Euro Headlights - verify Part numbers to order

[outrbnks]

For my 92 500E, I want to order euro headlights, the car will retain the pre-facelift look.

I have read through a couple of threads on the Euro headlights and I believe I have collected the correct part numbers to order.

I also have the contact info for Speed Autoteile, and I will send them the list of part number seen below to get quotes.

If someone has a better recommendation for a source I'd appreciate getting that information as well.

I would appreciate it if one of the boards guru's would please proof read my part number list before I send it to Speed Autoteile?

I understand from reading previous threads, that the euro pre-face 500E lights are NLA, so the list below should follow the recommendations I found in the threads for buying E500 face lift lights and swapping the lenses with pre-facelift lenses.

The trim panels are meant to be without wipers initially, and the 2nd set option is to add wipers at a later date, get them all now and paint at the same time as suggested in the posts I read.

Thanks in advance for your help..


E500 Euro Headlights
124-820-35-57 - facelift E500 Euro headlight, left
124-820-36-57 - facelift E500 Euro Headlight, right

500E Euro lenses;
000-820-12-66 - pre-facelift lenses, left
000-820-13-66 - pre-facelift lenses, right

Trim panels for these lights, blanks and the euro trim versions.
124-889-05-63 - Blank trim panel, 1986-1993, left
124-889-06-63 - Blank trim panel, 1986-1993, right

124-889-07-63 - Euro trim panel, 1986-1993, left
124-889-08-63 - Euro trim panel, 1986-1993, right

 

[gsxr]

Based on the p/n's in this document, your numbers are all correct. That said, I believe you can get all four of the trim panels from USA dealers... it may be easier and save a bit on shipping. I am curious what current pricing is from Speed-Autoteile, if you could post the details of their price quote (including S&H to USA) that would be great.

PS: I don't see a 1992 500E in your signature, do you need to add a new car?

 

[Melville]

I tried to compile a lot of the info here:

http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8472

From a quick skim, it looks like your part #s matched the ones I used.

Note that there are also some connectors etc. that you should get to make the wiring switchover easier. They're listed in the link above.

And as GSXR says, get the trim panels and connectors in the US to save some $ (or EUR).

Also, consider getting some Lamin-X to protect your new, very expensive, headlights. I've been meaning to update my thread to show what lamin-x I bought but I haven't found the time to do so.

 

[outrbnks]

good question, I've tried and get an error message saying something to the effect that only 5 lines allowed in the signature, and was wondering how you and others were able to have more than 5 lines

What am I doing wrong I wonder?

and thanks for the info, I'll buy the panels stateside, and get the headlight/lense quotes from Speed Autoteile.

when I get the quotes back I'll post them here.. Oscar

PS: tnx Melville for the reminder on the Lamin-X, I definitely want that as well, as far a connectors, do you mean the 6 pin headlight harness ones? I made the euro conversion on my 300CE previously, and I think I used some 6 pin tail-light connectors if I remember correctly.

Let me go try and add another line to my signature again...

 

[outrbnks]

Hey Dave,
Thanks for the tip on Speed Autoteile, I just received the quote from them, and it's not a cheap date, but at least they are available.

I was just looking on eBay, the FL lens are selling anywhere from $13 to $118, with Hella's and Bosch ranging between $80 and $118.
If I decide to make this purchase, I may just keep the lens for my E420.

It would be nice to have at least one more vendor for price comparison, does anyone know of any other euro vendors who will ship to the USA?

[TABLE="width: 497"] [TR] [TD]EURO Headlight Conversion - Pre Facelift 500E's[/TD] [TD]Price quote[/TD] [TD="align: right"]5/10/2016[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Part[/TD] [TD]Euro[/TD] [TD]USD[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]124-820-35-57 - FL E500 Euro headlight, left[/TD] [TD]285.00 €[/TD] [TD]$324.72[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]124-820-36-57 - FL E500 Euro Headlight, right[/TD] [TD]285.00 €[/TD] [TD]$324.72[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]000-820-12-66 - pre-facelift lenses, left[/TD] [TD]129.93 €[/TD] [TD]$148.04[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]000-820-13-66 - pre-facelift lenses, right[/TD] [TD]129.93 €[/TD] [TD]$148.04[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Shipping[/TD] [TD]165.00 €[/TD] [TD]$188.00[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Total[/TD] [TD]994.86 €[/TD] [TD]$1,133.53[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]SPEED AUTOTEILE[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]HOHENTWIELSTEIG 3[/TD] [TD]`[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]14163 BERLIN[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]GERMANY[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]PHONE: +49 30 852 40 56[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]FAX: +49 30 852 18 49[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 2"]Christian Hoppe <christian.hoppe@speed-autoteile.com>[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]WWW.SPEED-AUTOTEILE.COM[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [TD]
[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

 

[gerryvz]

Ouch! However, these parts aren't going to get any cheaper, so it's a great idea to get them now !!

 

[gsxr]

Those prices are consistent with quotes I saw last year... at least they haven't gone up much (yet). If you want them, I'd buy now before anything else goes NLA.

Remember that the lenses are NOT the same as the standard 124, so anything you see on eBay is not comparable, unless they are explicitly selling E500E Euro lenses. Although you could use lens on your E420, you'd end up with no fog lights, and manually-switchable auxiliary driving lights. If you want that, great! If you want to keep the E420 stock, keep reading:

The "correct" E300 / E320 / E420 replacement Euro lenses are still available new from US dealers (sshhh, keep that quiet) but they're not cheap at $172/ea list, $130-$140 discount. PN's are 124-820-55-66 and 124-820-56-66, they are made by Hella. Yes, these will fit 94-95 USA Bosch lights. These standard facelift lenses vanished from the aftermarket as of 2 years ago, the Bosch versions had been $75-$100 each depending on the seller, but the aftermarket supply has dried up completely. Think I remember some guy on eBay selling NOS ones for like $400 but he only had one side available! *facepalm*

 

[outrbnks]

I emailed Speed Autoteile back this morning and asked them to start an order for payment based upon their quote, I'll probably get that tomorrow and complete the payment.

Thanks for the clarification on the lenses, now I understand. (BTW - I did see that single $400 lens on eBay this morning, just didn't mention it, figured it was a fluke).

So if I understand you correctly, the lenses I remove from the new lights are best marketable to facelift E500 owners only.

Back to the E420, is there any advantage to having the facelift euro lenses on this car, do they allow more light to pass, or a better pattern?

Tanx...O

 

[gerryvz]

So if I understand you correctly, the lenses I remove from the new lights are best marketable to facelift E500 owners only.

100% correct. You should find a buyer with little difficulty.

Back to the E420, is there any advantage to having the facelift euro lenses on this car, do they allow more light to pass, or a better pattern?

Remember that the E500 lights are different than E420 lights (Euro or US). The reason being is that the E500 has fog-lights in the front spoiler, so the "inboard" lights in the E500 are "pencil-beam" driving lights.

The E420 doesn't have driving lights; the "inboard" lights are the fog lights -- same as the regular six-cylinder E320 headlights.

US-spec E420/E320 (facelift) headlights are essentially equivalent to "Euro" spec E420/E320/EXXX headlights.

US-spec 500E/400E/300E (pre-facelift) headlights are extremely poor compared to their "Euro" versions. Note also the 500E headlights are different than 400E/300E because of the "pencil beam" driving light and spoiler-mounted foglight issue.

To answer your question though -- if you have standard US-spec "facelift" E420 lights on your E420, then it's very much NOT worth the money to put "Euro" lamps on the E420. Basically same if you are running a facelift E500, per "Euro" lights.

If you are running a 500E or 400E/300E/300CE (pre-facelift), then it makes every bit of sense in the world to "upgrade" to the respective Euro versions of those headlights.

Hope this makes sense.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gsxr]

So if I understand you correctly, the lenses I remove from the new lights are best marketable to facelift E500 owners only.

Correct. The lenses you'll remove from the E500 Euro lights will work for any E500 headlights, USA or Euro, as long as they will be used in right-hand-traffic countries (i.e., not Japan, UK, or Australia).

Back to the E420, is there any advantage to having the facelift euro lenses on this car, do they allow more light to pass, or a better pattern?

The E420 USA lenses are basically equivalent in performance to E420 Euro lenses, both are very good. If yours are sandblasted or cracked, you may want to pick up a pair of the standard replacement lenses as spares (good idea anyway, even if your current lenses are fine).

The E500 lenses are different than the E420 lens, primarily the inboard section in front of the H3 bulb. The E420 inboard lens produces a wide, flat, low-aimed fog beam. The E500 inboard lens produces a thin, pencil-beam, long-range auxiliary high beam. Completely different designs. The 500E has the fog lights in the bumper, which allowed MB to upgrade the 500E to have four high-beam headlights. So while the E500 lenses will physically swap over to your E420 headlights, the light/beam pattern will be very different for the inboard/H3 section, and you'd lose your foglights on the E420 if you did this.

Confused yet?

 

[outrbnks]

Thanks Gerry & Dave,

Understood completely, , appreciate you taking the time to edumacate this 500E noob...

One other thing on the Euro lights I had forgotten to ask. A while back I picked up a set of US facelift wipers as a freebe, and I was told they worked fine.

I think I read in one of the many posts I've gone through, that US facelift wipers will fit euro pre-facelift lights.

Not sure yet If I want them or not, but if this is true, I don't need to buy euro wipers, is that right?....

Thanks...O

 

[gerryvz]

For facelift (1994) E500 and E420 cars, the US wipers are same as Euro wipers, and will fit both US and Euro headlights seamlessly.

The pre-facelift US wipers are very very different than the Euro wipers for pre-facelift cars.

 

[gsxr]

USA facelift (1994-95) headlight wipers / motors / arms are 100% bolt-in for the Euro lights.

 

[outrbnks]

Waiting for an invoice!

Well, it's been 6 days since I've heard anything from Speed Autoteile, here is the last thing I received;

"Oscar,

prices in Euro below.
In case of an order, we accept PayPal, VISA and Mastercard.
For transmitting the card number, please visit our website www.speed-autoteile.com, click "PAYMENTS" and fill out the form. It´s a safe SSL modus.
But please wait with the payment, until your order will be complete and packed, then we can tell you the exact final amount.


kind regards / un cordial Saludo / Καλοί σεβασμοί / 敬具/ 商祺/med vaenlig haelsning mit freundlichen Gruessen / Vennlig hilsen / Considerações amáveis / 친절한 관계

Christian G. Hoppe
International Sales"​

So I guess more patience is in order, I'm guessing they aren't in stock and they are sourcing them, themselves. Just hoping I don't get back a NLA message.....

The filler plates and the mirror rubbers came in from Parts.com, hard to believe there is $500 worth of rubber parts in a 8x10x5 box. But I'm glad I got two sets, the E420 boots are cracked very badly and in dire need of replacement, as I'm sure the 500E will be as well....O

 

[gsxr]

Oscar, yes, Speed has to order the parts from the dealer who supplies their parts; that dealer likely had to order the parts from the main MB warehouse. So, it could be a week or more before they have the items in-hand and ready to box & ship to USA. Still, it wouldn't hurt to ping them in another day or two (before this weekend anyway!) and ask for an update...

 

[outrbnks]

Christian from Speed Autoteile emailed me this morning, the Headlights and Lens are in and I paid for them over the internet this morning.

The final prices were as quoted before, but the shipping went up a few dollars, but close to the estimate.

So the Total price shipped is just over $1200 for the new facelift lights and pre-facelift lenses.

A lot of money for headlights, but it's better than NLA.

 

[Blackfin]

Sorry for bringing this thread back up, but are the e500 or post facelift Euro headlights much of a lighting improvement over the US facelifted e500 lights? To me the lens look almost identical. Is the difference the euro comes with different bulbs?

 

[gerryvz]

Sorry for bringing this thread back up, but are the e500 or post facelift Euro headlights much of a lighting improvement over the US facelifted e500 lights? To me the lens look almost identical. Is the difference the euro comes with different bulbs?

No. Basically the Euro facelift and US facelift lamps are the same. You will NOT see any sort of moderate or dramatic improvement using Euro facelift lamps over the US facelift lamps.

You can improve the performance of either by using better (over-wattage) bulbs, but if you do that, you will need to install relays for electrical safety.

 

[Blackfin]

Thanks Gerry. It looks like I might have a set of brand new in box euro post facelift headlights for sale.

 

[Blackfin]

So the only physical difference is the chrome housing in the euro vs the silver plastic in US?

 

[gerryvz]

As far as I know, the interior housings of both are chrome for 500E and E500 lamps. The US-spec facelift lamps DO NOT have silver plastic -- they are chromed on the inside as well.

This is one way (along with the lens line pattern) that you can tell at a glance as to whether a pair of headlamps are 500E/E500 specific or for pedestrian 124s.

 

[gsxr]

There are photos on W124performance showing both side by side with the lenses off. Differences are:

• Euro are made by Hella, USA made by Bosch
• Euro have provision for city light bulb
• Euro have vacuum level adjust
• Euro have sliiiightly different lens fluting
• Euro have slightly different shield over the H4 bulb
• USA have integrated bubble-level mechanism

Both have the same "chromed" lens plastic, both use the same bulb types. Euro lenses will fit USA housings. While there won't be a big difference in light output, the shiny new ones will look better. You could install them and then sell your old USA lights. I don't think anyone is actually paying €5k for the Euros, yet.

 

[JC220]

There are photos on W124performance showing both side by side with the lenses off. Differences are:

 

[gerryvz]

Whatever you do, if you are removing old lenses from your housings, don't use a #ClawHammer.....

 

[Blackfin]

There are photos on W124performance showing both side by side with the lenses off. (snip)

Both have the same "chromed" lens plastic, both use the same bulb types. Euro lenses will fit USA housings. While there won't be a big difference in light output, the shiny new ones will look better. You could install them and then sell your old USA lights.

That's what I might do. But if someone wants to pay stupid money that's 4 digits long I'm happy to keep them in the box and sell them. Will post pics of current ones and new side by side.
If I run the new shiny ones then it would make sense to get new shiny fog covers. Then I will need a new shiny grill etc...

 

[Blackfin]

Whatever you do, if you are removing old lenses from your housings, don't use a #ClawHammer.....

I was about to buy new fog light lenses. I don't need to reseal anything, but how much of a pain is it open the old ones and swap the lens? Seems to be a pin to get apart.
And for headlights on 94, do those lenses just clip on and off or do they need to be re-glued and resealed?

 

[Jlaa]

I was about to buy new fog light lenses. I don't need to reseal anything, but how much of a pain is it open the old ones and swap the lens? Seems to be a pin to get apart.
And for headlights on 94, do those lenses just clip on and off or do they need to be re-glued and resealed?

Its not difficult but beware of breaking the plastic clip tabs on the NEW lenses. My old lenses came off easily with no plastic breakage. As for the new ones ....

 

[Jlaa]

If I run the new shiny ones then it would make sense to get new shiny fog covers. Then I will need a new shiny grill etc...

OBTW - with a new shiny grille, you gotta get a new grey grill insert too (or paint the old one.....) and new hood star. And new hood emblem.....

 

[Blackfin]

Just polished up the grill. Outer surround looks good. Plastic is nice and in one piece, assuming that part is NLA.
Does anyone have the part numbers for the metal inserts, the four horizontal and one vertical one running down the grill?

 

[gsxr]

Its not difficult but beware of breaking the plastic clip tabs on the NEW lenses. My old lenses came off easily with no plastic breakage. As for the new ones ....

Which part broke, Jlaa? The lower inside corner where the wiper trim panel screw attaches is a frequent breakage area. Once I received a brand-new lens in the box with that corner snapped off. At least it can be re-attached with plastic epoxy.

 

[gerryvz]

I think

Which part broke, Jlaa? The lower inside corner where the wiper trim panel screw attaches is a frequent breakage area. Once I received a brand-new lens in the box with that corner snapped off. At least it can be re-attached with plastic epoxy.

I think he was talking about the fog light lens tabs that you have to release to get the fog light lenses on and off. They do break quite easily if care is not taken. Not the headlight inner corner screw-flange.

 

[Jlaa]

Which part broke, Jlaa?

I think he was talking about the fog light lens tabs that you have to release to get the fog light lenses on and off. They do break quite easily if care is not taken. Not the headlight inner corner screw-flange.

That's right. This is one of my old foglight lenses attached onto the housing prior to lens replacement, but one of these circled tabs broke on my new lenses ..... which was maddening because I had already Lamin-Xed the new lenses.

 

[gsxr]

AH! Got it. Funny that the breaky tabs are on the foglight lens, but on the headlight bucket...

 

[gerryvz]

Appears to be a large swath of red over-spray on that lens, @Jlaa

 

[Jlaa]

Appears to be a large swath of red over-spray on that lens, @Jlaa

Yeah, the old lens had overspray. The front bumper had been re-shot.

 

[JC220]

That's right. This is one of my old foglight lenses attached onto the housing prior to lens replacement, but one of these circled tabs broke on my new lenses ..... which was maddening because I had already Lamin-Xed the new lenses.

View attachment 111795

View attachment 111796

AH! Got it. Funny that the breaky tabs are on the foglight lens, but on the headlight bucket...

I find all of these headlamp and fogger tabs are very fragile and brittle. You must handle them with extreme care. I use a plastic trim pry tool and gently pop one clip at a time to first stage. Then second stage (small intend you'll know what I mean when actually doing it)

This way you will not break any tabs! Going in there over zealous with a screwdriver is a sure fire way of snapping one or more tabs.

 

[Jlaa]

I find all of these headlamp and fogger tabs are very fragile and brittle. You must handle them with extreme care. I use a plastic trim pry tool and gently pop one clip at a time to first stage. Then second stage (small intend you'll know what I mean when actually doing it)

This way you will not break any tabs! Going in there over zealous with a screwdriver is a sure fire way of snapping one or more tabs.

My new fog light lens plastic tab broke when I was putting it ON (not taking it off). When pressed the new tab in place, it cracked. If I had to do this again, I would:

a) put the foglight housing in the icebox
b) heat up the new foglight lens tabs with a hairdryer

To try and increase the tolerances before reassembly.

 

[gerryvz]

I have several of those plastic bits in my parts stock, though I do not own a pre-facelift ("OG") W124 grill. I guess I should send them to someone who needs them.

BTW, I cracked (not broke off) a tab on one of my old foglamp lenses when removing it. You can bet your bottom dollar that I was hyper-careful when installing the new lenses.

 

[gsxr]

The complete fog lamp assembly used to cost a tiny bit more than the lens, so it used to make sense to just replace the entire fog lamp. Pricing changed in the past year and it may not be as cheap now, but given the busted-tab issues, that's another item in favor of complete lamp replacement rather than messing with lenses...

 

[gerryvz]

The lenses were a slightly better deal when they were still available on the aftermarket as AL units. Now they are only available from MB as AL units. The prices of the complete lamp assemblies have gone up to the point where getting just the lenses is much more economical.

Still, a pair of new lenses is going to run $150+. Makes a $10 investment in Lamin-X a good idea (I am selling Lamin-X if anyone needs it, with templates for pre- and post-facelift Euro lamps, and fog-lamps included).

 

[gsxr]

Looks like complete lights are ~$200 each now, dealer only. They had been <$100 at certain dealers a few years ago. (1298200156, 1298200256)

Lenses are ~$80 each now. (0038263590, 0038263690)

 

[gerryvz]

Still, a pair of new lenses is going to run $150+.

Lenses are ~$80 each now. (0038263590, 0038263690)

Correct:

Lens - 1990-1995 Mercedes-Benz (003-826-35-90) | Get Mercedes Parts - $128 / $76.80
Lens - 1990-1995 Mercedes-Benz (003-826-36-90) | Get Mercedes Parts - $116 / $69.60

I paid a total of ~$150 for the pair.

 

[Blackfin]

If I can find the euro lens covers for the facelifted headlights I'll just grab those and swap them onto my original lights which are in pretty good condition. Then I can sell the NIB euro Hella's i bought a few years ago.