Author Topic: early sun visor clips ? (color selection) (Read 35669 times)

J. Huber · « **Reply #50 on:** July 10, 2008, 11:12:09 »

Nothing new to add -- I just wanted to re-mention that the clips I bought from Ray at Bud's do work fine on my car (as did my apparent W108 hexies for that matter). The repros are white not grey -- and straight not slanted -- but they do hold the visor in place. The visors, BTW, are repros from Miller's. I like my visors almost upright and they stay clipped at 110.

(ok ok that's Kilometers not Miles...)

benzportland · « **Reply #51 on:** July 10, 2008, 19:27:31 »

I am thinking that if someone wanted to make the new clips work, a rubber pad at the base with the correct pitch would work to offset the clip so that it meets the visor rod correctly.

114015 · « **Reply #52 on:** July 11, 2008, 09:31:01 »

Maybe you are right...

... but this will be clearly visible and since many of us have this problem I propose we should get head for a correct reproduction.

As was already mentioned here before, the initial solid type is more of a rubber-like plastic and that aged badly and tends to brake (my three ones are all broken).

So, if we want to get a solid-type reproduction it should be of a better plastic quality. The old one is by far not durable enough for ++44 years. The next one should!

If we decide for the hollow type it must have the metal clip otherwise the lips (which hold the sunvisor rod) tend to break with the time, I have seen those.
Any choice will be ok as long as it will be a high quality reproduction and grey (white is not original).

If we go for this - I'll order six.

Thanks guys for all your input

Achim
1971 230/8 W114
1999 A4 B5 1.8
(& lots of crummy SL parts)

66andBlue · « **Reply #53 on:** July 11, 2008, 11:30:55 »

quote:
Originally posted by 114015

... Any choice will be ok as long as it will be a high quality reproduction and grey (white is not original). ..

Hallo Achim,
"white" may not be original but I believe that "beige" is for the late 230SL. My original clips certainly are NOT gray (at best a grayish beige) - and I doubt that gray turns beige over time.
But one can always spray paint them in the desired color, I guess

waqas · « **Reply #54 on:** July 11, 2008, 13:52:39 »

quote:
Originally posted by 66andBlue

quote:
Originally posted by 114015

... Any choice will be ok as long as it will be a high quality reproduction and grey (white is not original). ..

Hallo Achim,
"white" may not be original but I believe that "beige" is for the late 230SL. My original clips certainly are NOT gray (at best a grayish beige) - and I doubt that gray turns beige over time.
But one can always spray paint them in the desired color, I guess

Alfred is correct, I can confirm that clips from both my 1965 230sl's (008522 and 010052) are beige.

66andBlue · « **Reply #55 on:** July 11, 2008, 22:22:52 »

Benzportland,
if you plan to go further with this here are the dimensions of the clip and a better color rendition:

and the metal insert:

I'll be happy to email you the high res pictures.

scoot · « **Reply #56 on:** July 11, 2008, 22:41:27 »

quote:
Originally posted by 66andBlue

Benzportland,
if you plan to go further with this here are the dimensions of the clip and a better color rendition:
and the metal insert:

I would be happy to purchase clips like this if someone reproduces them. I have one good one and one cracked one.

benzportland · « **Reply #57 on:** July 11, 2008, 23:43:21 »

Thank you for the research and measurements! We would need to send a pair of these in for the moulds. I am not sure about the metal stamping, I will check and see if the guy I have been talking too has any ideas for that piece; I know it is possible but usually much more costly for that type of work.

benzportland · « **Reply #58 on:** July 15, 2008, 12:13:16 »

Okay I have an estimate on the metal clip pieces - thanks again Alfred for the detailed specs on the clips. I contacted a firm recommended to me called "Small Quantities" which specializes in metal reproductions such as fasteners, etc in relatively small numbers. There would be an engineering fee of $450.00, and then the clips would be $4.90 each for a quantity of 100 to 149, 4.50 for a quantity of 150 to 299. So if we did a quantity of 100 (50 sets for example) this would add $14.30 to each set, if we did higher quantities it would be a little less. I am assuming sets with the metal clips would work as replacements for non-clip pieces. So, a total for pieces with metal clip inserts should be around $40.00. This is a little more money, but probably well worth it for some, and yet there are others who will probably just want the one-piece clip. I suppose we could do some of both as well, that would just take a bit more planning.

66andBlue · « **Reply #59 on:** July 15, 2008, 13:06:35 »

Hi benzportland,
thanks for doing all the leg work here.
My view is to go with a solid piece without the metal clip. It is not only the fabrication of the metal part but also the design of the plastic. Looking from underneath it is not just a rectangular cavity but quite intricate, and matching both pieces will require additional work. Especially when they are made in different shops.
The clips in modern cars are all one piece plastic and they seem to be quite durable. You mentioned earlier "We would need to send a pair of these in for the moulds".
Perhaps I misunderstand what you mean but I believe that one clip is sufficient since there is no left or right version. And this is important, the clip must be symmetrical along the long axis, that is, fit both sides!
I am still in for one pair.

benzportland · « **Reply #60 on:** July 15, 2008, 15:22:22 »

Alfred - I wondered about the aspect of the metal clip fitting just right inside the part, and so far I have not been able to find a shop which does these simultaneously. And you're right it did not occur to me we would actually only need one mould for the plastic so the price should be a bit cheaper.

114015 · « **Reply #61 on:** July 21, 2008, 13:30:35 »

Hello friends,

I am in for two pairs; me preferring the solid type as well.
Nevertheless, both solutions, solid or hollow with metal clip, will be fine for me.

Thanks a lot for your input & help,

Achim

hill · « **Reply #62 on:** July 21, 2008, 13:35:59 »

quote:
Originally posted by 114015

Hello friends,

I am in for two pairs; me preferring the solid type as well.
Nevertheless, both solutions, solid or hollow with metal clip, will be fine for me.

Thanks a lot for your input & help,

Achim

I could use two pairs also. I remember going through two pairs on my 107 in ten years.

benzportland · « **Reply #63 on:** July 21, 2008, 22:53:29 »

At this point I am thinking of getting 100 pieces of the solid. Part of this process should include submitting samples to the designer; I could send one but as for color match more than one would be helpful. He will produce a few color samples, and I would like to be able to send them to some others here for their opinion as to quality, fit and finish if there are volunteers for that. Then I will sell them at actual cost plus shipping until they run out.

I am thinking that some with the hollow / metal clip variation might be happy with these, but if several still want the hollow / metal version, then I'd be more than willing to help with more legwork/contacts there.

Not to start a new topic but if this goes well I am thinking of having the same guy make some correct early vent levers which I understand have not been available for ages.

waqas · « **Reply #64 on:** July 22, 2008, 04:05:55 »

You can sign me up for 3 pairs, regardless of how they come out. I'd like to support your R&D effort... thanks!

jacovdw · « **Reply #65 on:** July 22, 2008, 13:15:41 »

Well, even though I am on the other side of the pond and a little to the south, I would definately be interested in at least 2 pairs of the solid clips..

paulr · « **Reply #66 on:** July 22, 2008, 14:01:11 »

I will have a set too.

jszeman1 · « **Reply #67 on:** July 22, 2008, 15:02:02 »

Count me in for a pair of white. I would prefer the ones with the clips for originality. My guess is to make the plastic part first in case there is any shrinkage from the casting. The manufacturer of the clips would then be able to make an exact fit.

benzportland · « **Reply #68 on:** July 27, 2008, 21:15:30 »

Just doing a brief survey of responses here it seems more people have the metal insert version, or maybe the numbers are close? I guess at this point I am thinking of going ahead with the solid style as it would require me to commit about 1/2 the funds at this point. I was guessing 50 pairs (100 pieces) but maybe 30 or 40 would be all we need for now. The guy will have the mould, so making more would likely be possible and easy. Once I sell those out (at cost, not trying to make a profit) I could go with the later metal insert version (and my better half would not get so much heartburn over the financial commitment

. Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated.

waqas · « **Reply #69 on:** July 28, 2008, 08:11:25 »

There appear to be three issues here:

Style:
I believe both the solid plastic and the metal insert types are correct. Further, the solid plastic version poses fewer complications during fabrication.

Colour:
I believe beige is more common, but some have reported white, grey, etc.

Amount:
benzportland-- I suggest that you start a new thread clearly stating your intention to fabricate these clips in order to gather a "sign-up list" from the wider membership.

Mark280SL · « **Reply #70 on:** July 29, 2008, 21:05:22 »

If there is still time to join in I'll take a pair to support the effort also.

benzportland · « **Reply #71 on:** July 29, 2008, 21:16:18 »

I will start a new post soon to sign up for clips. One thing I wanted to sort out first was color - I will check with the technician to see if he can produce these in more than one color without impacting cost much, if at all. It would be nice to have choices on color. I'll post here as soon as I hear from him.

114015 · « **Reply #72 on:** July 31, 2008, 11:59:57 »

Alfred showed on his pictures the correct color of these clips.

These are (somehow) greyish beige. I am confident this is the correct color. Clear grey or even white (like the reproductions) does not seem to be correct to me.
I have not heard or read that different color choices were possible at period. At least the parts list(s) don't tell so. And they usually do.

Whatever choice, I am in for two pairs.

Thanks a lot for your superb effort
& best

Achim

benzportland · « **Reply #73 on:** July 31, 2008, 21:14:49 »

I heard back from the tech and he said doing a few different colors would not be a problem as long as there were more than just a couple in each color. Based on Alfred's picture and other's agreement, it seems that the greyish-beige is the correct original color, but perhaps later when correct replacements were still available some other colors were used?

To sum up these will be solid - style clips, correct only for the 230sl and the 250 sl up to #002979.

As for color it seems the greyish-beige for sure, but possibly others. I thought I would post this and let others weigh in with their preference/experience on color, and then in a few days start the new post to confirm "orders." Thanks all

News:

Author Topic: early sun visor clips ? (color selection) (Read 35669 times)

benzportland

benzportland

benzportland

benzportland

hill

benzportland

jacovdw

paulr

benzportland

benzportland

benzportland