hadam

I am looking into update my 97 E420 tail light to new style used in 2000-2002 E class.

I can buy 2000 E-Class tail light from E-bay, but I don't know if it will be easy to replace the existing 97 tail light.

Can some one please give me some help here.

E55Cent

I bought the smoked ones since my car is an E55. It was fairly easy but I had spend some time lining the lights up. I also had to adjust the whole trunk as well. The whole thing took me about 75 mins. The front projectors took me about 7 hours with all the lens changing and everything.
Mario

hadam

E55Cent, how much modification to trunk needed to install new tail lamps on 97 E420 ?? I know the 2000-2002 light look little different but the over all shape is same as 97 tail light.

Is the wiring connector is same or I need to buy new electronic board and connector??

Whitey

You DO NOT have to mod the trunk. You only need to grind/dremel the back of the center lights (i.e. ones on the trunk) a little cuz the shape of the plastic at the back is slightly thicker/different. Then everything else is a straight bolt on and plug and play, no rewiring necessary - no more than 1/2 hr's work with the right tools. I have already posted pics of where you need to grind, with instructions before - can find using the search function.

hadam

Whity, Thanks for the info. If you can get chance, please let me know where the pics are. See pics of my car.

I know the the tail light part on trunk side look different from 2000. I see the fog light and reverse light are up and down from 1997 to 2000.

If you or any one can tell me how to do it, I will be very thankfull.

Also I have seen chrome rings around front head light and front fog lights, does any one know how to install it or where to get it.

Thanks. I like this forum. It is very helpfull.

Whitey

Below's the pic but I'd strongly recommend reading the thread too - u need to shave it pretty darn thin (in the circled area) and careful not to over-dremel it down to the reflectors!!!! The wiring is plug and play as said, the original connectors plugged into the new light will take care of the position of the reverse lights. Here's teh thread (read on, the instructions come later):

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...hlight=replica

The chrome rings are available at a lot of places, a lot on ebay (sorry can't be more specific as I'm not in the US). They do vary, depending on price. The cheaper ones are chrome coated plastic whereas the more expensive Schatz ones are metal. Not sure how durable the plastic ones are but I've had my Schatz ones for 3 years and they're as good as new. Oh, they are just stuck on with 3M doublesided tape...probably the easiest mod u can do And dont forget the chrome shift gate frame as well

Nice clean car btw, with lots of potential....

hadam

You recommend to install OEM tail lights? I have seen from previous thread that on from E-Bay did not work ver well.

Do you know any web site where I can buy these tail lights for low cost ??

Thanks.

Whitey

I have no experience with replicas but a number of members seemed to have had problems with them and had to buy OEMs in the end. Since these are part of the electrical system and are exposed to tests of mother nature, you can't go wrong with OEM, no? Here's the sequel to that thread which should say it all...

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...91#post1065191

I don't know of any internet sites - other members might be able to help. I still would encourage looking around as I noticed the price on new OEM's do vary quite a bit (both in the US and where I am) and can be as cheap or cheaper than replicas if you look hard enough. Another option would be to ask your local wrecker for some used ones.

Top Jimmy

I understand that the E55 (smoked top) lenses require a bit of work when being installed on a pre '00, non AMG model.

What about "standard" (white top) ones?
Will tail lights from a 00-02 E Class (320 or 430) replace tail lights on a 96-99 E class, without any modification detailed above?

Whitey

Its irrelevant whether AMG or not. They are exactly the same light except the tinting and also the same trunk between AMG's and non-AMG;s...why wouldn't it be? The difference is MY00+ or not, when, it seems, the trunk was changed slightly.

Top Jimmy

Makes sense to me, Whitey. I had just never read a thread where some one was retro fiting the plain '00+ to a '96-'99. Just wondering if the AMG version was somehow different. Looks like that modification will be necessary in all cases.

Thanks!

Frissen

I did it with a set of 2001 E55 AMG rear lights gotten from the dealer at a very reasonable price. They didn't fit but I modified (read cut and seal).



more photos here