[mintmojito]

It has an uneven headlight assembly on the left hand side from an accident. The headlight was replaced but it is sunken in about 3 inches, and the tail light I rigged with zip strips, so it looks normal.

I am trying to figure out what part of the car that holds up the headlight assembly exactly? My guy thinks that it may be mounted on the radiator arm, but I am unsure. I am hoping, this is something easy issue that we can fix. Since it is VERY noticeable and uneven looking. Would a possible Euro conversion headlight help? I need some ideas to help make it look more normal. Thank you!

 

[neanderthal]

take it out and look.

 

[mintmojito]

take it out and look.

I can't if I don't know what it is attached to exactly. I need someone with an idea, to help me understand that area, before I take it apart.

 

[Jayare]

They are pretty simple to remove. But as you state, it helps to have an idea of the starting point. First, remove the parking light ass. It is held in place by a clip that you pinch and push the unit forward from the back side. Take a look at it and you'll understand. After that is removed, you should see the first of two sets of retainer bolts (8mm) that hold the headlight assembley in place. The other is a little hard to see, but it is visible when the hood is open. Look for the small (8mm) bolt about midway between top and bottom of the inner side of the unit, in the area of the aux. electric fan.

Good Luck,

Jayare

 

[mintmojito]

They are pretty simple to remove. But as you state, it helps to have an idea of the starting point. First, remove the parking light ass. It is held in place by a clip that you pinch and push the unit forward from the back side. Take a look at it and you'll understand. After that is removed, you should see the first of two sets of retainer bolts (8mm) that hold the headlight assembley in place. The other is a little hard to see, but it is visible when the hood is open. Look for the small (8mm) bolt about midway between top and bottom of the inner side of the unit, in the area of the aux. electric fan.

Good Luck,

Jayare

Thank you so much, but what do you call the part that it is connected to part-wise?

 

[Jayare]

I wouldn't know the proper term but it's the part that is welded in from left to right at the very front of the body. It holds the headlights, rad, etc. It can be pulled out. I would suggest taking it to a body shop for a "free estimate" and let them tell you what the part is called.

Good Luck,

Jayare

 

[augapfel]

Jayare has described the removal process quite well. As for what the headlamp assembly is attached to, well, I guess the best description would be the radiator support. But unlike most older american cars where the radiator support is a large bolt-on part, on the 124 the radiator support is welded into the front body structure.
I'm afraid that if your headlamp is as screwed upas you say it is the headlamp assembly is busted up and will have to be replaced or the front body structure is pretty severely bent up.
There isn't really room for adjustment when installing a headlamp assembly. You just slide it into place and install the screws.

 

[mintmojito]

I wouldn't know the proper term but it's the part that is welded in from left to right at the very front of the body. It holds the headlights, rad, etc. It can be pulled out. I would suggest taking it to a body shop for a "free estimate" and let them tell you what the part is called.

Good Luck,

Jayare

You have been most helpful, thank you! :bowdown:

 

[mr.xpowerseller]

Take this chance to do a Euro headlight upgrade. There is no sense in fixing crappy US DOT ugly a$$ headlamps. The Euros provide MUCH more light output and look much more modern.

 

[mintmojito]

Take this chance to do a Euro headlight upgrade. There is no sense in fixing crappy US DOT ugly a$$ headlamps. The Euros provide MUCH more light output and look much more modern.

I agree, they are ugly. Do you have to swap out anything to accommodate the euro-lights?

 

[mintmojito]

Jayare has described the removal process quite well. As for what the headlamp assembly is attached to, well, I guess the best description would be the radiator support. But unlike most older american cars where the radiator support is a large bolt-on part, on the 124 the radiator support is welded into the front body structure.
I'm afraid that if your headlamp is as screwed upas you say it is the headlamp assembly is busted up and will have to be replaced or the front body structure is pretty severely bent up.
There isn't really room for adjustment when installing a headlamp assembly. You just slide it into place and install the screws.

Thank you so much! Can you point out by these two links of radiator supports which one I am looking to replace?

eBay Motors: RADIATOR SUPPORT mercedes benz 300E 300-E 86-93 92 91 (item 370051997326 end time May-19-08 17:23:56 PDT)

OR

eBay Motors: RADIATOR SUPPORT mercedes benz 300E 300-E 86-93 92 91 (item 250248253123 end time May-19-08 16:42:40 PDT)

 

[mr.xpowerseller]

I agree, they are ugly. Do you have to swap out anything to accommodate the euro-lights?

No, nothing else really changes (minor wiring harness change). If you want it to look 'factory correct' then you need to pick up a set of Euro headlight wipers (park towards grill). They will work just fine with US headlights wipers or no wipers at all.

 

[mintmojito]

I added some pictures of reference to the headlight. I tried looking at it, but I cant tell if it's the top or bottom.

 

[rob76]

I doubt anything more than just the attachment clips were broken out of place. Take the headlight out and see what's broken. Compare to the good side. The radiator support in the first link is the part that runs along the top of the radiator and headlights when you have the hood open. If it's not completely wrecked then you don't need one, the second link is the bumper. I doubt by the looks of it that you need either. My car was hit pretty hard, crushed the bumper, headlight and fender and I fixed it all myself. I just used a big mallet to pound everything back into place. All I had to buy was a bumper impact strip and a headlight to replace one that was busted up. I used body filler and spray paint on the fender and it looks fine now.

Just take you headlight out by removing the turn signal and then there's only 3 screws holding in place. I bet just the clips are broken which you can get at any store or just fabricate your own attachment points onto the assembly if you have to. No need to buy $200 Euro lights. If you do buy them in the end get them from Your Source for Low Cost Quality European Specification Headlamps And Other Goodies For Your Mercedes
Do not buy from people on eBay. I had to get some and the guy I ordered from, Import Vision Motorsports on eBay, lied and played me along for 5 weeks before refunding my money. Big mistake. katmac charges like $30 more but he tests all his lights and guarantees them and has 100% feedback rating on ebay which is rare.

Good luck!

 

[rob76]

Sorry, I just read the part that said the headlights was replaced. Or maybe just the lens was replaced? Either way take your corner signals out (they have a tab in the rear you push over and then they just pop out) once out you can see the two screws that hold the headlight in place. See what's bent or out of place. You really have to have a good look to know what's going on in there. Compare it to the good side.

 

[mintmojito]

I doubt anything more than just the attachment clips were broken out of place. Take the headlight out and see what's broken. Compare to the good side. The radiator support in the first link is the part that runs along the top of the radiator and headlights when you have the hood open. If it's not completely wrecked then you don't need one, the second link is the bumper. I doubt by the looks of it that you need either. My car was hit pretty hard, crushed the bumper, headlight and fender and I fixed it all myself. I just used a big mallet to pound everything back into place. All I had to buy was a bumper impact strip and a headlight to replace one that was busted up. I used body filler and spray paint on the fender and it looks fine now.

Just take you headlight out by removing the turn signal and then there's only 3 screws holding in place. I bet just the clips are broken which you can get at any store or just fabricate your own attachment points onto the assembly if you have to. No need to buy $200 Euro lights. If you do buy them in the end get them from Your Source for Low Cost Quality European Specification Headlamps And Other Goodies For Your Mercedes
Do not buy from people on eBay. I had to get some and the guy I ordered from, Import Vision Motorsports on eBay, lied and played me along for 5 weeks before refunding my money. Big mistake. katmac charges like $30 more but he tests all his lights and guarantees them and has 100% feedback rating on ebay which is rare.

Good luck!

I am a chick, so I am new to the auto stuff, especially with the Benz! Hence the reason I need to ask 30493094 questions to you guys, so thank you for the info. I was trying to fiddle with the headlight the other day, and I am pretty sure they've never been taken off, because they're on there GOOD! That is why I am a touch scared that I am going to get it off, and not be able to put it back together.

The front left bumper is a touch off as well. When you took it off, was that part heavy, and where is the bolts?

 

[rob76]

I never worry about taking anything apart. But I've been like that my whole life and I've been fixing my vehicles for almost 20 years now. The bumper skin isn't heavy, there's 4 bolts on the backside of the front part of the bumper below the headlights and then a bolt in each corner underneath the car to hold the corners in place. All the bolts are accessed from under the car so wear goggles if you go under there because rusty dirt in the eye sucks (I know). You shouldn't have to take the bumper off but you could if you think you could hammer the bumper support back into place. It's not easy to hammer though and It took all my might and a ball-peen hammer to bend mine back into position. Plus I missed a few times and cut my hand up on the raw metal.

Taking the headlight out is pretty easy but you have to start with the corner signal lights. Just pop those out first and have a look. See if metal part behind it is bent that the headlights bolts to.

 

[rob76]

You could have any mechanic fix this I'm sure. You don't need to go to an autobody shop. Any corner mechanic shop should be able to muck around with this stuff.

 

[mintmojito]

I just used a big mallet to pound everything back into place.

Wouldn't even a rubber mallet mess up your bumper? Did you just pound it back into place where it was attached? Did you beat the inside or outside?

 

[rob76]

Well I took the bumper off. First you have to remove the temperature sensor from behind the license plate bracket. Anyhow, once off and the headlight out the only way I could bend the bumper support was with a ballpeen hammer. A rubber mallet just didn't do anything. The fender, which was slightly crushed in by the turn signal, I filled with several layers of bondo and wet sanded to perfection. I had to fill some small air bubble holes in the dry bondo with putty and sand that down too. I taped off the front of the car with newspaper and "automotive" masking tape. (regular masking tape leaves sticky crap all over that's hard to remove) Then I spray painted the corner with several coats of primer. I sanded around the area first with 600 grit wet sandpaper and then oversprayed the area with white paint which didn't match perfectly but you really have to look to tell. Probably did 8 coats letting it dry 10 minutes between each coat. Then I wet sanded that with 1500 grit to blend it all in and then I used polishing compound to finish. There's lots of "how-to" paint tutorials on the internet. I just read a bunch of them. It took a few days to do.