Parrot of Doom
MB Enthusiast
How do the black knobs on top of the headlamps work? Trying to track down a failure of the levelling system (manual, not self-levelling)
1997 W210 saloon, halogen lamps.
1997 W210 saloon, halogen lamps.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
...The vacuum unit can be removed by turning clockwise about 30 deg......
Excelent post, read it a couple of times but the only bit that sticks is
" smear some vaseline or washing up liquid over the knob end, then push it "
......
Xenons don't use the manual vacuum levelling. They are controlled by front and rear sensors that feed the signal back into the headlight leveller electrically.
hi can you make me 1 for each side both crumbled away when i tried to undo the screw with the plastic wheel onThe adjuster are very stiff to turn & it is easy to reach the end of travel & shear the screw that moves the reflector. Also the reflector has a ball joint connected to the vacuum actuator controlled from the dashboard thumbwheel control. This can also come disconnected & needs to be snapped back in. The vacuum unit can be removed by turning clockwise about 30 deg.
If you break the adjusters you have to remove the headlights completely & check if the thread of the adjuster is broken. If so, you can take the old one out by hacksawing the knob off as close to the grey plastic fingers as possible then cut off the flange that is left with sidecutters. to reduce the diameter, so you can knock it thru the grey fingers. Another method ( used to remove a good adjuster from an otherwise damaged headlight, is to use tooth picks / cocktail sticks to hold the fingers out, so you can then tap the adjuster thru the mounting with a small hammer. New adjusters are availble from Mercedes dealers for £20 each, ie £40 per headlight.
If you refit the old ones or fit news ones it is a good idea to run an M8 X 1.0mm die over the threads, to properly cut the thread, which is a moulding.
After refitting it is much easier to turn. To refit, smear some vaseline or washing up liquid over the knob end, then push it thru the headlight unit from the front then tap it thru till the fingers snap around it. It is very easy to snap the greay fingers so take extreme car.
I am thinking of getting my local machine shop to make some replacement adjusters in stainless steel or brass, which would be much more robust & not break. If any body is interested, they can contact me
hi can you make me 1 for each side both crumbled away the fingers the lot where it slides into tried undoing the screw with the plastic wheel adjuster on just fell aparthi can you make me 1 for each side both crumbled away when i tried to undo the screw with the plastic wheel on
hi can you make me 1 for each side both crumbled away the fingers the lot where it slides into tried undoing the screw with the plastic wheel adjuster on just fell apart
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.