Euro Head Lights W(R) 107 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

meltedpanda · #1 03-02-2009, 07:22 PM

SO why oh why are they so expensive, I am so much coveting a set but even in bad condition they are over $400. Any of our fellow overseas MB listers have a set they like to sell cheap to the ol Panda

450slcguy · #2 03-02-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

SO why oh why are they so expensive, I am so much coveting a set but even in bad condition they are over $400. Any of our fellow overseas MB listers have a set they like to sell cheap to the ol Panda

I shared that desire at one time, and also for the bumpers.

I've been eyeing a set of 107 euro bumper at my local junkyard. Can get them for less than $300. But I remember what happened to my euro 280ce when I got smacked in the rear and pushed into the car in front of me. The car was smashed front and rear, definitely totaled on both ends. If I had the US bumpers F/R, the damage would most likely have been minimal. Them euro bumpers are worthless even in a minor collision. But they do look nice.

d71889b · #3 03-02-2009, 09:17 PM

i really want a set, but not enough to pay $400!

meltedpanda · #4 03-02-2009, 10:09 PM

well I already have the bumpers ,NEED the euros. well perhaps not need , just want real bad!

Strife · #5 03-03-2009, 12:42 AM

Well, here's the problem: The cheapest I can get all four new lenses (front glass and side plastic) lenses for is $160, and that's a deal.

Dead giveaways on eBay for an overpriced, corroded, bad set are:

-distant, fuzzy picture or pictures
-darkness at the bottom of the reflectors

One shifty seller that I avoid on eBay tried to sell one side only, missing the socket for the headlight bulb for over $100! Missing headlight glass generally also makes them worthless, because the clips that hold the lens on will probably also be missing, and AFAIK, these are irreplaceable.

I am working on restoring a set right now for myself as a spare. I got in a set for only $80 because a seller didn't classify it well on eBay, then he had it packed by an IDIOT and a glass front lens and side marker lens broke in shipment. Worse, and as usual, the gaskets weren't great, the adjusters were rusty and rubber was shot, and to top it off, the reflectors had been taped with 3M reflective tape (I'm not making this up) - which is just about the worst thing you could do on headlights. The reason being, that that tape scatters light in all directions, and does just the opposite of what you want to do - coherently aim light.And although the material used was horrible, ironically, the workmanship and care put into doing this was truly excellent. But I bought these with the assumption that I would have to redo the reflectors.

I didn't make a big deal out of the breakage with the seller because even considering this, I did get my $80 worth.

Anyway, I can replace the glass for $80, maybe $10 to restore the adjusters to functionality, and I repainted the frames and bulb shades. On the reflectors (keep in mind that there are four - two for the markers and the two "bowls" for the headlights), I think I now can restore them, with some difficulty and expense.

I burned off the tape with a torch, and then stripped/sanded off the paint from the inside and edges of the bowl. After contacting a source I found that will aluminize these for me, I had to respray the now shiny bare steel reflectors with two-part epoxy DTM (direct-to-metal) primer.

The vacuum plater I am working with claims to use state of the art technology and hard UV-cured overcoating of the aluminum layer, so these may wind up being better than new. If this works out, I may have him do my present set that I had aluminum-taped with very good, but not perfect, results (see my post on this website concerning this). Meltedpanda, this is the set you saw on my car at Keeneland.

The point of all this is, that a new set is expensive, but not that bad of a deal. I had to put a lot of brainwork (research), legwork, and elbow grease to do these things. Most of the used sets I've seen on eBay, I feel would be downright dangerous to put on a car as is.

Strife · #6 03-03-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450slcguy

I shared that desire at one time, and also for the bumpers.

I've been eyeing a set of 107 euro bumper at my local junkyard. Can get them for less than $300. But I remember what happened to my euro 280ce when I got smacked in the rear and pushed into the car in front of me. The car was smashed front and rear, definitely totaled on both ends. If I had the US bumpers F/R, the damage would most likely have been minimal. Them euro bumpers are worthless even in a minor collision. But they do look nice.

Here's the other problem with the bumpers: you are not going to find a nice used set unless you are fabulously fortunate. By the time you have the chrome out to be straightened/plated, the rubber replaced, etc. on an average used set, it's going to be at least a G more, and that's if you shop well and are lucky.

One good thing about the US bumpers, they are easy to restore because they are stainless on top, and respond well to sanding/buffing (with the right techniques and equipment). I can make these nearly new, and I notice that someone else is doing this also and selling them at reasonable prices on eBay.

meltedpanda · #7 03-03-2009, 09:34 AM

hey strife, yup I remember, a guy on craigs list had a set listed awhile back , labeled as "new" in box and wanted $600 - too much for me, but after reading your post, perhaps not a bad price , prioviding they were "new"

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