W198 Gullwing reproduction tail-light lenses - only one supplier worldwide - is the quality good

Started by Hugo_Darlinghurst, 26-04-2024 10:48 AM. 8 replies. 1,418 views.

26-04-2024 10:48 AM

Hugo_Darlinghurst Senior Member

★ Gold

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Darlinghurst NSW
Posts: 524
Club: Mercedes Classic Drivers Australia (MCDA) - chapter committee
Car: 1968 W108 280SE 5.0 Coupe

righto.

I am aware this is an unusual question for an Australian forum. A client of an associate has a 1955 300SL Gullwing (one of the cars Vasilios will recall I valued in 2019, for the same client). The right rear tail-light lens has spider-cracked from a parking-knock.

The original Hella W198 tail-light lens is unobtainium. The only known reproduction supplier in 2019 is Hella Classic Reproduction Division (Lippstadt, Germany), which manufactures a single batch every about 18 months on dealer back-order. Cost is reported at EUR 2,800 per lens .

Question: has any member here fitted a Hella reproduction lens in the last 5 years and can you confirm the optical quality and colour-match to an original survivor?

26-04-2024 12:18 PM

Vasilios_Billy

Lifetime Benzer

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Campbelltown NSW
Posts: 2,031
Club: M.A.L.A.K.A.S.
Car: 2020 AMG GT C

Hugo.

The Hella reproduction is dimensionally exact and the red glass is correctly tinted (a slightly amber-warm red specific to the 1954-1957 lens, not the cooler red of the W121 190SL of the same era). The chrome trim ring is correctly stamped. The internal lens-grid pattern matches the original because Hella retained the original tooling.

The single visible difference under close inspection is the moulding line on the underside, which is sharper on the reproduction than on a survivor (60+ years of UV slightly softens the original). This is not visible when fitted to the car.

EUR 2,800 is correct. I have fitted one in 2017 (Western Sydney collection car). Pair to original survivor on the opposite side, the colour match in direct sunlight is about 98%. Indoors under lighting, indistinguishable.

Allow 14-18 months lead time. Do not chase the lead time with the dealer. Hella's reproduction division batches the run; chasing does not accelerate it.

26-04-2024 03:48 PM

Hugo_Darlinghurst Senior Member

★ Gold

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Darlinghurst NSW
Posts: 524
Club: Mercedes Classic Drivers Australia (MCDA) - chapter committee
Car: 1968 W108 280SE 5.0 Coupe

Vasilios as always. Order goes in Monday. Client has accepted the 14-18 month wait.

For future searchers: there is no other supplier. Do not consider reproduction lenses on auction sites. They are universally inadequate to the original spec.

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