1986 300SDL…broken left rear taillight assembly
 

My wife just backed into somebody and broke the left rear (drivers side) taillight plastic piece but internals look ok. Any idea where I can buy used?

Thanks
Bill

Keep an eye on e-bay.........the entire assembly will go on auction from time to time.

Condition of the white reverse light varies considerably, however. It's difficult to find a decent one.

salvage yards always have a 126 or two... I know the 5 I visit do... but never a W123... nope.. just W126's and 190E's

I can pull one for you...
 

I am going to my local junkyard for parts for my BMW. I know of a few W126's there. I can pull one for you and ship it out. They cost around $70 at the yard and include everything...
PM me if you are interested as I am going there on Wednesday.

I am lucky... I have two W123s in my yard. One 300D and one TD!
Let me know if you want me to pull anything for you...

My first action on a superficial damage like that is to pick up the pieces and try to glue it back together.

A couple of years ago my wife backed the pt into one of our other cars and broke out the lense. After checking and finding they cost like $90 I picked up the pieces and glued it all back together. there are a couple of small fragments that i never recovered but it doesnt seem to affect the looks from the back.

I figure when I get ready to sell it I might spring for a used one since by then they will be reasonable to buy.

Tom W

Tom..........I say this with all due respect............I cannot see a professional architect picking up the pieces of a taillight and gluing them together over a time period of at least two hours..........to save $90.;)

Thanks LUVMBD.

I appreciate your offer and will get back if I need your help. First, I’m going to try and locate one in my area.

Thanks
Bill

When it comes to a tail light your vision is just not accurate. It didnt take any two hours.

nintey dollars is ninety dollars. a half hour labor instead of fooling around here seems like a good trade for ninety dollars to me.

Hell I would have taken longer to go to the dealer just to buy a new one....and I would have had to take time off from work to do so.

I change my own oil too....not always but I can do it on a one twenty three in less time than it takes to go have it done, and I know it is done right.

Besides, many of my habits were formed back when I didn't have ANY money.

I was born to a family of eight children whose father worked in the Studebaker factory. When I came to Lafayette I had everything I owned in the back of a pickup truck with a topper on it, and that included a Harley three fifty motorcycle. I had fifteen thousand in school loans, child support form a fresh divorce and a job that paid five fifty an hour, which was fairly good money in ninteen seventy four.

But each paycheck I had to sit down and figure how many parts I could order from j c whitney for my sixty two one ninety c and still have enough money for my very cheap rent and some food.

So maybe you wouldnt consider gluing a lense back together but I would and do if it is possible.

Tom W

We come from similar backgrounds. However, I tend to spare no expense on parts for these three simply because I view new parts as the path to keep their longevity and improve their reliability. Since a brand new vehicle costs about $500. per month, spending $100. per month on each of these is really not very costly. I might not purchase a brand new lens for that light..........it's about $275...........but, I'll certainly scrounge a used lens for $60 or so..........and I won't go to the dealer to do it.

I don't wish to chastise you for gluing that light together if you wish to do so...........I just see your time as more valuable than this endeavor.;)

PM me. I have numerous lenses in the attic. I also have a 1986 300sdl and I stockpile parts that i think I will someday need. I will sell you a lens only for $5.00 plus shipping from 71291 to your address. This will only be the lens, not the lights and sockets etc. The beauty of the 126 lens is that it is can be completely taken apart from the socket assembly.

I am a MBCA member and would hate to see you drop some serious dollars for a broken lens.

John

Hell, Brian the right rear taillight on that sdl I sold you is glued together.

Tom W








Just kidding.

LOL...........well, the new owners are perfectly happy with it...........so, I don't think they know...........but...........the rust..........now whether they know about that or not.............:confused:

I can see it now......
 

Hey Brian, maybe you can't see it......and I don't know Tom; however, I would do it in a heartbeat. The joy of glue is unbelievable. It is an achievement to be able to put something back together with my bare hands and inguineity (that word).