Replacing Headlight - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

RubyRed · 11-05-2006, 12:56 PM

Hey everyone,
my left headlight is dead so I bought a new one from AutoZone. It's not a Bosch like my other ones but it's a Sylvania (the guy looked it up in the computer and that's what was suggested). Anyway, I'm absolutely stumped in going about to get the old one out and putting the new one in. The instructions aren't that clear (atleast not to me). Any ideas? Thanks!

smallfence · 11-05-2006, 01:02 PM

pop the hood
look on the backside of the headlight assembly (from inside the engine bay)
you'll see three white knobs that hold on the gray plastic "headlight surround" which are on the outside of the car (they surround the headlight and foglight)
loosen all three white knobs
the gray headlight surround should then slide out if you pull it away from the car.
now, you have exposed the headlight and foglight
there are three little phillips screws holding on a ring which holds the headlight in place
unscrew those screws, then pop the ring off (pull it towards you/away from the headlight and car
the actual headlight will now be loose, just unhook the harness from the back
plug in the new headlight and reverse all the procedures

I apologize if I missed anything but I'm writing this from memory. At the very least I am sure that this is the basic outline. It's a very easy job and I'm sure you can think your way through it.

carnut1 · 11-05-2006, 03:27 PM

Also before doing that, verify the left headlight fuse isn't cracked or corroded !

**MBeige** · 11-05-2006, 08:24 PM

If you had a Bosch headlight, keep it. Chances are it may be the E-code conversions where the bulb can be replaced and you don't need to get a new sealed beam. Get an H4 bulb (HB3 I think is another alternate name) and you'll be fine.

smallfence · 11-05-2006, 08:26 PM

could it be possible that a bosch sealed beam came standard as oem?

**MBeige** · 11-05-2006, 08:34 PM

I don't think Bosch made a sealed beam unit. Most of the old w123s I see have either Sylvania or Wagner lights on them.

smallfence · 11-05-2006, 08:52 PM

hmm, well that'd be a pretty sweet find if she already had the e-code lights!

rubyred, if you you unhook the harness from the back of the light and a little bulb slips out of the bigger lamp housing, follow karugs' advice and return that sealed beam and get a replacement H4 bulb. if the light is just one piece, go ahead and replace the whole unit.

you can see a hole the back of the lamp unit in this photo

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/hel...ages/7%20E.jpg

the lights in the photo are the kind with the replaceable H4 bulbs. if they don't have a hole back there, but rather just a 3-prong connector built into the lamp, you have to replace the whole thing. hope this makes sense

DieselKraut22 · 11-06-2006, 11:19 AM

both my 84 turbo 300D and my 77 300D had the bosch sealed beams

RubyRed · 11-06-2006, 07:57 PM

So...wait this might be a dumb question but could I have just bought a little bulb instead of having to buy a whole new lamp? What's wrong with me?

smallfence · 11-06-2006, 08:13 PM

you likely need the whole new lamp. there is nothing wrong with you because that's what the McPart's guy told you, and usually that would be correct. The E-code thing Karugs and I are talking about is a special aftermarket light that some owners choose to put in their cars. I would guess there's a 90-95% chance that you have the right replacement. but, the only way to know for sure is to just take out the old one and see what you have.