Mercedes SL R230 headlamp lenses

[Robjit]

I'd like to replace the glass lenses on my xenon headlights but don't seem to be able to find them online...

Anybody know where to find them??

 

[LostKiwi]

Glass lenses? I think they're polycarbonate.

Why are you wanting to replace them?

 

[Craiglxviii]

They aren’t a service part and aren’t replaceable without some scrapped spare lamps, a big enough oven and the right glue.

What’s the problem, have they yellowed?

Glass lenses? I think they're polycarbonate.

Why are you wanting to replace them?

Yep optical polycarbonate or Grilamid, I can’t remember which. PC I strongly suspect.

 

[Robjit]

Glass lenses? I think they're polycarbonate.

Why are you wanting to replace them?

One is severely yellowed and the other is pitted badly... A sand down by the professional headlight dudes didn't help

 

[Craiglxviii]

One is severely yellowed and the other is pitted badly... A sand down by the professional headlight dudes didn't help

Buy the 3M or Meguiars kit and give it a go yourself. For £50 you have little to lose.

Removing and replacing the lenses is an awkward job, and you may well find it better all round just to source replacement headlamps.

 

[ajlsl600]

Going to plastic from glass, another huge advantage and progressive step for car owners, methinks not. One might get a stone break ur glass once in lifetime.. Glass lens was often replaceable separately , and easy to recycle.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Going to plastic from glass, another huge advantage and progressive step for car owners, methinks not. One might get a stone break ur glass once in lifetime.. Glass lens was often replaceable separately , and easy to recycle.

I agree with that, a new headlamp lens in my Marina was a five minute job. (Why is it I always remember that car out of the many I have owned ?)

The lens in my instructors Mk1 Golf fell out, when I did an emergency stop. We picked it up and stuck it back in. Those were the days.

 

[ajlsl600]

P

I agree with that, a new headlamp lens in my Marina was a five minute job. (Why is it I always remember that car out of the many I have owned ?)

The lens in my instructors Mk1 Golf fell out, when I did an emergency stop. We picked it up and stuck it back in. Those were the days.

rogress,, paff.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Going to plastic from glass, another huge advantage and progressive step for car owners, methinks not. One might get a stone break ur glass once in lifetime.. Glass lens was often replaceable separately , and easy to recycle.

Disagree, plastic is far stronger than glass in terms of impact resistance, much safer in the event of a crash (remember that headlamps form part of the crash system) and far cheaper. Plus, look at the size of current car lamps vs Lucas 7” sealed beam reflectors… imagine the cost of a piece of glass of equivalent size to today’s car lamp lenses.
Well actually I don’t need to imagine. I can remember that our F reg Escort had a stone through the right hand lens. A replacement glass lens, in… 1989-1990, was £97 iirc, plus the special Ford removal tool that could be hired from Ford at £30/ day. About the same price as a new complete headlamp.
We used a piece of silver duct tape until the car was sold.

The lenses today are the size they are for a number of reasons mainly not lighting-performance related, but because the car headlamp being the size it is, is a cheap way to get good crash performance in that zone if the car while maintaining the lighting performance.

There are some things that used to be better “back in the good old days” than now, but objectively not very many.

Edit. It’s also far cheaper to recycle plastic than glass.

 

[ajlsl600]

OK, but sorrio that I am convinced this is an age related opinion. Ur evidently younger, with an acceptance of today's motor orientated commercial models I don't, won't, frankly if I can't have half a chance of fixing myself I am just not interested in Buying it in the first place especially as I soon retire, 2nd time, and I see no need whatsoever in joining the modern car mantra of spend spend and keep on spendin When I buy a car. The favoured objective is not to be a permanent consumer of things that makers seem incapable, or unwilling of making reliable, deliberately or otherwise. I think a headlight complete for my mk 3 escort 1600 ghia was about 10 quid at the breakers.. Remind me how much a headlight plastic! For say a 5 Yr old cl500.? And I never remember having to buy any polishing kits to keep them going, in fact, I never had an unreliable Ford, and if I did need something. Every corner shop motor factor sold it, pts were cheap enough and near idiot proof to fit. I am convinced that mb (and prob all modern makers) have a dept dedicated to making anything a difficult as possible for owner to fix. Having to code a towbar, we'll I have not. If I could get that, do it myself. I might but I am not interested in all dash lights comming on 5 min later after they install a shxxe load of robber dates I never asked for.

 

[ajlsl600]

 

[Craiglxviii]

Now imagine that thing clipping you as a pedestrian, at 10mph, and you’ll see what I mean.

View attachment 78219

 

[ajlsl600]

Copied from jokes. Seemed right.

Now imagine that thing clipping you as a pedestrian, at 10mph, and you’ll see what I mean.

Next plot disable guy fawkes bonnet bombs. As replacing them ain't good for my wallet. Now where did I store dat bull bar.

 

[Blobcat]

Disagree, plastic is far stronger than glass in terms of impact resistance, much safer in the event of a crash (remember that headlamps form part of the crash system) and far cheaper. Plus, look at the size of current car lamps vs Lucas 7” sealed beam reflectors… imagine the cost of a piece of glass of equivalent size to today’s car lamp lenses.
Well actually I don’t need to imagine. I can remember that our F reg Escort had a stone through the right hand lens. A replacement glass lens, in… 1989-1990, was £97 iirc, plus the special Ford removal tool that could be hired from Ford at £30/ day. About the same price as a new complete headlamp.
We used a piece of silver duct tape until the car was sold.

The lenses today are the size they are for a number of reasons mainly not lighting-performance related, but because the car headlamp being the size it is, is a cheap way to get good crash performance in that zone if the car while maintaining the lighting performance.

There are some things that used to be better “back in the good old days” than now, but objectively not very many.

Edit. It’s also far cheaper to recycle plastic than glass.

New plastic headlamps are >£1K for most mainstream cars these days so might be cheaper to make - they're not cheaper to buy...

Glass is recyclable for ever - plastic rarely, as there'soften too much "mixed content" to make it viable - just put it all through the crusher and smelt out the usable steel in some country outside of our environment...

 

[ajlsl600]

A headlight is a grand. No thanks wud do a top gear 500 qiud car with Yr mot. Old type lucas sealed beams 30 quid on fleabay. Spot on.

 

[Craiglxviii]

A headlight is a grand. No thanks wud do a top gear 500 qiud car with Yr mot. Old type lucas sealed beams 30 quid on fleabay. Spot on.

And they were sh1t…

 

[ajlsl600]

And they were sh1t…

And they were sh1t…

I got around the country and overseas just fine. I sure wud prefer them and 970 in my pocket. And enjoy that I don't need to remove half front of car to get at them!

 

[Blobcat]

A headlight is a grand. No thanks wud do a top gear 500 qiud car with Yr mot. Old type lucas sealed beams 30 quid on fleabay. Spot on.

£1,100 on a VW Polo…

 

[ajlsl600]

Sorry guys I can't be doin anything like a grand on a blxxdy headlight I will be in the UK in Sept and will see how ml behaves if headache it's goin and I try to find minx. Or temp drive my 68 based mg Tf. Tho frankly the soft top is a nightmare unless ur 4 ft 0..but it did France UK with loaded trailer. Which is more than 2013 ml cud do.