I have noticed a difference in my coupe retrofitted BIX and my mom's factory BIX, all Euro versions I think, but they are different (see example pics).
https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....7&postcount=10
mines have that rigth piece but the two ones have the euro turn signal (left one)

Maybe my retrofitted BIX are US version???? (that was not I've been tolded by steve and some people here, but I have the Euro manualy up & down, left & rigth nivelation button)

Does now in 2005 models US and Euro Bix are the same??? to have these same pieces, I think so

 

If your projector have a line running across the lens, it's a DOT version. No euro version, whether it's valeo, bosch, hella, and even stanley/koito/matsu****a have that line.

 

What??? "DOT version"???
I don't know what you mean!!!

 

DOT is the US version. It's DOT approved.

 

Department of transportation - US problem only. Everythig has to be approved by the DOT to be legal in the USA. However, I don't know how many law enforcement people really realize the difference so long as the parts are factory.

 

I was wrong, the turn signals of my mom's factory BIX are also the US ones (orange vs silver euro) but the BIX body is the EURO version!!!

Maybe MB started to use only one BIX version for europe and US of the exterior BIX case and the same 2 versions of inside body with the 2(Euro) / 1(US) ligth alignment switches and different ligth patterns???

Mines aren't DOT (US) :p

 

According to your pic, the right projector is DOT due to the horizontal line:

 

How did you take out the silver housing inside the bi-x? Is the housing a snap housing or did you have to use a hair dryer to take the glass off the front?

Just curious.

 

This pic is from Steve website: http://groups.msn.com/MBenzNL/

 

My mom factory BIX is the same as that one but without the line, but all BIX I've seen here in Europe are not like the US version, why this one???

 

Since you had coupe and sedan BiX handy, is there a noticable difference between the 2?

 

Since the Wagon (not sedan) is 2 cm higher (I measured) at front it gives more ligth coverage (I think my BIX are a little low maybe) beside that its the same ligth

 

I See. Thanks.

 

you can NOT compare 203 sedan bi xenons with 203 coupe bi xenons...those are made by 2 different manufacturers (sedan bi xenons are made by automotive lighting which is bosch and the coupe bi xenons are made by hella).

Those listed differences are ONLY valid for 203 sedan bi xenons - and the blueish blinker bulbs where only used in the ROW lights (non NA lights) during the first 10-12 months...all 203 sedan bi xenons came with amber colored blinker bulbs eversince (although there is still the difference oif dual filliament bulbs for NA and single filliament bulbs for ROW).

The biggest an easiest to spot difference is to be found on the back of the headlight where the NA headlights have one of the two adjustment nuts covered to prevent these from being used (left/right adjustment)...however - that cover can be taken off but then there is still:
- the sticker with partnumber to look at
- the lightpattern on the wall
- the leveller inside the headlight to make the lightpattern completely horizontal

greetingz,

 

Ok, this explain the differences outside
and this explain the diferent blinkers
After all is a Euro BIX (BOSCH model), but only of a different brand of my coupe BIX (HELLA)

You are a MB knowledge Guru, Steve
Thanks a lot :p

 

Steve, gaiex said that these pics were from your yahoo site.

How did you get this pic? Did you dis-assemble some BI-X assemblies that you had or were these parts from a broken set?

If you did open up the bi-x, how easy/difficult was this to do (hair dryer to un-do glue or snaps?) and were you able to re-assemble them with no problems (i.e. no condensation or leaks, etc...)?

Just curious.

 

I have taken apart at least 50 W203 bi xenon headlights...and most of these lights have been put together again and are in use...

it is not too hard to do - it is just an anoying job...

greetingz,

 

I'm assuming hair dryer / hot glue gun is involved as most other headlight assemblies? I've taken apart other assemblies before, but was a little sceptacle about doing these.

Thanks for the 411, Drex.

ps...Did you figure out your next trip time yet? Wanda had told me you guys would email when everything is figured out. Wanted to give you some time to relax before I sent you both another email again.

Thanks again, drex

 

That's very interesting to know. I'd love to get a set of coupe BiX, open them up, paint the housing black, install angel eyes (no comments!) and put them back together...

Would you care to give a few pointers on how to disassemble BiX?

 

as for the sedan bixenons I barely heat them up as that makes it nearly impossible to remove all sealant after the lens is off...

The coupe bi xenons are manufactured by hella...they use a different sealant then automotive lighting does...I try not to take any hella lights apart - those suck!

greetingz,