Author Topic: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?  (Read 6832 times)

Flyair

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin Jeziorna
  • Posts: 1920
could anyone advise if changing headlights from US to European style also requires changing bezels or are they the same?
many thanks
Stan
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

jameshoward

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • United States, New Jersey (formerly of London)
  • Posts: 1570
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2012, 16:40:18 »
Alas, they are different.

Perhaps not hugely, but there is a small plate thingy on the US ones that would need to be removed (if I've got that the right way around) anyway, point is that to go from US to Euro, you'd need to mod your US ones such that you couldn't easily change them back again. Whilst the bezels aren't cheap, you may feel that buying the ones designed for the Euro lights is worth doing. I made the change and got new bezels, plus the new chrome looks great.

JH
James Howard
1966 LHD 230SL

Cees Klumper

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Fallbrook
  • Posts: 5712
    • http://SL113.org
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2012, 20:06:46 »
As James points out, there's a small notch that needs to be removed (dremel tool works fine). I did that and couldn,t be happier. Once the notch is removed, they fit perfectly.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

jameshoward

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • United States, New Jersey (formerly of London)
  • Posts: 1570
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2012, 21:28:51 »
Thanks, Cees, for clearing that up. I thought it was you who'd posted on this before but didn't want to stitch you up I case I got it wrong.

I can't remember the price of the rings exactly, but I think they were about £80 for the Euro set. Probably. But that would have been about 2 years ago.

James
James Howard
1966 LHD 230SL

Flyair

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin Jeziorna
  • Posts: 1920
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2012, 09:24:27 »
Many thanks to all for clarifying this. I have found Euro style bezels at SLS shop at 450 Euro for two, which means 600 $, well over the price quoted by James (unless he has his own hidden cheap sources :)).

At this price, I will seriously consider dremel tool as advised by Cees.

thaks once more
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

jameshoward

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • United States, New Jersey (formerly of London)
  • Posts: 1570
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2012, 11:20:16 »
Ouch. Just checked the price, and you're right. That's expensive. They've gone up quite a bit, I think.

I'd be digging out the dremel at that point.
James Howard
1966 LHD 230SL

tel76

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Douglas
  • Posts: 835
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2012, 08:43:23 »
Are there any pictures of what has to be ground off?
Eric

Jordan

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Canada, ON, Jordan
  • Posts: 1435
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2012, 12:36:04 »
I would also be interested in seeing the picture if anyone can provide one.  I switched mine to Euro lights but did not do any grinding on the bezel.  They seem a bit loose.
Thanks.
Marcus
66 230SL  Euro 4 speed

Flyair

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin Jeziorna
  • Posts: 1920
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2012, 23:30:19 »
I will attempt the conversion with lights that arrived from SLS (they look REEEAAALLY great) using the US style bezels and will take pictures while doing this, so stay put, although it may not happen before a couple of weeks.
Stan
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

Garry

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Australia, Victoria, Kyneton and Brisbane Queensland
  • Posts: 5235
  • Audit Committee
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2012, 03:33:00 »
Stan,

Take lots of photos and at the end of the process it would write up an instruction as it would ba a good thing to put into the Tech Manual as there are plenty that have and will do it in future as well.

Garry
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G
2005 MB A200
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Electric
2024 Volvo EX30 Electric

Flyair

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin Jeziorna
  • Posts: 1920
Re: US to European headlights conversion....how about bezel?
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2012, 22:29:00 »
Garry,
Will do. In fact I have already taken some. I think also to describe the process step by step, but if you put it into instruction frames, this would be great.
Stan

Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA