The axe at home oft saves the carpenter. (Friedrich Schiller)

This US-style Christmas tree illumination of the 560 US export models had already been eliminated by the previous owner. Thus, the sidemarkers and the additional brake light - which was ugly placed ontop the trunk lid - killed in action during the conversion into the european-style.

Of all these modifications, however, the Controlling Illumination Agency (CIA) did not notice anything - as is the case with all authorities. The result was a constant error indicator light visible in the cockpit.

There are now two possible solutions: On the one hand, you can adjust the corresponding lamp control module (LCM) accordingly. However, this has the disadvantage that when replacing the LCM the modification must be made again. The other approach is to adapt the vehicle wiring to the EU version and thus replace the US-LCM by an EU-LCM. Suitable EU-LCMs are available, for example, from the W126 model for less than 10 EUR on the second hand stock market places in the Internet.

I have opted for the second version, since the change of the vehicle wiring is minimal and you can also retrofit in the context of this conversion, the missing rear fog light with minimal effort.

The whole conversion was absolutely trouble-free, done in one afternoon and flattered the Swabian soul with costs of less than 20 EUR. I have documented the conversion with corresponding background information in this document (German only)

The hardtop was still temporarily stored in the basement - I needed a solution regarding a permanent storage. I do not like a mobile stand - be always a hurdle in the garage. Attaching a hardtop lift to the garage ceiling was also out of the question. Max headroom is just 2.2m anyway and with a mounted hardtop lift I can not even open the engine hood completely anymore.

I decided to build a box, inspired by the original transport boxes. Lots of measuring and tinkering later, I bought at a home-deport nearby a transport scooter, slats and wooden panels.

Built with the slats the frame and covered with the panels. The transport scooter I have split into two parts - thus the whole box is movable. I have built the box as small as possible - so it can be stowed between the garage pint and my motorbike trailer. In summer, the hardtop is stored in this box - during winter time, the convertible top. In addition, everything is thoroughly protected against dirt and any accidential damages.