rear light bezel

[jmbour]

Hello,

Following the European event 2012, I decided to use winter season to make some improvements to my 280 SL.

The rear light bezels were pitted on the upper side, so I took them off (apart from the lenses, they are separated on my late 280SL) and get them re-chromed.
But when I tried to put them back on the car, I saw that the four threaded "bars" used to fix the bezesl on the body have also been chromed, so that the 5 mm nuts does not fit anymore.
I see that some of them move under pressure, so I wonder if they can be taken off the bezel, in order to be replaced.
Can somebody tell me if this is possible ?
Best regards,
J.M. Bour

[w113dude]

The best thing would be to re-tap the threads in your bezel with a bottom end tap or take the right size tap and grind it down, (see photo below) after re-taping the threads use some two part glue at the tip of the threaded rods, I have done many like this it works everytime.

[IXLR8]

Hi--

Run a die down the threads to clean out the chrome  plating. You wont have to clean them up too far down the threads as the 5mm nut only grabs at the top 1/2 inch or so.


the other Joe

[jmbour]

Thanks,
I will start by cleaning (or sanding) the threads on the rods. Only if it does not work, I will take them off and replace them.
I hope the plating did not get into the threads of bezel, and I will not have to redo them.
jmB

[jmbour]

Sanding the rods was not enough : the diameter of the rods is 6 mm at the tips instead of 5 mm.
So I tried 6 mm nuts and they are OK, at least along 1 or 2 centimeters form the tip (after that, they become loose on the rods).
To keep the 6 mm nuts close to the tips, I will use them with spacers.
During the process, one of the rods get off the bezel. I intend to replace it with a new 5 mm threaded rod, and it seems it will fit without having to redo the internal thread of the bezel. I will use some glue to be sure the rod will not get out anymore.
The only problem is that this derives a little bit from the original mounting, but my car is not a concours beast.
Thanks again, this forum proves again to be very helpful.

JMB