w108 remove amber turn signal light? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Stereolab42 · #1 06-25-2021, 04:26 PM

1973 280SE 4.5 sedan. You know, the two circular amber lights on the front that poke out. I'd like to remove the entire housing. You can't do it from inside the engine compartment, clearly you need to somehow remove the lens and front part of the chrome to get access to a bolt. But for the life of me I can't figure out how. From looking at eBay pictures it's clear the front part of the chrome does come off. My guess would be you need to rotate it, but that isn't doing anything. Is there a hidden clip?

Idle · #2 06-26-2021, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stereolab42

1973 280SE 4.5 sedan. You know, the two circular amber lights on the front that poke out. I'd like to remove the entire housing. You can't do it from inside the engine compartment, clearly you need to somehow remove the lens and front part of the chrome to get access to a bolt. But for the life of me I can't figure out how. From looking at eBay pictures it's clear the front part of the chrome does come off. My guess would be you need to rotate it, but that isn't doing anything. Is there a hidden clip?

I think once you have the lens off there are screws holding the bulb housing to the front panel. You remove those screws and pull off the bulb assembly. The wires come through the front panel and screw into the bulb assembly.

You have to look past the fifty years of use to see the mounting screws. They are usually discolored and blend in with the bulb assembly body.

Stereolab42 · #3 06-26-2021, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idle

I think once you have the lens off there are screws holding the bulb housing to the front panel. You remove those screws and pull off the bulb assembly. The wires come through the front panel and screw into the bulb assembly.

You have to look past the fifty years of use to see the mounting screws. They are usually discolored and blend in with the bulb assembly body.

Yeah, but I can't get the lens off. It's sandwiched between the outer chrome trim and the body. Clearly the outer trim ring must come off, but how?

rumb · #4 06-26-2021, 01:33 PM

photo from ebay item showing possible dimple that holds it on. try prying the ring out from the bottom gently.

Tomguy · #5 06-26-2021, 03:38 PM

Are you trying to remove the orange lens itself? The chrome ring needs to be pried off the bottom with a small screwdriver. It's got a "Dimple" you put it in and then you can pull it off.

Stereolab42 · #6 06-26-2021, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomguy

Are you trying to remove the orange lens itself? The chrome ring needs to be pried off the bottom with a small screwdriver. It's got a "Dimple" you put it in and then you can pull it off.

The whole assembly actually, I need to swap both housings for better housings off a parts car (which is sitting in the street and being junked in a few days so I need to act fast, no room to store it). From eBay pictures there is a big nut inside the housing that needs to be unscrewed to pull it off the car. I did see the dimple on the bottom and poked a little bit (even to the point where it slightly bent), but I'll try again.

EDIT: I'm a dumbass. I was trying to poke my screwdriver IN the dimple. All you have to do is poke it between the ring and housing BEHIND the dimple and the whole thing pops off.

Tomguy · #7 06-27-2021, 10:09 AM

Yes, sorry, I should have specified it's not a pry off as it may damage the ring. It's just the push point essentially. Sounds like you got the lens off which will now allow you to get the assembly off easier.

Stereolab42 · #8 06-27-2021, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomguy

Yes, sorry, I should have specified it's not a pry off as it may damage the ring. It's just the push point essentially. Sounds like you got the lens off which will now allow you to get the assembly off easier.

Yeah, simple swap after the ring and lens popped off. BTW if anyone in the SF Bay Area wants a 1972 280SEL 4.5 with a blown engine, rust-free body, but without most of the chrome (which I took for my working car), let me know quick before it goes to the junk yard...

Tomguy · #9 06-28-2021, 10:52 AM

Too bad you don't have room to store it. I would jump on that if I were near Cali, or had a truck to tow it cross-country with.

w1083 · #10 06-28-2021, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stereolab42

Yeah, simple swap after the ring and lens popped off. BTW if anyone in the SF Bay Area wants a 1972 280SEL 4.5 with a blown engine, rust-free body, but without most of the chrome (which I took for my working car), let me know quick before it goes to the junk yard...

If you're parting it out, send me a private message. I may be interested in some stuff if you're willing to ship to SoCal.

Stereolab42 · #11 06-28-2021, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w1083

If you're parting it out, send me a private message. I may be interested in some stuff if you're willing to ship to SoCal.

I don't see any options to PM, anyone know why? Do I not have enough posts? I'm not parting out the car, I need to get rid of the whole car ASAP. The catch is I don't have the title yet, bought it from some low-brow auction house that is taking forever to send it. But I do have a bill of sale. I'll sell the darn thing for one dollar to anyone who can pick it up. Probably only a matter of a week before the city hauls it off.