Euro or US W126 headlights? Preference? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Fulcrum525 · #16 12-09-2010, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandYaghtLover

I will probably go Euro as planned. Just need to get euro wipers also. It just that sometimes I look at mine and like the aggressive look of the US lights. The Euros seem softer.

Do the Euros have yellow fog?

The French ones do

compu_85 · #17 12-09-2010, 10:43 PM

By painting the reflectors with the MetalCast paint you get the full french look, the glass looks a lot more yellow with the lamp off. Compare that to mine with the DOT yellow dome inside of the driver's side headlamps (the one on the passenger side wasn't clipped in all the way and fell off when I hit a large bump

).

LandYaghtLover · #18 12-09-2010, 11:22 PM

Look is one thing, actual fog light performance is another. I really need my fog lights, hence my concern for Euro headlights.

Or can one install a lamp that is itself yellow and provide the same sight in fog? If not, I will certainly try the swap over of the reflector.

compu_85 · #19 12-09-2010, 11:45 PM

You can also get yellow lamps. IMHO that would provide the best performance. Good selective yellow lamps may have a blue hase to them when switched off, but will emit a yellow light when on.

-J

MBeige · #20 12-09-2010, 11:49 PM

If you really want fog lights, get the SEC bumper with bumper mounted fogs.

Just another idea to throw your way...

The US bumpers give it an aggressive "chin"

compu_85 · #21 12-09-2010, 11:51 PM

I wonder how the SEC's fixtures output compares to the sedans. The sedan's fog lamps are excellent.

Jim B. · #22 12-10-2010, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

I wonder how the SEC's fixtures output compares to the sedans. The sedan's fog lamps are excellent.

Got that question covered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandYaghtLover

Do the Euros have yellow fog?

Only the french ones do.

And my car.

when they arrived from Germany:

after install,

closer up, with euro headlight wipers installed, later.

Yellow french foglights on in daytime at the Mercedes Benz classic center in Irvine.

Off.

close up after a large stone hit, on highway.

LandYaghtLover · #23 12-10-2010, 09:55 AM

Ouch. Sorry about the stone impact. I had a semi trailer blow a tire in front of my car. Hence the new grille and headlights that I am looking to get into. Was going to be a spring project originally.

So there is a yellow lamp I can go with? Hard to find or available at most fine autopart stores?

Fulcrum525 · #24 12-10-2010, 10:01 AM

Glad to see that you finally installed the proper wiper assembly

Jim B. · #25 12-10-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandYaghtLover

I will probably go Euro as planned. Just need to get euro wipers also.

It's pretty expensive, it was worth it to me, to make the change to euro lights, wipers, and the darker euro amber corners, and french yellow fog lights.

First, you'll need to buy the valance underneath your euro lights. For the coupes they are two pieces, but for your sedan they are only one single piece and they bolt right on.

I'd go new, and you can get it for new, at least for the coupes, for about $180 shipped to the door; buy them from the Mercedes Benz classic center in Irvine. You get 15% off the price, for any part, if you are a member of the Mercedes Benz Club of America, (MBCA) --- the membership dues alone, are easily gotten back if you order parts a few times fro im the classic center or ay Mercedes Benz dealer with this arrangement in place.

The classic center parts department calls Stuttgart immediately and directly to order them for you.

From Stuttgart, they will arrive at your door in a couple of days, because so many parts are ordered daily by US customers that a cargo plane full of them leaves Stuttgart daily for the Mercedes Benz parts distribution center in Montvale NJ, that then sends them out to the classic center or to dealers that order them, who then ship or gve them direct to the end customer.

The valances below your lights and grille are factory upainted parts, so you need to get them shot in your car's color.

The euro headlight wipers AND their motors are entirely different from the US ones, and so, you can't use the US wiper motors withe the euro headlight wipers. Even the pin connectors have different numbers of holes on them (US as to euro)

So you need the whole euro wiper and motor assembly. UNFORTUNATELY these units seldom arrive at the US junkyards on wrecked gray market euro cars, but if you see one, grab it right away !!!

So I went onto German ebay

www.ebay.de and found a set. Counting the price, shipping and everything (even one wiper motor did not work and had to be rebuilt) the price in the end was - if Iremember, about $800 or more, by the time they were on the car but I am well pleased with the result.

Someday it will need the little rubber headlight wiper blades replaced and that will be hard to find, but probably the classic center can get a pair.

Whether the expense is worth it is up to you; for me, it was...

Another option you have to you, if it isn't worth all that, is to simply remove, completely the whole headlight wiper assembly (those US ones are sooooo UGLY !) and either plug the valance holes with a rubber grommet and paint it the color of your car (cheap way) OR fill the valance at a body shop and repaint the valance. (more expensive.)

Without any headlight wipers at all, the euro lights look clean and smooth, but keep in mind, ( if it matters, ) they are a sign in Europe of a cheaper, less optioned car, like one with the plastic hubcaps, no cruise control, and no sunroof, etc. that some of them had - even as high line a car like the Euro 420SEC's in "stripped" variant, actually started out like that..

Fulcrum525 · #26 12-10-2010, 01:55 PM

Listen to Jim B as he's 100% correct on this one.

Speaking of....I do actually need to replace one of the little wipers rubbers

Jim B. · #27 12-10-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

Listen to Jim B as he's 100% correct on this one.

Speaking of....I do actually need to replace one of the little wipers rubbers

Do you know anyone wth access to the EPC who can get you the parts number?

Usually the US dealers parts departments are pretty clueless, about esoteric impedimentia, like this, but if they have the pn they will do it.

It might be worth a call to the classic center, to cut right to it.

1-800-866-MB-CLASSIC (622-5277)
e mail:classicparts@mbusa.com
Phoe: (949)598-4850
www.MBClassicCenter.com
Address: 9 Whatney, Irvie, CA. 92618

If it works can you post the parts number on here?

Fulcrum525 · #28 12-10-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Do you know anyone wth access to the EPC who can get you the parts number?

Usually the US dealers parts departments are pretty clueless, about esoteric impedimentia, like this, but if they have the pn they will do it.

It m9ght be w0rth a call to the classic center, to cut r9ght t0 it.

If it works can you post the parts number on here?

Yep whenever I manage to get around to it (Exhaust work is at the top of my list right now)

LandYaghtLover · #29 12-10-2010, 06:26 PM

So the wiper blades used on the US arms are not the same as Euro? Because I just replaced the ones on my US wipers. $9 per blade.

I will have to keep an eye out for Euro wipers. Maybe for now I will repair the US headlights I have and spend the winter in search of the Euro bits I need. I also plan to paint the headlight inserts from grey to a dark satin black. I think it looks very, very sharp when the grille is also done the same.

t walgamuth · #30 12-10-2010, 06:35 PM

Euros rule!

First thing I bought for my 85 sd!

View Poll Results: Euro or US?
Euro Headlights	24	82.76%
US Headlights	5	17.24%
Voters: 29. You may not vote on this poll