PortC43

Morning W204'ers !


So ive been wanting to replace my side markers for clear or possibly the smoked version (torn between the two) My car is silver and either or will look good on it I think.


So my question is, without buying cheap versions from ebay, Where can I buy these online ? Thanks in advance !

PortC43

Anyone ?

Colin G

I just bought some clear Depo ones off ebay.


They look good but fitment is not exact. The radius of the curve is slightly larger than OEM side markers so the corners seem to lift off the bumper a bit and don't fit perfectly flush like the OEM Hella made ones.


Knowing that I would have not bought them. They are cheap enough to leave on till I find something better and it looks much better than those orange things on there.


I wonder if other brands fit better?

08c30

Assuming by "cheap" you mean "manufactured to a lower standard than OEM" - The short answer is: "cheap versions from eBay" are your only option.

If you're just starting to modify you're car, you'll find for things like light housings (side markers, tail lights, headlights etc) it's going to be near impossible? to find OEM quality - especially side markers. Products made inexpensively overseas make up the majority.

From a monetary standpoint, I would also doubt well-known aftermarket brands would put the time & effort into making side-markers for our vehicles.

Colin G

Mine were about $40 with the silver covered amber bulb. I did use the OEM/Hella backing pieces since they felt better quality than the Depo ones that came with the clear ones I bought.


Still for $40 and an ok fit, it still looks better than the amber ones.


My only complaint about the looks of my car is the crummy orange side markers look like a wart on the face of a supermodel. Clear is much better.

08c30

Backing pieces? You mean you separated the lens from the housing and resealed or you meant the support that covers the inside of the marker?

Colin G

[/QUOTE]=08c30;6946444]Backing pieces? You mean you separated the lens from the housing and resealed or you meant the support that covers the inside of the marker? [/QUOTE]

No, the black support piece that goes inside the bumper/front fender area. I used the OEM one. It seemed to be made of a more sturdy plastic.


I compared both the OEM Hella support piece and the Depo one and dimensions seemed to be exact but the Hella piece felt better so I rolled with that one.

08c30

gotcha - I reused that too, my aftermarket ones didn't come with a new piece

PortC43

Thanks everyone!


This is what i was afraid of. I don't wanna buy them and they don't fit flush Like the oem. This is my first benz, and wanna stick oem or as close to oem as possible.
I think I just might remove my oem lenses and lightly spray tint them.

twowheelin

I purchased the ebay knock-off side markers with the silver coated bulbs like Colin G. I thought the fit/finish was as good as the OEM units as they are both completely flat and the dimensions are identical. The 'smoke' covers may be a better look on a darker finish car, but the clears look great with silver.

CGC

Has anyone found black or smoked lense side markers with amber LED's? I have found clear lense amber led, or black with white led.

PortC43

Im looking into that too. Even though my car is silver, I think I will go with the smoked lenses as it matches the window tint

M~Factor

"eBay bought" clear side markers with smoked tint film on a silver C300.

PortC43

^^^


Looks great!

Star4life

I would highly recommend getting the oem corners tint wrapped. If you dont want any orange, this isnt for you, but on my black car, a tinge of orange is preferred. I think it looks great and will be doing it on every car from now on. I did the clear and smoked corners on my w202, they looked ok, but out of place IMO.




Plus it is still completely legal, if you don't want any orange even when on, then youll need to replace, but for me it was just for looks during the day. At night id rather be fully legal and I'm not really looking for my orange lights at night.


Tint wrapped is the only way id ever do it again, they look almost* oem, its hardly any work (none for you), and you can always go back to oem easy.


I even had mine included with the tint job so it was free for me. Can't beat that. I ll try to post a picture.

Star4life

After, 35% tint and wrap tinted corner markers


35% tint and tinted corner marker daylight


tinted corner marker illuminated far


tinted corner marker illuminated close

before

DoctorTurbo

man that looks really good! Is it technically legal since it still shines orange when the car is on?

This might be a must have when I get the windows tinted too. Didn't realize 35% was that dark, seems perfect.

Star4life

Even if you got the depo clear housings you could get chrome amber bulbs so it appears clear when off and amber when lit. I just like the tinted out version to darken up the front vs a clear white spot.

but in theory this is still legal since you can barely see orange when not lit and definetly orange when lit. im happy!

I have the color stable 35% by 3M. The pictures were taken on overcast days. direct sunlight it doesnt look as dark.

But on my old w202 i had the 3m color stable 20%. IMO the 35% from a looks and functionality standpoint is perfect for me. Makes the car look clean and elegant like it should and not as my tinter put it "ghettoed out", which i am not saying darker is bad, just a preference thing.

also night driving on dark streets (mainly backing up) is so much easier. i have the ILS so the corner lights turn on when i turn so that makes it super easy to see sides of road before i turn. helps with the tints!

thesaintusa

Many of the C63 guys get their 'smoked' sidemarkers off of ebay from seller fishcake321

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/DEPO-2008-201...item1c7b9dbad4

Look exactly the same as the orange OEM except for the color.

Comes with 'chrome' bulbs as well, but I kept the stock bulbs.

Looks smoked grey from the side, but light up orange.