Mercedes-Benz Ponton ULONITE Reflectors © www.mbzponton.org

ULONITE No. 105

In the USA after mid-1959 all Mercedes-Benz Pontons (and both the 190SL [W121 II] and the 300SL [W198 II] roadsters) were required to have small red reflectors mounted inboard of each tail light and above the rear bumper. These are known as ULONITE 105 reflectors (000-544-14-05). ULONITE is still a major supplier to Daimler AG, but they are alleged to have lost the tools to make the No. 105.

September 2014: New ULONITE No. 105 reflectors, and the rubber mounts are available (see Authentic Classics link). Given today's high value of the rare, New Old Stock (NOS), used, or even reconditioned ULONITE No. 105 reflectors, it seems like a strong business case for ULONITE to tool-up, and make a batch run (including the rubber mounts) for distribution to the Mercedes-Benz Classic Centers, and after-market vendors around the world. Perhaps the economies of scale are not there – who knows?—Ed.

In Europe, both the 190SL roadster (W121 II – 5/55 - 2/63) and the 300SL roadster (W198 II – 8/57 - 2/63) used the ULONITE No. K1320 reflectors, which were slightly larger than the ULONITE 105. Note the ULONITE 135 (still available today) is a direct replacement for the ULO K1320.

This is a rare NOS ULONITE 105 reflector. Original Mercedes-Benz part number 000-544-14-05. They were mounted vertically on the four and six cylinder Ponton sedans, coupés and cabriolets, and and horizontally on the Type 190SL and 300SL roadsters. They were also used on certain post-Ponton Mercedes-Benz models such as the W110 (a.k.a. "Heckflosse" or "Fintail") Universal wagons.

1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S sedan with Webasto sliding sunroof and ULONITE 105 reflectors.
The bumper guards use the slightly larger ULONITE No. K1320 (or No.135) reflectors.
Photo: Dick Hartt / Pasadena, California

NLA Limited
Restoration Parts For Vintage Porsche Cars / Nevada
www.nlaparts.com

Check the dimensions of your Mercedes-Benz Ponton ULONITE reflectors before contacting NLA Limited to be sure they will fit your car. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing", and Porsche 356 roadster both use the ULONITE No. 135. The four and six cylinder Mercedes-Benz Ponton sedans have rear bumper guards which also use the ULONITE No. 135 (up to about the middle of 1959). Certain Mercedes-Benz Type 190SL roadsters also use the ULONITE No. 135. See examples elsewhere on this page.

Parts diagram for the ULONITE No. 135 (larger than the ULONITE No. 105).

Diagram courtesy NLA Limited

Supplement 1

Mercedes-Benz Ponton Coupé and Cabriolet ULONITE Reflectors

Edited excerpt from the International Ponton Owners Group (IPOG) forum.

Contributors: Doug Broome / Jack Kotrba
November 7, 2006

Doug writes,

"I removed and examined the ULONITE 105 reflectors on my 1959 Mercedes-Benz Type 219 sedan and 1959 Type 220S cabriolet and observed the following:

The reflectors themselves, including the threaded stud, are the same all around. The stud was slightly, but differently, angled on a couple of them, but after examination I concluded that this was the result of trauma and not an original feature.

According to Werner Karasch in Germany, the original Mercedes-Benz part number for the ULONITE 105 reflectors was 000-544-14-05.

The spacers are different front and rear, and left and right, on the cabriolet. For example, the left outside spacer goes only in that location.

On the sedan, both outside spacers appear to be identical; one simply installs them reversed left versus right. Ditto the spacers inside the wheel well. I am not 100% certain about this, but it looked that way. I neglected to try to install them opposite the left or right side from which I removed them. If they are not identical left versus right, they are very close.

The rear spacers on the sedan were more or less mirror images of the front spacers. They had a hole which the stud exited to receive a washer and nut. The inside spacers on the cabrio had a threaded tube molded into them. From inside the trunk one fits a screw into the threaded tube and somehow that turns onto the ULONITE's stud. Rather a peculiar arrangement, but I conclude that it was necessary because Uloniote 105s all came with the same length stud and the cabrio's distance for mounting it was rather longer than the sedan's.

All spacers originally had Mercedes-Benz part numbers marked on them. On all mine, however, they were so worn as to be unreadable. I did see enough on the cabrio's spacers probably to confirm the numbers that Jack Kotrba provided.

There is no way, repeat no way, the cabrio ULONITE spacers would have fit on a 190SL. The coupé/cabriolet mounting angles are way too sharp. As I have not examined a 190SL yet, however, I cannot comment as to whether the sedan spacers also fit them. I shall have to determine this another time.

Exactly when the ULONITE 105 began to be fitted to USA-specification Mercedes-Benz Ponton sedans, coupés, and cabriolets is still a subject of conjecture. I did read, however, in the September 1992 issue of the Mercedes Collector (No. 4), F. Mallory, ed. where Ron Rapp wrote at p. 26 that the reflectors were moved from under the bumper to the body in December 1957 on the Type 190SL with USA specifications. One may reasonably infer, therefore, that the reflectors went on USA-specification Ponton sedans, coupés, and cabrios at the same time. Still, I have not found anything conclusive or determinative."

Jack Kotrba contributed the following narrative and photos.

I do not know if the black mounting tube came as an integral feature of the ULONITE 105 or whether it was supplied separately from the reflector itself. I can say from observation that the tubes differ on sedans versus coupés/cabrios. In addition, the mounting angle (the cut along the mounting end) of the black tube differed on the sedan versus coupé/cabrio. Finally, the coupé/cabrio mounting tube is much longer than on the sedan and is not split into two sections.

This photo shows the part number on the piece

The sedan mount on the left and the coupé/cabriolet mount on the right

ULONITE rubber mounts for Mercedes-Benz Ponton coupés and cabriolets.
Location	Mercedes-Benz Part Number
Left Inner	180 987 03 37
Left Outer	180 987 01 37
Right Inner	180 987 04 37 KZ
Right Outer	180 987 02 37 KZ

There were no letters after the left side numbers. I think all the sedans use the same pieces. These pieces go on either side of the body sheet metal with the stud from the ULONITE going through both to fasten it on.

Removing ULONITE 105 Reflectors

If your reflectors are in the original position (just inboard of the taillights where the fender meets the trunk lid), you will find the mounting stud accessible from inside the fender, not the trunk. There are two angled rubber pieces – one behind the ULONITE and one inside the fender. Make sure you use penetrant before unbolting, as it is easy to snap the bolt if the nut is seized.

Dan Diamond / Toronto / June 20, 2005

Thanks to: Dan Diamond, Ron Rapp, Len Sokoloff, Ron van Seventer

Return to the Mercedes Ponton FAQ page

Return to the Mercedes Ponton page

Mercedes-Benz Ponton ULONITE Reflectors
ULO No. 105 / No. 135 / No. K1320

ULONITE No. 105

ULONITE No. K1320 (European Specification)

ULONITE No. 135

Possible Sources for ULONITE No. 105 Reflectors

Mercedes-Benz Ponton ULONITE Reflectors ULO No. 105 / No. 135 / No. K1320

ULONITE No. 105

ULONITE No. K1320 (European Specification)

ULONITE No. 135

Possible Sources for ULONITE No. 105 Reflectors

Mercedes-Benz Ponton ULONITE Reflectors
ULO No. 105 / No. 135 / No. K1320