Members,

I purchased a set of used Xenon headlights from another member of this forum and I just recently took them to my mechanic to be installed. The mechanic installed the lights. The passenger side flickers everytime you turn them on and the mechanic thought this was a sign they would soon go out but it works for now. (these are with brand new bulbs but the headlights themselves are about a decade old) Unfortunately the driver side light he couldn't get to turn on. He "thought" it was the head light but said it could be my control module etc. He said he could run tests and find out 100% for sure what it was but that would costs me extra. I decided to do it just so that I could know because my main concern is to just get some headlights for the car so if it wasn't the headlight then I wanted it fixed. $177 dollars later his conclusion was " Found open circuit in left low beam, tested wiring and power output from front S.A.M. - ok. Visual inspection confirms headlamp range adjust is bad. Drivers headlamp assembly bad - left side ignitor failing."

Myself and the seller would like to know your thoughts and if there is anything we can do to either fix the problem or is the headlight toast? Mechanic said the headlight was toast but this forum I know has some veteran guys that can give great insight. Please advise, thanks!

 

From your post I take it you replaced halogens with these Xenons?

 

Actually when I bought the car they had xenon's in them. Those went out so I was looking to replace them. Last time I was at the mechanic with the previous xenon's they said they weren't OEM which is why I was looking for a used good pair. Hope that helps..

 

There have been reports of problems caused by non OEM Xenons due to installation requirements. This could easily have transferred to trying to install OEM sets. There are numerous reports on here. You might want to read in those posts and ask questions if you don't find the answer.

 

Hello, there are only 3 main components to the headlight and one of them is not working. I just went through the same issue(s).


The 3 main components are the:
control module
ignitor
and the bulb


Often times the headlight control module is the source of the problem, but not always. The Mercedes test is to swap the control modules side to side and see if this fixes your problem, if it doesn't then you need to turn your attention to the ignitor. Mercedes sells a xenon repair kit.


Narrow down if its the ignitor or the ballast/module because I had a faulty module.

 

Taken from the TIPS case about the W203 headlights not working:
hope it helps you


Complaint Xenon burner does not ignite or flickers


Cause Transistor in xenon headlamp control unit (E1n1/E2n1) defective.


Remedy
Left headlamp: Remove/install headlamp, replace control unit and xenon burner, design group/operation number: 02/5111
Right headlamp: Removal of headlamp not necessary, replace control unit and xenon burner, design group/operation number: 02/5115
Both headlamps: As described above, design group/operation number: 02/5112
Note:
Make sure that the ignition module is correctly latched in place


Complaint
Xenon burner fails to ignite.


Cause The breakdown voltage necessary to activate the xenon burner is not reached in the ignition module.


Remedy
The spark gap has been modified in the ignition module.
Production breakpoints of new ignition modules (see production label, Figure 10):
- W/S 203 Automotive-Lighting (AL) headlamp production date 22.04.2003
Caution:
Risk of death due to high voltage in xenon headlamps. Do not touch parts which conduct high voltages. Persons who wear electronic implants (e.g. heart pacemakers) must not carry work out on xenon headlamps. AS82.10-Z-0001-01A.
Repair solution:
1. Detach front wheel (Remove/fit wheels, rotate if necessary, AP 40.10-P-4050Z)
2. Remove front fender liner (AR88.10-P-1300P)
3. Detach headlamp connector
4. Unlock housing cover of front lamp unit from the tab and remove
5. Turn ignition module plug counterclockwise and remove (Figure 1)
6. Remove and dispose of retaining collar (Figure 2).
7. Remove burner
Note: Do not touch the glass bulb of the burner with your bare hands. Use a grease-free,
soft cloth.
8. Cut off plug as close as possible to ignition module (Figure 2) and dispose of ignition module plug
9. Cut off three supply lines to ignition module (red/black/green) as close as possible to ignition moduloe (this isolates the ignition module in the headlamp) (Figure 3)
Note: The three strands should be cut individually.
Do not cut them all together with the side cutting pliers to avoid short circuits between the strands.
10.Connect adapter cable to supply lines
with solder connector (A002 546 13 41) (see Figure 4)
Take care not to damage the headlamp housing with the hot air gun!
11.Wrap solder connector with fabric tape
12.Remove four locking holes in lamp retaining collar A230 826 0089 with a screwdriver
(see Figure 5)
13.Insert burner and fix with lamp retaining collar A 230 826 0089
(ground contact at the bottom, see Figure 6).
Note: Do not touch the glass bulb of the burner with your bare hands. Use a grease-free,
soft cloth.
14.Fit new ignition module and lock in place (observe installation position: Figure 7a= right headlamp, Figure 7b= left headlamp)
15.Attach housing cover of front lamp unit
16.Perform function test of lamp units

 

Also if he said the headlight range adjust is bad. You can tell as the other headlight is stiff as this one kind of just hangs...

So basically I would need more mechanic repair work to fix and would probably be easier to buy another pair?