280 SL - headlights and fuses

[Ian Harris]

I have just bought a lovely 280 SL Pagoda 1970 model with very low mileage, and I am new to the Forum. It's a left hand drive, and in order to get it through it's UK MOT, I need to convert the headlights to UK standards. Can anyone tell me what I need to buy, and where from ? Just the lens, or the whole headlamp unit ?

There is also one very small ceramic fuse - which has blown. Not sure what it does, but again any clues where I can find a supplier ?

I have tried various websites and also Mercedes UK - none of which have produced any results either for the headlights or the fuse.

Lastly, there is a pull-up switch in the middle of the centre console; it looks like a cigarette lighter (but isn't), lifts about half an inch and has a small light in the top of the switch which illuminates when the switch is lifted. Any idea what it does ??

[Larry & Norma]

Hi Ian
The lights I believe you can get away with new glass (or plastic lens as supplied by sls as repro).
The fuses you can get from Halfords in a blister pack thing.
The switch, do you have a heated rear screen on your hardtop?

Larry

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, Ian,

Does your car have Euro or US headlights?

This topic may help:

http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=16821.msg116186#msg116186

Naj

[Neil Thompson]

Ian the switch in the centre console as Gnuface says looks like heated rear window, quite rare I think, this can be confirmed by some extra wires running vertically inside a leather flap just on the panel to the rear of the left hand door, the fuses are available easily, the blown one can be identified by the paper guide in the fuse box lid or on this website, there will be second hand headlamps available I'm sure, put a wanted advert out to the forum. Car sounds nice, any photos?

Neil

[stickandrudderman]

S/H RHD headlamps are even rarer than a rocking horse's waste products.
I have new RHD headlamp glasses in stock but they are not cheap....

[Neil Thompson]

nothing's cheap when in limited supply

[Ian Harris]

Thanks to all - think I have found the answer to replace the vintage 18mm long stubby ceramic fuses which sit on top of a copper stub. The 'usual' ceramic ones are 1 inch long - and according to the Technical Manual a ceramic 25amp dark blue 1 inch fuse can replace what's there, once the copper stub has been removed.

Will revert re the headlamp lenses; need a bit more investigating of what's fitted at present - there are various flat and bubble options, but I am fairly sure they are Euro.

I don't have a heated rear window; someone has suggested the switch might be an Overdrive, or maybe the 'Automatic Starting Aid' or 'Electromagnetic Starting Valve'

Anyone know whether a 1970 imported left hand drive needs to have seatbelts fitted in order to pass a UK MOT; I have been given two conflicting advices; one says nothing is needed; the other says I need lap belts only (but not sure if there are any mounting points).

[mdsalemi]

Ian,

The stubby fuses are available; at the last PUB, Bud's had full fuse kits for sale, and some other people there had just the stubby ones for sale...I think I bought a few from 66andBlue to add to the other kit I got.  I have yet to ever replace a fuse, but I'm happy I have the spares.  Now, where did I put them?  Toolbox, or glovebox...better check! 

[Iconic]

I don't have a heated rear window; someone has suggested the switch might be an Overdrive, or maybe the 'Automatic Starting Aid' or 'Electromagnetic Starting Valve'

Ian,
I believe the switch in the console can be for a rear fog light also.
Do you have a rear fog light?
How about a picture of it so we can see if it looks original?

[stickandrudderman]

I never bothe with the stubby fuses. Just drill out the remainder of the stubby fuse and replace with the longer one. These are much more readily available.