O_Dawg

I'm thinking of replacing the front side marker lights on my 09 SL63 with something a little less obnoxious. The ones on my 550 are fine, a thin orange strip that just runs along the side of the car, perfect. The giant orange cassette tape sized box on the AMG just looks terrible to me.

The car is silver, so I thought I might get clear side markers, so they just sort of disappear into the bodywork of the car. I'd get those chrome bulbs, that still give off orange light. I like having the lights, the huge orange box is just ugly to me. Then I saw some smoked ones, and thought maybe I would go that route.

So I guess that is my opinion question for you guys. Anyone done this with clear or smoked? How did it turn out? What do you think of it? I don't want to rice it out, I'm just looking to clean up the side a bit. I need to do something with the orange, just not sure if I should go clear or smoked.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sozo

Buy some smoke film online and install yourself. Super inexpensive and easy. 2007 SL550 here, but black: I smoked/blacked out the orange side markers, the clear turn signals on the side mirrors (now mirrors look all black except when signals are on), and I even smoked the 3rd brake light on the trunk. As said, car is black so works really well getting rid of all the off color distractions.

brownboy

I went with the clear side markers with chrome bulbs that give off orange light and think it looks so much better. I have a silver arrow and the orange really stuck out in a bad way. It's the only exterior mod I've done.

More modern cars have clear markers so I don't think it's a riced out look as much these days. The aftermarket ones I bought are much flimsier than the stock pieces but they've held up fine and I saved a tiny bit of weight. Installation was pretty easy.

Let me know if these images don't come through:
https://imgur.com/a/FdrWLgj

A1EK

Is it a legal requirement to have the side lights? if not then I prefer without. It's probably because most countries apart from the US do not have side lights.

TheSaint

I am European so if you ask me i think the side marker llights is ugly as can be on the US spec cars..

Take as an example a 1967 and 1968 Mustang fastbach are identical to look at but i prefer the 1967 because the 1967 Mustang do not have side markers. The side marker lights started up in 1968

It is a matter of opinion and i am not used to the side marker lights so i guess that is the reason

I am pretty sure that it is a legal requirement to have side marker lights in the US

brownboy

just realized I could attach pics directly and not have to use imgur...
no stain of the orange side marker:

evoviiiyou

IMO unless you go to like a Lambo Arancio Borialis (orange) or alike on the calipers…the amber corner makers are eye sores for the NA R230’s. I always get reminded when the Euro guys post there clean R230 photos! Lucky guys.

Anyway for mine I went clear to play off the crystal clear theme of the head light esthetic. I feel though not as clean as EU spec, will serve with very little work. Was a 5min job all in

KTT-SL550

I have a 2011 SL 550 and was wondering how do you remove the orange lens to replace with the clear one. Ty!

evoviiiyou

simple pry tool with being careful to paint and the molding that house the light lenses, and it’s a pop out from memory

theboogers

Lead on where to buy please?

evoviiiyou

theboogers

Lenses and bulbs? Thx

Blitzkrieg1717

Grey paint, go with clear or slight tint if available. Most offerings are either clear or a dark smoke, but I've seen light tint before & unfortunately, don't remember where I saw it. Changing to a dark smoke tint is better than the original orange, but it's essentially going from one extreme to the next.