3 hands down. You even have the older euros, smooth and rounded -- mine are sorta flat-faced but still c-o-o-o-o-l.