This is a short video showing how to remove the front headlight on a Mercedes R107 and also how to repair and refurbish it without using expensive Mercedes parts.
Hi Mike, great videos, really clear…. Had to change my Beam adjusters but noticed the chrome bowl had deteriorated at the top and bottom. Struggled to get hold of the chrome paint, so instead have glued in the chrome inside of a crisp packet! Perfect chrome effect and very smooth! Inspired by eating a packet of Hula Hoops!
Hi thanks for comment - very creative solution - what flavour of Hula Hoops? . Is there a danger that the crisp packet or glue melt when the light is on I wonder.... I did another headlight video for the current project and used a company up in Birmingham to re-chrome one of the rusty bowls. Slightly more than a pack of hula hoops but it could have been worse: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bG7fYWw661w.html&index Mike
Great video - showed me how the get the bulb out of the reflector, which I could find anywhere else! I'd also add about the reflector, never try cleaning it with anything other than water - any solvent-based product will remove the reflective coating, which I believe is actual silver.
Thanks for your comment....yes I learned the hard way that you couldn't use Evaporust to remove the rust. I'm told that the reflectors are made from aluminium vapor and that the coating is applied via a procedure called "aluminium vapor deposition". Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercarsCorrect ,It's aluminium and the best places to get them redone are firms who make and plate coffin handles. It's applied under vacuum.
You are dead right (get it?) I found a place in Birmingham which managed to do a good job in the rustiest headlamp bowl: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bG7fYWw661w.html Mike@@Mercmad
Great work - just a slight correction: the reflectors are not chrome, but aluminium vapor; the coating is applied via a procedure called "aluminium vapor deposition".
Thanks for informative video. Im working on my headlights now. One Q: the black rubber gasket seesm to have been glued to the alu frame. It was easy to remove, but the surface seems to hav remnants of contact glue. What du you think, is it an idea to glue it back in?
Hi - I am assuming you mean the thin foam gasket between the glass and the frame...as opposed to the rubber pre-shaped seal? If so, if it was me, I would remove the old glue and replace the foam seal with a new one. These foam pieces generally come with an adhesive strip on one side. See the video I did below: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0G2gkw26Ugo.html If you are talking about the rubber seal, then I would NOT glue this in. Ideally, you would replace the rubber seal and a new seal does not require glue to make the seal. I hope that makes sense and good luck with the headlight restoration. Mike
Hi - I cant see any problem changing to LEDs. Some cars (like our Audi) have sensors that pick up the change in voltage and throw an error code unless you buy special LED's with built in resistors. Having said that...I don't think I have ever needed to change the front headlamp bulb on my silver SL....and that is the first car I ever owned. Mike
Did you just paint the housing silver after removing the aluminum oxidation? I just picked up a very cheap set of euro headlights that will need some restoration
Hi - congrats on picking up a cheap set of Euro lights...if there is just light damage, you can potentially get away with using a good quality chrome paint like the Bosny to touch up. If the damage is heavy, I would consider getting them re-chromed as shown in the video below: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bG7fYWw661w.html Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars so I decided to rechrome them.. not cheap to say the least. I also ordered new glass. They should look brand new once complete at least - and at about 30% of the cost of buying new.
Hello - I used a foam strip that came with glue on one side. If you have bought a seal from Mercedes and it doesn't come with glue in one side, I would not use glue provided the seal is a tight fit width ways. If you do decide to glue, use a VERY small amount of contact adhesive (like evostick, or spray on Trimfix) and make sure it doesn't ooze up the sides of the channel and stop the foam making a good seal. Mike.
Thanks for your comment. In this video, I made up most of the parts myself to save money. At the end of the video below (25.20) , there is a link to parts and prices you can buy as a ready made kit: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0G2gkw26Ugo.html In Europe - mbclassics.de In UK - try www.theslshop.com/ Mike
Rebuilding European headlights require more work than rebuilding the engine , i stick with American headlamps which are sealed beams and cost $5 to replace instead of 200 GBP for just the seals and hardware .
