Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
That model, with the gas straight-six M110 engine, was my first Mercedes -- an '84 Euro model with the big square headlights (and a level control for them), plus a rear fog light. Mine, in dark blue with that same palomino interior, was solid and quiet on the street in Denver and at speed. You'll love that big black steering wheel!
That big wheel is one of the things i first took a liking to when I bought my first one, a few hundred thousand miles of driving and about 7 years ago. Since then, w123 cars have served me well!
Were you able to keep the euro lights in the USA???
Nobody said anything to me about it. (Though every now and then I'd get high-beamed by somebody who thought my regular beams were on high. I'd flash back, and they'd realize their mistake.)
The problem I've always had with E-Code headlights is how American drivers react to the sharp right hand flare up from the otherwise flat horizontal cut off of the beam pattern. If they get caught in that flare they assume you've just put your high beams on. This right hand flare is especially annoying to people you are passing because it floods the cars in the right hand lane with light.
The classic Z-Beam pattern, first introduced by Cibie, cuts off the flare just as it begins to rise so that the pattern is essentially flat all the way across. This eliminates the problems the flare causes. But, from the driver's perspective, that right hand flare is great for illuminating the right shoulder of the road for a good distance, and lighting up road signs. Most modern projector beam headlights (unless they are E-Code) use a Z-Beam type pattern.
