Ensuring your Benz W114 or W115 models have the correct headlight lenses is crucial for both safety and optimal lighting performance. Identifying the right lenses might seem complex, but markings on the headlight glass provide a straightforward method to confirm their suitability for your driving regulations.
When examining your headlight lenses, particularly those intended for right-hand traffic countries, look closely at the ECE compliance markings. These markings, often indicated by a circle containing “E” or “ECE” followed by a country code, can also include an arrow. This arrow is key to determining the lens’s “handedness”. If you see an arrow pointing to your right as you face the headlight (towards the car’s left side), these lenses are designed for countries like the UK, Australia, or South Africa, where driving is on the left side of the road. These lenses will have a light cutoff that kicks up to the left, which is incorrect and can dazzle oncoming traffic in right-hand drive regions.
Conversely, if there is no arrow or the arrow points to your left (towards the car’s right side), the lenses are configured for right-hand drive countries like the US or Continental Europe. In the rare instance of a double-headed arrow, the headlights are likely adjustable for both driving directions, often via a lever inside the headlight housing or bulb rotation. Remember, the arrow always indicates the direction in which the light cutoff is designed to kick upwards.
Therefore, inspecting these markings is a practical step to verify the correct headlight lenses are installed on your Benz W114 or W115, ensuring proper light distribution and compliance with traffic regulations. Properly aimed and installed headlights not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your classic Benz but also significantly improve nighttime driving safety.
