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  #1  
Old 07-21-2003, 11:13 AM
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107 bumpers

Can euro bumpers be easily bolted on a 560 107 in place of the (I'll reserve any adjectives) US bumpers?

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  #2  
Old 07-21-2003, 11:44 AM
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Good question. Hope you get an answer from one of the pros out there because I would like to know also.
I've always preferred the euro look compared to the wretched US style bumpers. I would change them on my 380SL if there was a reasonably inexpensive way to do it.
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  #3  
Old 07-22-2003, 10:27 AM
Rayson
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Call Adsit Company at 1.800.521.7656 and they should be able to answer your question. They have the euro bumpers in their catolog on pg 24. Sit down for this, front assembly new is $1495 and rear is $1395. They are listed for '72-'73 models but I am sure they would know if the brackets are the same.

Good luck, I have been trying to find used ones for my car for over a year. If you find a few sets let us know.
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  #4  
Old 07-22-2003, 11:08 AM
M D Nugent
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Cool Yes, but . . .

Anything can be made to fit anything, but consider these facts:
- US front bumpers have turn signals attached while euro bumpers do not ('72-73 US models with euro bumpers had turn signals mounted to the front valance, true euro's had no front-facing turn signals)
- the euro rear bumper's valance panels bolt directly to the bumper while the US rear valance panels attach directly to the body (they're also not the same shape)
- there is a "gap cover" (horizontal panel) between the US rear bumper and the body - does it simply bolt on, or is it welded and would therefore have to be cut off?

So, to make it look right, you'll need a bunch of body panel changes and they'll probably need to be repainted to match your car. It's not as simple as "Can I bolt euro bumpers to my US car?"
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  #5  
Old 07-22-2003, 12:51 PM
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I agree with ND...that's why the best bet may be to modify ours! As Rayson and I exchanged on another thread, the hard part is cutting off the rubber ends to make the modification look right. There was an article a year or two ago that showed how to do this. I wish that I could find it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
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  #6  
Old 07-22-2003, 12:53 PM
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Sorry about that "Doc"...that should have MD..not ND!!!!
Mike
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  #7  
Old 07-22-2003, 08:21 PM
Rayson
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Riggermike,

You keep looking for that article and I will and maybe others will and maybe someone will find it for us.
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  #8  
Old 07-23-2003, 07:47 AM
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The facts provided by "Doc" have shown me that "conversion" is much more costly and complicated than I had imagined. Thanks for setting me straight.
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  #9  
Old 07-23-2003, 09:31 AM
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MD Nugent said
Quote:
US front bumpers have turn signals attached while euro bumpers do not ('72-73 US models with euro bumpers had turn signals mounted to the front valance, true euro's had no front-facing turn signals)
True Euros have turn signals that wrap around the corner, so that they are visible front and side.
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  #10  
Old 07-23-2003, 10:25 AM
M D Nugent
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Clarification, please

What I've been told is that the big ribbed lenses on the front fenders (what we in the US call side marker lights) on true euros contain a double filament bulb, one of which a) comes on steady when parking lights are selected or when headlights are on, and the other b) blinks when the rear turn signal on the same side blinks. Is that accurate (if somewhat clumsily written)?

If so, despite the fact that the edge of these units may be seen from the front of the car (next to the rectangular headlight lens, they're not what I would call "front-facing turn signals" when compared to the separate "front-facing turn signals" US cars were required to have in addition.


US side marker lights only have a single filament bulb which serves function a) only. In addition to different bulbs, a change of bulb holders and modification of the wiring harness may be necessary to begin using US side marker lights as turn signals.

Last edited by M D Nugent; 07-23-2003 at 10:39 AM.
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  #11  
Old 07-23-2003, 10:37 AM
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My "Euro" SL has turn signals under the bumper next to the fog lights and the side marker has a single bulb which illuminates when the lights are on.
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'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000
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  #12  
Old 07-23-2003, 10:48 AM
M D Nugent
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sublettd -

What are digits 4-6 of you car's serial number? 107xxx12 . . .

Do your front turn signals look like this ("triangular" and mounted to the front valance):

or this (rectangular and mounted to the front bumper):


I presume you have the rectangular euro headlights and no bumper overriders as shown in the top photo . . . ?

MDN

Last edited by M D Nugent; 07-23-2003 at 10:59 AM.
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  #13  
Old 07-23-2003, 12:15 PM
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Doc, I understand your question but can't answer this. In the UK, the corner units only have a single filament bulb and are for turn signals only. The parking light is a 5w pilot bulb that illuminates the headlamp unit. Side markers are not required in the UK, and I think are illegal.

Therefore, what you refer to as 'true Euros' does not conform to the UK spec. I believe that the spec in most European countries was the same as the UK. So the term 'true Euros' actaully has nothing to do with the lamp arrangements in Europe!

I know this adds little to the US debate but I thought I would clear up the point I was making
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  #14  
Old 07-23-2003, 01:17 PM
M D Nugent
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neileg -

I'm eager to learn something new - the problem could be with the term "euro" as though national reg differences within Europe don't exist. I know the turn signal lens color on Porsche 914's was amber most places, but split amber and white in others (Italy, I think), and I've seen a Triumph Spitfire that was required (in Denmark if I remember correctly) to have a small amber side marker (turn signal?) light at the rear of the front fender (bonnet, actually, but you know what I mean).

I'd never seen another example of the combo on the blue car (top picture of my last post) - it has the "triangular" front valance turn signals I'd only seen before on '72-73 US cars, plus the overriderless bumper, plus the "euro" headlight assemblies. If that wasn't put together by an individual, it must be specific to some national requirement, but sounds like not Germany or the UK.

I see the difficulty you point out with the term "true euros" and won't use it any more. What I meant was non-US cars. A lot of people over here refer to the bumpers on US-delivered '72-73 SL's as euros without distinction from the bumpers on non-US cars. As far as I know, no non-US SL's had bumper overriders standard, so that's usually a tip off, but not always apparently.
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  #15  
Old 07-23-2003, 03:14 PM
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Doc,

Mine is a 107.046 500SL imported from Germany in Sep of 1985. It has the U.S. type headlights on it with the under bumper configuration in the second image you showed.

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'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000
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