Winking/blinking C55 license plate bulb-LED
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 3
'05 C55 AMG, '93 Audi S4, '87 Targa
Winking/blinking C55 license plate bulb-LED
I installed AZN Optics LED festoon bulbs on my 2005 C55 and I get a four a five long blink from the drivers side and then the bulb goes dark. I've swapped bulbs, sockets, tested with voltmeter and combo of LED and ican bulbs. Drivers side only winks/blinks. This is not an issue with the bulbs from AZN Optics. I can tell you the 4300K festoon license bulbs look fantastic. Really update the look of the tail of the car.
Anyone else experience this with their car? Any help is much appreciated.
Anyone else experience this with their car? Any help is much appreciated.
Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 116
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From: Temecula, CA
'06 C55
Funny, I have the same problem. My dash warns me of my license plate lights going out, and I can even see it flicker when driving at night. But after a minute or so, it stays solid and doesn't flicker anymore.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 26
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'05 C55 AMG, '93 Audi S4, '87 Targa
It sounds like my Rear SAM is the cause of my winking LED bulb. I've got an intermittent dying issue that has been traced back to the Rear SAM. I haven't decided to fix the SAM as it's quite $pendy.
To be clear, the bulbs from AZNOptics work just fine. I've tried a myriad of combinations of ican bulbs, LED bulbs, different sockets etc. Something about LED's in the drivers side that causes the bulb to wink and then go out.
To be clear, the bulbs from AZNOptics work just fine. I've tried a myriad of combinations of ican bulbs, LED bulbs, different sockets etc. Something about LED's in the drivers side that causes the bulb to wink and then go out.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 28
From: Western Canada
2013 C63 AMG P31, 2014 GMC Sierra (6.2)
Take a look at the metal tabs that hold the bulb in place. You may have to remove the bulb and squeeze the tabs together with some pliers so that they more firmly hold the bulb in place. I had that same issue a few times and found that to be the solution...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 26
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'05 C55 AMG, '93 Audi S4, '87 Targa
Honestly I haven't checked it yet. Weather turned crappy, cold and wet. Car was put into storage clean/waxed. Been driving my "winter beater" and with out of sight, out of mind the C55 has been ignored.
Hopefully I'll get to it after the first of the year. Along with the two other winter projects
1. Installing new bottom seat cushion heat-mine broke last year
2. Chase down the lack of passenger door mirror heat-its a pain to reverse with water drops on the mirror. Just can't see anything!
I'll report back in January.
Hopefully I'll get to it after the first of the year. Along with the two other winter projects
1. Installing new bottom seat cushion heat-mine broke last year
2. Chase down the lack of passenger door mirror heat-its a pain to reverse with water drops on the mirror. Just can't see anything!
I'll report back in January.
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C55 AMG, E55 AMG
Had this issue on my C55 for years with different versions of the AZN festoon LED. Initially when it happened, we thought it was probably from voltage spikes or heat issues. Fast forward to the latest AZN festoon version with better heat sinks, it's still happening intermittently. This year, I got tired of diagnosing it and just let it be. Strangely enough since the weather turned really cold, it hasn't happened again (knock on wood).
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 26
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'05 C55 AMG, '93 Audi S4, '87 Targa
Well, I pinched the contacts together and no change. Still blinks like 4 or 5 times and then goes out. I'll be honest, it's a bit frustrating as I really like the look of the LEDs on the license plate. I think it modernizes the look of the car, but not if one bulb is out. Oh well.
Happy Holidays.
Happy Holidays.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,359
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From: California
06 C55, 09 E350
They may be defective I bought some off ebay a long time ago they started blinking and turning off. Got another set and it went away for a while. Got a new C55 and it had the same after-market LED lights in the plates and it does the same crap. I think they go bad fast or the car is breaking them. I dont think they work well in our cars and they are all probably coming from the same MFG
