Mercedes-Benz Forum banner

LHD Euro Spec Headlights - pattern

20K views 79 replies 9 participants last post by  cypress188 
#1 ·
The more I researched, more confuse I got...:confused:

I had this pair, but I sold it.
Can anyone confirm if this pair HAS the proper lens pattern for LHD cars here in North America.
 

Attachments

See less See more
2
#9 · (Edited)
Thanks for the confirmation guys. Even though it's not what I want to hear. :p

Both lens have no pitting at all, smooth as a baby's bottom.

Now the ?, should I replace the passenger side lens with a correct one or leave it as zephyrueffer recommends?

If replace, where is a good place to get a replacement one?
 
#11 · (Edited)
Thanks tjts1, I actually follow his headlight aiming instructions on his site. :eek:

That's a good read. Not only I severely blind oncoming traffic, BUT does not provide adequate illumination for ME to see what I need to see in order to drive safely.

After all, isn't the whole purpose of headlights is for me to see & to drive safely. ;)
So WHERE is a good place to get a proper replacement lens???
 
#12 · (Edited)
The lens isn't the only thing thats different. If you pop the covers behind the H4 bulbs on both headlights and set them side by side, you'll notice that each bulb is rotated 30 degrees clockwise on the LHD headlight and 30 degrees CCwise on the RHD headlight. Besides having the correct lens, both bulbs need to be rotated at the same angle in order to get the same RHD pattern. You would need to replace both the lens and the reflector at which point you might as well replace the whole housing. I went through this with my volvo years ago when I mistakenly bought a set for Ecodes from the UK.

Another solution is to use a blocker. When UK drivers travel to the continent or vice versa, they are required to install a small sticker on the headlight that blocks the up kick in the beam patter. You will end up with a completely flat beam pattern from that headlight. Its really not a big deal. Since it would be permanent on your car, you can remove the lens and pain the beam blocker onto the inside of the lens.

Scroll down
The DLOC International Rally 2010
Another one
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Electrical/EuropeanLamp

cheers
Justin
 
#18 ·
The lens isn't the only thing thats different. If you pop the covers behind the H4 bulbs on both headlights and set them side by side, you'll notice that each bulb is rotated 30 degrees clockwise on the LHD headlight and 30 degrees CCwise on the RHD headlight. Besides having the correct lens, both bulbs need to be rotated at the same angle in order to get the same RHD pattern. You would need to replace both the lens and the reflector at which point you might as well replace the whole housing. I went through this with my volvo years ago when I mistakenly bought a set for Ecodes from the UK.

Another solution is to use a blocker. When UK drivers travel to the continent or vice versa, they are required to install a small sticker on the headlight that blocks the up kick in the beam patter. You will end up with a completely flat beam pattern from that headlight. Its really not a big deal. Since it would be permanent on your car, you can remove the lens and pain the beam blocker onto the inside of the lens.

Scroll down
The DLOC International Rally 2010
Another one
Pagoda SL Group Technical Manual :: Electrical / EuropeanLamp

cheers
Justin
Hey Justin,

What if I only replace the RHD lens to a LHD lens, BUT NOT the reflector with 30 degrees CCwise on the RHD headlight. What are the consequences??
 
#14 · (Edited)
You could also try to see if the Bosch P/N's on the headlight assemblies are meant for a pair, to confirm if it's only the lens that needs to be changed.

If not, then the assemblies are halves from designated pairs and somebody else has the same problem, just opposite. :D

Europartsdirect.com sold me a good Bosch pair of Euro LHD lenses. They have them too for 190E.
 
#15 ·
You could also try to see if the Bosch P/N's on the headlight assemblies are meant for a pair, to confirm if it's only the lens that needs to be changed.

If not, then the assemblies are halves from designated pairs and somebody else has the same problem, just opposite. :D

Europartsdirect.com sold me a good Bosch pair of Euro RHD lenses. They have them too for 190E.
Yea, good suggestions! X my fingers, just the lens. :D

BUT WHAT.....you bought RHD lenses? :confused:
 
#23 ·
What happened to the MB part numbers for the headlights posted a while back?

Fred, check your PM. :)





5 A 201 820 03 61 LIGHTING UNIT
Replaced_By: A 201 820 71 61 -

5 A 201 820 71 61 LIGHTING UNIT
LEFT,LEFT-SIDE TRAFFIC
BOSCH 001

5 A 201 820 04 61 LIGHTING UNIT
Replaced_By: A 201 820 72 61 -

5 A 201 820 72 61 LIGHTING UNIT
RIGHT,LEFT-SIDE TRAFFIC
BOSCH 001

11 A 002 826 86 90 .LENS
LEFT HEADLAMP 001

11 A 002 826 87 90 .LENS
RIGHT HEADLAMP 001

20 A 001 826 56 78 .REFLECTOR
LEFT HEADLAMP
BOSCH 001

20 A 001 826 57 78 .REFLECTOR
RIGHT HEADLAMP
BOSCH 001

23 A 001 826 04 82 .LAMP SOCKET
Replaced_By: A 000 545 23 19 -

23 A 000 545 23 19 .SOCKET
PARKING LIGHT
BOSCH 002

26 A 000 820 00 49 .CAP
LEFT
BOSCH 001

26 A 000 820 01 49 .CAP
RIGHT
BOSCH 001

29 A 001 826 58 78 .REFLECTOR
FOGLIGHT
BOSCH 002

32 A 001 826 19 80 .SEAL
LENS
1025 002

35 A 001 826 20 80 .SEAL
Replaced_By: A 001 826 32 80 -

35 A 001 826 32 80 .SEAL
COVERING
625 MM 002

38 A 000 800 51 75 .ELEMENT
Replaced_By: A 000 800 68 75 -

38 A 000 800 68 75 .ELEMENT
LIGHT RANGE ADJUSTER
OptionPart_With: A 000 800 51 75 002

41 A 000 820 98 21 .BLINKER LAMP
Replaced_By: A 201 826 00 43 -

41 A 201 826 00 43 .BLINKER LAMP
LEFT 001

41 A 000 820 99 21 .BLINKER LAMP
Replaced_By: A 201 826 01 43 -

41 A 201 826 01 43 .BLINKER LAMP
RIGHT 001

44 A 001 826 21 80 ..SEAL
LEFT
BOSCH 001

44 A 001 826 22 80 ..SEAL
RIGHT
BOSCH 001

47 A 000 826 84 82 .LAMP SOCKET
BLINKER LIGHT
BOSCH 002

50 A 000 826 59 84 .SPRING 004

53 N 072601 1012803 BULB
Replaced_By: N 000000 0000374 -

53 N 000000 0000374 BULB
HIGH/LOW BEAM
H4-12V 60/55W 002

56 N 072601 1012290 BULB
FOGLIGHT
YC-12V 55W 002

59 N 072601 1012900 BULB
SIDE MARKER AND CLEARANCE LIGHTS
T4W - 12V 002

62 N 072601 1012190 BULB
BLINKER LIGHT
P21W - 12V 002

68 A 201 826 07 80 SEAL
LEFT LIGTHING UNIT 001

68 A 201 826 08 80 SEAL
RIGHT LIGTHING UNIT 001

71 A 201 826 00 00 MOUNTING MATERIAL
LIGHTING UNIT 002

74 A 201 820 00 14 BRACKET
LIGHTING UNIT TO WHEELHOUSE 002

77 A 201 990 00 15 SCREW
LIGHTING UNIT TO WHEELHOUSE 002

80 N 914031 1004311 COMBINATION BOLT
Replaced_By: N 000000 0000927 -

80 N 000000 0000927 SHEET METAL SCREW
LIGHTING UNIT TO LATERAL STIFFENING 004

83 A 123 994 05 45 LOCK
LIGHTING UNIT TO LATERAL STIFFENING 004

86 A 201 826 00 71 SCREW
LIGHTING UNIT TO LATERAL STIFFENING 004
89 A 108 990 00 57 NUT
BLINKER LIGHT TO LIGHTING UNIT 002
 
#30 ·



5 A 201 820 71 61 LIGHTING UNIT
LEFT,LEFT-SIDE TRAFFIC
BOSCH 001

5 A 201 820 72 61 LIGHTING UNIT
RIGHT,LEFT-SIDE TRAFFIC
BOSCH 001
It saids "Left-Side-Traffic"...this is confusing. bc I assume it's meant for cars that drive on the left side...like UK, etc.

If above parts are meant for North America, shouldn't it say something like "Left-Hand-Drive" , "Right-Side-Traffic" or something like that.
 
#24 ·
I deleted the MB P/Ns bc I wasn't sure if they represent the whole headlight assembly...bc each part has it's own P/N.
Here they are again:

LEFT headlight ass'y:
MB P/N: 201 820 7161
Bosch P/N: 0 301 067 725

RIGHT headlight ass'y:
MB P/N: 201 920 7661
Bosch P/N: 0 301 067 330


Patrick, thanks for posting this detail info!!! :thumbsup:
I will go throught this in more detail.

I had a quick look at my pair:
Left side:
1) Bosch reflector P/N: 1 305 363 940
2) LHD lens, Bosch P/N: 1 305 620 977

Right side:
1) Bosch reflector P/N: 1 305 363 939
2) RHD lens, Bosch P/N: 1 305 363 980
 
#25 · (Edited)
The reflectors seem to be sequential, which is GOOD. It means they're a pair.

The Bosch unit from the site I recommended (check your PM btw) is:

P/N 1 305 620 978

So that means only your passenger side lens is the wrong type.

Regarding taping or painting the lens, here's Z168's 190E when we were detailing it a few years back. The lights have the wedge shaped tape that essentially make the beam flat (no cutoff to one side). In his case he has the right lens, just wanted to have a flat beam pattern.



Another shot of the tape, this time on his W140:

 
#28 · (Edited)
Darn, chrome fog reflectors in the euros can't be swapped out easily with yellow fog reflectors from the Bosch bucket headlights. :mad:

Mounting bracket/method is different.
So looks like yellow H3 bulbs is the only way.
 

Attachments

#33 ·
I'm gonna ask Z168 to respond to the tape question since I never really knew what kind of material it was.

The level adjust is helpful for gaining more light down the road (raising it a bit) or lowering the beam (when the rear is loaded down).

I'm experimenting on this setup for my W123 which was designed to have a reservoir (fender removal required, not gonna happen). Placed the dial in the original fader slot, looks original :D

 
#38 · (Edited)
I do have a mixed pair & like tjts1 said, the bulb socket on the reflector is rotated slightly on a RHD unit...BUT fortunately as you can see I think it can be adjusted to a LHD.

As you can see;
1st pic is a LHD reflector.
2nd pic is a RHD reflector.

Now my question, you think those "TWO" tabs will break if I pry them up, rotate the socket & bend them back down to lock the socket in position???

Also if you noticed, it's ONLY a FEW degrees rotated, should I even care?
 

Attachments

#43 ·
Not sure on both questions. The W140 setup might be similar to the W201 but I am not 100% sure on that answer. You could, theoretically, transfer over the amber covers from NAM fogs to Euro fogs, you will need to remove the mounting bracket (more tabs to unbend and rebend).
 
#45 ·
Thanks, I'll have to look into it.

the tape is a reflectorized exterior tape. Easy on, easy to scrape off. It should last heat and snow easy. cover the lower triangular flutes of the lens to even the beam pattern. these are commonly done when you have to drive a RHD into a LHD country (and vice versa)

Thanks, guess I could pick these tapes up from homedepot or something like that.

From looking at the front view of your w201, I have to assume you are using yellow H3 fog bulbs on chrome fog reflectors. bc otherwise with yellow domes, the reflectors would show a bit of yellow.


EDIT: your neighbour must envy you....;)
 
#44 ·
the tape is a reflectorized exterior tape. Easy on, easy to scrape off. It should last heat and snow easy. cover the lower triangular flutes of the lens to even the beam pattern. these are commonly done when you have to drive a RHD into a LHD country (and vice versa)

 
#47 · (Edited)
I ordered a Bosch LHD (right side) euro lens from Germanstar on 11/29 afternoon & I received email on 11/30 morning (next day) telling me my pkg have arrived for pickup. :thumbsup: I am just waiting for other pkg to arrive before I go. ;)


Are eBay sellers allow to cancel your bid if you want them to ship to USA address instead of Canada address to save on shipping cost? Because I feel this idiot is over charging for shipping to Canada.

Also this jerk just ended his listing early even thought there was 1 bid, just bc he didn't want to sell it for $4.99...bc nobody was bidding on it. Is he allowed to do that?
 
#50 ·
I ordered a Bosch LHD (right side) euro lens from Germanstar on 11/29 afternoon & I received email on 11/30 morning (next day) telling me my pkg have arrived for pickup. :thumbsup: I am just waiting for other pkg to arrive before I go. ;)


Are eBay sellers allow to cancel your bid if you want them to ship to USA address instead of Canada address to save on shipping cost? Because I feel this idiot is over charging for shipping to Canada.

Also this jerk just ended his listing early even if there is 1 bid, just bc he didn't want to sell it for $4.99...bc nobody was bidding on it. Is he allowed to do that?
I'm glad I recommended Germanstar. Never got an email from the other online store regarding the price increase on their Euro lights.

When are you going to install them? :thumbsup:
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top