I have a headlight out. Went to store to buy the bulb...Alas, this is my first European car and the oldest car I've ever owned. You don't replace the bulb, you replace the whole headlight. Now I'm stuck.

I assume you have to unscrew the round, white, plastic nuts. Beyond that, I don't know what has to be unscrewed to get the old headlight out. By the way, those round white ones are pretty much fused on there. They're not budging.

So, this is about the dopiest problem I've had, but I don't want to just start unscrewing everything back there if I don't have to. How does this thing come out???

__________________
1983 MB 300SD Turbo Diesel

Yep, it's a PITA........it always reminds me in the dead of winter.

First remove the turn signal. One plastic threaded nut and it's out.

Then remove the headlight door. Three plastic threaded nuts. They may be stiff, but, they'll move. Use some lubricant if necessary. The door will give you trouble moving forward the first time you do it. It likes to have a slight angle when you pull it forward.

Then, the headlight is held with a chromed bezel with four screws that secure it from the front. Use a magnetic screwdriver otherwise you'll still be doing the job tomorrow.

Once the headlight comes out, it can be unplugged from the rear.

BTW, you can replace those DOT lamps with Euro lights that take an H4 halogen bulb. Still just as bad to change the lamp, but, the light on the road is significant. You can get Hella's at Susquehanna Motorsports.

This is how I have done it, Im sure other will chime in.

I chose to remove the side marker first, your post was correct remove the round white plastic from inside the engine bay, Then gently pull the headlight door out, it should come out pretty easily, Then you have to remove the chrome trim that secures the bulb, I believe with 4 phillips screws, Then the bulb is free to remove, Installation is reverse of removal.

__________________
1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

when i say headlight door, I am refering to the plastic trim that surrounds the headlight.

__________________
1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

I notice in the time it took me to write a reply, Brian responded, same instructions...

__________________
1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

that's why in my responses, I like to use the quick reply... ahh to be first to respond. well at least first with the right answer.
John

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I hesitate to chime in on something I'm not familiar with, but isn't each headlite fused separately? I know they are on 123's. Might want to check that first...

__________________
'83 300D Turrrbo 295K miles

Sorry to Hi-Jack but does anyone have a link on where to get the Euro Lights?

__________________
2005 Accord Hybrid (Wifes)
1995 Subaru Impreza L AWD (Snow car)
1984 GMC Sierra 1500 (Mine)
1983 300CD Best $ I ever spent. (Mine)
1984 190D (sold and glad I did)
1983 300D (sold and wished I hadn't)

ebay.de or ebay.co.uk

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Try http://rallylights.com/hella or just http://hella.com also this place has 'em http://**************.com

__________________
83 SD

84 CD

ebay.co.uk will have lights for RHD countries, so don't go with them.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

I replaced the headlights on my car last week with some Phillips H6054 "Ultra Blue" "standard" headlights, they are quite a bit brighter, and the light is very white, I was passing cars on the freeway the other night (modern cars) and my light is way more powerful and white than theirs. They were only $14 apiece where I got them, and now they are on clearance for $9 but they are excellent.

I agree, getting those headlight assemblies apart is a Pain.......took me about 25 mins to replace both lights, and I used PB blaster on the white nuts/threads and Radioshack central nervous system-destroying electrical contact cleaner on all the electrical terminals. Works great! I need to re-aim the left light though, its shining a bit high...

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

It'd be cool to have those assemblies that fit in the sealed beam slot but use H4 bulbs....but I assume to use some *real* lights, like 100watt for example....relays or wiring upgrades would be necessary right? If it was me I'd probably just use relays, but its still a hastle...I think I'll stick with my ultra blue lights, they were cheap, and made a real improvement.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I didn't get to it yesterday because it was too cold outside. Now the problem is, any chance I get to do this, it's going to be dark out, and I have a road trip coming up Thursday night. I'll break out the headlamp and get it done unless...

Once it's in, does it need to be pointed? Do you just put it in and it's okay, or do you have to keep adjusting it until it points to the correct position? If that's the case, I may just bring it to an indy. That way they can pull it out indoors in a well lit garage, and then point it properly. I know this is a pretty weak thing to go to a mechanic for, but I don't really have the time or daylight to mess with it.

__________________
1983 MB 300SD Turbo Diesel

The adjustment is not affected by the bulb replacement. You'll get the same result as you had originally.

20 degrees warmer today.........get it done..........!!