W124 front indicator lens

[Geoff_Slade]

My front offside indicator lens (the whole unit) fell off on the outside lane of the M1 today. Needless to say I didn't stop to recover it! It had become loose before (problem started after I'd had a new front wing fitted). I've got a few questions;

Eurocar parts and German Swedish French sell replacement lenses. How do these compare in terms of quality and fit with genuine MB.

Any ideas re price of the genuine part (non-genuine appear to be in the order of £9 - £12).

Are the clear lenses from the post 94 W124s the same size and fitting as the amber lenses (might be an opportune moment to swap!)

As far as I can remember when I last tried to put it back in place the lens fits by means of two plastic lugs locating into two holes in plastic fitments next to the front lights. These plastic fitments appear to be located by bolts. The lower one of the fitments has the whole of the fitting hole revealed whereas the top one only has part of the fitting hole showing. Question is should the whole of the fitting hole on the top fitment be showing? If yes this might explain why I had difficulty fitting the lens the last time it fell out and also why the top lug snapped.

Finally there are two electrical connectors now hanging loose in the wing opening. One has two mail pins the other two female. Do both of these connect to the new unit?

Any help and advice gratefully received

 

[LNM]

blob on as far as I could tell with the new headlamp unit and indicator both from GFS I fitted to mine.

 

[turnipsock]

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=8363

I think mine was about £20

 

[stwat]

Get youself some clear or smoked ones, you know you want to!!!

I got some for my 190 from GSF and the quality if fine. I wouldnt recomend the side repeaters though as mine wouldnt fit properly and kept popping out!!!! I ended up getting my money back and getting some clear ones from the late model W124 from the stealers(they are exactly the same as the 190 but clear) The part number is, A 124 820 23 21.

Stu

 

[190]

I have the clear lenses fitted to my 190 from euro car parts they look identical to the originals, mine has the 2 clips for the headlights and they fasten to the inner wing with a plastic wheel which screws onto a bolt fitted to the indicator light, sound as if this is missing from yours. The new light comes with the bulb holder, which has 2 pins on it for the connection for the wires. It cost me about £40 for the 2 indicators and 2 clear side repeaters. Hope this helps

 

[Geoff_Slade]

Thanks for all of the replies.

Turnipsock - I assume that £20 is for genuine MB.

190 - £40 for the lot sounds very reasonable. I don't think anything is missing with regard to the connectors the only thing I've got to go on is the Haynes manual and that just refers to clips (although the plastic wheel sounds far more secure). I'll check the nearside and see how that's connected. If the new unit has two pins on it then that clears up one of the connectors that is hanging loose. But what about the connector with two male pins (or in my earlier post "mail"!!!!!!!). Any ideas what that connects to? I haven't got headlamp washers/wipers and all of the other front lights are working OK

The response from Stu suggests fitting problems with the side repeaters but they were from GSF; presumably the supplier of the aftermarket parts is different for euro car parts.

Stu - how much were side repeaters from the stealer (just in case I have fitting problems).

thanks

 

[turnipsock]

£20 was for the genuine MB. I did have to go back as the they didn't give me the bulb holder bit. They gave me this for free as theysaid it should have been supplied with the lense bit.

My old one will still be lying on the M9 between J10 and J9, bit I think it's the opposite side from the one you need.

 

[190]

£20 was for the genuine MB. I did have to go back as the they didn't give me the bulb holder bit. They gave me this for free as theysaid it should have been supplied with the lense bit.

My old one will still be lying on the M9 between J10 and J9, bit I think it's the opposite side from the one you need.

I ran over it and smashed the bulb , which caused me to get a puncture :roll:

 

[SLinKyjoe]

I ran over it and smashed the bulb , which caused me to get a puncture :roll:

Dont forget, that means changing all four tyres!!! so he owes you loads for driving his defective car in an unroadworthy condition.

 

[stwat]

The side repeaters where £38.38. So not cheap but the quality is as it should be and you also get the bulb holders and wires. Im very happy with them after the utter crap ones i tried from GSF!!

Stu

 

[pascal]

I lost one on the N4 near Dublin a few year ago, Anyone drive over it.

The problem was that the retaining lug (on the wing) was not holding it in properly. With the help of a pliers I adjusted this lug so it held the the unit securely.

Pascal

 

[Geoff_Slade]

Thanks for all the very useful replies. I've gone for clear lenses (side repeaters and rear clusters to follow as funds permit). Bosch originals at £16.10 each plus the VAT from Euro car parts. Bulb holder not supplied (£5ish from MB should have got the lens from them if they give them away free!).

Sounds like lenses falling off is a fairly common problem might be a market there for MB branded gaffer tape!

Finally I found out what the spare connector was, it plugs into the back of the other connector!

Bulb holder should be arriving tomorrow and if the white stuff stops for long enough I'll fit them. Now how much is a post 93 bonnet!

 

[Geoff_Slade]

Thanks for all the replies. Bought genuine (Bosch) ones from Euro car parts. Decided to change over to clear and will buy side repeaters and rear clusters when funds permit. £16.10 plus VAT each but unfortunately they don't come with bulb holder so had to get that from the stealer (£5ish for one). Given the MB price of £20 all in paid by Turnipsock perhaps I should have gone there although I'm not sure if my dealer would be as generous.

Found out what the spare connector was, it plugs into the back of the other one!

So if the white stuff stops tomorrow I'll fit the new lenses and be part of the way to a facelift model (now how much is the newer shape bonnet!)

Anyway looks like this is more common than I thought so I'm looking at marketing gaffer tape with an MB logo on it.

 

[turnipsock]

I ran over it and smashed the bulb , which caused me to get a puncture :roll:

Just send me a new one in the post.

When I discovered I had lost mine, at juction 9, I dialed 999 and told them about it and asked if anyone handed it in could the police bring it round to my house. The swine on the other end of the phone was less than courteous and I had to hang up before giving my address so I never got it back. They started asking about 'handsfree' as well, even though I explained it was an automatic and I had already put down my mug of tea before phoning them.


The indicator unit needs a good hard push to lock it in place, you should hear a solid click when it's there. Try and push it out just to make sure it is locked in place properly.

 

[Geoff_Slade]

Thanks, both of them are in place now and it ceratinly looks a lot better than the amber ones. I hadn't realised how they fitted in before (the first time mine fell out it just dangled by the wire so I stopped and refitted it but didn't really understand how it stayed in. This time I gave them both a good push and then shone a torch on the rear just to make sure the clip had engaged. BTW the new ones have a metal spring on the clip the old (remaining!) one just relied on tension in the plastic. Euro car parts quoted £13+VAT for genuine side repeaters I'll pop down the stealership and see if they've got any special offers first! Rear units seem reasonably priced so hopefully within the next few months I'll have replaced all of the amber lights (the clear lenses go much better with the (Nautical?) blue).

Just a question on the colour. That's what it says in my service record book has anyone else heard of this colour?

 

[MW]

I can't comment on the front indicator lens, but I fitted a rear light cluster to my 1992 230E nearly 6 years ago, from Europarts and the quality was fine, as was the very good price, about £28. After 6 years there is no fading and one cannot tell the difference from an MB part.

 

[pascal]

Like MW,

I replaced taillight cluster on a 88 230e some eight years ago. I got it from my local motor factors for 20 quid.
No difference at all. ARe they the same manufacturer. Same with headlight, made by Hella (I think) (memory not that good).

Geoff, Dont forget to change the front bulbs to amber ones, or the osram ones that dont look amber, but flash amber.

PASCAL

 

[Geoff_Slade]

Thanks guys. Price of replacement rear lens from Euro ca parts is £26.50 + VAT (think they are genuine but I've got to check it out). BTW any opinions on old style grille with star on top as opposed to star mounted on bonnet? Can't make my mind up as to which I prefer although the earlier style does have a classic MB look.

 

[davidsl500]

Thanks, both of them are in place now and it ceratinly looks a lot better than the amber ones. I hadn't realised how they fitted in before (the first time mine fell out it just dangled by the wire so I stopped and refitted it but didn't really understand how it stayed in. This time I gave them both a good push and then shone a torch on the rear just to make sure the clip had engaged. BTW the new ones have a metal spring on the clip the old (remaining!) one just relied on tension in the plastic. Euro car parts quoted £13+VAT for genuine side repeaters I'll pop down the stealership and see if they've got any special offers first! Rear units seem reasonably priced so hopefully within the next few months I'll have replaced all of the amber lights (the clear lenses go much better with the (Nautical?) blue).

Just a question on the colour. That's what it says in my service record book has anyone else heard of this colour?

Geoff, My SL is also Nautical Blue which is a very nice colour, the clear lenses do look much better. I have the smoked rears as well which blend really well with the blue.