Behind the headlamp switch

[Parrot of Doom]

My headlamp level adjustment doesn't work, and tomorrow I want to check behind the control to see if its connected up ok.

Is it easy to pull this bit out? I really need to sort it as visibility at night is abysmal (headlamps pointing down).

Car is a 1997 W210.

 

[tom7035]

Have the headlights been adjusted manually while the engine was switched off or the vacuum pipe disconnected? If so, then the thumbwheel adjuster will not work properly.
To manually adjust correctly the beam adjuster should be set to '0' and with the engine RUNNING.
Sorry, haven't had this switch out so can't help there.

 

[clive williams]

My headlamp level adjustment doesn't work, and tomorrow I want to check behind the control to see if its connected up ok.

Is it easy to pull this bit out? I really need to sort it as visibility at night is abysmal (headlamps pointing down).

Car is a 1997 W210.

Parrot,

Do you have self levelling? Adjustment must be made as said with the engine running. If not the adjustment is miles too low.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I don't know if I'm honest what it has. How would I check for this self levelling - is there a box of tricks somewhere near the boot? The car is elegance spec.

The wheel does nothing, engine running or not. I just wondered if there was vacuum pipe or cable connected to the back of the wheel, and it was broken/disconnected.

Do you think perhaps that the headlamps have been pulled out (the car has definitely had rust treatment in the past), and re-connected incorrectly?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

ah well its getting dark now, so I'll leave it again until tomorrow. Where abouts is the control cable for the parking brake release lever? I couldn't easily see it.

 

[clive williams]

I don't know if I'm honest what it has. How would I check for this self levelling - is there a box of tricks somewhere near the boot? The car is elegance spec.

The wheel does nothing, engine running or not. I just wondered if there was vacuum pipe or cable connected to the back of the wheel, and it was broken/disconnected.

Do you think perhaps that the headlamps have been pulled out (the car has definitely had rust treatment in the past), and re-connected incorrectly?

Parrot,

Am I right in thinking you've got the estate model? If so then the spheres, which shows it has self levelling are underneath and infront of the rear axle. they are about the size of a small cistern ball cock, usually painted camo green and have pipes connecting to the suspension strut.

Your vacuum pipe theory is plausible. I remember taking the 500E's lights out to change them and forgot all the connections first time round. If you had seen some of the bodyshop herberts they get to put the cars back together again after repairs its a wonder that most car don't rattle with all the bits badly/not fitted.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[Parrot of Doom]

No mate, its a saloon.

 

[clive williams]

ah well its getting dark now, so I'll leave it again until tomorrow. Where abouts is the control cable for the parking brake release lever? I couldn't easily see it.

You can see it when you take the undertray from the steering/instrument cluster under the dash. You need to position yourself unside down in the drivers seat with your head touching the pedals - anything else is painful!!

I'm completely underimpressed with the release mechanism as it is fixed to the cardboard undertray, which I see lasting no more than a few years. After that it will be impossible to get any cardboard bits and the only way to repair/refix the lever will be to bodge a bracket. Unless of course, MB intend us to scrap it out by then.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Thanks mate.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

On top of the headlamp housing, there are two plastic screws. I've looked everywhere to try and find out how these work, can anybody enlighten me?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Sorted it. I managed to pull the undertray from above the pedals, and reach in to check. There are two pipes, hard plastic (not rubber), one violet and one pink. These two pipes both plug onto the back of the height adjuster wheel.

They were both connected up perfectly. Apologies for the poor image quality, its very difficult to get a good photo but you can see the pipes, and the handbrake cable - this gives you a good idea of where they are.

I then looked in the engine bay, immediately recognised the same pipes (before, I didn't know which was which), and went to work. The nearside pipe runs down the nearside wing and is easy to see.

Obviously it was disconnected! So I rooted around behind the nearside lamp, and found where it should go. Basically, below the electrical connector for the lamp (on the outside edge of the headlamp unit), are two receptacles. Both were unoccupied. I quickly found another pipe lying below the headlamp, and presumed that this ran to the offside headlamp.

So I plugged both in, and moved over to the offside headlamp, where I found yet another purple pipe, disconnected! The receptacle (there is only one on this lamp) is in the same place, below the electrical connector.

Once everything was plugged up, both lights moved up and down perfectly. I reckon I'll have to wait until tonight and fiddle with the heights of both lights.

Its amazing that at some point in the past somebody has had the lights off for whatever reason, and completely missed these pipes!

Anyhow, one last question. Could someone do me a favour and check that I've connected the nearside pipes up the correct way around? I don't think it makes a difference but I'd just like to be certain. The long pipe is coming from the nearside wing in the second piccie.

 

[Dunx]

Mine seems to be connected up the other way, i.e. the long pipe from that travels down the wing is on the outside connector of the nearside lamp unit. Although, I'm not sure my adjuster works properly. I can't notice any difference when I change the setting on the range switch.

Just noticed why mine doesn't work. The little plastic connector on the end or the vacuum tube that connects to the offside lamp unit is broken. The vacuum pipe is just lying disconnected. Gonna have to take the airbox out to get at it!!

 

[Parrot of Doom]

It shouldn't be an expensive piece, you'd probably just have to heat the violet pipe up slightly, slide the replacement piece over (with a hint of glue), and it would be fine.

On the other hand, MB would probably want to sell you an entire engine bay! If they do, might be worth an email to a breaker, there will be thousands of them lying around and I bet they're the same on all MB from the last 15-20 years or so.


What surprises me is that everything else on the car still worked - central locking etc. There must be a valve protecting against leakage on different circuits.

 

[Dunx]

I'm just about to give the glue option a go first. If that doesn't work, I'm sure a new one from the dealer shouldn't be too expensive!!

Not really sure how the vacuum system works but as you say, there must be some form of leakage prevention.

On another note, what do you know about the standard fit MB alarm system? Is there a siren somewhere as my hazards will flash when the alarm is triggered, but there is no audible warning. The horn works fine when used on it's own. (apologies for hijaking your thread!!)

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Mine has a siren.

If you go to this site:

http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

and put your VIN number in (it'll be on your V5 as well) it will list if you have a siren in the options. Mine is 817.

 

[Dunx]

Yeah, I have the siren. Any idea where I might find it?

BTW, the glue didn't hold. Getting a new connector from the dealer on Friday.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I don't know mate, and I probably wouldn't post it here anyway, I'll PM you if I find out. Mine its a high pitched wheee-whaaaa-wheee-whaaaa kind of sound.

 

[Dunx]

Yeah, fair point mate! Didn't really think of it that way

 

[tom7035]

Any chance of a soundbyte of 'wheee-whaaaa-wheee-whaaaa' please Parrot?