Junkyard score... Now what is this I've read about rubber washers and euro lamps? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

KAdams4458 · #31 01-02-2009, 06:48 PM

Houston, we have a problem...

The dealership I spoke with claims they cannot order gaskets for these headlamps because they are not allowed to order parts in that aren't fed spec.

Gentlemen, feel free to submit suggestions.

Mark DiSilvestro · #32 01-02-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

Of the junker is important because it allows you to walk into any dealer , even your local unhelpful one and order up the correct Euopean parts you may want....

The bumpers were changed because most inspectors won't pass a grey market car unless they're changed to the FUGLY U.S. things .

The Navy Blue dash is the singlemost popular dash color so do go take some time and remove it complete with glove box door and make back the $ you spent buying the Hella lights....

Good find , MERRY CHRISTMAS !

To answer a previous question, on my 'Euro '84 300TD, the Euro headlight height adjuster knob is a vertical thumbwheel, resemblng a factory speaker fader knob. On my wagon, it's located below the wood dash strip, at the far right of the center dash panel that houses the manual AC temp thumbwheel.

Curiously, some PO replaced my wagon's original Euro front bumper with a US-spec unti, but left the mangled Euro rear bumper, which I subsequently changed to a US-spec sedan bumper because I already had a spare for my 240D, and was unable to find a decent Euro one. Besides, the Euro rear bumper provided so little protection that a previous 'bump' had already deformed the tailgate enough to jam the lock.

Becaue both glass coves were broken, I also had to replace my Euro headlamps with my spare set of US 240D units.

I've saved all the Euro parts I removed, and may eventually try to get replacement glass so I can reinstall the Euro headlamps. My Euro headlamps had the remains of some rubber grommets under the mounting screws. They look like something I could make if needed.
None of the changes I've made are irreversible, however the original Euro front bumper didn't come with this car, so if I wanted to restore that, I'd also need whatever skirts, caps, brackets, etc that go with it.

As for using the VIN to order Euro parts from a MB dealer, I've heard stories about US dealers refusing to assist owners of grey-market cars, so good luck with that.
For me, a local Non-MB parts supplier says he can get OE stuff for Euro versions.
Or try Phil on this site.

Happy Motoring, Mark

KAdams4458 · #33 01-02-2009, 07:45 PM

News flash... Err... Sort of.

Right after I submitted my last post, someone in one of the the parts department called me back and told me that they could indeed order the parts for me. Okay, well, that was weird. I guess they disagree as to what is and isn't allowed. I'm honestly amazed anyone would call me back after I was trying to get parts for a 30-year-old car, but I'll take what I can get. At least they are a closer dealer than two of the others that I called. Oddly, I think that all three dealerships I have talked to today are owned by the same automotive group.

For grins, I had them check on the price of the internal grille for the passenger side lamp - They only want $60 for that piece of plastic. Oh, what a deal that is. I will gladly pull out my plastic welder for that and reconstruct it on my own, thank you. I plan to paint them, anyway.

Lens gaskets are not cheap, but not expensive, either. They want almost $14 each for them. This seems a little high compared to some of the references I've seen on-line, but everything is more expensive these days.

The rear cover gaskets aren't even available anymore. Hmm. Well, I have both of mine and they are not in horrible condition, but I would still feel better with new ones.

My favourite part - are you ready? - The rubber cushions are not available separately, and can only be purchased with a mount kit. Those kits is $25 for each, and of course I need two of them. That's actually a really good deal for parts that are gold-plated and lovingly polished by trained unicorns, but I think I'll just hit the hardware store, then treat myself to a steak dinner and still have money left over.. Anyone with those rubber mounts care to take a photo of them for me so that I can do my best to replicate them?

KAdams4458 · #34 01-02-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

To answer a previous question, on my 'Euro '84 300TD, the Euro headlight height adjuster knob is a vertical thumbwheel, resemblng a factory speaker fader knob. On my wagon, it's located below the wood dash strip, at the far right of the center dash panel that houses the manual AC temp thumbwheel.

...

Thank you! Silly me, I was somehow expecting it to be on the opposite side of the steering wheel. I will check for it there... Then I will ponder just how to get it to fit a car that has ACC. Could get interesting.

daw_two · #35 01-02-2009, 10:46 PM

I went back today to remove a set of Euro headlights.....even though the passenger side had some black overspray on the lens. The driver's side was in perfect condition on Wednesday when I was there.

Well.....this is what I found today.

Makes you sick, huh?

Here is the passenger side:

I guess I should grab the Amber corners......

ps --- the manager said that they did ask the guys to leave that were breaking the glass.

MBeige · #36 01-02-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAdams4458

News flash... Err... Sort of.

Right after I submitted my last post, someone in one of the the parts department called me back and told me that they could indeed order the parts for me. Okay, well, that was weird. I guess they disagree as to what is and isn't allowed. I'm honestly amazed anyone would call me back after I was trying to get parts for a 30-year-old car, but I'll take what I can get. At least they are a closer dealer than two of the others that I called. Oddly, I think that all three dealerships I have talked to today are owned by the same automotive group.

For grins, I had them check on the price of the internal grille for the passenger side lamp - They only want $60 for that piece of plastic. Oh, what a deal that is. I will gladly pull out my plastic welder for that and reconstruct it on my own, thank you. I plan to paint them, anyway.

Lens gaskets are not cheap, but not expensive, either. They want almost $14 each for them. This seems a little high compared to some of the references I've seen on-line, but everything is more expensive these days.

The rear cover gaskets aren't even available anymore. Hmm. Well, I have both of mine and they are not in horrible condition, but I would still feel better with new ones.

My favourite part - are you ready? - The rubber cushions are not available separately, and can only be purchased with a mount kit. Those kits is $25 for each, and of course I need two of them. That's actually a really good deal for parts that are gold-plated and lovingly polished by trained unicorns, but I think I'll just hit the hardware store, then treat myself to a steak dinner and still have money left over.. Anyone with those rubber mounts care to take a photo of them for me so that I can do my best to replicate them?

The mounting washers are around 1.5in wide with enough space in the middle to allow a large size bolt. This bolt, you should have gotten from the parts car at the yard, it has a large washer built into the bolt itself, the large washer is because the opening for the mounting tabs, are large.

The mounting kits include the brass clips for the radiator support mounting points (4 each side) as well as a nice white knurled knob for the turn signal lens and two more screws and washers for the outboard screws (removal of the turn signal lens reveals these two).

I believe somebody was parting out a pair of Hella Euro assemblies, the units were not good to be sold as wholes so somebody parted them out. See in the parts section for the ad.

The plastic grille is not that crucial, you can fix it up and paint it dark gray or black, so it's not too obvious. Painting it black also makes it look nicer!

Of importance is the lens gasket.

Any luck on the condition of the Euro corners?

Dieselkraut23 · #37 01-02-2009, 11:51 PM

Yeah i totaled my euro 300d that i had mint hellas in and the plastic trim inside them and the plastic holders for the reflector all broke ....it was like that shatterd. Plastic glue and black spray paint later and they looked new again and i shook the hella out of them and no falling apart.

Also the part i want is the black plastic piece your going to remove the head light adjust switch.

it kinda looks like this bot all bottons across no knobs:

KAdams4458 · #38 01-03-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw_two

I went back today to remove a set of Euro headlights.....even though the passenger side had some black overspray on the lens. The driver's side was in perfect condition on Wednesday when I was there.

Well.....this is what I found today.

Makes you sick, huh?

Here is the passenger side:

I guess I should grab the Amber corners......

ps --- the manager said that they did ask the guys to leave that were breaking the glass.

That does make me sick. I really have no tolerance for that sort of behaviour. I have returned to a car for parts only to find that sort of senseless destruction a few times.

Do grab the corners. Also, the passenger light may well be worth grabbing, as one is better than none - maybe you'll stumble upon a car with a broken passenger side lamp but a good drive side the next time you're out. For that matter, the remains of the driver side lamp could be worth grabbing, too. The reflectors look good, so a new gasket and glass would seemingly provide a nice lamp.

Dieselkraut23 · #39 01-03-2009, 12:11 AM

grab both you can still get the lens

Dieselkraut23 · #40 01-03-2009, 12:14 AM

BTW the lens are like 36 bux and in stock

KAdams4458 · #41 01-03-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

The mounting washers are around 1.5in wide with enough space in the middle to allow a large size bolt. This bolt, you should have gotten from the parts car at the yard, it has a large washer built into the bolt itself, the large washer is because the opening for the mounting tabs, are large.

The mounting kits include the brass clips for the radiator support mounting points (4 each side) as well as a nice white knurled knob for the turn signal lens and two more screws and washers for the outboard screws (removal of the turn signal lens reveals these two).

I believe somebody was parting out a pair of Hella Euro assemblies, the units were not good to be sold as wholes so somebody parted them out. See in the parts section for the ad.

The plastic grille is not that crucial, you can fix it up and paint it dark gray or black, so it's not too obvious. Painting it black also makes it look nicer!

Of importance is the lens gasket.

Any luck on the condition of the Euro corners?

I did grab the bolts and washers from the donor car. They're not in the best condition, but having them will make matching up replacements easier. About how thick are those rubber washers supposed to be?

I'll check the parts section. I haven't looked in there for a while.

As for the corners, well, I think they've turned out well.

vwnate1 · #42 01-03-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw_two

I went back today to remove a set of Euro headlights.....even though the passenger side had some black overspray on the lens. The driver's side was in perfect condition on Wednesday when I was there.

Well.....this is what I found today.

Makes you sick, huh?

That's a W-116 anyways and they won't fit your W-123...

Yes , it sickens me and has for over 40 years now....

-Nate

Here is the passenger side:

I guess I should grab the Amber corners......

ps --- the manager said that they did ask the guys to leave that were breaking the glass.

I'd like to break thier legs

KAdams4458 · #43 01-03-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dieselkraut23

Yeah i totaled my euro 300d that i had mint hellas in and the plastic trim inside them and the plastic holders for the reflector all broke ....it was like that shatterd. Plastic glue and black spray paint later and they looked new again and i shook the hella out of them and no falling apart.

Also the part i want is the black plastic piece your going to remove the head light adjust switch.

it kinda looks like this bot all bottons across no knobs:

I'll see what I can do. I don't imagine they'll want more than a couple of dollars for that.

matthias08 · #44 01-03-2009, 01:20 AM

UGH.

i'm just... wow...

those damn BMW pureists now days.

Dieselkraut23 · #45 01-03-2009, 02:03 AM

thanks abunch!