jkam

Hi all,

I am wondering if I need a special tool to help me change the light bulb for the parking lamp.
There is really not enough room for me to reach to the back of the socket and my fingers are certainly not 12 inches long...


Thanks,

JK

tm4exc

See page 510 of the manual re: Parking lamp. It is in the "Practival Hint Section". You remove the parking lamp cover from the front and then the bolb holder and then the lamp from its connector. No need for special tools other than a flat bladed and phillips screw driver.

tm4exc

See page 510 of the manual re: Parking lamp. It is in the "Practical Hint Section". You remove the parking lamp cover from the front and then the bolb holder and then the lamp from its connector. No need for special tools other than a flat bladed and phillips screw driver.

jkam

Mine is the 2007 GL450, and according to the manual, there is no cover to remove when replacing the parking lamp bulb. I am referring to the parking/standing lamp which is located in the same headlamp cluster.
In fact, page 510 of the manual I have does not refer to parking lamp. It illustrates how to replace the license plate lightbulb.

I am wondering if anyone has experience replacing the parking/standing lamp bulb.

Thx

tm4exc

Sorry, 2008 info provided. Hard to believe they are different.

stoneweed1

I can't access the parking lamp on my 2007 GL450. Its tight and really hard to get to. Any advice?

BlownV8

Needle nose plyers directly from behind the housing. You can also use a flat head screwdriver for a little bit of added turning force from the top of the housing. Do not pry very hard with screwdriver. Turn counter clockwise to loosen. Pull straight back to remove.

danrob

Was able to change the Parking Light by using needle nose plyers and twisting from behind.

GL450frustratio

I don't think a park lamp bulb should be that difficult to change due to the manufacture using metal housing attached to lamp frame to main frame preventing one from easy access to bulb so that most will be forced to take to dealer or mess up wiring trying to use needle plyers and flat head screwdriver. Also another complaint--- the hydraulic suspension doesn't last long enough for such an expensive and deceptively deemed highest quality vehicle! Frustrated owner

BlownV8

The GL does not have a hydraulic suspension. It uses Airmatic. Now, get an ABC equipped vehicle and you will know the definition of frustration.

GL450frustratio

Thanks for the correction about the airmatic.

Tomou

I have an '08 GL and my drivers Marker bulb (orange front lower assembly under the reflector) has burnt out. I can't see how anyone could possibly get their hand in there and have tried. Does anyone have a strategy or must the headlight assembly be removed. If so how does one remove that? I'd almost prefer the latter at this point, any help greatly appreciated,


Thx

itb76

I have a 2010 GL550 with xenon headlamps, WIS says remove the fender inner liner to access this bulb. 0.4 hour job IIRC. It's likely your 2008 is similar.

manymercs999

You MUST have a pair of long nose pliers... fingers are not long enough

aazmi

No tools required! Do the following (for passenger side)
1.) follow the cable down to the bulb
2.) Remove the plug over the bulb
3.) Turn the bulb counter clockwise
4.) Once you turn it all the way you should be able to pull it straight back
NOTE: You'll have to wiggle the bulb and pull it back with some force and it will eventually come out.

Good luck!

Email me with any questions or pics. anees.azmi@gmail.com

aazmi

I've uploaded a premature video of the job. Hope it helps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3JH...ature=youtu.be

ritajohncarroll

I just changed my driver's side parking bulb on my '09 GL550. It was a lot of work.


I wasn't able to get to it from above... I have small hands but, while I was able to touch the socket from above, I couldn't get enough leverage to actually twist or pull it. The only advice I have for anyone trying this method is to pull out the turn signal bulb... it's holder has a sharp edge to it which cut into my hand... once I did this I was ALMOST able to complete the job from above...


Instead, in order to complete the job, I removed the driver front wheel and then pulled the wheel-well liner. Even then it isn't easy as you'd hope - since there is a wide metal bracket which blocks access to the bulb from behind. I sat inside the wheel well and used a mini vice grip to get at the socket from the middle of the car. I twisted the socket clockwise, and then pulled and pulled and pulled and pulled... and eventually it gave and came out.


All in all, I'm embarrassed to say that I spent a few hours changing a light bulb... but at least its done now. I'm hoping that the passenger side one will be easier to get at...

dromed

Hi,
I just changed the parking light to led and Im getting a code for parking lights out. Anyone have a work around for this? Any particular bulb that can help me out?
I have an '07 GL.
Thanks.

Also, same problem on the license lights too.

SL500-03 silver

You need to get Error Free led light for Mercedes. I got my from ebay. I order package deal. 20 led for $29. Each one is around $1.50. It is ship from China and I got it within a week.

sak335

This is the best post in this thread and what I used last night to do the job in 2 minutes, after trying to wrestle it out by hand in the parking lot of the auto-parts store. For comparisons sake, I've posted a photo of long nose pliers (black handles) vs. what most folks probably have in their tool box (red handles.)

CBR Dude

Small hands works best for the tight space. No laughing now! I did both sides on my GL450.

YodaSyrup

Thanks all. I needed the long nose pliers to get this bulb socket in and out too. Tough little bulb to switch out, but do-able.

bha

I have the long pliers you guys are showing, but couldn't get it done with those at all..

It was very hard to line up the tips of the pliers.. pliers are at an angle, etc. Once you lined it up, was hard to clamp down and turn the bulb holder.

I found it a lot easier to just reach in there.

Got my hand all scraped up but it worked. First one took 15 mins of frustration, second one took 5 mins.

Look right at the bulb, follow the wire to the back of that exact spot, and twist.

Latex gloves probably would have saved me the scrapes entirely.

Try that first.. wear latex gloves and spend 15 mins trying to twist the bulb holder. It seems frustrating at first but is totally doable.

and808

I did another trick.
I used a long, thick wooden stick. I shaped (with a knife) the end of the stick in order to fit it exactly into a bulb cover. then turn it counter clockwise and thats all.


shaping the right end of the stick tookme 4 minutes, replacing the bulb took me 2 minutes.


all together around 6 minutes. and you are done

ddruker

On the 2011 GL 350 with HID headlights, there are three bulbs in the headlight cluster. The "parking lamp" is the inner-most bulb. The OEM bulbs were dark blue in color when powered off. I replaced the OEM's with Sylvania Silver Star bulbs, which were bit lighter blue in color. I chose to do both sides at the same time, even though only my passenger side bulb had burned out.

On my truck, it sounds like there might have been more room than the folks above were dealing with. I did both sides today, took about 5 minutes each. Key was reading above about twisting the bulb holder to unlock it. I used a combination of short and long needle nose pliers and had no problems on either side.