Euro Headlight Reflectors

[hands_aus]

There are EURO STYLE Headlights on my 250sl.

I silver painted the headlight reflectors and fog light reflectors a couple of years ago because they were rusty and I had higher priorities for my money and I rarely drive my car at night.
.
They don’t look too bad from a distance but they don’t reflect any light at night, maybe 20 feet.

I have priced 4 NEW reflectors and 4 NEW seals here (Australia) at a total of $1169.00 and I am still recovering.
This does not include the indicator reflectors.

Is it possible to have the reflectors re-mirrored?

Also, I was wondering if anyone has replaced the headlight reflectors with a sealed beam unit?

Bosch has halogen sealed beam conversion kits with a small bulb for the parking lights built into them.

Any experience / advice is welcome.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[Naj ✝︎]

Bob,

How much is that in real money??  :oops:

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[JamesL]

Naj

it's
$917 or
£485

or

23,700 roubles

[n/a]

you should be able to buy complete new assemblies for that money, here in the US, euro lights can be found at http://www.adsitco.com/ for $625 for a PAIR.

-Lewis

66 230 sl 113042-10-016238
67 saab sonett II #43 of 258
00 saab 9-3 viggen conv
02 saab 9-5 aero

[Ben]

New reflectors are listed at Van Dyke and SLS at about €65 each roughly !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[hands_aus]

Guys,

Thanks for responding.

Naj, unfortunately I have to use our local currency

At the moment one Aussie dollar = 57 Euro cents approx
also          one Aussie dollar = 77 US cents approx.

I will follow up on your leads and make further enquiries.

The adsitco units are well priced, I just wonder if they work on my RHD car?
I will enquire.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[Naj ✝︎]

No, Bob,
You WILL need Rhd reflectors or headlamps.
Both reflectors and headlamp glasses are handed. (refered to as 'left hand traffic' in some instances).
The reflectors can be easily adapted but the glass markings for assymetric lighting are different.

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by naj

No, Bob,
You WILL need Rhd reflectors or headlamps.

I thought it was just the glass that directed the light according to right-hand or left-hand traffic flow.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Naj ✝︎]

Rodd,
On RHD headlights, the side light bulb is above the headlamp bulb while on LHD euro headlights, the sidelight bulb is below the headlamp bulb.
You can adapt a lhd reflector to rhd by rotating it thru 180 degrees but you also need to file a new cutout on the reflector to correctly locate the bulb. (ask me how I know etc.... :oops: )

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[hands_aus]

Naj,
Does it really matter if the side/ park light is on the top or bottom?

My glasses are in good condition. It is just the reflectors that are bad.

No one responded to the parts of my question about re-mirroring the old reflectors or replacing them with the Bosch H4 substitues.

Anybody done either?

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[Cees Klumper]

Bob - there have been recent reports in Europe of a new chrome spray-paint that is supposed to be relatively close to 'the real thing'. I don't recall what the make is, but you may try finding this paint.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, Bob
In itself I don't think it matters if the side light bulb is above or below the H/L bulb.
Its to do with the position of the headlamp bulb to get the correct assymetric shape of the reflection. If you use left hand reflectors, the beam pointing up will be on the right, blinding oncoming traffic.
I replaced the reflectors on my 280 but ordered the LHD part number in error. Then, looking at both versions I filed a new bulb locating groove on the new reflector to get the correct assymetric shape.
The glass lens also plays its part in shaping the beam and that shoud be correct as well.
It is true that the price of the reflectors is about double the price of new H4 light units but personally, I don't know what shape light beam you would get from fitting one together with the original glass lens.
Sorry, not much help

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by hands_aus

No one responded to the parts of my question about re-mirroring the old reflectors or replacing them with the Bosch H4 substitues.  Anybody done either?

Bob,

I put the H4 bulbs in my car and they work great!  I need to re-silver the reflectors in one headlight, but the other headlight works so well that I don't worry about driving at night.  It's spectacular compared to the stock bulb.  I was convinced it would work by Daniel Stern (search this site for references).  His site is www.danielsternlighting.com  I believe it's a H4 bulb with a t45 base?  Daniel says all lights (fog, signal, brake, reverse, etc.) can be switched to bright halogen bulbs without increasing heat output or demanding any wiring upgrade.

If I find a re-silvering company, and I've been searching the internet for a few days, I will let this group know about it.

And with regard to orienting the reflector for RHD/LHD, the main headlight bulb does have a small notch in the base that lines up with a notch in the reflector, so the bulb does have to seat in a particular orientation.  I just thought that the bulb threw light in a particular direction, not that the reflector was shaped to reflect light in a particular pattern/direction.  I think Naj is right that you just might need to notch the reflector where the bulb base fits.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by rwmastel

If I find a re-silvering company, and I've been searching the internet for a few days, I will let this group know about it.

For those in the USA, how about this place?
www.stevesautorestorations.com/silvering.htm

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Naj ✝︎]

Rodd,
Our lights are 7 inch diameter and steel, so refinishing may be more expensive than new.
Personally, I'd go for a new MB reflector. 000 826 1478 for LHD car priced @ Euro 66.70.
RHD is 000 826 1578 @ 73.66.
Maybe cheaper at other supplieers.

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by naj

Rodd,
Our lights are 7 inch diameter and steel, so refinishing may be more expensive than new.
Personally, I'd go for a new MB reflector. 000 826 1478 for LHD car priced @ Euro 66.70.
RHD is 000 826 1578 @ 73.66 (Part # not verified!!)
Maybe cheaper at other supplieers.

I have the MB part numbers for new reflectors (all three), but our relable and trusted parts man Tom Hanson said MB is no longer importing Euro headlight parts to the USA.  I've started inquiring at parts suppliers on our Vendors List (only just begun), and it seems that only Euro headlight assemblies are available, not the reflectors by themselves.  I've still got e-mail address and phone numbers to use, the search goes on.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[George Davis]

I ordered a new euro reflector from Van Dyjk a couple of years ago.  Through the Dutch and US mail it took maybe 4-6 weeks to arrive, but the shipping cost was reasonable.  If you want it quickly, shipping cost will be significantly higher.

As a temporary expedient, fitting driving lights (as opposed to fog lights) on the front bumper might be worth considering.



George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[pagode.info]

Hello Bob!

Try BOSCH ! The reflectors are still available.
If You do not have the BOSCH Part Number, they
will deliver it by the MB part number.

Good Luck,

Tom



www.pagode.info

[Bob G ✝︎]

I had talked to Tom Hanson from Caliber Motors. I think he had a really good price on a set of new set of German headlights for the W113. The bad part is getting all the little replacement parts from bosch throught Mercedes, It all most makes sence to fine a used set for a parts  donner. I also recall I ordered a body gasket to headlight to keep out the water. how many of you know about this?
Bob Geco

[hands_aus]

Naj,
Quote  "but personally, I don't know what shape light beam you would get from fitting one together with the original glass lens."

that was one of my thoughts too. It will be my last resort.

Rodd, thanks for finding that re-silvering place.
I have already replaced the old bulbs with Halogen H4's but the reflectors are not good. I can see about 30 feet in front of the car and that is it.

George, I had thought it might be possible to fit a low wattage driving light in place of the fog light?

Tom, I will go to a local Bosch agent with the RHD number and see how I go. Are the fog lights LHD and RHD? If yes could I have the RHD fog light number too please.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[hands_aus]

Bob Geco,
Those gaskets cost an arm and a leg at about $31.00 USD each. The glass to headlight unit gasket is more reasonable at about $6.76 USD each.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[Naj ✝︎]

Bob,

LHD Headlamp reflector: MB 000 826 1478, Bosch 1 305 314 999
RHD Headlamp reflector: MB 000 826 1578, Bosch
Fog Lamp Reflector RHD+LHD: MB 000 826 3578, Bosch 1 305 320 999

Sorry, can't find eq. Bosch RHD reflector

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by krwaxbz

I also recall I ordered a body gasket to headlight to keep out the water. how many of you know about this?
Bob Geco

Bob,
Yes, I bought those gaskets (glass to assembly and assembly to body) and installed them when installing the H4 bulbs with H45t base.  It's amazing how crushed and hard the old ones were.  This is a highly recommeded maintenance task to keep your ligts in good condition.

I am considering a used set of Euro light just to get reflectors, but the problem is that it's difficult to know the condition before buying as pictures don't always show the details of the reflective finish.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Bob G ✝︎]

I have a question. Is their any other manufactors beside Bosch who produce the European headlight assemblie for the W113 and is there a best manufactor Vs inferior manufactor I should or should not buy from? This also goes for the parts for these headlights like Lenses, reflectors is their a better vs worst supply chain who manufactor and provide service for these headlight units that are better than other, and more excessible than other supply chains out side the USA and Daimler-Chysler of north America?
Bob Geco

Bob Geco

[hands_aus]

Thanks guys

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto