Why do the lenses on the 140 tend to get cloudy?

hi george,

i believe your [u.s.] versions have plastic covers/lenses.
if this is the case the plastic has just aged.

options would be new lights either u.s. or maybe the euros.
the euros have glass lenses. if they break or crack you can just buy a new lens. i don't think the plastic ones work like that.your local dealer could tell you that for sure.

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*92 400e 124.034, SOLD

*92 300e 124.030, SOLD

Try polishing them with a polishing wheel and some rouge. Don't get it too hot, or you'll melt the plastic.
-Larry

Thank you for the replies

Yes, the plastic being aged may partially be the cause but I have also heard that the epoxy sealer could gas out and cause the lens to appear cloudy. Is this true? Any other ideas?

THANKS

From what I can remember, the W140 S500 we have at home has glass head lights, not plastic. Are you SURE they are plastic? The indicators are plastic, but the head lights I am quite sure are glass. If I am wrong, I apologize in advance (I've never paid too much attention to this, it was only recently that I discovered the head lights of my E420 are glass, and I just double-checked them with the W140...they make the same "clang" when I tap 'em with my finger...so I assume it is glass too). When you say they get "cloudy", are you sayin' they fog up, or there is some sorta cloudy residual to the glass? Have you attempted to wipe the INSIDE of the glass with Windex or something...and then make sure they are super dry and clean before putting the lense back on to prevent condensation? I dunno...just a suggestion...never had the problem before...

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1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

Thanks for the reply DuckMuck

The headlights are cloudy on the inside and look like they have a light white film on them. It doesn't look like condensation. I believe the lens on the 95 and later cars are not removable. I am not sure if the headlights are glass or plastic. Any other suggestions?

THANKS

George,

I dunno how far I can help you, since I really haven't tampered too much with the W140 in our garage. However, from my knowledge, http://www.bekkers.com DOES sell replacement lens for the '95-'99 W140, so your lens MUST be removable...if you can somehow find out how to remove them, and then clean off the inside, then I think you should be good. I think somebody else on this board can help you in that respect. However, if you REALLY can't get that white film off with cleaning, http://www.bekkers.com seem to sell USA replacement lens for your S-Class (W140) for either '92-'94 or '95-'99 head lights at $89US per side, so you can always go that route if all else fails. Good luck!

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1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

I have a 93 W140 and it has glass headlights.. and from what the dealer says.. u cant remove the lense... ( a freakin stone cracked one of mine)

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Turk..
00 S500 W220
93 300SE W140
01 C 240 W203
86 SVO Mustang (Turbo Pwr'd.. hehe)

BMWTek,

The question about the whether or not the lens are removable is puzzling me...I think somebody should call http://www.bekkers.com and find out whether or not they ARE removable. If they AREN'T removable, then why is Bekkers sellin' replacement lenses??? Doesn't make sense to me!

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1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

I dunno but i didnt see any replacement lenses for the W140 on the site...

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Turk..
00 S500 W220
93 300SE W140
01 C 240 W203
86 SVO Mustang (Turbo Pwr'd.. hehe)

I always thought that the United States of America were progressive and renewing; the land with unnumbered possibilities...

The US government/DOT/EPA are just as old-fashioned as can be! We have removable glass headlight lenses at least as long as I live!

No wonder that I cannot import a 1993 Benz conv. without any trouble...

greetingz,

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1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

Thanks for the replies everyone!

1) The US lenses are NOT removable
2) The euro lenses are removable
3) The US lenses are plastic
4) The euro lenses are glass

Is this correct information? If so, why is Bekkers selling US replacement lenses?