Sheet metal is sheet metal in Germany and USA just the same.  Metric or not
it's still a sheet metal screw.  Take it and you won't see any difference.
Only the diameter matters really a little.  But they are close and if you
find that you need to use a bigger one, take it.  That's a kind of item that
is not worth dilly-dolly over.
Zoltan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:51 AM
Subject: Tail lamp assembly mounting screw

> I'm missing one of the tail light assembly mounting screws so I paid a
> visit to my friendly ACE Hardware to see if I could find one. I was
> poking through the fasteners section when a red-vested sales associate
> approached and asked if he could help me find something.
>
> I handed him the screw.
>
> "That's just a sheet metal screw," he said.
>
> I told him I had reason to believe it's metric.
>
> He snorted and picked up a #12 SMS and tried to match the threads. They
> were too coarse. He looked at the screw.
>
> "You're not going to find a metric sheet metal screw."
>
> "Someone did -- you're holding it," I pointed out, helpfully.
>
> He handed it back. I've come home empty-handed.
>
> So -- I need one. Or eight in stainless. Any ideas?
>
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR