newyorktoLA

What size and type of rivets are in the wheel well liner?

I want to remove the wheel well to gain access to the driver's side headlight, and need to remove the rivets. However, I don't think I'll be able to save them from breaking if I remove them.

Is there any other way to change out the driver's side headlight bulb???

dfordham

They're not rivets, they are plastic washers with a center pin. Just pry out the center pin with a flat blade screwdriver. Do it carefully and they will be reusable.

Regards,
Don

newyorktoLA

Oh, but still...Does anyone know of any other ways to swap out the driver's side headlamp bulb? If I remove the three washers and plastic screws in the wheel well part closest to the headlight, can I just peel the liner back or do I have to completely remove it? I bought Diamond Vision lights from Philips and I wanted to change the bulbs back to stock without taking it to the dealer. PLEASE ANYONE!!! If you have pics, it would be greatly appreciated.

I bought 24 hour access to WIS-Net and Startek and the instructions say I have to remove AC hoses and other pumps from the wheel well. Has anyone maneuvered around it?

I really need help! honestly i really don't know the first thing about changing the bulb on the drivers side

bigigg

Ive heard this is the only way to get to the head light, but when i had my hid's installed the shop got to it from the top of the engine bay.. Sorry if this isnt helpful, if your hands are small enough give it a shot.

CEB

Unfortunately, manufacturers have crammed so much stuff into modern cars that you need to disassemble half of it to do even the most routine tasks.

I had a discussion with a MB tech about this last week and he told me that the only safe way to do the one side is to remove the liner and move a bunch of stuff out of the way but - like Bigigg said - it is possible to do it from the top but that often comes with bloodshed and broken bits. Fitting the bulb and properly securing the cap will be difficult from that angle.

The discussion came up because I was asking about the warning in the owner's manual that one side had to be done by a tech.

You may be best off getting an indy to do this for you.

captj3

The best and easiest way to get to the headlight is to remove the inner liner. It is in 2 pieces you only have to remove the front part. Once that is done you will see the low beam cover clear as day. If you are going to put in HIDs or change the bulb you have to do it this way. There is 4 or 5 push pin in the well and 2 screws in the area behind the DRL. Hope this helps.

alloutmk23

You must jack the car up, remove the wheel and the wheel liner. Just neet to pry out the push pins and use a 10mm socket for the plastic nuts. It's not hard dude. Once you get that liner off you will have conplete access to the headlight assembly.

MCF

I am 6'4" and have large hands and replaced driver side bulb from engine compartment. Thee is a small bracket that can be moved aside and then I could just get my hand in there to change bulb. You do not have to remove wheel liner.

dbtk

I, too, did not have to remove the wheel well liner. I merely removed the a single bracker in the engine compartment that was blocking the way to the inner headlamp cover. And then it was a matter of twisting my arm/hand into the headlamp unit to remove and replace the bulb.

newyorktoLA

Thanks for all the replies guys! I'm finally getting some answers. dbtk and MCF, which bracket did you have to remove? Do any of you have a picture or can any of you describe which bracket it is? I much rather go from up top than remove the wheel, fiddle around with removing the wheel well liner, etc.

dbtk, congrats on the new CLS! I noticed it in your signature

newyorktoLA

Ok so I found something attached to rubber positioned on a metal bracket. I took this thing attached to rubber off the metal bracket. Is this what y'all did? I can only get my left hand inside there, but I can't unscrew the bulb because only my left two fingers can touch the actual bulb holder. Did you unscrew the black nuts on the metal bracket to let your right hand inside?


i attached a pic for reference

dbtk

Yes, I removed the metal bracket completely so that I could reach in completely without impeding my arm/wrist.

newyorktoLA

thank you!!! was the bracket easy to put back on? also, by moving the rubber thingy away, i hope we're not stressing the pipes or breaking anything!

OceanView

OP:

Did you change your bulb from the top or from the wheel well?
Was it easy?

My drivers side just went so I'll have to do this myself and wanted some guidance.

newyorktoLA

If you don't have P2 or an HID kit, you can go through the top. I couldn't, but the dealer tech was able to! For replacing an HID bulb, ballast, or whole kit, you have to go through the wheel well. I published an in depth guide on how to install the HIDs and remove the liner with pics if you want to check that out
Good luck!

killawatt

I'd love to. Where is it posted

newyorktoLA

Right here! https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...tructions.html

thoevelk

lots of choices for 2009 cls550 low beam. anybody change one yet and, where did you get the bulb, what brand and how much. they range from 25-130$ on ebay.

frank.w144

Gents, I have followed your directions for removing the bracket on my 2011 E350 driverside. Now I have the cover off and the bulb housing exposed. I can grab it but I can't see or feel any screws/locking mechanisms that are holding the bulb in. How did you guys get it out? Please help!! :/

Foozini

Check out this thread over on BenzWorld.

It has a full tutorial on how to get to the driver's side headlamp, complete with pictures. I had to follow this about two weeks ago, and it worked pretty well. The lamp can be in there pretty tight, to the point where I had to (gently) use a pair of pliers to get some mechanical leverage on the lamp in order to twist it to get it out.

thenew3

Ok so after 6 hours and lots of cuts and scrapes on my hands, I still cannot get to the driver side bulb from top. I removed the bracket, could get my hand just barely in there (6' tall, average size hands), but not enough to actually twist the bulb out of the socket.
I had my 7 year old son try to help me. His little hands/arms could get in there but couldn't get enough strength to turn it either.

So we went to plan B. Remove the wheel and wheel liner. After 2 hours of fussing with that, we could only get 1 out of the 5 lug bolts to come out. The other 4 are so tight that even jumping around on the lug wrench for an hour wouldn't loosen them. (I guess they must've used a really strong impact wrench at the factory or the dealer to install those lug bolts).

So now on to Plan C, get a local independent german shop to help remove the wheel and wheel well liner. Sent an inquiry in. Waiting for their response.

Anyone have suggestion on an easy way to get the lug bolts off? (keep in mind my motion is some what restricted due to bad back and prior back surgery).

I've got 3 out of 4 lights replaced with Philips Diamondvision (passenger side high/low beam, driver side high beam), and the parking lamps replaced with the AZN Optics LED's in about 30 minutes. But so far have spent nearly 9 hours this weekend trying to replace the driver side low beam without any success.

Mud

Use a socket/breaker bar and add a cheater pipe to help loosen. I always add a tiny amount of anti-seize to the threads and torque to spec when re-attaching.