What to do with the Orange Side Marker Lights
The USA requires side marker lights. These light serve practically no purpose.
They illuminate when the parking or headlights are on.
They DO NOT blink when the turn signals or hazzard lights are used.
Many people feel that these lights are unsightly. I agree.
Below are two solutions to this "problem".
Solution 1: Use a Painted Marker Light.
Evosport can supply you with markers painted to the color of your car.
Above: The original marker.
Pry off the bumper insert (this applies to all SLKs EXCEPT the pre 2002 sport package SLKs)
Pre 2002 sport package instructions are further down the page.
Gently insert a small screwdriver just above the marker light. Click here to see the movie (Quicktime required).
Note the move shows the Euro insert documented at the bottom of the page.
Once the bumper insert is removed, twist off the bulb.
Once the bulb is removed, press the tab to release the light from the bumper insert.
Now take the new painted light and reverse the directions.
When the lights are on a small amount of light will pass through the painted fixture.
The following is instructions on removing the light fixture from pre 2002 sport package SLKs:
In order to remove the light from these cars, the rear mount must be removed from the light fixture.
To access the mount, you must go through the fog lamp door (see this link for details of the fog lamp door)
The assembly is illustrated in the pics above.
Once the screws are removed, the tab can be pressed and the fixture can be pushed out of the bumper.
Solution 2: Change the bumper insert to the European version
Here, the light fixture is eliminated all together. This cannot be performed on pre 2002 sport package cars.
Remove the old insert as illustrated above.
Tape the bulb inside the bumper to that it will not move around.
Insert the new Euro Inserts.
The Euro insert is a cleaner look.
The part numbers for the Euro insert for 2002 SLK 32s and 2002 Sport Package SLKs is:
170 885 01 21 9744 - Silver Passenger Side
170 885 02 21 9744 - Silver Driver Side
Note the 9744 is the color code of the car. Replace this number with the color of your SLK.
I do not know the part numbers for other SLKs but these parts exist for these cars.