Side Markers

[jeblack123]

Good afternoon,

I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. I am in the process of respraying my car and wanted to know is it correct for a 1968 European 280sl to have the side markers or should I delete them?

Thanks for the feedback,

James (Eddie) BLack

[Pawel66]

Sidemarkers are, in essence, the US feature. But check in which country your car was ordered and delivered as it may mean other side lamps options, e.g. Italian.

The information about the market of delivery you have coded on Paint and Option Codes Plate, the one next to the relay bracket. Decoding is described in Technical Manual.

[GM]

In addition to Pawel said, there's this - https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=27287.0

[jeblack123]

Thank you both!

James

[Leester]

When I had the body work done on my US 1970 280SL, we welded in metal to remove the openings for the side markers. When I get to bumpers, they will not have the bumper guards or whatever they are called.

I'm not going to try to get every small piece to be euro but, for me, the side markers had to go.

To each his own. If you like the look of the side markers, keep them, if not, its your car and do what you like!

But that's just me.

Lee

[Pawel66]

There are a lot of items/differences between the Euro specs and the US specs as mentioned by other Mambers - visible and less or not visible. For chassis work and paintjob it is about the sidemarkers mainly, I think. There is also this chrome stripe under the rear license plate. If you intend to have it (the US register plate are just too big for it) and if you intend to have it fitted the way it was factory fitted (rivets) I think it is a good idea to do the holes before paint job.

Take a look here for reference, parts 41-44: https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/de/mercedes-230-280sl-w113/88-b-chrom-anbauteile

Then the very visible parts are headlights - if you intend to change from the US type to Euro type - it is good to give the new units to the chassis guys to make sure they fit, I think.

I think other items mentioned by other Members come later (e.g. door skins). Of course it depends how far you want to go.

[MikeSimon]

Headlights: And there are two different version of Euro headlights. Easily identified by "bubble" vs "flat" glass.

[Cees Klumper]

When I replaced my US headlights for Euro ones it was a straight swap, I only had to grind off a tab on the chrome surround inners to make those fit the new lights.

[Pawel66]

It should be a straight swap, the shape is not different. But if any bodywork was done around the front fenders, it is better to try the units on before paintjob is done, I think.

[MikeSimon]

Depending on what version Euro headlights you are using, you may have some wiring issues. Even the two Euro versions are not interchangeable without wiring modifications.