Refinishing euro headlight reflectors

[rmasteller]

Hello. I have a 1966 230SL Euro and the three headlight reflectors on one side are rusty. I tried painting them and that was a terrible mistake, made it worse!

Does anyone know of a company that will strip the reflector clean and refinish it? I've been searching the internet for a few days now and can't find anything.

[WANT '71 280SEL]

Maybe try a mirror/glass place? For example, I know of a place locally that redoes the metal behind mirrors. I wonder if a place like that could so something like headlights?
Thanks
David

[psfred]

If they are rusty, you are probably out of luck, they won't every reflect properly.

If not, I believe they are chrome plated if metal, silver or aluminum plated if glass.

Peter

[nachi11744]

Hello,
NEW reflectors are avaliable from Robert Bosch, now made in the Czech Republic. Bop on down to your local Euro parts store and ask them to look up the current Bosch catalogs for Mercedes Benz or call Bosch NA and ask them, I found parts to overhaul a Porsche 356A distributor in 2000 by pestering them for long enough.
Do not chrome plate reflectors, it will give a dull yellow surface. I think the actuall process is an aluminium vapor coating or silvering that is then somehow sealed to prevent oxidiasation(sp?) of the reflective surface.
You will need to replace every gasket and grommet in the headlamp bowl and seal it off to prevent dust and moisture entry or the new parts will be scrap in a few weeks.
Hope that helps.

[rmasteller]

I'm having a hard time finding just the reflectors for sale. I have the MB part numbers. Tom Hanson at Caliber Motors (MB Dealership) has always been great at finding the proper part for my 230SL, and he did get me the two sets of seals for these headlights earlier this year, but he said MB is no longer importing Euro headlight components to the USA. The seals he had were already in stock.

I've contacted a few suppliers (obvious not exhausted the list yet) and it seems only whole assemblies are available. I have not found just the reflectors as of yet.

Can anyone recommend a particular company to get this work done? Here's the only one I've found on the internet and I jsut sent them an e-mail today.
http://www.stevesautorestorations.com/silvering.htm
I need to go get a Hemmings Motor News today and browse through that.

[kpb]

Rodd, pretty much lurking here, but since we've had afew exchanges and you are a Central OH guy, I was reminded of a place in Grandview which used to do this automotive specialty plating/coating stuff. Will try to dredge my memory/records for info...

[Hector111]

Hey RM

Here is something - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=34206&item=4511161981&rd=1

Are these it? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10076&item=4510402563&rd=1

[rmasteller]

Originally Posted by Hector111

Here is something - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=34206&item=4511161981&rd=1

Yes, these 230SL lights are what I need, but I only need the reflectors. I'll see if this price jumps up.

Are these it? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10076&item=4510402563&rd=1

These are for a sedan and don't fit my roadster. But look at how shiney and bright!!

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Would be nice to have that W113 headlamp as a spare, but with 6 days left, expect the bidding to reach outrageous levels. And those sedan reflectors are already more than I paid for a nice set of Euro lights for my Fintail. Later on, if I do have problems with my reflectors or finding replacement bulbs, I'm thinking of modifying a pair of 7' round H4 headlamps to fit my Euros.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[nachi11744]

Hello,
FWIW, here are the Bosch part #s for a number of 60s MB headlamps, I finally dug up my hardcopy Bosch catalogs(up to 1982 only)all are for the Euro LHD bulb type headlamps;
1.W111 main reflector:1 305 314 109 for Bilux 45/40W R2 bulb
2.W108 main reflector:1 305 314 133 for Bilux 45/40W R2 bulb
3.W113 main reflector:1 305 314 917 for H1 55W bulb
4.W114 main reflector:1 305 314 910 for Bilux 45/40W R2 bulb
5.W114 main reflector:1 305 314 923 for H4 60/55W bulb
6.W100 main reflector:1 305 314 905 for Bilux 45/40W R2 bulb
7.W100 main reflector:1 305 314 926 for H4 60/55W bulb

Strange as it may seem, there is no listing for a Bilux or H4 type reflector for the W113, for H1, there would have to be two bulbs like the early Porsche 911s. Looks like this is only going to raise more questions than answer the initial query.

[rmasteller]

I don't know what the BOSCH part number would be, but several bulb manufacturers (Sylvania, etc.) make a halogen bulb that replaces the big round incondescent bulb in the normal W113 headlight. This is an H4 bulb on a H45t base. It's a direct replacement and works great. When I get home tonight, I'll see if I kept the boxes mine came in. If so, I'll provide a part number.

Great lighting resource:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com

[nachi11744]

halogen bulb that replaces the big round incondescent bulb in the normal W113 headlight. This is an H4 bulb on a H45t base.

Hello,
That is actually P45t base, the standard H4 is P43t base, with the 3 prongs to locate the bulb.
The round base Bilux replacement H4 bulbs(P45t) are becoming scarce, if you see them on shelves, just buy now.
Have a good week

to replace the p43t base on an H-4 bulb with an old p45t base -- I've been doing it for years. All you need for tools besides a light duty soldering torch is an extra p45t type reflector so that you can align the position of the new bulb's filaments for both depth and angle very carefully in the old style base by the actual beam pattern before you do the soldering. It helps to have a genuine factory-assembled bulb of the pre-halogen asymmetrical type to set up your pattern on a wall correctly and clamp down the reflector in that position, too.

[Arthur Dalton]

Originally Posted by Fimum Fit

to replace the p43t base on an H-4 bulb with an old p45t base -- I've been doing it for years. All you need for tools besides a light duty soldering torch is an extra p45t type reflector so that you can align the position of the new bulb's filaments for both depth and angle very carefully in the old style base by the actual beam pattern before you do the soldering. It helps to have a genuine factory-assembled bulb of the pre-halogen asymmetrical type to set up your pattern on a wall correctly and clamp down the reflector in that position, too.

Yes, Done a few myself.
But now it is not worth it cuz you can get them from Captal West for $7 ea.
Narva # 48884 is the drop -in H4 w/P45t base. 60/55..
This replaces the Tunstun. Also, take out the heat caps, as the new bulbs have the caps built right into the top internals of the lamp..

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Please, can you supply us contact information for Capital West?

Happy Motoring, Mark