Clear Corner Lenses on eBay not so hot...

[Gigtime]

I picked these up on eBay recently. They arrived from Hong Kong
in just over a week.

Unfortunately, there are a couple key problems.

1. The screw and plastic washer is missing from one of them. In fact, the hole isn't even drilled out all the way. http://www.ecommerceconfidential.com/Clear/Missing-Hardware.jpg
2. The sockets are cheap, the bulbs barely stay in. http://www.ecommerceconfidential.com/Clear/Sockets-2.jpg
3. The sockets don't match the plug on my 88 560 SEL http://www.ecommerceconfidential.com/Clear/Sockets-1.jpg

I'd just use the original sockets but they use a two-slot configuration
and the new fixture uses three.

I've written the company and haven't heard back yet (it's only been a
few hours). These only cost me $10 plus $18 shipping.

Are the ones selling in catalogs like Performance for $72 glass or are they
plastic, too?

The good news is this is, ordinarily, a very simple install. This is a swap that
can be done in ten minutes or less without using tools.

Bill

1988 560 SEL

[Johnhef]

I bought ones for my 123 from the same seller awhile back but I am surprised to see the hole missing from one of yours. The plugs are different because they were listed for "euros". Euro sockets only have two prongs. I didnt want to change mine out either so I reused the US three prong sockets and made them work with the corners.

[jbaj007]

Gig,

The euro config. (2 prong) takes a different bulb, of course. You can wire it to the 2 prong set up with a six connector MB plug that is used for euro headlights. The "city lights" in the euro headlight set up take the function of one of the prongs on the US socket corner light.

The search function will give you the whole skinny on wiring up for euro (2 prong) function and someone even did a write-up on alternating blink function.

I have never seen a clear corner in glass. PP is plastic.

[manny]

This is what you want.
http://www.bekkers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=APA000820-84-85&Category_Code=mtsights

[ebennz]

why don't you just cut/remove the tiny amount of plastic from the new item?

make the 3rd nub, use old indicator as a template.

end of problem.

[Gigtime]

Making the 3-prong fit is what I'll likely do if I can get the seller to
ship me the missing bracket. That makes more sense in paying $20
to ship them back to get a $10 refund on the part. So far, no response.

I'm thinking about getting the full euro headlight setup. The article
in the DIY section is pretty straightforward. I notice in the article,
the writer mentions that it cost him $300. Most of the euro headlight
kits I'm seeing cost in the $700 range. The article's from 2003, has the
cost of these kits gone up that much in 2 years?

Thanks,

Bill

[yal]

The corners are plastic even the glass. OE ones are the same. You should have got them from www.importvision.com they are probably the same ones.

[Gigtime]

Thanks, Yal, they've got decent pricing on the euro glass headlight
kit. I think I'm going to go ahead and order from those from importvision.

[Ramblin]

Originally Posted by yal

The corners are plastic even the glass. OE ones are the same. You should have got them from www.importvision.com they are probably the same ones.

I bought 3 sets of these from different places. Sent the first 2 sets back for the stated reasons..The ones from ImportVision fit the best but still had to be modified to look right.

[Gigtime]

Ramblin, what did you have to modify to get them to fit right?

At this point, I'm thinking about getting the set the offer with
the euro headlights and the corner lenses for roughly $250.

Bill

[hanno]

I hope you didn't expect Bosch quality at the knock-off price. I did the same, got a look-alike that had dimensional problems where the lamp socket was held. For $15/pair, that was no surprise. Its only a matter of time until they go into the trash and get replaced with real OEM clears. Either way, you are still going to have to put the 3 wire connecter into whatever unit you end up with. Euro were turn signal only on both my 86 and 87. Minor rewiring was required to keep everyting working. Same for my SL of that era.

[yal]

One of the major problems I had was that the oem socket had a wider socket wall so the grooves couldn't reach the lenses connector grooves in order to lock. I had to trim the wall down. Annoying.

[Gigtime]

hope you didn't expect Bosch quality at the knock-off price.

I didn't but on one of the two they didn't finish drilling out the hole
for the mounting bracket and they left out the hardware.

Should I expect junk for $250 for the glass euro conversion from
importvision, too? If so where's the best place to get a Bosch kit?

[ebennz]

yes.

you are going to get what you pay for, ESPECIALLY with knock off mercedes parts.

www.puma-access.com you MUST phone for mb euro light stuff.

www.capital.west.com if not correct, use an "o" instead of "a".

www.bekkers.com

www.adsitco.com


if you bought the hong knog stuff with a credit card you may see some of that money again.if you contact your credit card company. pay pal will probably be useless, but worth a shot.

buying overseas items from ebay is a TOTAL gamble.
when you have a problem, you have no one to call and virtually NO chance of ever getting anything but what you already have.

[Gigtime]

Thanks, Ebennz.

It was http://www.capitolwest.com/ with an 'o'.