Illegal Headlights
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Walnut, California
Yellow 87 300e
Illegal Headlights
In the state of california i was wondering if i changed my lights to european style, will this be agaisnt the law? Also what types of bulbs are considered illegal?? and which are considered legal? 
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From: The Heights, CA
Tesla Model S
You probably won't get hassled in a mercedes if you're just running the euro spec light. If you go with a HID bulb higher than 8k, you will most likely get pulled over, especially in Walnut - cops are always on the prowl for rice out there.
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technically speaking the euro lights were not DOT compliant and as such are illegal. im pretty sure the law has changed since then but im not sure.
unless you're being a d!ck to the officer (and they know a thing or two about mercs) they wont hassle you too much about it.
if you use a very high wattage bulb, you are more likely to incur the attention of johnnie law. words to live by.
of cuorse if you go the euro route you will have brighter clearer lightins so you really dont need to upgrade your bulbs wattage too much anyway as the light will already be superior.
unless you're being a d!ck to the officer (and they know a thing or two about mercs) they wont hassle you too much about it.
if you use a very high wattage bulb, you are more likely to incur the attention of johnnie law. words to live by.
of cuorse if you go the euro route you will have brighter clearer lightins so you really dont need to upgrade your bulbs wattage too much anyway as the light will already be superior.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: S. San Jose, CA
1992 400E
I don't know if it would help avoid getting ticketed, but make sure your euro lights are aimed properly. My wife's 400E has euro lights with 80/100-watt bulbs, and has not attracted attention from the law.
Mario
Mario
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From: The Ferrari F1 Factory
F248 F1
i have the euro lights on my 500SE w126, i got pulled over once because he thought i had my high beams on while driving-- i pulled out the import papers and he said to get a lower wattage light bulbs...
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
I haven't gotten pulled over yet and I disabled my corner lights while on at night and I drive with both my H4 & H3's on and they are both xtreme white bulbs. I'm surprised too, cops in my area are ****s but I guess it's because it's a Mercedes.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Sherman Oaks
2004 C240, 2015 GL350 Bluetec
I've never had an issue with my lights, even with HID's. Cops don't even look twice at it because its a benz, and the Euro lights do not look different than the later 94-95 lights as far as design. goes apart from the hood indentations.
I have looked at my lights next to an s class w140 chassis which had factory hid, and they look almost identical to those as far as how they look witht he lights off and on..
Alon
I have looked at my lights next to an s class w140 chassis which had factory hid, and they look almost identical to those as far as how they look witht he lights off and on..
Alon
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I have had European lights on cars since 1983. I've never been stopped for this even when I've been stopped for other reasons.
Wasn't there a film, Liar, Liar? The lawyer couldn't tell a lie for 1 day. He could have said "I was recklessly driving, speeding, and ran a red light while making an illegal lane change and while driving with illegal European headlights." The script really didn't have a reference to headlights
Wasn't there a film, Liar, Liar? The lawyer couldn't tell a lie for 1 day. He could have said "I was recklessly driving, speeding, and ran a red light while making an illegal lane change and while driving with illegal European headlights." The script really didn't have a reference to headlights
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