Tail light connector melted
Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA
2009 C300 Sport
I checked my tailights and noticed that both the left and right connectors were burnt. My left tailights are dimmer than the right. I'm bringing in my car Wednesday to get it fixed.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
C300>GLA45>E43>CLS53
I went to my local MB dealership today in Toronto Mercedes Benz Thornhill and explained to them the issue with the tail light assembly connector melted. My 2009 C300 was just out of warranty on December, 2012. I asked them if there was an recalls and if they have seen the same problems with this issue and the service advisor said only seen it once. Which was a surprise to me. They said the repair would be around $190CDN. I feel like I should not be paying this since what I've been reading is that its more of a design flaw then wear and tear. I've only owned this car since 2009 and driven it less than 40k. I would understand bulbs being burnt but connectors and wires melting is just unacceptable, especially when there are multiple cases like this from reading forum posts like this. Is there anything else I can do? 
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 7
From: IA
2018 C63s Coupe 2016 C450 DAILY
just checked mine today, where the brown wire goes into the black plastic part, at the end of the brown wire the metal clip is rusted or corroded and bulbs seem very dim. is mine probably going to end up melting aswell?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 47
From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
Simply put- YES
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 47
From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
I went to my local MB dealership today in Toronto Mercedes Benz Thornhill and explained to them the issue with the tail light assembly connector melted. My 2009 C300 was just out of warranty on December, 2012. I asked them if there was an recalls and if they have seen the same problems with this issue and the service advisor said only seen it once. Which was a surprise to me. They said the repair would be around $190CDN. I feel like I should not be paying this since what I've been reading is that its more of a design flaw then wear and tear. I've only owned this car since 2009 and driven it less than 40k. I would understand bulbs being burnt but connectors and wires melting is just unacceptable, especially when there are multiple cases like this from reading forum posts like this. Is there anything else I can do?
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA
2009 C300 Sport
AkaSigFreak, the pictures you posted above... Are these of when the dealer fixed your issue? If so, it looks nothing like what they did to mine. I posted some pictures on this thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ghts-true.html
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
C300 Sport 6MT
Just got my car back. The were swamped yesterday and didn't complete mine on time. They unfortunately just repaired/replaced both carriers along with the connectors, i.e. no extra wire to the grounding post. Everything looks stock. Granted, maybe they added a ground elsewhere that's out of sight, but the paperwork just states that it was a repair/replace, with no mention of a new "kit" or fix. I left vmail w/ my SA and am waiting to hear back.
Last edited by Doanster; Jan 23, 2013 at 04:48 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
C300>GLA45>E43>CLS53
I already paid for the repair at the dealership because I'm in Canada and I don't want to risk my safety especially in snowing conditions. However, after reading these posts by numerous owners, I feel like I should write them a letter and file a complaint. It just looks said Mercedes Benz honestly know this is a common issue and still insist to leave it at that and owners are having to find their own way to DIY for fix. This is not a wear and tear item like a blew bulb~ This is again as Akasigfreak points out a design/manufacturer defect that we should not be paying for the cost of fixing these CORE safety issues. I will keep you guys posts if they ever reply my letter.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 369
Likes: 7
From: IA
2018 C63s Coupe 2016 C450 DAILY
To those of you having trouble with stubborn stealerships, I'd go directly to MBUSA or whatever headquarters of your country and peruse this issue with them directly. I've had luck with issues through them rather than my dealership .
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 47
From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
AkaSigFreak, the pictures you posted above... Are these of when the dealer fixed your issue? If so, it looks nothing like what they did to mine. I posted some pictures on this thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ghts-true.html
Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
2011 C300 4matic sport
There should really be a recall on this issue if so many are having the same problem. Especially considering the fire hazard and safety/break light aspect. Any 2011 W204 owners with this problem? I guess I'll have to inspect the tail lights on a regular basis to check for this.
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: Beamsville, Ontario, CAN
2015 CLA45, 2008 C300 4matic, 2011 ML350, 2001 SLK32 AMG, 2012 E550
Mine has been replaced 3 times already and heading to the 4th this weekend....
all done at Canadian dealers (Dundas, Mavis, Newmarket and St. Catherines)
no problems at all.... I find I get alot of run around from the "Franchise Dealerships" not the MB Canada Corporate owned stores...
My neighbour also works at the dealer and will be adding a 2nd ground wire soldered in and grounded to an alternate place behind the trunk liner, I have been told this is what there doing to solve the issue !!
all done at Canadian dealers (Dundas, Mavis, Newmarket and St. Catherines)
no problems at all.... I find I get alot of run around from the "Franchise Dealerships" not the MB Canada Corporate owned stores...
My neighbour also works at the dealer and will be adding a 2nd ground wire soldered in and grounded to an alternate place behind the trunk liner, I have been told this is what there doing to solve the issue !!
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
2009 W204
It is apparent that we Canadian MB owners are not getting the same level of warranty service that our Southern cousins get. I, for one, after my last dealership experience, am using a well qualified private mechanic for all of my repairs rather than an unappreciative MB Canada dealer.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 597
Likes: 7
From: San Jose
2016 C450 AMG, 2009 C300, 2001 C320 2001 CLK430, 95 E500
so, this just started happening to my 2009 C300. Thursday, warning said rear brake light out. Then RIGHT FOG, then RIGHT FLASHER. Friday, it was working again. Saturday it stopped so I pulled it to check the lamps, they were fine. Then I noticed the carrier had some burned brown spots, then a wire (I think the green but could have been the brown) was singed. Now it works again (probably from just touching it) but I'm taking it in anyway.
Here's the kicker. I THINK last Thursday, when the problem started was the end of standard warranty. Maybe they will do it as a "courtesy" but I'll be somewhat annoyed if it costs me much.
Here's the kicker. I THINK last Thursday, when the problem started was the end of standard warranty. Maybe they will do it as a "courtesy" but I'll be somewhat annoyed if it costs me much.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 16
From: Hong Kong
2010 C200 CGI
It is apparent that we Canadian MB owners are not getting the same level of warranty service that our Southern cousins get. I, for one, after my last dealership experience, am using a well qualified private mechanic for all of my repairs rather than an unappreciative MB Canada dealer.
Try being in Hong Kong, it's a franchise here and they don't care nor follow any notices from the homeland company.
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 230
Likes: 2
From: southern NJ
C63
is there a write-up or theory about what can be done as a preventive measure? i've read about too many of these to not take some sort of preventive action.
Last edited by builthatch; Mar 4, 2013 at 12:21 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 16
From: Hong Kong
2010 C200 CGI
Splice the brown wire and solder in a thicker gauge wire, ground it somewhere in the trunk. I used one of the bolts holding the tail light lens as the ground point. Mine was already melting but now the wire doesn't seem to run hot like it used to, though it also might be because I swapped to LED bulbs. I got the replacement parts just still researching how to remove the pins from the connector.
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 230
Likes: 2
From: southern NJ
C63
Splice the brown wire and solder in a thicker gauge wire, ground it somewhere in the trunk. I used one of the bolts holding the tail light lens as the ground point. Mine was already melting but now the wire doesn't seem to run hot like it used to, though it also might be because I swapped to LED bulbs. I got the replacement parts just still researching how to remove the pins from the connector.
my only hangup is that i would imagine the pin/terminal are still the weak link with your solution, but that is interesting that it seems to be helping in your instance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 16
From: Hong Kong
2010 C200 CGI
that makes some sense; so i guess what he was saying before was that the ground was entirely too minimal for the draw of the assorted positive terminals relying on that lone ground, so if more than, say, ONE of the positive terminals is seeing power, that ground becomes burdened and heats up. amirite?
my only hangup is that i would imagine the pin/terminal are still the weak link with your solution, but that is interesting that it seems to be helping in your instance.
my only hangup is that i would imagine the pin/terminal are still the weak link with your solution, but that is interesting that it seems to be helping in your instance.
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 230
Likes: 2
From: southern NJ
C63
Well let me clarify, I'm running dual ground for each side. The thicker gauge wire I soldered in acts as a secondary ground to reduce the stress on the oem gauge wire. There's a thread where some have already done this as well as a dealership though they didn't ground it, they just added in a thicker wire....it's hard to explain, you'd have to see the pic to understand how weird it is.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 597
Likes: 7
From: San Jose
2016 C450 AMG, 2009 C300, 2001 C320 2001 CLK430, 95 E500
Man, my situation has gone from bad to WORSE. So, this started happening last THURSDAY, which was exactly the end of the standard warranty. I took it in today, couldn't get it in over the weekend. And it was intermittent. I confirmed over the weekend myself that the RIGHT connector is somewhat singed, just moving it around got it working again, but I can tell it has burned the light cluster a bit, so it needs fixing.
Dealer wants 900$ to do BOTH sides. So, WHY would I need both sides done, if this is only the RIGHT side. And WHY would I need the LEFT side done if this ISN'T a PROBLEM issue that should be fixed under warranty.
900$ WTF, they want to replace ALL the light housings as well apparently on BOTH sides.
And you know why? Because I DID purchase an extended warranty, but wasn't actually planning to activate it unless it was a big time issue. I might sell the car in a couple years, without the warranty and get a refund of the warranty.
But now, ONE DAY out of warranty (okay, it's THREE days now) they won't repair what is CLEARLY a problem issue with the car and should have been checked before (like when I had it in last month) and preemptively replaced.
This is EXACTLY the type of reason why I don't like going to the dealer for anything like this.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ts-true-2.html
Dealer wants 900$ to do BOTH sides. So, WHY would I need both sides done, if this is only the RIGHT side. And WHY would I need the LEFT side done if this ISN'T a PROBLEM issue that should be fixed under warranty.
900$ WTF, they want to replace ALL the light housings as well apparently on BOTH sides.
And you know why? Because I DID purchase an extended warranty, but wasn't actually planning to activate it unless it was a big time issue. I might sell the car in a couple years, without the warranty and get a refund of the warranty.
But now, ONE DAY out of warranty (okay, it's THREE days now) they won't repair what is CLEARLY a problem issue with the car and should have been checked before (like when I had it in last month) and preemptively replaced.
This is EXACTLY the type of reason why I don't like going to the dealer for anything like this.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ts-true-2.html
