Blinker

[Taxi Driver]

Two times! Thats at least one too many, or two. What about? well you know if you have been briving a W124 it's VERY likely you
have been loosing at speed a blinker unit front. I did today at something 120+ mph hear some knocking, first right intersection the blinker went
fast short ticking, oh shit, not again, oh yes the right blinker had flewn away! This was for me the second time, one 500E buddy also had this
happening twise on the way to and in Germany. He told me the mechanic somewhere near Kassel really punched the blinker into it's place.

How many has had this experience, does the service manual say, give it a real punch but don't break the glass,, Roger

 

[2phast]

You have to make sure the blinker "snaps" into place when you install it. I always reach my hand inside, bend the clip back a little, then push the blinker into place. That way I can verify its "snapped" into place. It also helps if you try pushing it out from the inside, that helps verify it is securly snapped into place.

 

[195910]

+1 what 2Phast said. don't punch it, just remove the air ducts and make sure the blinker clicks in place from the inside.

I never lost one, but many friends lost the blinkers. I used to check the blinkers every week!

 

[sheward]

+2 with what Rik said. Many aftermarket units don't have a good sharp clip edge and are suspect. I learned the hard way. Use OEM.

drew

 

[J-Sauce]

+1 for crappy aftermarket. I've never lost an OEM unit, but 2 or 3 of my clear corners are sitting in a ditch somewhere.

 

[195910]

Good thing this wasn't a characteristic of the 500E, Imagine that everyone would know you were speeding if the blinkers on your 500E are messing !

 

[DerFuror]

Attach safety wire to the blinker housings. I posted a thread with pictures somewhere in the Board.

(search on "No Lost Lens" #28)

 

[2phast]

Attach safety wire to the blinker housings. I posted a thread with pictures somewhere in the Board.

Thats a good idea but I wonder what would happen if the lense came off, held by the safety wire and bounced around smacking the fender, hood and bumper.

 

[J-Sauce]

Rick, I've had the same fear! I'd rather lose a $10 blinker than mess up a fender.

 

[DerFuror]

A short wire length won't allow the lens to leave it's cavity and cause damage.

 

[Taxi Driver]

A short wire length won't allow the lens to leave it's cavity and cause damage.

Yes, a short tight wire it will be to keep lens hook in place, I can't go around leaving evidence of speeding everywhere.
As a side note, I did not yet mount the undershield and obviously that made the built up pressure in the motorcompartment
high enough to push the blinker out,,Roger

 

[195910]

Question, Does the Blinker just fly off (upwards or to the side?) or hit the fender flare a little bit ?

 

[Jelmer]

With me it hit the fender, but that might've been because I was taking the corner pretty wild. I had both replaced with new ones, don't really feel it's necessary to apply the wire-trick.

 

[bing]

I did not yet mount the undershield and obviously that made the built up pressure in the motorcompartment
high enough to push the blinker out,,Roger

_
Probably was a contributing factor. Happened to me once - didn't bother to install the undershield while checking for leaks - the wheel arch guards got bent so bad that i had to replaced them. This was after doing over 220kph though.

 

[sheward]

My blinker left the car at 80mph with one bang but luckily did no damage to the fender. Undertray was present.

drew