Author Topic: All Red Tail lights (Read 47045 times)

sammyr · « **on:** October 19, 2004, 15:57:12 »

Does anyone know where I can get the all red 280SL tail lights?

Ricardo · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2004, 16:21:09 »

I think Dan Caron (Benz Dr.) has reproductions available...the originals are not available as far as the folks here have found.
Ricardo

ricoled · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2004, 18:31:01 »

Bud's Benz sells the all-red lens at their online site. Instructions are to 'pop' the old lens out from the chrome bezel and glue the new lens in. Sounds scary to me. Not sure if they are reproductions or originals.

Dan, how much does a pair go for?

'68 280SL
'82 240D
'90 260E

hauser · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2004, 18:46:35 »

The all red lenses are no longer available. They are reproductions of the original lenses. The raised markings and numbers are on my reprodutions. I purchased mine from Gernold as complete units. In the photo gallery there is a rear shot of my car and which you can check out for yourself. They are secured with glue/silicone and work pefectly. The only sources I know of are from Dan, Buds & Gernold.

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

bluedipper · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2004, 22:09:51 »

My car has the original red lens' that I would like to replace with the brighter and more current amber ones since I drive the car a lot. I'm assuming it is the same procedure as changing from the amber to the red. My thought was to keep the red ones in storage just to be sure I still have the right stuff to offer if I ever sell the car. However, wouldn't it be easier to get the complete assembly and just bolt it up? In this way one could avoid the possibility of damaging the rare red lens and tail light assembly.

Chuck
68 250SL

Bob G ✝︎ · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2004, 14:46:52 »

You might also want new chrome housing before you put in new lenses. but make sure the chrome housing for the tailight you get are for a 113 SL and not a later 111 coupe and converible. The difference is the housing will not align with the holes and you will have problems fitting them.

Reproduction red lenses vary in price from $120 to $300 each depending on who you get them from. Remember you will need the bezel gasket and maybe the grey gasket on the blub holder as well. Knobs are still available only in black.
Van dijk Classic SL parts one of the vendors on our Database list sells the lenses and chrome housing but not the bezels that house the tail light bulbs. These go on after the lens has been put in and are held in place by four clips that are plastic and are melted in place.

The cost is about the same as if you went to the later style taillights from the later 1969 to 1971. Only the bulb housing is different. You might want to contact Gernold at SL Tech to see if he has any used good condition lamps units and buy these as a fixed assembled set.

All of the people who are mentioned in these post are qualified to help you replace your early red tail light units.
Bob Geco
1968 280SL

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2004, 15:28:58 »

The ones I can get are $179.00 each. Not sure how that compares with the other guys.
I think I have a few bulb holder assembys around here as used parts for these older style lights.

You can't use the ones from a 111 Coupe even though they look the same. There's an area near the corner end that dips in and the SL is flat. The lense and other internal parts are pretty much the same. Only the chrome bezzel is different.

Daniel G Caron

A Dalton · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2004, 20:16:37 »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2497584462&category=34207

These will not go for short $$$$

hauser · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2004, 20:44:40 »

How can you tell if these lights are in fact original? I know the seller states "NOS" but how do you tell the difference without inspecting them up close?

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

Douglas · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2004, 20:59:24 »

I think there's supposed to be a date stamped into the plastic of the lens, or so I've been told.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

hauser · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2004, 21:11:52 »

I'm try to compare these to the ones I purchased from Gernold.

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

Bob G ✝︎ · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2004, 12:43:03 »

The red taillights on e-bay appear to be new old stock all black rear reflector housing back with nice new chrome taillight surounds. Rare in that they have not been around for along time. If the price is right it certainly would be a good investment to hold on to as spares.

bob Geco

Jonny B · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2004, 18:52:12 »

I sure do not know if this price is right. But I just checked and the pair is now up to $1625!!! And there are still a few days left on the auction.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

hauser · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2004, 19:15:38 »

Johnny check again! Now over 2025.00 with three days to go!!!! I bet the seller has one big smile on his face right about now!!

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

mdsalemi · « **Reply #14 on:** November 02, 2004, 13:04:01 »

I personally fail to see the fascination with all red tail lights. OK, if you have an original car, and they are original in great shape, I probably wouldn't change them. But I wouldn't spend $1,800 on a set either--not when plenty of amber ones are around for what amounts to a pittance.

However--there is a bit of a safety issue with all red, IMHO. Today's drivers (as opposed to those 35 years ago) are not used to seeing these things so G*d only knows what the idiot driving behind you is thinking. Directionals are amber, tail lamps are red; side markers are red in the rear and amber in the front and that's the way people are used to seeing things. I can just see getting rear ended and some insurance company starts laying blame to the "irregularity" of the lamps in the rear. Stranger things have happened.

I changed mine to amber, as this was a safety concern on my part. I only got $850 for my set of all red--someone on eBay must really want them--or is it a buyer's scam? There's been an awful lot of things bid up to astronomical levels and then the deals never seem to materialize. The sale of mine helped to pay for a few other more important things.

In the stringent world of MBCA judging you won't be deducted for safety related items that are not original. At Starfest I got dinged points for replacement vacuum hose but not for my tail lamps! But I suppose if you really must have them to sleep at night...

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

J. Huber · « **Reply #15 on:** November 02, 2004, 14:02:24 »

Hey Michael, I'm with you. (partly because I changed to the Amber ones as well!)

When I changed mine back in '90s, the general consensus was the Reds were NOT available. This was pre-Ebay and 113 sites... So I got shiny new multi-colored ones and think they look great. They brighten up the rear-end a lot. Now, if I had a perfectly restored 1963 230SL and wanted to get top-dollar, maybe I'd get the Reds again. This scenerio, by the way, is highly unlikely!

I do still have the old ones -- left is a 6/10 - right a 3/10 (no lens!).

James
63 230SL

Malc · « **Reply #16 on:** November 02, 2004, 14:18:10 »

Hi,
Due to changes in the law in the UK you need indicators on vehicles. It seems that orange indicators are required now. My 62 MGA had "white" front indicators which would not pass the MOT (vehicle inspection). I got away with using orange bulbs in white (clear) lens as per the original build.
I understand this and while originality is very important for some people I think safety comes first, so as the rear lens on the old girl are broken I will go with orange ones..
Just a comment
Malc

mdsalemi · « **Reply #17 on:** November 02, 2004, 17:01:50 »

quote:
Originally posted by Malc

Hi,
Due to changes in the law in the UK you need indicators on vehicles. It seems that orange indicators are required now. My 62 MGA had "white" front indicators which would not pass the MOT (vehicle inspection). I got away with using orange bulbs in white (clear) lens as per the original build.
I understand this and while originality is very important for some people I think safety comes first, so as the rear lens on the old girl are broken I will go with orange ones..
Just a comment
Malc

Hey Malc--old Brit cars generally all used the same old Lucas stuff despite the marque...I remember the little clear glass (not plastic) markers on our old Austin. My brother ended up finding glass ones in amber! Yep, amber glass to modernize that old 66 Cooper! My bet is that it is the same pieces that were or are on your MG! My brother didn't like the idea of an amber bulb in a clear glass housing...

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

A Dalton · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2004, 17:50:58 »

OK guys,
I just picked up a set of Universal Trailor rear lights , plate bracket and all..so if anyone can match the final bid price of the ones on ebay , I will yank my 113 Reds off for ya and install the Universals...

Lock Your Trunks !!!! At these prices, they are now a better score for crooks than robbing a Bank...

Jonny B · « **Reply #19 on:** November 05, 2004, 05:38:14 »

Well the auction ended and the winning bid was $US 2550!!!!

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

Malc · « **Reply #20 on:** November 05, 2004, 06:57:44 »

quote:
Originally posted by Jonny B

Well the auction ended and the winning bid was $US 2550!!!!

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

More money than sense
Malc

peterm · « **Reply #21 on:** November 05, 2004, 11:28:01 »

reminds me of a rear end collision I was once involved in, I do recall something flying by my head, it was later when I was inspecting the damage that I found the cassette tape that had shot from the player in the dash to the rear parcel shelf of my 525i.

pagode.info · « **Reply #22 on:** November 06, 2004, 01:54:55 »

New red taillight lenses incl. chrome bezel,
rubber and reflector are 228,45 Euro each.
(New orig. parts, not repro or overhauled)

(old lenses are taken in exchange)

www.pagodenteile.de/12.htm

The glasses only are 102,59 Euro each.

www.pagodenteile.de/32.htm

www.pagode.info

pagode.info · « **Reply #23 on:** November 08, 2004, 04:46:42 »

Additional Info about the situation in
Germany:

The price for a new pair will be about
650.-- Euro (Dealers who takes old len-
ses back in exchange will ask about 450.--
for a pair.)

New pair means: new glass, new frame, new
rubber, new reflector. No metal bulb hol-
ders. All parts (except the glass) are still
available new orig. Merc Parts. The glass
is a repro-part, made by a german supplier,
who also delivers the german Classic Center
with pre-war and also 300 SL/SC/170/220 etc.
parts. The glass has the same colour, shape
and even the same numbers and stamps on it,
so that You cannot see any difference to the
original glasses.

The price for a pair of "new old stock"
red taillights will be about 1000 - 1200
Euro, if You have the chance to buy one.

One has to deceide between both. Some may
prefer new old stock and accept the higher
prices on the market. Others who only want
new lamps on their cars may go for the new
ones.

I was asked, if Mercedes will reproduce
the red taillights themselves in the fu-
ture. (I do not know.) I don`t think
so. As long as the Pagoda owner`s have
the choice between two different products,
they will not add a 3rd one.

Have a nice day,

Tom

mdsalemi · « **Reply #24 on:** November 08, 2004, 10:22:51 »

Hello All,

Bob Geco and I have been having a discussion off line on the requirements for directional indicator coloring on US cars. As we know in mid 1969 our cars changed from the now elusive all red to amber. My Austin cars of the time period, including MG's I had went through a similar change. Bob pointed out that some new cars (like the 2005 Mustang he's drooling over

)are again, all red! Well, that got me researching...

I don't have all the definitive answers yet, but it appears as if in March, 1989 new regulations went into effect permitting amber or red directionals in the rear and amber only in the front. You can see some of this information here:

http://www.preproassembly.com/tec/cfr49393011.htm

My guess is that somewhere between 1969 and 1989, these regulations were relaxed in the same way that square headlights, and non-sealed beams were allowed.

So, I guess those with the red tail lamps can feel safe as many cars incorporate them now. However, with the recent price of a good set on eBay, I'd pull them off, or at least inform your insurance company that your all-red plastic lenses are worth the price of a Rolex! I guess it is good to know that in 99.99% of the cases if you are rear-ended it is the other guy's fault!

A Dalton, forget the trailer lights, put your all red ones on ebay and get a new set of amber's and take the wife on a vacation to Stuttgart.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

News:

Author Topic: All Red Tail lights (Read 47045 times)

sammyr

Ricardo

ricoled

hauser

bluedipper

Bob G ✝︎

A Dalton

hauser

Douglas

hauser

Bob G ✝︎

hauser

Malc

A Dalton

Malc

peterm

pagode.info

pagode.info