Cracks in side mirror light covers
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2008
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C350
Cracks in side mirror light covers
Has anyone else experienced fine cracks in the side mirror light covers? It's happening on both sides. The cracks occur at the lip of the lexan cover, where the material is thinnest. I'm getting more of them throughout the summer. Hopefully, they won't extend past the gasket.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
Yes, when I was car shopping for a new MB in May 2009, I noticed about 50% of the new C-Classes on the dealer lot had this problem (although most are very minor that you wouldn't notice it unless you were in bright sunlight and specifically looked for it... a few were very major and had major cracks all the way through the plastic).
I also checked out the pre-owned C-Classes, and about 80% of the used C-Classes with that same mirror design had some sort of cracking along the gasket lines (most were easily noticeable, like yours... some were very major as mentioned above).
It seems like this particular mirror design for the new C-Classes wasn't designed particularly well for this vehicle. The 2 most common "complaints" I've read about this mirror design is the "cracking clear plastic lens" issue (as you have mentioned), and the "excessive wind noise" which is caused by the "oversized" mirrors. The new mirror design supposedly solves these problems (or at least makes it less of an issue).
I also checked out the pre-owned C-Classes, and about 80% of the used C-Classes with that same mirror design had some sort of cracking along the gasket lines (most were easily noticeable, like yours... some were very major as mentioned above).
It seems like this particular mirror design for the new C-Classes wasn't designed particularly well for this vehicle. The 2 most common "complaints" I've read about this mirror design is the "cracking clear plastic lens" issue (as you have mentioned), and the "excessive wind noise" which is caused by the "oversized" mirrors. The new mirror design supposedly solves these problems (or at least makes it less of an issue).
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 861
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From: Fairfield county, CT.
2004 Ran SRT-10,2007 S550,2016 E400c
Its actually the lens separting from the body of the light...third brake lights are more common to have this. It is a vender issue I belive hella makes the lenses. This is a known problem dealer will cover it no problem..
Good luck
Good luck
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 411
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From: So-Cal
c350
Take it in to your dealer and have them fix it under warranty. Same thing happened to mine, but at first they said a rock had hit it. Next time I went in they said other MB's have had similar problems and fixed it under warranty 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,135
Likes: 272
From: Sweden
S213
Yes, when I was car shopping for a new MB in May 2009, I noticed about 50% of the new C-Classes on the dealer lot had this problem (although most are very minor that you wouldn't notice it unless you were in bright sunlight and specifically looked for it... a few were very major and had major cracks all the way through the plastic).
I also checked out the pre-owned C-Classes, and about 80% of the used C-Classes with that same mirror design had some sort of cracking along the gasket lines (most were easily noticeable, like yours... some were very major as mentioned above).
It seems like this particular mirror design for the new C-Classes wasn't designed particularly well for this vehicle. The 2 most common "complaints" I've read about this mirror design is the "cracking clear plastic lens" issue (as you have mentioned), and the "excessive wind noise" which is caused by the "oversized" mirrors. The new mirror design supposedly solves these problems (or at least makes it less of an issue).
I also checked out the pre-owned C-Classes, and about 80% of the used C-Classes with that same mirror design had some sort of cracking along the gasket lines (most were easily noticeable, like yours... some were very major as mentioned above).
It seems like this particular mirror design for the new C-Classes wasn't designed particularly well for this vehicle. The 2 most common "complaints" I've read about this mirror design is the "cracking clear plastic lens" issue (as you have mentioned), and the "excessive wind noise" which is caused by the "oversized" mirrors. The new mirror design supposedly solves these problems (or at least makes it less of an issue).
You can add a third common issue - moisture.
I think we have replaced around 20 of these lenses and all of them due to excessive moisture inside the housing.
Havnt noticed any cracking in them so I cant tell if that is the main cause..
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
Hmmmmmmmmm... that's a good point. I've heard about the moisture problem (although not as much as the other 2), but I attributed it to the cracked lens THEN moisture seeps in. If it's a totally separate issue, then that would not be good... one more thing for MB to "fix"...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,135
Likes: 272
From: Sweden
S213
Hmmmmmmmmm... that's a good point. I've heard about the moisture problem (although not as much as the other 2), but I attributed it to the cracked lens THEN moisture seeps in. If it's a totally separate issue, then that would not be good... one more thing for MB to "fix"...
I figured they had fixed the issue with these mirrors with the new 2009 model mirror, but oddly enough US-market still has the "old style" mirror on their 09.s
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Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
Likes: 2
From: Orange County, CA
E350
Yes, I've heard the new mirrors "fixes" these problems. I've also heard that the U.S. stayed with the same mirror style due to Mercedes wanting to use up their overstock before moving on to the newer one (same thing as to why the new 2010 E-Class still uses the older engines the 2009 models do, instead of the newer DI engines that will be used in the rest of the world).
