Bumper guards and side reflectors

[john.mancini]

When did factory bumper guards and side reflectors first make an appearance on U.S. W113's? Was it on the 250SL model? Were the bumper guards mandated or optional when they first appeared?

[Jonny B]

There are two changes concerning the US side markers.

For the 250 SL, the side markers were added for DOT compliance at mid-year, VIN ending in 2980. These are reflectors and are not lighted.
The side markers were changed again in mid 69 for US safe compliance and were now lighted. I was not able to find an exact VIN changeover, but it was around VIN 11xxx. My car is 12730 and has the lighted markers.

In doing a bit of searching on the forum, the overriders were most likely required at the time of the 1969 change - for the 1970 models. They were available before that as options.

Will wait to see if others can post a more definitive VIN change.

[john.mancini]

Thanks Johnny B.  Very helpful. My 69, #11208, that I just sold, had side reflectors, not lighted. It is an untouched, original 280SL.

[Pinder]

My 1969 also has side markers non lighted. My 1970 has them but they are lighted.

[Jonny B]

That would be consistent. My 280 SL (12730) has a September 69 build date, and is registered as a 1970.

[Pawel66]

I am trying to look at it in the parts list (EPC).

For 113043, SA 55671 (optional), non electric, just reflector
From chassis 113043 002982 and 113044 0000001
Up to chassis 113044 011947 (with several exceptions for earlier numbers)

And electric
From chassis 113044 011948, also with some exceptions.

I do not see SA marking (optional) for 113044, I am looking at US market.

As for the bumper guards - I just see them appear in 113043, in 113042 there is no mention about them. The same part numbers appear in regular offer for the US market, and they are also option SA 55635. My guess is that this is a market option, it is just also listed both in regular parts list for the US and in options. In the World market there are no guards on the main list, they show only in options list.

[roymil]

Hello,  I'm not sure how this fits within the timing described above, but my 280 (chassis 2230, early '68) has the bumper guards, but they are definitely not on the special order receipt, nor on the window pricing sheet that I just found.   I did however run into a single page instruction along with the window options sheet that shows where to place the holes in the bumper and how to mount the "horns", all in German.   I am wondering if this was a local dealer installed item, like the AC, because I cant understand why else I would have these specific instructions and nothing else like that.  But they are in German, which wouldn't make sense going to a US dealer?  Also wonder if it has something to do with the 250->280 production transition?  Anyway, an interesting mystery, and I'm attaching a picture of those instructions that have a drawing and dimensions in case anyone can read a little German and make sense of it.   

Thanks again to all on this site for contributing so much good detail and making my life so much easier over the last few years that I've been doing the "50 year maintenance plan" on my 280 after pulling it out of the storage heap it was in for decades.   Fun fact, I can see on the invoice they up-charged my dad $159 for delivering a 280SL instead of the 250SL he ordered.  I do remember him being mad and threatening not to pay it.  So, I wonder, whats the return on that $159 ?

regards, Mark