jas2wa

Hello-

The 3 month old replacement headlight assembly just took a rock on the highway last week, and its glass lens is now pretty cracked, I'm just waiting for it to get tapped and fall apart...

My question is this- on the later 94-95 124s with the modified hood/grille/headlamp configuration, is there any difference between the US and euro set-ups for those years? I know the 86-93 US 124s have an inferior set-up to the euro versions, but the last 2 years of the US cars appear to be indistinguishable from their euro counterparts- is that correct?

It seems that the glass lens is not available, and I must buy the whole headlight assembly- that said, I want to explore whether or not I should look into going euro with the replacement(s)- the US spec assembly is not cheap!

Here's a pic, my car in front, US spec 94 E320, and a 91 124 US car w/ euro lights behind it-

Thanks and cheers,

JAS

Eliot

I believe cosmetically they're the same. You could go for the E500 Euros which have a second driving light instead of a fog lamp.

neanderthal

i think there is still a difference between the actual housngs and the lenses. the glass looks the same, but i think its slightly different.

i could be wrong.

Holson

The lens is slightly different...

check it out

http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_headlights/

http://www.w124performance.com/image...eadlights4.jpg

I am planning on getting a pair of Euro headlights for my E420 actually. But that's if I'm keeping the car

jas2wa

In those pictures, the later 94/95 style lamps fit in the 93 and earlier body, but you can see where the hood design of that later cars should cover part of the lens- interesting. Didn't know you could put the later style in the 93 and earlier cars.

That said, those pictures show the lens seperated from the assembly- can I get the glass lens? I've been told no by one parts supplier.

Cheers,

J

NorCal124

You can use them but they won't match your hood. Thats why some people choose to do the "face lift" and purchase a newer style hood along w/ the lights.

Holson

94+ US-Spec Non E500 lenses:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...53209212QQrdZ1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...53241215QQrdZ1

They sure aren't cheap ...

94+ US-Spec headlights

http://cgi.ebay.com/OEM-Mercedes-W12...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/OEM-Mercedes-W12...QQcmdZViewItem

No idea where to get the Euro-spec ones...

AMGDave

I've got a set of brand-new 94/95 Euro lenses for sale at the moment, for a lot less than the eBay stuff:

https://mbworld.org/forums/classifieds/140558-fs-w124-euro-light-lenses-new-box.html

The light pattern from the Euro lenses is slightly different (and better, IMO) but they are very, very close in performance to the 94/95 USA DOT lights. The Euro lenses should fit a 94/95 USA DOT housing. The 94/95 headlights after a certain VIN have the lenses bonded (glued) to the light due to some insipid DOT regulation, making them a pain to remove. I've heard if you put the assembly into an oven on low heat for a while it softens the glue and the lens pries off with a little coaxing. If you're lucky, your 1994 lights may not be bonded... my 1994 E500 didn't have the lenses bonded.

jas2wa

AMGDave-

I imagine the lenses should fit on my US headlamp housings- the euro and US versions are so similar on the 94/95 that I can't imagine they would mount differently.

I'll send you a pm-

JAS