Difference between LHD/RHD headlights

Jun 26, 2010 | 10:52 AM

bmroxm5

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Joined: Jun 2010

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From: Australia

W210 E320

Difference between LHD/RHD headlights

So I'm thinking of getting projector headlights for my '98 W210...

I've been looking at these on ebay and I guess are as good as any, I want the 'halo' look and tossing up between black surround v chrome surround to suit my silver car but think the black will go with my black roof...

anyway these headlights are suited to LHD cars however being in Australia my Benz is RHD... so is there any difference? or foreseeable consequences? I know the angle of light might be skewed slightly out but I'm sure I can adjust this...

any help/useful links/recommendations on good projector headlights is appreciated!
cheers.

Jun 26, 2010 | 11:05 AM

raymond g-

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From: Seattle WA

99 E320

don't do it. the light is not 'skewed slightly', rather in major fashion. the beam from the LHD
light will blind opposing traffic....in serious fashion. the only way to adjust this would be to
disassemble the headlight, remove the cutoff plate, and reverse it. simple sounding, but is
a major project.

Jun 26, 2010 | 11:10 AM

desired_speeds

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Joined: Dec 2008

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From: Bay Area, CA

2007 SL55 AMG

The difference is that the beam pattern is different.

RHD: \__\__
LHD: __/__/

The consequences are that you will blind others driving on the opposite side of the road and that road signs will be harder to read. No adjustment can correct this. However, since ebay headlights come with a terrible quality projector which scatters light in weird patterns, it would be best for you to source out RHD HID projectors for retrofit. There is much more information on retrofitting headlights in this forum. A quick search for the term "projectors" will display many results.

btw, I'm not a huge fan of those headlights.

If you're set on getting aftermarket protector headlights, I'd recommend the Depo headlights on ebay without the halos at the very least. Good luck with the decision!

Jun 26, 2010 | 12:17 PM

bmroxm5

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Joined: Jun 2010

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From: Australia

W210 E320

thanks guys... yeh I'm aware that the headlights will be skewed differently. I don't wanna run with headlights blinding oncoming traffic so just wondering if anyone has figured it out to work the other way that's all.

from my search the DEPO branded projectors are the ones I should go for by the sounds of it... I guess I'll be on the lookout for a set in RHD!

Anyone here got first hand experience with a set?

thanks!

Jun 28, 2010 | 12:13 PM

ghaffar23

Super Member

Joined: Mar 2005

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'08 CL600 with 152k km; '01 E430 4Matic with 433k km; '17 Porsche Cayenne with 130k km

As far as first-hand experience goes, you probably won't find too many. However, RETROFITTING experience, PLENTY. There's a site out there that sells RHD projectors that you can retrofit into your DEPO headlights. Hell, they might even convert the LHD to RHD, it just depends. Bottom line is that you shouldn't have a big problem finding RHD components. It's the retrofitting that you might run into a problem with if you haven't dabbled into it before.

Jun 28, 2010 | 04:14 PM

ejsheltra

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From: Pittsburgh,PA, Cambridge, Ontario, CN

2003 S210 3.8L Brabus wagon

Halo lights on a Benz just don't fit. They are a BMW signature design. Putting them on a Benz is going to look real odd. The lens in the projector is different for both types lH and RHD. The UK market has conversions as they are set up like in Australia, same with Scotland.

May 19, 2011 | 05:49 PM

mrbecks

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Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 2

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Mercedes 260E

headlight replacement

hi all, i have a 1998 e 240 and bought myself some of those cool looking headlights off ebay everyone is talking about here i found some for RHD !
replacing my old one with those shiny new lights where quiet easy just took an hour or so. just a problem, the new headlights had no input for my vacuum adjustments pipes ? so i just left those disconnected ! Now i always hear my vacuum pump blowing, any ideas what to do ?