Shift Gear lever Light

[Roman Kishi]

Is 5 watts ( Torpedo light)the right bulb for the shift gear lever light?
I did a search and could't find the answer.

Roman
Northern Virginia
280 1969,Signal Red, Auto

[Roman Kishi]

I still have no idea!

Roman
Northern Virginia
280 1969,Signal Red, Auto

[rwmastel]

I'd look in my parts book, but 230SL's didn't have lights.  SLS in Germany sells these.  Go to this site:
http://www.sls-hh-catalogue.de/bin/dbframes.phtml?mid=IN02

Click on picture for Group 27b (left hand column, 5 rows down).
Click on part #43

In their photo I see it's a 12v light (of course), but I can't read a wattage on it.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Jonny B]

I thought I remembered a thread on this topic. I searched using "automatic shift light" and found this:

Chris, it is a 12V 3W, 29 mm long (Osram #6428) bulb. Most car parts store should have them since they are still used in Hondas, VWs, BMW Ti, in dome lights or license plates.


Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[Roman Kishi]

Thank you all

Roman
Northern Virginia
280 1969,Signal Red, Auto

[scoot]

Has anyone added this light to a car that doesn't already have one?  I find the shift gate hard to see at night.

[66andBlue]

Scott,
what type of shifter console - 230SL type or 280SL type - do you have in your 250SL?  The older one has the gear numbers on the left and the number "0" for neutral,  the later has them on the right and a "N" for neutral. You cannot put a light bulb in the older style console.

[scoot]

quote:Originally posted by 66andBlue

Scott,
what type of shifter console - 230SL type or 280SL type - do you have in your 250SL?  The older one has the gear numbers on the left and the number "0" for neutral,  the later has them on the right and a "N" for neutral. You cannot put a light bulb in the older style console.

I have the older style with the numbers on the left and "O" for neutral.  So it just won't fit?  Oh well...

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by scoot
.. So it just won't fit?  Oh well...

Here is why:


In addition the numbers in the 230SL console are not open. So even if you put a tiny light (LED?) there you need to open up the numbers.

But you can always install the 280SL shifter console with the bulb in your car.

[scoot]

When I was thinking about this, I wasn't considering that the alphanumeric stuff would be illuminated because I realized that they were closed.  I was thinking that the plastic shift gate thing might be illuminated.  But from what you are saying it sounds like the purpose of the light is to illumnate the letters/numbers and not the actual shift gate itself.

Having said that, I have a follow-up question:  Are the replacement shift gate plastic pieces that are now available for new and old styles, or just one or the other?    The originals look like slightly different shapes and I need to replace mine.

[66andBlue]

quote:Originally posted by scoot

... But from what you are saying it sounds like the purpose of the light is to illumnate the letters/numbers and not the actual shift gate itself.
...  Are the replacement shift gate plastic pieces that are now available for new and old styles, or just one or the other?

The light illuminates both. Because the plastic guide is transparent you can see the numbers and letters. Depending on how the light housing is turned usually number "4" right above the light is the brightest and the ones on the end are dimmer. The rim that outlines the shift pattern is also lit because the light is scattered through the plastic.
The available replacement guide fits both consoles but be careful with the tabs when you take the old one out. They can brake!  

[scoot]

quote:Originally posted by 66andBlue
The light illuminates both. Because the plastic guide is transparent you can see the numbers and letters. Depending on how the light housing is turned usually number "4" right above the light is the brightest and the ones on the end are dimmer. The rim that outlines the shift pattern is also lit because the light is scattered through the plastic.

Hmmm.   So if my goal is to illuminate the plastic, do you think I can accomplish this even with the old shift gate?   It sounds like it...   Is the platic more illuminated on the right side than the left side (since that is where the light is)?   Thanks!

[66andBlue]

Should be possible to put a small bulb in there and illuminate the shift pattern. And yes, the rim side that is closer to the light source will be brighter.
Send me your email address through the web site here and I'll mail you more pictures so you can the assess the situation a bit more.

[JamesL]

well well

Having picked up on this thread, I learned that there's a light under the shift plate :oops: . I've only had the car 5 years

Quick search on SLS, a few euro plus a mint in postage and lo... 3w light under the shift plate