[W126 Coupe] Driving Lights

[Iain Gunn]

100 watt h4's draw about 7.5 amps a piece. That's 15 amps total, watch your 
wiring carefully. You can go to h4's that are 150 watts, they draw close to 
10 amps, but only give you a fraction more light output. I don't recommend 
them. I've been building and installing high performance lights for over 30 
years and I always run heavier wire, circuit breakers, and relays, all wire 
connections soldered and push ons and spades that bolt together with 
silicone grease.
You would not believe some of the repairs I've had to do to cars and trucks 
that have been crap wired.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mramay at att.biz>
To: <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 1:54 PM
Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] Driving Lights


> Richard,
> The idea of a relay and larger wiring is excellent, but.... I've been
> running 80/100 H4's for several years now (for off road purposes only) 
> with
> no difficulties. It would be brighter with larger wire but I'm too lazy
> (for now).
>
> One major caveat - the 100w bulbs will obviously pull MUCH higher current
> than the stock 65w high beam bulbs. Make sure ALL electrical connections
> are clean and bright, and you absolutely must put in four new (preferably
> copper based) fuses into the headlight circuits in the engine compartment
> fuse box. Any resistance from corrosion/age/whatever causes heat. Increase
> the current flow, increase the heat, potentially to the point of
> catastrophic failure (smoke, fire, melting of expensive things).
>
> Be Bright!
> Mike R.
>
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: Shayegan, Richard rishayegan at davidson.edu
> Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:57:19 -0400
> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
> Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] Driving Lights
>
>
> I wouldn't recommend 100w bulbs on the stock 16 gauge wiring. I would
> run new 12 guage wires (not running from the switch but have the switch
> control a relay) before going to 100w. Going to a relay will give you
> brighter light even with the exact same bulbs btw.
> Richard
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
> [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of
> Mdefran at earthlink.net
> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 12:30 PM
> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Driving Lights
>
> Since you are interested in not hitting kangaroos at night, might I
> suggest a couple of different options.
>
> 1) You probably already have euro headlights on the beast. If not, that
> would be step one.
> 2) If you have euro's already, you might try changing the bulb to a
> higher wattage bulb. I run 80w low and 100w highs and can light up the
> Mojave desert at night. Higher wattage than that are available, but
> certain wiring mods must be done to accomodate the wattage. Somewhere in
> our archives is discussion on the mod.
> 3) Increase the wattage of the fog light  bulb to 100w. This will at
> least fill in the area between the bumper and the headlights. I don't
> think I would go past 100w in the fogs as it gets pretty warm down there
> unless you want to rig something to dissipate heat.
> 4) Lastly some monster driving light that has been discussed here in the
> last day or so.
>
> Good Luck,
>
> Mark D.
> 84 & 91 SEC's
>
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