Rauhbatz

Hi again M-class fans...so during my Thanksgiving holiday Im catching up on the maintenance of my wife's ML350..

So after grief for those dodgy messages about the parking lamps being burnt out, I went to Advance Auto Parts and picked up two lamps.

After opening the manual I was familar with the 'twist & pull" fittings found on MB lamp sockets.

While the headlight and other lamps look easy to change, the parking lamps are tucked inboard from the outer lamps. The sockets are tucked behind a maze of plumbing and metal.

After several tries of trying to rotate my arms twice in 90 degree directions and turning the sockets the best I could I gave up after skinning the knuckles on both my hands...

Do you have to climb up in the engine compartment to get enough leverage and position to twist the sockets? Has to be a secret here...

Any advice on changing these lamps? Im going to give it another go this week so any steer from M-Class posters is welcome...

socketman

needle nose pliers

pharaoh

Yep needle nose pliers and a small mirror would help

Rauhbatz

I looked at potentially pulling the light unit off from the front and changing it there...but it looks like you would have to pull the whole bumper..

Will head to Home Depot to get some needle nose...thanks!

Rauhbatz

It took 9 in needle nose pliers and some huffing & puffing but the bulbs are now changed...

I love this forum!

imsorussian

Haha, im trying to replace those park lights for led if anyone interested those are W5W (194) bulbs and needle nose plyers are the only way out. Next i will install HID kits for low beam and fog lights, all interior lights are changed to led already
2011 ml350

Rauhbatz

should be given the Nobel Peace Prize...my peace of mind and lack of busted knuckles!

C-rod

you should mention the parking lamps..........My right hand side parking lamp was out, and it was replaced...Then 2 days later it happened again........The icon came on at night.......but when l was going to the dealership in the morning, the light was back on, and the icon was gone , with no message.....Hmmmm...later that night the icon came on again, right hand side parking lamp, then in the morning the light was back on......l'm wondering if it is an "auto issue" with these lights...Any thoughts ????

Whit30nBlk

Ive seen so many people complain how hard this install was and you need needle nose pliers etc... I literally did this in about 10 minutes in the parking lot at work with my fingers, I went with the Mtec Led's , no error codes and they look SO much better. I also just put in the Mtec HID kit as well. They messed up my order at first then they fixed it and sent me the right stuff. HID install took about 20 minutes and most of the time was cutting the cap holes and wiring it together, bulbs where cake to get in..

These are the first 2 mods I did since purchase of the ML roughly 3 weeks ago!


Oh ya this is my first post but, I've been around a while reading like a hawk. be easy on me

edpena111

The Mtec's or similar type of LED's are the only ones that will not give OBC errors. Most euro cars see the lack of current draw as the bulb being out.

I couldnt find much info on the referenced Mtec's, but the following LED's will also work and have been tested:

http://aznoptics.com/index.php?main_...&products_id=9

-E

shercrawford

No problem getting it to turn 1/4 with needle nose pliers...BUT, it's not coming out. i'm afraid of pulling too hard and breaking it. being that this is the first time it's been changed, should i just pull hard...or am i going to break it? i've spent the last 20 min out there trying to gently pull it out and i'm on the verge of loosing patience and just ripping it apart! HAHAHA

AMGC60-3

Funny that a couple of you guys were talking about the Mtec Leds, I was just looking at some on eBay.

Rauhbatz

I had the same challenge wtih getting the units to turn...over time I had the left one hang up.

Be sure you are rotating the units per the proper direction in the manual...and you might squirt a little lube in there to get them loose.

I do think these light bulbs were put in by someone that wants you to take the car to the dealer

Whit30nBlk

Just an update I had the mtec parking lights for about 2 months and then they started flickering after the warm up. 2 months later one burnt out, now I'm back to just silver stars , miss the led look but don't miss the annoying flickering.

mb techman

.

MMundrean

your better off having your wife or son do it as they tend to have skinnier arms to squeeze in there

nematoad

You are better off hiring some elves to replace these bulbs.

kewlaidjams

I tried this on an ML63 with several needle nose pliers and no luck. Beside barely any room, passenger side has some metal bracket blocking the socket. Seems like a bumper removal is required and definitely not worth it.

jblair

Same issue here. Got my wife and young daughter to volunteer to help with no luck. Unfortunately, I took it to the dealer and paid $50 for a $2 parking bulb install. I did find out they went through the wheel well liner to get to the bulb. So I'm ready next time...

sheepdog8

I tried installing 2 different brands of Canbus led lights. Neither worked right. The would blink when turned on & go off. So left regular glass bulb in. Got pretty good changing the parking lights. I use a bright flashlight aimed in opening on top of headlight housing where u can see the connector. Use long needle nose pliers ( I put pieces of electrical tape on jaws to prevent chewing up the connector). Watch through the opening, 1/4 turn & pull out.

willlib

it's happening to me right now. I tried to remove the headlight on the right side but I can't reach the light. in EPC they say that you have to removed the front fender and there is an other bolt there to remove the light. I will join some pdf from EPC.

Rauhbatz

I had a side marker light go out...that is a dealer thing as they have to take off the fender to get at it.... :|

yister

I've done this numerous times with ease. I have strong skinyy fingers and a death grip. If in SoCal, just pm me and I'll send you my address. I'll do it free!! bring a wide masking tape for top of my hands, I know.

beerj

Several days ago the icon for that marker light came on .
Checked the lights - yes the right front parking lamp was out .
After a couple of attempts to reach in there , I made up my mind to have the dealer replace it .
Made the appointment for the following day .
Next morning the icon did not come on. I checked the light and it was working and has been working ever since.
I cancelled the apointment
I think that by my trying to reach the lamp socket that I might have moved it a little and electrical contact was made again .
We will see how it goes.

andcro

Mmmmm - not sure what to do now I've read this thread. One of the parking lights is out on my 2011 ML350 - was going to fit LED ones - but I think I'll just stick to normal bulbs if they are this unreliable.

Any evidence to suggest LED is the better way forward?

By the way - they are a real pain to get to but with the needle nose pliers and I removed the 2 top headlamp bolts I could get it our much more easily than with the bolts in.

Really stupid design - the handbook should warn you about them.