OK, regarding the back up lights/reverse lights:

These appear to be welded into place--mine is loose and the metal fits together/looks like it was welded there originally. Now, I'm missing the rubber gasket type thing that goes around the enclosure as well. Anyone know where to get such a thing? All I can find online is

1. complete reverse light kit (don't need it; pretty expensive)
2. bulb (probably need it--light currently not working!)

SO I think I'm good with just getting that gasket, fitting the light back in, and using some kind of glue or epoxy (I ain't no welder) to fix it to the metal. What would you guys recommend for fixing it to the metal? And where would I find JUST that gasket?

I'd hate to go to all this trouble, obtaining the rubber, gorilla gluing it back (or something similar), putting on a new bulb and the light STILL be out.....happened to my left headlight that way....still doesn't work. Anyhow.

Oh yeah, I spied a white w123 wagon today in a parking lot, odometer had 326k on it, NO RUST visible, jackpoints looked pristine! (must be garage kept, this was in Amherst MASS), reverse lights had gaskets but the left one's bulb was dark while the right one was nice looking--MINE IS JUST LIKE THAT TOO. What's up with that? Is that what they look like when they burn out??? Keep in mind, the car was stationary, not turned on--I mean the bulb looked that way with the car turned OFF. It was dark, like it had some grease or dark mud behind the clear cover, while the left one looked normal. It's just funny b/c mine's the same....anyway. I would have waited for the owner to come out and plied him with questions but he very well could have thought me an obsessive weirdo to ask him about his reverse lights....last time I saw a wagon just like mine around here I walked over to talk to the person inside (driver parked it and ran into a shop) and as I got closer I saw it was a preteen kid who was giving me the strangest look as I scoped the car and walked up....I ended up just walking right on past it feeling kind of deviant! When the mom came back they got the F out of there pronto!!! I just laughed and laughed....

The lens on my '81 TD is dark because it is right above the exhaust pipe opening. It's on my to do list to take it apart and give it a good cleaning. The grease soot is on the inside and outside.

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Mike

1980 300SD
1981 300TD
1998 E320 Gasser Wagon
2000 SL500

Mine's the same way. I've never seen a clear one. I don't see any point in cleaning it because I'm guessing it will be black again in a couple of weeks unless you add a couple of foot extension to the tailpipe.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

if you buy just the lenses you will get the rubber gasket.

wish you had posted sooner, i just replaced my old, dirty, cracked lenses. tossed'em out, with gaskets!

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1979 300TD wagon (non-turbo)
266,000+

GreenMedallion,

Thanks for the offer, too bad I didn't post sooner. Anyway, what would you guys recommend for reattaching the housing to the frame of the car? Gorilla Glue? I'm not getting down there with a blow torch.


BG