w111 rear lights

[amazon69]

Hi all,

I am missing the bulb holders/rear part for the rear lights on my w111 coupe 3.5. Firstly, would anyone know the part number for these, as it may help my search, which has been fruitless. Secondly, could I use the bulb holders from another similar Merc? I am not averse to a bit of fettling to persuade them to fit. I have yet to see any for sale anywhere. Your help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Dave

[Tony H]

If you look on Ebay you can see pics and compare them. I see used taillight assemblies on Ebay occasionally as well as the bulb holders.

[amazon69]

Thanks Tony,

I have seen many lenses and backing reflectors on there, and indeed I already have those, but I have never managed to find a pic of the bulb holders. I am hoping to find out whether there is another part which I could use, seeing as bits for the coupe are hard to find.
Cheers

d

[Tony H]

I can take a picture of my bulb holders this weekend if that would help.

[amazon69]

Hi Tony,

That would be helpful, thanks. If you see the part number that would be really helpful. Thanks a lot.

Dave

[ScooterABC]

I _think_ the bulb holders for a 111 coupe are the same as for a Pagoda. So expensive. There is a really nice complete assembly on ebay right now for what I think is a bargain:
Mercedes W111 W112 Coupe Cabriolet Convertible Tail Light Taillight 280SE 3 5 | eBay

I can't imagine you getting a good bulb older for less than that. But it might not be the correct side...

[amazon69]

Thanks buddy. That pic is really helpful as it is the first time I've seen what the holder actually looks like. I agree that the price seems fair for the whole unit, the only thing being I only need the holders. I shall keep my eyes peeled and hopefully find what I need. Interesting that the holder does not fully follow the form of the light. Maybe it's possible to make my own.

[ScooterABC]

Don't go down the path of trying to make a bulb holder. Disclosure: I know the seller of that item and he is honest. If you want to buy just the bulb holder I can give you his direct contact information. PM me with yours if you want.

Scott

[amazon69]

Thanks Scott. I'll send you a pm, it's worth an ask. Any particular reason to not try making a pair? I know it's not ideal, but that one light costs about a third of what I paid for the entire car…

d

[ScooterABC]

Originally Posted by amazon69

Thanks Scott. I'll send you a pm, it's worth an ask. Any particular reason to not try making a pair? I know it's not ideal, but that one light costs about a third of what I paid for the entire car…

I'm very confused. Are you saying you bought a W111 3.5 coupe for less than $1000?????? If so, you can expect to dump a lot more money into it to get it nice. Does it run??? Pics please. Coupe-unique parts are not inexpensive.

[amazon69]

The car was £1000. I have been incredibly lucky. It was having the bodywork restored 26 years ago, that was mostly finished, then the body shop went bust, the owner was given a week to remove it. He did, put it in a barn, intended to do it up, never did. I jokingly said he could give it to me (he knows I'm into my classic cars, I have 2 amazons and a '59 Bristol). He tapped me on the shoulder recently and said I could have it. For free. I refused, offered him the grand, he accepted. There are various trim parts missing, such as a bit of front and rear window chrome, a brake calliper, rear light holder etc. Most bits I have managed to find for reasonable money, but certain parts are eye wateringly expensive. Ludicrous, actually, imho, but given the prices attainable for these cars maybe not..everyone wants to get rich quick I'll not be selling it.
It'll run soon. I have replaced the fuel pump, all lines, rebuilt the injection system, dizzy, all ignition parts, aav, flushed the fuel tank, replaced all fluids and filters, rebuilt the gearbox lock out, cleaned and freed all injectors, reseated them, rebuilt the throttle body and tps, cleaned all the electrical connections etc. I tried to start it last weekend for the first time in 26 years, but there's something up with the ecu connections (fuel pump continually runs on key position two, no start or spark presently). Hopefully tomorrow she'll fire up. I'm on a steep learning curve, but loving it. I have attached one of the few pics I have, taken after I pulled all the front chrome off.

[ScooterABC]

That's wonderful. Unfortunately you will need to invest some $$$ for missing parts. The coupe-specific ones are expensive. But things like the headlight bezels are same as W108 sedans and comparatively inexpensive.

I'm glad you have 2 amazons and a Bristol. Bristol is really cool.

[Idle]

Use the search term 'taillight assembly' as this seems to be the more popular term for this part.

And the ones I have seen use one type for the right and one for the left, or maybe there are just two type of assemblies. One has a plastic lens that will allow light to be projected into the trunk area when the headlights are on. I would think that you could find a right and a left assembly with this lens but they usually only came with one side or the other.

[ScooterABC]

Originally Posted by Idle

And the ones I have seen use one type for the right and one for the left, or maybe there are just two type of assemblies. One has a plastic lens that will allow light to be projected into the trunk area when the headlights are on. I would think that you could find a right and a left assembly with this lens but they usually only came with one side or the other.

OK, this is coming from Pagoda knowledge, not W111 coupe knowledge but I think it's the same answers.

1. There are "early" and "late" tail lights. I think 1968 is the switch-over year.
2. Early taillights have a lens that is heat set into the chrome frame. And they have a bulb housing that has a clear panel in it that represents the useless trunk light (it's a parking light that also projects into the trunk. This would be on both left and right. The lens and chrome bezel are ONE assembly, and the bulb housing is another assembly.
3. Late taillights have a bezel that is separate from the lens. The lens for 111 coupes and pagodas is the same for these, but the chrome bezel is different.
4. Late taillights have a different bulb housing that has more black plastic and less pot metal and does NOT have the clear lens that shines into the trunk.

You can use the early or late on either car, however the back for an early does not match the lens for the late and vice-versa, so you have to get it right.

In the US market the early ones have red corners, the late ones have amber corners. I don't that that is the same for the rest of the world.

I'm not 100% sure that the lens back for a early 111 coupe is the same as the lens back for an early 113 coupe, but I _think_ they are.

[amazon69]

Thanks. That does seem to be a better search term. I was wondering about that window..makes sense. I really hope there's not two types! I'm having enough trouble finding/affording one. Ha. I'm sure I'll get there, there's no rush really…it's just that having spent the summer getting her ready to roll I'm eager to drive her.
Thanks for your help.
d