Cyan

Does anyone knows what can possibly trigger a malfunction in the interior lights of a 99 C280?

Door-operated lights used to turn on when doors were opened, now the roof switch turns them on (even when door is closed) or off all the time.

Thanks.

tpliquid

no middle setting?

Rincewind

refer to your manual, you arent having a malfunction. just enabled a setting. I did this once too when I first got my car. I was trying to turn on the interior lights when I was inside the car and mashed all the keys. (i ended up disabling the lighted entry... which is what you did by the way) there should be a button that re-enables lighted entry (lights come on when door open and closes)

Cyan

Thanks Rincewind

I wish that was the case. Today I learned that my kid had slammed the passenger door while the seatbelt laid across the car's door frame. The retractable door light switch got pushed in. Ouch.

Public Enemy

Whoa...sounds like a freak accident.

Rincewind

retractible door light switch? where is this?

Cyan

Perhaps the word retractable sounds way too technical for the age-old push button that controls car doors as well as the lights in refrigerator doors. In the C-class is on the car's frame, right under the door lock openning.

Rincewind

ahh k. gotcha.

gotta teach your kids to be careful around the mercedes!

Rincewind

this could be easy to fix, but have you tried pulling the light switch on the door out? i'm assuming from the way you are describing it, that the switch is stuck inside or something.

Rincewind

i never really examined this, so i donno what im talking about... let us know what you end up doing

Cyan

Not only are the interior lights not functional, but now when the car is locked using the remote, the parking lights do not blink as they did before.

f4i 954

The reason your lights dont blink, is because it tink`s the door is still open. A new door swith will fix your problem.

Rincewind

how come your clear corner doesnt sit right?

it looks uneven kinda.... check your sig

Cyan

f4i 954: I know is that. Thanks.

Rincewind: It's a shadow. These wrap like a glove around the headlight. Thanks.

Rincewind

sharp car.

need to get rid of those stock wheels. (im in that situation right now too )

have you looked into getting some clear turn signal bulbs that blink amber? it will make your clear corners look truly "clear".

phillips silver vision and osram sell them. I will post pics of my install after they arrive from the UK

Rincewind

oh and an avantgarde grill to replace the stock would look awesome

Cyan

Thanks.

I am not quite ready to pump $400+ for an OEM Avantgarde or dump $1500 into AMG Monoblock 16" and new tires.

Someday....

For now, mayber Bekkers $98 insert.

Rincewind

the clear turn signal bulbs that blink amber are only 20 bucks or so. http://www.autostylin.co.uk/bulbs/ph...ator/index.htm has em.

oem avantgarde grill from my contact direct from germany 265!

Cyan

Yo Rincewind.

Do you really have a reliable contact in Germany for OEM grill for $265? Do you have one installed?

The way I figured it, since it is just cosmetics, the Bekkers $98 grill might just fit the bill. I am not sure.

I researched enough to know the OEM is better quality. Even the chrome fins have better ending points than the replicas, but in the long run, these end-points will not be seen. Both are cut down from W210 grills.

Given that my car is black, the Bekker's grill, with its black frame, might just be better. The OEM is made in the regular Mercedes gray. I am not going to rush into it.

Thanks for the info on the bulbs.

Cyan

In fact, all these grills are based on the old Mercedes grills with chrome STRIPS attached to them.

I'd wish they had one like the E-class, where chrome BLADES makeup the grill. Those are killer.

Later.

Rincewind

yes I can get em for 265... mine should be arriving sometime next week.

i'll post pics when i get it

DougandhisC280

I'm all for the becker's grill.

Cyan

As I said before, I am not crazy over the W202 Avantgarde, OEM or otherwise. (although anything is better than the stock grill). However, if the W202 Avantgarde looked more like the W203 stock grill, then certainly I would dish out the bread for the OEM. I personally like the "blade" (sturdy) look of the E-class grills.

All w202 grills are based on a signature design that has been around for ages. Every Benz I've own had basically the same Mercedes traditional grill style.

For now, I am leaning towards the Bekkers. Do you own a Bekker's grill?

Thanks.

scorchie

Just curious, would like some clarification:

You state that you like the "blade" look of the E-class grills... which ones? Because earlier you state that the Avantgarde grill is a cut down W210 grill (which is E-class).

I think both the Bekkers and OEM Avantgarde grills look like the stock W203 grill (and W208 and W210). The difference is that the W203, W208 and 2000+ W210 grills are one piece of plastic, with the chrome trim simulated by addition of polished aluminum plating on the plastic. The pre-2000 W210 grill (and W202 Avantgarde grill) is one piece of plastic with attached polished stainless steel strips fitted inside a metal frame. The effect is the same, I can park all these cars together and they all look good. However, the W203/W208/new W210 grills are MUCH CHEAPER to produce, so that is why this method is now used.

-s-

Cyan

That's it! I like that plastic stuff. C280 has that plastic simulated chrome under headlamps and it wears well and cleans easy.