anyone like the older tails better? Also, need mudflaps
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
anyone like the older tails better? Also, need mudflaps
Do you guys think it's weird that I think I like the original 209 tail lights better than the newer ones after 05?
Are the original tails LED? (Are the later ones LED, mine seem to be... stock 06)
I think I'm interested in buying new old style tails.
Mine are perfect, don't get me wrong, but I think the older style makes the back look less "bulbous" and more Mercedes-like.
I've seen some Camry's with tails that look like the later CLK tails... don't like it.
Also I need mudflaps. White paint. Do any of you guys have them?
Are the original tails LED? (Are the later ones LED, mine seem to be... stock 06)
I think I'm interested in buying new old style tails.
Mine are perfect, don't get me wrong, but I think the older style makes the back look less "bulbous" and more Mercedes-like.
I've seen some Camry's with tails that look like the later CLK tails... don't like it.
Also I need mudflaps. White paint. Do any of you guys have them?
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2008 CLK550 Cab
Like many things, whether people like something or not is often driven by which is newer and percieved to be more "in style." If nobody had ever seen a W209, and were just asked which tailights they like better with the lights just sitting by themselves on a table, I'm sure a higher percentage would pick the older ones than prefer them now knowing they are older. If carbon fiber interior trim had been around for 50 years, and suddenly somebody got the idea to use wood, all the forums would be about replacing carbon with wood instead of the other way around. It's a little disconcerting sometimes to realize how much what we think we decide ourlseves we like is really driven by a desire to keep up with everybody else. As for me, if I did my table test, I think I might pick the older lights. They are more dramatic with the contrast.
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2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 319
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
Like many things, whether people like something or not is often driven by which is newer and percieved to be more "in style." If nobody had ever seen a W209, and were just asked which tailights they like better with the lights just sitting by themselves on a table, I'm sure a higher percentage would pick the older ones than prefer them now knowing they are older. If carbon fiber interior trim had been around for 50 years, and suddenly somebody got the idea to use wood, all the forums would be about replacing carbon with wood instead of the other way around. It's a little disconcerting sometimes to realize how much what we think we decide ourlseves we like is really driven by a desire to keep up with everybody else. As for me, if I did my table test, I think I might pick the older lights. They are more dramatic with the contrast.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
If I could find a new set, I think I'd go for it. Too bad my own tails are nearly new looking.
Has anyone seen CLK mudflaps?
I need them because mud/dirt kicks up on my white paint.
Thanks guys.
P.S. Who likes the gray tail lights that I think DEPO makes? I could see them looking good on certain color CLKs. But not mine.
Has anyone seen CLK mudflaps?
I need them because mud/dirt kicks up on my white paint.
Thanks guys.
P.S. Who likes the gray tail lights that I think DEPO makes? I could see them looking good on certain color CLKs. But not mine.
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
I saw them in person on a taupe silver CLK 320 convertible and i almost walked over to touch them. Thought they looked great. There is an indentation on the white part which transverses the around the side of the taillight, nice touch.
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From: Oakland
2018 E43 | 2017 GLS450 | 2004 CLK 500
I like the original better - why I never changed them. The new ones actually look more dated because they're plain, looks like no design effort went into them. If someone made the originals in led i'd be all over them.
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I switched old to new aftermarket because 1) I like the LEDs and 2) I got 'em at a real good price from a member. Actually I'm neutral on style. Of course now that it's been brought up again, I'll wonder if people think my butt looks big in these lights.
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
I wonder if you could take the plastic face off an old style pair of tail lights and apply them to a new style LED taillight? How do the inner LEDs work I wonder?
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Nope - the bulb pattern is different. In fact, to install the new style lights in an older model requires a small modification to the cars sheet metal. BTW, the new style lights do not use LEDs - they have standard bulbs. LED taillights are aftermarket parts.
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
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From: SoCal
C350 '12
My sister did some work for 3M paints and they told her that metalic paints like silver on cars always age faster because they have reflective particles in the paint that catch sunlight and reflect back upon themselves inside the molecular structure of the paint layer itself, yet Lowpost's car looks like it is showroom new. Must take care of it... Also like the wheels.
Last edited by California; Apr 14, 2013 at 07:15 PM.
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Mine are the new style and are not LED. I checked EPC, and the CLK63 and CLK63BS both use the exact same part as my car. The only one's I've seen with LEDs are on eBay, like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEPO-03-09-MERCEDES-W209-CLK-RED-CLEAR-LED-TAIL-BUMPER-SIDE-MARKER-LIGHT-AMG-/151027171220?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2329ebbf94&vxp=mtr
As for car colors, I think red seems to be the worst for fading. I can say that the finish on our MY2002 Desert Silver (i.e. champagne) C240 has held up amazingly well - that is, the panels that haven't been repainted, which now is the trunk lid, roof, and the driver's door.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEPO-03-09-MERCEDES-W209-CLK-RED-CLEAR-LED-TAIL-BUMPER-SIDE-MARKER-LIGHT-AMG-/151027171220?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2329ebbf94&vxp=mtr
As for car colors, I think red seems to be the worst for fading. I can say that the finish on our MY2002 Desert Silver (i.e. champagne) C240 has held up amazingly well - that is, the panels that haven't been repainted, which now is the trunk lid, roof, and the driver's door.
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From: Oakland
2018 E43 | 2017 GLS450 | 2004 CLK 500
Low, that is a beaut of a car. I'd go out with a car like that, I mean guy.
My sister did some work for 3M paints and they told her that metalic paints like silver on cars always age faster because they have reflective particles in the paint that catch sunlight and reflect back upon themselves inside the molecular structure of the paint layer itself, yet Lowpost's car looks like it is showroom new. Must take care of it... Also like the wheels.
My sister did some work for 3M paints and they told her that metalic paints like silver on cars always age faster because they have reflective particles in the paint that catch sunlight and reflect back upon themselves inside the molecular structure of the paint layer itself, yet Lowpost's car looks like it is showroom new. Must take care of it... Also like the wheels.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Many like the old tails. A matter of personal taste.
Your dealer can order you a genuine set of mud flaps for the W209. They come as a front set & a back set. They fit robustly & perfectly. They are also very discreet. I have them on my car & they work perfectly & look good. Had them fitted before taking delivery to prevent stone chipping of the paintwork.
Your dealer can order you a genuine set of mud flaps for the W209. They come as a front set & a back set. They fit robustly & perfectly. They are also very discreet. I have them on my car & they work perfectly & look good. Had them fitted before taking delivery to prevent stone chipping of the paintwork.
