New Mirror Gaskets & Rear Fog Indicator
 

The Gaskets on the outside mirrors had become hard, cracked and were starting to deform. So while on a Saturday stroll through the you-pick-it yard I went shopping for new gaskets. For $3 I got new gaskets for both sides of the car.

In this photo you can see just how bad old gasket was (shown after the mirror was removed from the car}




On an earlier walk through the you-pull-it while searching for some interior trim I noticed a bulb in the tip of the headlight switch

This past June I did a "survey" of years and models at the local Pick and Pull while getting new boots for my '95 E300. It appears that the subcontractor switched rubber formulas sometime around 1990. Earlier mirror boots are still supple after 25 years (as you found out) while the newer ones are all but falling apart. Even the boots on early-1980s W126 cars are still useable (if you have a 126, of course). Perhaps this same sub did the "environmental" insulation for the wiring in 1990s M-Bs? BTW, my car came with "Kaechele" brand boots date-coded 1994. The replacements were from 1987 and 1988, IIRC.

For anyone's interest the part numbers are:

Left 124-811-01-61
Right 124-811-04-61

Jeremy

My 1990 production 1991 MY car still has nice mirror boots.

Interesting that your light switch had the provision for the bulb... that means it has the output for the rear fog light too. The original switch in my W126 didn't have the provision for the bulb, or the rear fog output.

-J

Not only did the switch have a provision for the bulb, the left taillight has the fog bulb installed and it works ;).

If you remove that bulb and turn on the rear fogs, does the lamp out indicator come on?

-J

I own the car for over 2 years and although there was no bulb in the switch, the rear fog worked and the lamp out indicator never lit (because of that bulb anyway :)).

The lamp-out module is for exterior lamps only. Every instrument lamp, etc., could be out and it would not notice or care.

Jeremy