Bavaria Tail Light Lens - USA vs Europe

[ThoughtItWasCool72]

Hello Group,

Does anyone know if there is a fitment issue in regard to the Tail Light Lenses from European models vs the USA models? I've found a slight difference in the part numbers (Right Side)
#63211355106 was a US-specs Tail Light Lens.
#63211355102 is for the rest of the world?

They both look identical, but I'm wondering if there is an internal difference.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Stevehose]

Not sure, but I suspect lens color differences

 

[eriknetherlands]

That, or it could have to do with the approval numbers on the lenses; EU lights/lenses need to have an approval number on them.

I'm not sure if US versions need also (DOT?) specific numbers.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

This on my right tail light only. All other markings on both tail lights are identical....

My guess is that the left tail light is a used, non US replacement and that before replacement both were marked with DOT. The DOT marking on US E3s may be the only difference from ROW E3 tail lights.

 

[Ohmess]

The coupe has a single fog light, toward the right side of the car, and this was a Euro only part. And I owned an Audi a few years ago that had a fog light in the right rear tail light. So maybe in Europe there was a fog light incorporated into the right side tail light and this explains the part number difference.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

The coupe has a single fog light, toward the right side of the car, and this was a Euro only part. And I owned an Audi a few years ago that had a fog light in the right rear tail light. So maybe in Europe there was a fog light incorporated into the right side tail light and this explains the part number difference.

Both R and L tail light PNs are different. US 63211355106 R, 105 L. ROW 63211355102 R, 103 L

 

[ThoughtItWasCool72]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate al the input. I went ahead and bought the ROW Right Lens - I can't see a difference - I didn't install it yet, nor did I look closely at the imprinted numbers - I'll do that and post again.

 

[Christoph]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate al the input. I went ahead and bought the ROW Right Lens - I can't see a difference - I didn't install it yet, nor did I look closely at the imprinted numbers - I'll do that and post again.

Sounds good. I am with @eriknetherlands , DOT or ECE numbers might be a reason. Then I looked at some spare lenses and the parts catalogue. Now I'm confused.

 

[Christoph]

Still confused, but getting better. There are three pairs of lenses: 101/102 ECE, 103/104 France only, 105/106 USA, odd numbers always left side. The French pieces came with amber reversing lights, these are out. The rest might be just numbers and signs. Late production lenses seem to have all markings, so they can be used in the ECE area, nearly the whole world, as well as in North America. @Dick Steinkamp showed the DOT marking, I found that on my spare lenses, too. ECE parts have markings for nearly every single lens, particularly ECE R6 for "direction indicators" and ECE R7 for "position lamps" and "stop-lamps". When I went through the pictures of the poor Bavaria sold recently on BaT, the rear lights had no ECE markings, maybe a set of original 105/106.
Is it true the USA versions came without rear foglight? The parts catalogue tells to use the left covering/contact plate for RHD models and the right one for LHD cars, both without foglight, to get a pair for a USA car.
Lastly, at some time in 1972 the USA versions were given rear lights with stronger stoplights. Neither the lenses nor the contact plates were affected, only the reflectors changed. Has anybody noticed that and can tell me about the difference?