On my 1979 300SD the tail lights are not as bright as the other side. My exhaust outlet is on the driver's side. The lights looked smoked. Isn't this just carbon? Can I remove the whole tail light and clean it out good enough to look like the other one? I don't want to just experiment with it because it is at best 20 degrees outside. I'm sure I'm not the only one whose noticed this. Tim's__Benz's 280SEL 4.5 does the same thing. Maybe it's just a Ft. Wayne thing?
Thanks
David

__________________
_____________________________________________

2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

_____________________________________________

Yes you will find that deisel soot has gotten into the light assembly. This is due to the age of the seal around the lights. You can, if you want, open up the assembly and clean it. But be aware that some of the reflective paint may come off depending on the cleaner use. You can then respray the inside chrome or white.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

I recall hearing somebody saying they used laundry detergent sucessfully here recently to clean theirs out. I'll do this once it gets warm enough out, I don't need ice in there and crack a perfect lense....

__________________
Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k

Yep, it's exhaust crud on your lens, probably on the inside as well...If your car has the original taillight seals, as mine does, they are probably badly deteriorated, as mine are, and you may be getting water in your trunk from it as well, as I do.

New seals are not cheap. Another .....

Mike

__________________
_____
1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
_____
1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
_____
1985 300TD
270,000 miles
_____
1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

www.myspace.com/mikemover
www.myspace.com/openskystudio
www.myspace.com/speedxband
www.myspace.com/openskyseparators
www.myspace.com/doubledrivemusic

Huh, I never did figure out how water was getting into the trunk of my old 240-D. Hmmm.

__________________

Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

The horizontal fins in the lenses are there to make the lenses self-cleaning, so when you're driving in the rain, water flows across the taillight to clean it...If the seals around the lenses are old and crusty, some of this water is going to end up in your trunk.

Mike

__________________
_____
1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
_____
1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
_____
1985 300TD
270,000 miles
_____
1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

www.myspace.com/mikemover
www.myspace.com/openskystudio
www.myspace.com/speedxband
www.myspace.com/openskyseparators
www.myspace.com/doubledrivemusic