sillieidiot

hey guys, i was wondering where did some of you guys get the clear sidemarker for your car. also is there anyway i could get rid of it completely? like maybe buy the eurospec version of the trim or something? tia

JDitlaia

ebay or paint the amber ones whatever color your car is

SlvrC230SS

ebay for clear marker, or steve @mbnl for the euro impact strip

sillieidiot

how much do the euro impact strips usually go for? is there a part number?

nickgailloux

Euro impact strips are going to run you $150-$200.... if you do get them, I'm looking for a set of regular impact strips, black (040) with chrome strips, so you can recoup some of your cash.

SlvrC230SS

here you go;
http://www.mbenznl.com/products/impactstrips.shtml

Steve can give you the price.

rlee02135

theres a silver set in the classifieds now...

sirenebekim

i believe its illegal to remove the sidemarkers.. By federal law, you must have an amber side marker on the side of the vehicle. Removing that sidemarker would make it so the car has no running yellow side lights, unless you rewire your side-mirror blinkers to run constant to keep it legal.

nlpamg

having no front license plate and tint in the front windows is also illegal in many states.

do you really think a cop will pull you over for simply not having sidemarkers? or that they'll actually know the DOT regulation?

people have been removing sidemarkers for years (and not just MB's, if you go to many BMW accessories sites you'll see that painted sidemarkers are a big seller), I have yet to hear of one person ticketed for not having amber sidemarkers.

drexappeal

Actually, in California, the orange in the front is primarily for the reflector, not necessarily for the light. I got pulled over by a cop and he actually commented on how nice and clean my car looked and looked directly at the sidemarkers without making a comment.

The only reason he pulled me over was because of no front license plate. If it was that important to him, he would've hit me for both.

sillieidiot

thanks, but i still need the part number. i got a friend that works in the fletcher jones part dept. and he can get it for me.

drexappeal

You mean the Euro impact strips? It may have been disucssed before. Have you tried searching for Euro Impact strips. Do an advanced search and highlight the w203/w203AMG message boards.

JohnCL

Speeding is illegal too, have you never done that? I removed my sidemarkers once with euro strips and will do it again. The yellow markers are freaking hideous!

alex007mayn

MB-BOB

You fellas who live in California...

In all other states who have a yearly safety inspection (actually all but CA and one or two others) the marker lights are required to be present, and required to work. The inspection stations know of the DOT regulations and so do the police in these states. So, it's somewhat misleading to make these statements to any member who does not live in CA.

Count yourself lucky in CA... unless you also realize that the 18-wheeler tailgating you at 80mph on I-5 may have defective brakes on the edge of failure, or bald retreaded tires (remember, you have no assurance they haven't been inspected in years).

There is a reason for regular US-DOT mandated safety inspections... You guys inspect your cars regularly, but your average Joe-Blow doesn't -- in LA-LA Land.

Maybe someday CA will get with the program. I'm not certain, but states that do not adhere to the USDOT regs run the risk of foregoing some Federal financing. So you Cali types might be paying more state road taxes for the privilege of non-compliance.

Meantime, I think we should start any "no sidemarkers thread" with a caveat, "For those of you who live in California (only)..." IMO.

BKLYN_C

MB_BOB, you are right, as always. However, in real life people often forget about little details or simply don't pay attention to them. I have my sidemarkers painted in black, not smoked, and still pass the inspections. Only once a guy mentioned about smoked clear inserts on tail lights yet let me go without any problems. Street and highway cops don't really care as long as you properly signal turns and he can see that flushing yellow light. But running without a front plate or tinted widshield are big no-no's in NY.

JohnCL

No inspections in KS either.

The downside to that is there are some seriously crappy cars on the road. I fully agree with MB-BOB but make the choice to have euro inserts anyway.

T.O_c240

Does anyone kno about the regulations in Canada for example in Ontario?

Pashap5

lets say you do get the Euro strips..what do you do with the wiring just throw it behind the strip or do you remove the bulbs now and have the bulb out message all the time (annoying)..how about if the bulb burns out and you have the Euro strips over it...do you Re/Re the Euro Strip..

is there an easy solution??

JohnCL

You can zip tie the current wiring and bulb behind the strip and it will work fine. If the bulb blows you pop the strip replace the bulb and put it all back. Replacing a bulb is a five minute job, including removing and replacing the strip.