Side Mirror type - when did they change?

[RobSirg]

Hi All,

At what production number of the 250SL did they change from the Gooseneck type side mirrors to the later type?

Reason I ask is that my earlyish (May 1967) 250SL has the later type which might not be correct.

if they are in fact incorrect  - do you know if the fixing spacings are the same between the two types? IE: Can you simply bolt off and bolt on again?

Thanks

Rob

[WRe]

Hi,
afaik the standard left side mirror was a
- version 1 for 230/250 SL up to 250 SL VIN ..002979 and a
- version 2 from VIN ..002980 and all 280 SL.
That means that they changed it in July 1967.
...WRe

[mbzse]

At what production number of the 250SL did they change from the Gooseneck type side mirrors to the later type?

Chassis No 2979 just as WRe writes

 

...the fixing spacings are the same between the two types? IE: Can you simply bolt off and bolt on again?

No, the distance between the mounting screw rods are different (30mm vs. 40mm). New holes in door skin needed
It is useful to mount a support bracket inside the door skin when fitting a side mirror (two versions of this plate exist)

[RobSirg]

Hmmm.....my production number is before 2979 but has both mirrors with the later style?

Seems to be a lot of effort for someone to go change them just for aesthetics.

I mean, even if you had a bad accident and had to replace one mirror you wouldn't change both over ( especially if it needed panel work) unless of course the gooseneck type mirror wasn't available?

Could it be this ruling didn't apply to RHD cars and perhaps they changed over to the later type mirrors earlier?

Hard to explain why my car has both modern mirrors given the effort required to change.

Regards

Rob

[66andBlue]

Rob,
what does your data card show? Any option codes 502, 506 or 508?? See: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/OptionCodes

[mbzse]

.../....perhaps they changed over to the later type mirrors earlier?

No. They did not exist then.

Hard to explain why my car has both modern mirrors

A PO has mounted them.
From factory, cars had no outer mirror std (unless required by law in country to which car was sold). The buyer would specify and pay extra for such options (see Alfreds reply).

[franjo_66]

Hi Rob

Seems like you have the same scenario as me.
My car is a 1965 230SL that was delivered without door mirrors.

The PO mounted the later style back in the 1970s.
So when I did my restoration back some 10 years ago the bodyshop retained these rather than re-drilling the doors to accommodate the original style mirrors.

Regards
Franjo

[RobSirg]

Thanks Guys - that pretty much explains it.

I'd happily correct them if it was a straight bolt-off-bolt-on, as I quite like the gooseneck type, but I don't intend to do it unless I am about to do a major restoration.......which is not likely given the current projects I have.

Cheers

[Tomnistuff]

My 66 230SL is an Italian version, which means it has a driver's side ugly black door mounted mirror that looks like it's 10 years newer than the car, but which apparently was commonly used on Italian 230's.

Its bolt centers are 75 mm, which makes it difficult to install gooseneck mirrors without significant bodywork and paint work.

Has anyone ever seen an "adapter" or "mirror base" designed to accommodate different bolt spacing in lieu of body and paint work?

Tom Kizer
Levis, Quebec, Canada