I picked up a 78 240D as a parts car for $500 and realized that it's in better shape than my 83 except for some front end damage.

The more stuff I pull off the more apparent it is that this might be a pretty simple fix.

I 've got most of it figured out except for the drivers side headlight frame/housing. It looks like it's glued/welded to the engine compartment panel. I was able to bend the passenger side frame back into place.

How would one remove the damaged headlight frame? I'm having crazy ideas about cutting and bending it into shape and reinforcing it with sheet metal.

The thrashed crosspiece is riveted and should be an easy replacement.

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Sorry I didn't see this earlier - you can get a repair panel for the whole "spectacle" front. I'd get one of those. Grind off the old and weld in the new. (Well actually I'd get someone else to weld it in for me as I can barely make welds stick)

However before going down this route I'd check the rest of the front out first.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Where do you get this "spectacle" piece? I have the exact same problem and need one too.

Is this the piece that you are looking for?

• 

You're best bet it to find a car in a junkyard and cut off the piece you need and weld it in place.

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82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

I can get them here in Europe new replica parts but I don't think that helps - shipping would kill the deal.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Hello, I got a new headlight spectacle from the Mercedes dealership from somewhere in North America. I was very surprised by the price... only $53 !

I also got a front radiator cross brace to tie the headlight spectacles together. The rad support bar was $83 , but that one came from Germany.

I wanted to bolt them in so I could remove them in the future but instead welded it in. good as new except my hood has a small wrinkle where I banged it back to its former shape.
I had to drill the screws out of the hood latch but found nearly identicle ones to replace except the new ones are very hard and plated. The metal that the original screws were made of was really soft for some reason. Hood actually closes better than before.
I will probably need a new fender as the short piece that wraps around directly under the headlight assembly got crunched. I straightened it enough to screw it back on.
Everything structural is now as it was before, I am happy with it for now. I want to repaint this one some day...I''l get the fender at that point. I need it back on the road. It looks meaner now. Kind of like it belongs in a Mad Max movie.Thanks.

We have it.

Fastlane: Stiffening, Left front lighting unit
http://catalog.peachparts.com/item.wws?sku=1236200572




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Thanks guys, I went with the hacksaw and spotwelding method. I was sure the hood wouldn't line up but it DID!!! Needs a good paint job but I'll get to that later.

Gotta move it to Wisconsin now! I'm scared......they salt the roads in dem parts!