Part Number Location & European Tail Light Part Numbers

[Ntrepid]

So I have the Euro front headlights with the orange Hella side indicators and I was looking for the matching rear taillight lens. Can someone tell me

1. If there were different part numbers
2. What were they
3. Where would I verify the part number on a potential purchase?

Robert

 

[gsxr]

The "Euro" tails, AFAIK, do not have side/corner bulbs, which were USA DOT requirements. So yes, they are different part numbers vs USA.

However, I don't know if the orange color is different than USA spec.

 

[Ntrepid]

Thanks Dave. So the difference may not in the lens itself but rather the fixture the lens attaches to?


Robert

 

[gerryvz]

The internal taillight fixtures are definitely different between US and Euro spec lamps, for the reason that the @gsxr mentions. I think there are also other small differences.

Are you looking for pre-facelift or facelift taillights? You didn't specify.

The EPC will confirm that there are 100% different part numbers between US and ROW versions of both headlights and taillights, and both for pre-facelift and facelift cars.

 

[Ntrepid]

Thanks @gerryvz. I'm looking for pre-facelift for my MY92 036. I need to find a Euro VIN and then go spelunking in the EPC it sounds like.


Robert.

 

[gsxr]

Robert, no need for a Euro VIN, just select Europe region in the EPC after selecting 124036 chassis. Note it will show different p/n's for LHT vs RHT because the rear fog will be on the opposite side.

The lens is also slightly different between USA and non-USA, but it isn't visible externally. See photo below on 94-95, the difference is internal.

And yes, the bulb holder is slightly different, as there is no place for the side marker bulb. However you can just remove those from USA holders. Unless you can confirm the pre-facelift Euro tails have a different orange color (similar to the darker orange fronts), this will not be worth the effort.

 

[gerryvz]

It's a confusing jumble of head- and tail-lamp part numbers between the US and Europe, and pre- and post-facelift cars.

All of the numbers below are for tail-lamps WITH foglights. MB also had rear lamps available WITHOUT fog-lamps, but I am not including those part numbers. I believe that the US .036 tail-lamps DID have the fog lamps on the driver's side.

Note that all numbers below are for complete lamp assemblies, not any individual/interior parts.
Note that all numbers below are for left-hand traffic (as would be with the US and Germany, and NOT UK-type traffic).
Note that it is possible for some numbers below to have been superseded over the years.

HEADLAMPS

• US-spec -- pre-facelift
  • Left -- 124 820 47 59
  • Right -- 124 820 48 59
• US-spec -- facelift
  • Left -- 124 820 07 57
  • Right -- 124 820 08 57
• Euro-spec -- pre-facelift
  • Left -- 124 820 23 59
  • Right -- 124 820 50 59
• Euro-spec -- facelift
  • Left -- 124 820 37 57
  • Right -- 124 820 06 57

TAIL LAMPS

• US-spec -- pre-facelift
  • Left -- 124 820 39 64
  • Right -- 124 820 06 64
• US-spec -- facelift
  • Left -- 124 820 87 64
  • Right -- 124 820 88 64
• Euro-spec -- pre-facelift
  • Left -- 124 820 01 64 or 124 820 13 64 (different manufacturers, same lamp)
  • Right -- 124 820 04 64 or 124 820 16 64 (different manufacturers, same lamp)
• Euro-spec -- facelift
  • Left -- 124 820 83 64 or 124 820 91 64 (different manufacturers, same lamp)
  • Right -- 124 820 94 64 (appears to be same number for both manufacturers)

 

[gsxr]

Tail fog lamps were standard equipment worldwide as of the first facelift, USA model year 1990, or mid/late 1989 production. There should be 3 sets of part numbers: 86-89, 90-93, 94-95 (USA model years)... with yet more differences for LHT/RHT, and 2 different manufacturers.

 

[gerryvz]

My 1989 560SEC **does not** have a rear fog lamp, FYI. Although that is a different chassis. Perhaps someone with a 1990 or 1991 C126 (liviu or 281lxm) can chime in as to whether their 126 has the single bright rear fog lamp in the taillight lens.

 

[gerryvz]

Tail fog lamps were standard equipment worldwide as of the first facelift, USA model year 1990, or mid/late 1989 production. There should be 3 sets of part numbers: 86-89, 90-93, 94-95 (USA model years)... with yet more differences for LHT/RHT, and 2 different manufacturers.

For the .036, there should only be two sets of lamps listed, as it was only produced during a subset of overall W124 production. The EPC and ISPPI only show "up to" and "as of" FINs, which would correspond to the second and third MOPFs for the 124 chassis.

 

[gsxr]

For the .036, there should only be two sets of lamps listed, as it was only produced during a subset of overall W124 production. The EPC and ISPPI only show "up to" and "as of" FINs, which would correspond to the second and third MOPFs for the 124 chassis.

Exactly. No 036 should have been produced without rear fogs.

 

[Ntrepid]

This is really helpful. Thank you.

One observation I find interesting is MB’s seemingly inconsistent handling of parts manufactured by different companies. Here, MB designates different part numbers for different manufacturers but with something like relays, they make no distinction.

FYI. I am converting my taillights to LED using the thread @Jlaa has been contributed significantly to and the European lamp relay (1265420332) is made by at least two (maybe 3) companies - Stribel, Hella, and one more. They function identically obviously but are very different electronically as the non-Stribel units have 2 PCBs versus the Stribel which has 1.

I would have thought a lens which is identical in shape but made by different manufacturers to share the same P/N while a part which is unique but performs the same function to have a different part number.


Robert