ohfiveC55

I replaced the xenon bulb to no avail (still very dim)...looks like the problem may be with the ballast. Has anyone out there swapped out ballasts? What's the process like?

They have some on fleabay at decent prices...I cringe to know what the dealer would ask for a new one, installed.

Thanks!

moosejaw

Swap ballasts from left to right first before you buy another one.
Ebay is hit or miss. Make sure you get the right part #.
Dont go to dealer without a tube of vaseline first

RES

Our 2005 have crappy igniters to. Thats what was causing my problem. The book for the repair shows the wrong part number. the one that works is only $86 at the dealer.

Viper98912

It's because they're made in france....the french.....

To replace my driver side, I took off the grill, removed most of the bumper bolts, pulled back some of the fender liner. Then you can undo the fender to bumper bolts, pull the bumper off some (but not completely), and get access to one of the headlight bolts. Unbolt the rest of the headlight, flip it upside down, unscrew the ballast (it just falls off the bottom of the headlight, there's no wiring harnesses to unclip), and install the new one.

RES

I just removed the front fender liner and reached in and undid the two screws and it dropped right out. Put the new one in and installed two screws. I think my bad igniter killed my ballast. The problem came back after I swapped ballasts and end up having to change both igniter and a third set of bulbs.

05Silver55AMG

Does anyone have the part number for the igniter? My headlamp went out and the igniter connection it completely torched. it would be nice to order the part before I pull out the headlamp assembly. Any help would be appreciated.