Original Headlights

[TerenceD]

I was wondering who made the original headlights on the 280sl.  I have always like Marchal's and was thinking of putting them on my car, but I thought that it would be nicer to put the original headlamps instead, but I can find no reference to who the original manufacturer was.  Does anybody out there know ?

Terence

[Naj ✝︎]

Bosch
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I do believe I have seen a picture of a Marchal headlamp with the 'cat' logo but couldn't swear to it.

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[rwmastel]

Bosch made both the USA and Euro spec headlights, right?

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

[isofast]

Terrence USA or Euro?
Marchals are very very expensive. Lots of Ferraris in the sixties used them. They come up on ebay once in a blue moon. I have seen a set on a USA headlamp car parked at my top and upholstery mans garage. They looked great on a Pagoda.
  The owners car was perfect in EVERY way, but the Marchals seemed to deep so the chrome headlamp assembly frames bulged a bit.
Although I am really not sure, but if you want oem I think that Euro cars came with Osram bulb and USA with GE? Any experts here?
I have fitted CiBie Z beam reissue with H4 lamp that I bought on E-Bay, Joe Alexander recommended them to me and I like them alot.
Not good at posting pictures but they kind of look like this...
Good luck Terrence

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Another 7 inch light often sold on ebay and fit our car perfect I am told no experience here...
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And yet another option sold on ebay as a motorcycle beam also fits our cars but again this one just barely fit I saw it on a local members car and it appeared to make the frame bulge a little...

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Photo by Bob Possel
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First Place AACA Show Winner 350SL July 2003
I love low mile Mercedes.
First Place AACA Show winner for 2004 280SL
1969 280 4spd Papyrus White

[TerenceD]

Thanks for the info.  I live in the country so I use the high beams a lot.  While I like the idea of original headlights, there does not seem to be a definitive answer as to what was OEM equipment for a US spec 1970 280sl.  I am thinking of finding period correct headlamps by Cibie, Lucas, Marchal, etc, but with a higher wattage high beam so that I can see.

Thanks,
Terence

[Vince Canepa]

One thing is certain.  If your car was US spec, it had sealed beam headlights installed.  Euro style 7" round lamps were illegal at the time.  In fact, any non-sealed beam was illegal.  I still have the original sealed beams I pulled from mine over 30 years ago.  They are GE.  I would guess the cars were shipped without the actual sealed beam installed and the lamps were fitted at processing in the US.

I use a 7" round Cibie H-7 (non-Z beam).  The Z beam flattens the 15 degree rise to the right side of the road (a feature relatively common on OEM headlamps for european cars sent to the US now).  Personally I prefer the original european spec beam pattern.  Even by todays standards (and I have Xenons in my E430), the old euro 7" H-7 is an excellent lamp.  I think Cibie has the best beam pattern.  Hella is rather poor.  I get my headlamp supplies from Aardvark at www.talbotco.com

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[isofast]

I do not know why I like to know things like this but thanks Vince for confirming my belief of USA cars were delivered with GE sealed beam. My car also came with them. The Euro Cibie Z beam does splash a lot of light out to the sides of the road. With the high count deer population here in Illinois I kind of like to see down the road and off to the sides. It is a concern that makes me want to install my driving/fog lights also. But I really think that in order to do that correctly I will have to buy bumpers without the guard/overriders on them. The fog lamp does not quite look at home with the bumper guard attached.
Just my two cents.
Cheers and Happy New Years.
Ernie

First Place AACA Show Winner 350SL July 2003
I love low mile Mercedes.
First Place AACA Show winner for 2004 280SL
1969 280 4spd Papyrus White

[Vince Canepa]

The high beams of the Cibie 7" round H-4 have a refective range of nearly one mile.  I used them for years in the mountains of Central California and found them superb for spotting wildlife lurking off the side of the road.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[ja17]

Hello,
Yes, Cibie lights are a great upgrade to US sealed beams if you desire much better lighting. I used to have them in the Rally sedan years ago.  You can choose higher lamp wattages if you desire even more light.
The Cibbie conversions look very much like the original sealed beams, but are a lot brighter with the quartz halogen lamps. The Marcel lights lenses were different looking from original but worked fine. Bosch also made some nice quartz halogen conversions but the lenses on these were flatter than the original sealed beams.

As some of you know these are as easy to install as a sealed beam, they plug right in. You can switch back to the selaed beams easily for the concours.


Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[n/a]

I have Marchal's on my SL. They have a much flatter profile than the sealed beams. The top edge of the lamp stands out approximately 1/8" beyond the front of the surround. I don't recall how they are wired, but I think there is a conversion kit of sorts, made up of wires connecting to the plug.

Regards,
Stan

[JPMOSE]

If USA cars were originally furnished with GE headlamps, it is also worth noting that the headlamps of the 1960's time frame had wider ribs than later configurations.  The correct lamp number is 6012.  It also has a "2" at the top of the face (actually shown in the Pagoda owners manuals under USA lighting).  GE Suburban was the common name for these lamps from the late 1950's until around 1969.  Of course they are not as bright as Halogen but are authentic to the period.  I recently purchase an NOS pair on Ebay, in anticipation of my 250SL arrival.  The photo is small...BUT THE PRICE WAS CHEAP!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4605400398  




Best Regards,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL

[Raymond]

Does anyone have the part numbers for the Euro style headlamp assemblies?

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[Naj ✝︎]

Ray,
 

quote:Does anyone have the part numbers for the Euro style headlamp assemblies?

113 820 0461 Headlamp complete less chrome trim (door?) for {right hand traffic = left hand drive} Bosch # 0 301 852 002

65 230SL
68 280SL

[Cees Klumper]

The chrome trim ring on US-spec light assemblies can be used on the Euro assemblies - it could take removal of two small notches inside the rings (that's what I had to do on mine), but then you're all set.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[113gray]

Raymond, You asked for PN for Euro H'light assembly. I have the MB # as 113 820 04 61, R & L the same(less the chrome ring). That is confirmed in my 230SL parts book. Don't have the Bosch # at hand, sorry.    -JP-