Non-US W111 stacked headlights

[wwheeler]

I am considering converting my US headlight and bullet lights to a Euro spec stacked headlight assembly. My questions are how are the lighting functions handled? I know the turn signal is the outer amber triangle lens and would use a 18Watt bulb. But what about the parking light and standing lights? I have seen a clear lens with a bulb on the inner triangle and I assume that would be for the parking light. But what about the low wattage standing light? 

Do you know anybody that has this for sale?

Thanks,

Wallace

[cabrioletturbo]

Sent PM.

[scoot]

How are the lighting functions handled? I know the turn signal is the outer amber triangle lens and would use a 18Watt bulb. But what about the parking light and standing lights? I have seen a clear lens with a bulb on the inner triangle and I assume that would be for the parking light. But what about the low wattage standing light? 

Do you know anybody that has this for sale?

I have a partial answer, or at least additional information.  I have a pretty nice clear one and a really nice amber one.  The amber one has a single filament 15 watt bulb in it.  The clear one has a dual filament bulb and I cant read the wattages on the bulb.   So the bulb housings that snap into the back of these can be single or dual filament.  None of these seem appropriately small wattage for a clearance light (I believe that's what a standing light is called).

I have these parts out because I'm going to list them for sale but haven't gotten that far yet. 

[wwheeler]

Are they both out of the same car? The 15 watt would probably be the parking light. I would assume the dual filament bulb is something like 15 and 18watt. I have seen the dual filament inserts and not sure what the use is. I think I have opened up a can of worms on this. There must be many, many different combinations depending on country. Yes, standing light would also be clearance light. Confusing terminology. 

[scoot]

Are they both out of the same car? The 15 watt would probably be the parking light. I would assume the dual filament bulb is something like 15 and 18watt. I have seen the dual filament inserts and not sure what the use is. I think I have opened up a can of worms on this. There must be many, many different combinations depending on country. Yes, standing light would also be clearance light. Confusing terminology.

The are not from the same car.  They are just part of a parts collection I have.  My assumption is that the dual filament is turn/parking lights.   The bases with the bulb holders interchange so there is no reason to assume the correct base is with the correct lens.

[wwheeler]

Do you have two of the two filament bases?

[scoot]

Do you have two of the two filament bases?

I don't think so.  At least not with all of the plastic triangle lenses.  Somewhere I think I have another filament base but haven't found it.

[scoot]

FWIW I think it would be fairly trivial to cut a circular hole in one of the non-illuminated triangle lenses and add a bulb mount.  Something generic that snaps in.  That could host a proper 2 watt clearance bulb.

[wwheeler]

Let me know if you can find (2) of the two filament bases. I don't need the plastic lenses, just the bases.

Thanks!

[scoot]

Let me know if you can find (2) of the two filament bases. I don't need the plastic lenses, just the bases.

You understand that the plastic lenses that have an opening for the filament bases are different from the plastic lenses that don't have an opening, right?  You can't really turn one into the other.

[wwheeler]

Yes I do. I can find the lenses with the openings, I just need the lamp bases.

Thanks.

[scoot]

Yeah, that's what it looks like.  Lots of new ones on ebay but the only ones with bulb holders are single filament.  I guess I just found a little gold mine in my dual filament bulb holder - I'll have to put that on ebay!

[JPMOSE]

Wally...I’ve been off line for a while!!   I have the Euro stack on my 3.5 Cab.  The inner lights are the clearance lights (left or right).  The lower headlight (high beam) has the city light in it and acts as the parking light (clear).  When the upper headlight (low beam) is on, the city light remains on.  The upper beam turns off when the lower high beam is on, which is unusual.  Finding the high beam with city light is quite challenging!! One of mine had a stone crack and it took me 2 years to locate one on EBay (I did an international “saved search” and finally one showed up).  The clear triangle that’s on the passenger side has been NLA for years and also hard to find new.  There are reproductions available, but the plastic isn’t quite as clear as the OEM...but not that far off. 

[JPMOSE]

It should be noted that both inner and outer triangle lenses have single filament sockets.  The outer orange only serves as a turn signal, while the inner only serves as a left or right clearance (in other words, they are never lit at the same time).   If you bo a search on the M100 forum under 6.3, you’ll find a post on it, with my input as well.

[scoot]

It should be noted that both inner and outer triangle lenses have single filament sockets.

Then why do I have a dual filament socket?  What car does that go to?

[JPMOSE]

Not sure...as Wally said there may be several combinations.   I do see both lit in the following article that I referenced above:

http://www.m-100.co/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5041&SearchTerms=City+light

[wwheeler]

Hi JP! Good to hear form you.
I don't know all the combinations, but here is what I know so far from research this month.
Euro - the euro W111 cars came out with the "all-in-one" headlight under one glass lens. These had all the functions, headlights, turn signal, parking light and clearance lights all under the glass. There are two versions of that and I believe the later version also includes a driving light. Not sure.

With the introduction of the 6.3 W109 car in late 67, Bosch produced the halogen "stacked headlight". It has all of the functions that JP describes including the parking light in the lower high beam reflector. The triangle lenses were amber and clear and used single filament bulbs.

US The W111 originally came out with "stacked" sealed beam headlights with no bullet lights (my personal favorite). See attached '61 US version. These had the two filament outers and should have a single filament inner. The outers (not sure if amber or clear w/ amber bulbs) had the functions of turn signal and parking light. The clear inners provided the clearance light. This what I am trying to achieve. I actually found two assemblies in OK shape that I will restore for my car. Yes, it is a '68. But too bad because I like the early look. And it is reversible for the purest down the road.

The bullet lights (or later round fixtures for the low grille cars) incorporated all three functions that were found earlier in the outer and inner triangle lenses. Therefore the triangle lenses on these later cars, had no provision for lights.   


BTW, try this site for parts. https://mercedesclubs.de/extras/online-katalog?search=&order=i.created&dir=desc&cm=0#tlb
They have the bulbs and lenses you are looking for. They also have the trunk wire harness covers for the W111 and W108 cars. Those are impossible to find used in good condition.