That's an interesting problem, one that I've thought of but don't often encounter here in the flatlands. On a W124, there is a factory solution - the "light range" adjuster. This is a rotary dial next to the headlight switch, with 4 level positions. The idea is that with the car fully loaded, the rear end sags and the lights will be too high. So you turn them down with the rotary dial! Neat idea, eh? That's why the factory Euro light assmblies have a vacuum connection for the diaphragm inside.
I've been using my Euro lights without this system hooked up, but just this week I finally got around to installing the level/range adjusting system. Basically this involves pulling 3 vacuum tubes (source, left, and right) and plugging them into the switch, and new trim bezel. It's a lot easier with the dash removed (I was changing the ACC vac pods). I'll post photos when it's done. Parts needed are the rotary switch/dial, trim bezel, and assorted vacuum plumbing. Schematics, and some more info, is on the 124 CD-ROM, section 82-4011. There used to be a nice writeup on the web for the 124 level control installation, but it appears to be gone now. Here's a different one, not as good, scroll to the bottom of the page: http://www.mbca.org/pages/Star/articles/w124.htm I plan to set the '1' position as normal, allowing a 'high' position and two 'lower' positions. Note there's a different switch (and specs) for cars with SLS. The same setup is available for the W123, btw, the part numbers are in the Euro EPC. Won't work with the 'round' headlights, of course. :-) -Dave M. > ------------------------------ > Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 10:16:55 -0800 > From: Jim Cathey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [MBZ] CR report on headlight bulbs > > > them. But the long-time Benz gurus here in Seattle have declared them > > inappropriate for our area here because of the hills around here. The > > sharp upper cutoff in the pattern either leaves the driver blind when > > climbing hills or blinds the oncoming traffic when descending, or > > both. And that is exactly what happens. With low beams we get > > flashed by oncoming drivers going uphill, but the pattern is on spec > > and is scary enough on hills without lowering it further. The old > > DOT headlights don't have that problem. > > That is certainly an issue. I spent quite a bit of time dialing > in the SL's aiming, and it's definitely a compromise. The old > DOT light pattern would have been acceptable, because what I was > really after was killer high beam performance. But that is not > the lights I got. I would also have preferred stock low-beam > wattage (100/50 or whatever), but that also is not what NAPA had. > > -- Jim
