[ksan]

First of all - thank you all forum members supporting and sharing feedback, so far! 🙏

Some time ago, I've shared here my endeavour to reproduce R129 sun visor trim caps for our SL's, using additive manufacturing technology. The challenge continues... People keep asking me about other parts for R129 and other MB's, even though the costs of 3D printing are relatively high. I have decided I will take my 3D engineering know-how one step further...

What if we get rid of the cost-driving material in areas where it is not needed? Where are the critical loads which make original MB parts break?

I took one of the parts which was too expensive to 3D print 1:1 - the side mirror triangle (MB number 1297250711). After a couple of iterations, the total weight (material) of the part was reduced to a point, which made the part cost-effective to print. You can see the the reinforcing ribs on the back:

The funny thing is, I wanted to avoid the leather covering, because even in the original part it comes off after some time. Eventually, a special 3D texture was designed to imitate the leather, which actually looks quite cool:

Unfortunately, the 3D technology is still not cost-effective enough to make a living out of such parts, but hopefully maybe this will change soon.

I hope you like my efforts
If you would like to support my work - any feedback is welcome!

Feel free to DM me with questions/requests or check the link to my catalogue in my profile bio.

Thank you for your support and stay safe!
Krystian

 

[sportlineguy]

what would the cost be for a set of the r129 door mirror triangles at this point in time?

 

[sushipaste]

Do you sell the r129 vanity mirror covers separate from the whole assembly?

and does the assembly light up or does it need battery or bulbs?

 

[ksan]

what would the cost be for a set of the r129 door mirror triangles at this point in time?

Hi @sportlineguy officially it is 69$ per side, but you can use the discount code for forum members provided in my profile. Thanks

 

[ksan]

Do you sell the r129 vanity mirror covers separate from the whole assembly?
and does the assembly light up or does it need battery or bulbs?

Hi @Tobi Olakunle good to hear from you!
It comes without the backing/pad where the light bulbs are attached. This is how it looks like:

The light bulbs are located under the half transparent, milky film on both sides of the mirror.

 

[ou1954]

Superb pictures of the triangles. I have that problem as well as the mirror/visor problem. I have given up on the visor issue, just too many moving parts are broken.

Now as for the triangles, I was just about to epoxy in a wire in the bottom extension and then use a long screw to attach to the existing socket. I don't know whether there is any difference from year to year. One part number for my 1998 SL500 is 129 726 07 11 L1, photo attached. My parts have a cover which provides the rippled outside. (Correction- I see that issue was covered in the post, and indeed the covers perl off.)

Anyhow I am interested. And yes, the weak points are the prong that plugs into a socket and the extension at the bottom. Mine have failed in both areas.

 

[sushipaste]

Superb pictures of the triangles. I have that problem as well as the mirror/visor problem. I have given up on the visor issue, just too many moving parts are broken.

Now as for the triangles, I was just about to epoxy in a wire in the bottom extension and then use a long screw to attach to the existing socket. I don't know whether there is any difference from year to year. One part number for my 1998 SL500 is 129 726 07 11 L1, photo attached. My parts have a cover which provides the rippled outside. (Correction- I see that issue was covered in the post, and indeed the covers perl off.)

Anyhow I am interested. And yes, the weak points are the prong that plugs into a socket and the extension at the bottom. Mine have failed in both areas. View attachment 2643279

My passenger side triangle happened to fall of in the past week. I simply reattached it with a hardening putty and it’s just as solid as the drivers side

 

[brauhaus]

Have you sold any of these items to a forum member yet, and how much do you figure shipping would be to the states from poland?

 

[ksan]

Superb pictures of the triangles. I have that problem as well as the mirror/visor problem. I have given up on the visor issue, just too many moving parts are broken.

Now as for the triangles, I was just about to epoxy in a wire in the bottom extension and then use a long screw to attach to the existing socket. I don't know whether there is any difference from year to year. One part number for my 1998 SL500 is 129 726 07 11 L1, photo attached. My parts have a cover which provides the rippled outside. (Correction- I see that issue was covered in the post, and indeed the covers perl off.)

Anyhow I am interested. And yes, the weak points are the prong that plugs into a socket and the extension at the bottom. Mine have failed in both areas. View attachment 2643279

Hi @ou1954 thank you for sharing. I have seen multiple codes for this part already. Unfortunately even google does not show any results on this number. Let me check this because it might be a variation of what I've presented.

 

[ksan]

Have you sold any of these items to a forum member yet, and how much do you figure shipping would be to the states from poland?

Hi @brauhaus Yes - www.benzworld.org/threads/r129-3d-printed-parts-sun-trim-caps.3043911/
15$ small parts to 21$ big parts (UPS Expedited)

 

[ou1954]

Just for the record, here are the part numbers printed on the items for my 1998 SL500-
129 725 08 11 RE
129 725 07 11 LI

In any case they look identical to the printed part, less all the appropriate reinforcement. I also have a complete parts list for the car but it would take a while to sort through it and find these small items. I will have a look, though.

As I mentioned earlier, I was just about ready to drill a hole through the location of the broken extension piece and put a screw through it into the socket on the door/mirror side.

 

[ou1954]

Here is a scan from page 1101 of the parts list. (1990-02) It has a lot of variables in it. If I can get an OCR of the segment I will publish it as text. For now, here is the raw scan. None of these numbers match the numbers on the parts of my 1998 SL500. I hope I have picked the right item from the picture on the page.

 

[ajg1002]

Have you looked pricing on the tow eye cover??

 

[ksan]

Here is a scan from page 1101 of the parts list. (1990-02) It has a lot of variables in it. If I can get an OCR of the segment I will publish it as text. For now, here is the raw scan. None of these numbers match the numbers on the parts of my 1998 SL500. I hope I have picked the right item from the picture on the page.
View attachment 2643373

Sometimes I really get confused with MB's numbers 🤔

Have you looked pricing on the tow eye cover??

Yes, we already have the pre-lift version 3D scanned, but we cannot beat ebay prices with 3D printing technology for now. The AMG version would be the only choice, but unfortunately no one has the silver arrow AMG version around my area. If you would know anyone with the AMG packet, I can help.

 

[RDARoadstar]

Amazing work

First of all - thank you all forum members supporting and sharing feedback, so far! 🙏

Some time ago, I've shared here my endeavour to reproduce R129 sun visor trim caps for our SL's, using additive manufacturing technology. The challenge continues... People keep asking me about other parts for R129 and other MB's, even though the costs of 3D printing are relatively high. I have decided I will take my 3D engineering know-how one step further...

What if we get rid of the cost-driving material in areas where it is not needed? Where are the critical loads which make original MB parts break?

View attachment 2643232

I took one of the parts which was too expensive to 3D print 1:1 - the side mirror triangle (MB number 1297250711). After a couple of iterations, the total weight (material) of the part was reduced to a point, which made the part cost-effective to print. You can see the the reinforcing ribs on the back: View attachment 2643233
View attachment 2643234

The funny thing is, I wanted to avoid the leather covering, because even in the original part it comes off after some time. Eventually, a special 3D texture was designed to imitate the leather, which actually looks quite cool:
View attachment 2643235

Unfortunately, the 3D technology is still not cost-effective enough to make a living out of such parts, but hopefully maybe this will change soon.

I hope you like my efforts
If you would like to support my work - any feedback is welcome!

Feel free to DM me with questions/requests or check the link to my catalogue in my profile bio.
View attachment 2643238

Thank you for your support and stay safe!
Krystian