Well...if you like a project....you've got one.

Glass is still available as are the amber side markers.

The buckets...Genuine Mercedes Benz - 0018261278 - REFLECTOR (ecstuning.com)

Search SiteSearch 0018261378 - 0018261378 - REFLECTOR (ecstuning.com)

Wiring and stuff...?

 

SLShop has stuff...Manual Headlamp Wiring Harness Assembly 0008261011 (theslshop.com)

Mercedes-Benz SL & SLC 107 Headlamp Seal (Right) - 0008268080 | SLSHOP (theslshop.com)

 

SLShop has stuff...Manual Headlamp Wiring Harness Assembly 0008261011 (theslshop.com)

Mercedes-Benz SL & SLC 107 Headlamp Seal (Right) - 0008268080 | SLSHOP (theslshop.com)

YOWZA. Eye watering price on that harness. But eh screw it I'm this far in. Thanks Nob

 

Evap-o-rust is a product everyone seems to have about. I've never used it but I would try it. Wax the heck out of it afterwards.
Are the insides of the lamps clean? Sulfamic(not sulfuric!) acid is a gentle boil-out of cruddied up things you can't get to. The glass as you called it, is it actually acrylic? Looks oxidized. I would scuff it and paint it with a good 2-part automotive clear coat, works much better long term than the headlight restore kits.
Electric might be fiddly, but what you accomplish will at least be out of sight. I'm find of JB weld since 30yrs ago it held the wobbled out keyway and pulley on my alternator together for 60K miles until it's bearings gave out.

 

Nice project, I have been part way through this journey when refurbishing mine which I got used of eBay.

You can get all the components to fully refurbish those headlights from the SL Shop. But all is so expensive. You can shop around of course and you will find cheaper. Even the SL Shop has cheaper options like for that wiring harness Mercedes-Benz SL R107 Headlight Wire Harness - Single Non Vacuum - 0008261011

First you need to strip them down and find out what is salvageable.
The main components you are likely to need
Glass, reflective bowl, wiring harness, adjuster kit, seals. These all need to be good condition or you are compromising and you will be able to tell.

 

The glass tends to get a bit sand blasted if from a high mileage car and it is not easy to buff out. The look of new glass makes so much difference in the look.

 

I'll see what I can do, thanks everyone. The goal is to replace as few parts as I can because of how expensive everything is, so we'll see how far I get. The wiring harness is an obvious buy though of course

 

I was looking at new headlights pricing last night. Dug out my used ones to put up for sale and had a browse through pricings
Someone in Slovakia is advertising new sets for over AU$8,000
SLShop is selling new sets for around AU$4,000 delivered to Oz
F##k!
I paid about AU$2,500 last year for a new set from SLShop
Glad I bought when I did, getting bloody expensive

 

The older lady who sold me the car evidently didn't appreciate what those things are worth, and nether did I at the time. It would cost more to replace those Euro lights than my entire daily-driver Audi.

 

Look for a r107 US headlight as the plastic piece that is broken and missing on yours is the same even the piece that plugs into light. Maybe you might fine a badly damage US light on craigslist or a salvage yard

 

Just to be clear...I only posted those links as a reference...basically to find out if anything WAS available. I'm surprised than any parts are available...apart from the glass.

The point is...the project is doable. But jeepers....you are going to have a hard time doing anything missing an arm and a leg.

 

Out of curiosity I entered "R107 euro headlights" into the ebay search window. I linked the results below. A few of the prices (5K plus?) are laughable, but some others may help to give you an idea of how far ahead (or not) you may be restoring yours versus finding a set on ebay. There is one set listed as parts only. As mentioned, this, or another set may be another option, depending on the useable parts being the ones you need.

There is good looking set, but with a broken indicator lens at $1,199 OBO that could be interesting.

r107 euro headlights: Search Result | eBay

 

This place has headlights as well as parts. PW-Headlights Shop - PW-Headlights Shop. I restored a set a couple of years ago. Had the reflectors replated, new lenses and gaskets. Wasn't cheap.

 

Yep, Euro headlight here in The Colonies are very expensive. I had one that had some rust on the reflective surface. Took both apart from the car, found out they're steel, and took them to a chrome plating shot. MB coats them with silver, a HIGHLY reflective surface. Nope, not available. Surprisingly nickel is a more reflective surface than chrome! We used nickel. The plating guys sanded the reflective surface before plating but probably stopped with some 400 grit paper. If I was going to do it again, I'd use the 400 to get all rust and pits gone, but would keep sanding until the 3,000 (!) grit paper was done. It should be a polished surface then without scratches, then it would go to the plating shop. Fiddly job but not hard.

 

But the round ones look so much friendlier…those are boxy and blah…oh well we all know what they say about opinions…

 

I was in a similar boat to you. My bowls were fine but I found new lenses andf side markers on eBay and got the harnesses and adjuster's from the SLShop. With some cleaning and a little trial and error it turned out great. By the time I was done it was more cost effective than buying complete but not by a lot

.

 

Wow, looking sharp. What you have there is basically the end goal look for my car. From what I'm finding I'll basically be where you were in terms of $$$. Not worried about it now though, just planning for the future. There are far more important things I need to do on my car first.

By the way, where did you get your penta wheels from, got a decent not over the top expensive source?

 

If you have an 85 you have wheel options. The 86-89 required more expensive AMG Penta Gen 2 wheels to clear the front brakes. I hunted for wheels for a long time and found a pair of 8x16 Gen 2 wheels for the front. They were $800 each. I have not found correct AMG wheels for the rear and am using a pair of 9x16 Maxilite Penta repros in the rear that I got from John at MAcarbon. John also has headlights and euro bumpers. He is a great resource. I also lowered the front 1.5"s and the rear .75"s along with replacing all of the bushings, drop links, tie rods and going with bigger sway bars.

You should be able to find a set of 4 real AMG GEN 1 wheels for about $2500 of get a set of Maxilites from John form about half that. Happy to answer any questions, been there, done that.

 

Fixing is not really a problem (over here). New glasses are pretty cheap

Linke Bosch Streuscheibe für Mercedes R107 - oldtimer-ersatzteile24.d, 47,95 €

Preiswerte Ersatzteile für Mercedes W108 W110 W111 W113 W114 W115 W116 Ponton 190SL R107 oder R129 in top Qualität Kaufen Sie linke Bosch Streuscheiben für

oldtimer-ersatzteile24.de

and the reflector can be rebuilt to the level of a new part

ReflektorKlinik | GALERIE - NEUVERSPIEGELUNG | Gadenstedt | Ilsede

www.reflektorklinik.de Oldtimer Scheinwerfer Restauration, PVD Verfahren, Neuverspiegelung, Scheinwerfer Umbau auf Rechtsverkehr

www.reflektorklinik.de

Cheers Martin

 

Reach out to John Audette, he does amazing work, I bet he would do these and they would look like new.

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