I've been on this forum for way too long trying to prevent myself from writing another headlight topic. But many of the posts i'm reading have links broken or just information that isnt clear. Currently my facelifted E500 headlight lenses are pitted and looking a little tired. Can I purchase a set of DEPO headlights and use only the outside glass lens and the surround and swap them onto the back housing of my current headlight? I am not changing the reflectors itself. Only to clean up the looks, I do not mind if everything is not original OEM. If I did I would pay the absurd scalpel price of $3,000 usd for a set of euro lights. Also what is the differences between facelift headlights on the normal w124 and the e500 other than it being a highbeam instead of a fog. I cannot see the physical difference. The photos that did show it side by side are NLA just like the 036 parts. A lot of the information that I find is for the preface lift.
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Headlight differences for 94-95
- Thread starter cakes
- Start date
As you said... the difference is high beam (long range, narrow beam pattern) vs fog (short range, wide, low/flat pattern). The lens fluting is totally different. Sample pics below, more photos at this link. Also, the reflectors on non-E500E lights have no shield over the H3 bulb, while the E500E reflectors have no shield over the bulb.
IMO you are far better off with tired/pitted correct lenses instead of new/wrong ones. A guy in Europe found a way to polish the glass on worn lenses but I don't know where you'd find a shop to do that in USA.
BTW, welcome to the forum!
IMO you are far better off with tired/pitted correct lenses instead of new/wrong ones. A guy in Europe found a way to polish the glass on worn lenses but I don't know where you'd find a shop to do that in USA.
BTW, welcome to the forum!
I think whoever the sellers are selling the depo are using incorrect pictures because they look just like the ones I have. My US headlights look like the high beam area is fluted as well and not as clear as your photo. (attached photo) What about the surrounds? Are they good enough to swap over from a set of depo's? I could tell that the silvering is starting to flake off and start to brown. I really want it to have the E500 look again.
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The E500 lenses are not clear over the H3 bulb, the fluting is just different (less opaque) as seen in the photos I posted previously. The Depo lenses will look like standard E320/E420, regardless of that the vendor photos show.
Also, the E500 lens frames are chrome plated while standard lenses are dull gray. So the Depo frames wouldn't help that either. If your current lenses have the silvering/chrome flaking off, you may have moisture entering the lights either from a poor seal at the lens, or because the vent tube at the rear/outer corner of the housing is not attached correctly.
You can install standard lenses if you want (Depo, TYC, Bosch, Hella) but save the original E500 lenses for when you sell the car. The wrong lenses will result in 4 fog lights and 2 high beams, instead of 2 fogs and 4 high beams.
Also, the E500 lens frames are chrome plated while standard lenses are dull gray. So the Depo frames wouldn't help that either. If your current lenses have the silvering/chrome flaking off, you may have moisture entering the lights either from a poor seal at the lens, or because the vent tube at the rear/outer corner of the housing is not attached correctly.
You can install standard lenses if you want (Depo, TYC, Bosch, Hella) but save the original E500 lenses for when you sell the car. The wrong lenses will result in 4 fog lights and 2 high beams, instead of 2 fogs and 4 high beams.
Hi @cakes, @gsxr has some good points - in case it is not obvious from his picture and reply, the LENS (glass) and the "surround" (your terminology) is one piece. That is to say, the glass and the part with the silvering (that is starting to flake off) is one piece.The E500 lenses are not clear over the H3 bulb, the fluting is just different (less opaque) as seen in the photos I posted previously. The Depo lenses will look like standard E320/E420, regardless of that the vendor photos show.
Also, the E500 lens frames are chrome plated while standard lenses are dull gray. So the Depo frames wouldn't help that either. If your current lenses have the silvering/chrome flaking off, you may have moisture entering the lights either from a poor seal at the lens, or because the vent tube at the rear/outer corner of the housing is not attached correctly.
You can install standard lenses if you want (Depo, TYC, Bosch, Hella) but save the original E500 lenses for when you sell the car. The wrong lenses will result in 4 fog lights and 2 high beams, instead of 2 fogs and 4 high beams.
Therefore, if you use pedestrian w124 DEPO headlight lenses (which include the "surround") and swap them onto your existing headlight buckets, you get 2 wrongs -
First Wrong ->> inner lights are way too fluted (the glass is different)
Second wrong ->> the "surround" portion would be grey-ish instead of chrome-ish
The value in the authentic headlights is in the lens ... less so the buckets. One can put OE E500E lenses on pedestrian buckets with some light modifications (remove the shield that covers the inner bulb) and end up with headlights that look pretty much the same as OE E500E headlights. However, the reverse is not true.
Lenses Masterclass by Dave 
My 1 cent - i always ask seller for clear pictures of those numbers, on the glass and the frame. Nobody ever (yet) had tried to forge them.
A propos numbers - it would be lovely to have a list. 1 - Number on the glass 1 series, Europe, Japan. 2 - Number on the Frame, same, E + J second series.
My 1 cent - i always ask seller for clear pictures of those numbers, on the glass and the frame. Nobody ever (yet) had tried to forge them.
A propos numbers - it would be lovely to have a list. 1 - Number on the glass 1 series, Europe, Japan. 2 - Number on the Frame, same, E + J second series.
There is a German guy named Robin near Stuttgart which makes/restores Hella glass lenses and renews the plastic part frames as per below photos he sent me. He is in the German 500E/E500 forum/group.
Attachments
In another members post Skikar has managed to remove the plastic piece off the glass. and wrap the "surround" in a 3M chrome wrap which led me to believe that they can be separated.
Is MBoemparts.com reputable? I googled the E500 Euro spec lens part number (taken from gsxr's link for facelift a E500 and its showing that it is available as well as other outlets. Assuming those part numbers are correct. (classic center is also available) I thought they are NLA, and adds to my confusion.
Thank you everyone that made this topic clear for me. It was my mistake since sellers often used someone elses picture with clearer versions of Euro DEPO headlights.
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You can separate the glass from the plastic frame, just be very careful to properly glue it back... you don't want the glass falling out due to improper adhesive.
MBoemparts is MB of Naperville, IL. Search the forum, there's a promo code offering free shipping on orders over $100 for forum members. They are a dealership and only sell Genuine Mercedes parts.
I'm not sure where you are seeing the E500 lenses showing available for purchase, but trust me, they have been NLA for at least 3+ years. Only the standard lens (E320/E420) are available. E500 Euro lenses for right-hand traffic (USA/Germany) are 124-820-57-66 and 124-820-58-66.
https://partssearch.mercedes-benz-classic.com/parts/A1248205766?tt=automatic
MBoemparts is MB of Naperville, IL. Search the forum, there's a promo code offering free shipping on orders over $100 for forum members. They are a dealership and only sell Genuine Mercedes parts.
I'm not sure where you are seeing the E500 lenses showing available for purchase, but trust me, they have been NLA for at least 3+ years. Only the standard lens (E320/E420) are available. E500 Euro lenses for right-hand traffic (USA/Germany) are 124-820-57-66 and 124-820-58-66.
https://partssearch.mercedes-benz-classic.com/parts/A1248205766?tt=automatic
