OK, the car is not even running, but I am already thinking of what other things I want to do with it :-)

I was thinking of installing turn signals (amber bulbs) in the outside small lens that is in the headlight trim between the two headlights. Has anyone done this? I am thinking it may have to be some kind of sealed unit, as water may be able to get in there.

I could leave the stock turn signals where they are, or could mount foglights there.

Csaba
72 280SEL 4.5

I have a Euro W109 which has those lights. I think that the headlight doors are the same, but the US cars have a sealed clear plastic lens instead of a bulb assembly.

The headlights are sealed beams instead of H4's and the Euro cars have spot lamps instead of separate turn signals mounted on the fenders.

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With best regards

Al

MERCEDES HEAD LIGHT 220se 280se 3.5 coupe w111 W108

http://bit.ly/17VOrxE

I hope the link works. If not search eBay article 261203878546

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1972 W108 280SE 4.5
1977 W116 450SEL
1981 E12 528i BMW

Note that the bulb holders for those are NLA and that hen's teeth are more common.

See these; Mercedes 108 109 111 112 Triangular Head Light Assemble | eBay

eBay item 120740964273 from Gullwing Automotive

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Looking for Early 108 windshield surround wood in decent-to-good condition.

.... In fact those are the ones I bought but I mistakenly sent the link to the others after a quick search.

Sorry.

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1972 W108 280SE 4.5
1977 W116 450SEL
1981 E12 528i BMW

FWIW I think the clear lens with an amber bulb behind it would look best.
I'm thinking of modifying the current setup to use a universal bulb holder.
We'll see.

Csaba

I don't know why US cars didn't just come with the outer corner lights as amber tune signals...they were already there for the using.

You can also separate the parking light and turn signal functions for increased clarity of intentions. The standard US setup with the parking light and turn signal combined in one dual filament bulb results in a dim/dimmer light that does both. Since you want to illuminate the corner light/s, you can use single filament bulbs and put an amber in the outer for the turn signals and a regular bulb in the inner, for the parking light function.

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Looking for Early 108 windshield surround wood in decent-to-good condition.

Hubba hubba

Mercedes w 108 109 111 112 Bosch US Ver Head Light Full Assembly 220 250 280 300 | eBay

Did Bosch/ MB do a run of these or something? Looks like the real deal and not a knockoff.

Isn't that just a Euro setup (for stacked, model specific) with US type headlight lenses? That's what I took away from the listing. Clever but you can add US market lenses/bulbs to any Euro setup.

I wonder too why we didn't just use this from the outset. Why go through the expense of engineering the signal bullets, sourcing new lens and specialized gasket for same, and making sealed non-functional lenses for the headlight doors? Since most of the US differences were based on "safety considerations" the original setup with blinkers in the headlight bezel is far superior because you can actually see the lights from the side, unlike cars with bullet indicators that you can only see head-on.

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1962 220SE W111 Coupe, 2nd owner

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../SideSmall.jpg

The Coupe Group (W111/112 coupes and cabs) official website
The Coupe Group on Facebook
MotoArigato: Roadworthy News & Humor

>I don't know why US cars didn't just come with the outer corner lights as >amber tune signals...they were already there for the using.

Likely because of some crazy DOT regulation.

>You can also separate the parking light and turn signal functions

Definitely! I have it when there is only one light for two functions.
I would also wire the sidemarkers to blink with the turn signals.

Csaba

Now you're talking...

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Looking for Early 108 windshield surround wood in decent-to-good condition.

I have been thinking of doing the same thing, adding a bulb holder to the existing clear lenses and deleting the faux foglight turn signal and then eventually the side marker lights. My budget doesn't allow for simply purchasing the euro lenses and dropping them in.
The full glass ecodes are of course a completely different animal, but the stacked round light setups are almost the same US and Euro. The chrome headlight doors, light buckets and the plastic lens shape are the same. The wiring and wire plugs are different but that is minor. The big difference is the backing plate for the plastic lenses, which unfortunately isn't easily possible to replace without breaking the lens.

Here was my first idea, which I dismissed as too ghetto after mocking it up. I had planned to just use that little universal bulb holder and also rivet a tab for a ground wire. I figured I would run that for a while and see how it worked and if there were moisture issues. I was also concerned that little Ba9s bulb wouldn't be bright enough. Thankfully I have a spare lens backing plate to try things out on. I decided to wait and find a bulb socket that has a wired ground and uses a larger Ba15s or Ba15d bulb and has a gasket of some sort to deter water vapor in the lens.

I just haven't found a socket solution I like enough yet. I have been thinking of using something like the Pico 5450PT, but I'm not sure that delicate backing plate can be cut well enough to get the pattern right.

If you do add a bulb to your existing lenses and they are as clear as mine I suggest you mask off the front and spray the sides of the lens with chrome or silvered spray paint to help reflect more light out the front of the lens. Easy, inexpensive, and effective, not to mention invisible when installed.

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1971 280 SEL
1981 Volvo 242Tic | 1980 Bertone Coupe

C'mon its $186 for the set of lights! something that IMO its worth.. simple & practical, plus peace of mind that you won't have moisture causing a mayor short.

Its only a 2-3 dine at home effort and if you cook your wife will be thrilled .. double wammy

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1972 W108 280SE 4.5
1977 W116 450SEL
1981 E12 528i BMW

My Euro 111 has the stacked headlights with the outer clear lenses as combo turn/parking. My vision is to delete the side markers added when imported to US, install the NOS Mercedes special order Hella driving lights I bought years ago and add the NIB amber outer lenses I bought about 12 years ago when they were available at a reasonable price. Had I known how pricy they would get I would have bought all the seller had...
The challenge will be welding up the side marker holes and matching the paint.

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Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

do you have a pic of those NOS driving lights?

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1972 W108 280SE 4.5
1977 W116 450SEL
1981 E12 528i BMW