Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 307
Likes: 74
From: New Orleans. LA
amg C63s
Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To
While my car was in for warranty work one issue that I thought would be a very minor was one front side marker light would intermittently fail to light giving me a warning message. Obviously check connection and possibly replace the bulb.
- Dealer tests lamp unit via computer. Confirms bad internal connection.
- Remove front bumper
- Remove and replace entire headlight assembly, which needed to be ordered.
- Reinstall front bumper.
- Program new headlight assembly
Anyone here old enough to remember purchasing a side marker bulb at your auto store for a couple dollars? Even older remember when there were no side marker lights?
- Dealer tests lamp unit via computer. Confirms bad internal connection.
- Remove front bumper
- Remove and replace entire headlight assembly, which needed to be ordered.
- Reinstall front bumper.
- Program new headlight assembly
Anyone here old enough to remember purchasing a side marker bulb at your auto store for a couple dollars? Even older remember when there were no side marker lights?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 340
Likes: 82
2019 C63S Sedan
Yup. Used to buy light bulbs from the petrol station if one blew and replace on the spot and still have to do it once in a while on my Evo 5.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,760
Likes: 594
From: Seattle
'19 E63S, ‘16 CLS63 RIP, '09 E63 Gone, '06 M5 Gone, '97 Supra TT Gone
I remember I could DIY so many parts back in the day. I recently installed my air filters and VTA's and I feel like I needed a PhD to do it.
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 187
From: TX
2023 GLE3502W, 2024 GLC3002W, 1967 Pontiac GTO 4 sp (sold...sniff)
While my car was in for warranty work one issue that I thought would be a very minor was one front side marker light would intermittently fail to light giving me a warning message. Obviously check connection and possibly replace the bulb.
- Dealer tests lamp unit via computer. Confirms bad internal connection.
- Remove front bumper
- Remove and replace entire headlight assembly, which needed to be ordered.
- Reinstall front bumper.
- Program new headlight assembly
Anyone here old enough to remember purchasing a side marker bulb at your auto store for a couple dollars? Even older remember when there were no side marker lights?
- Dealer tests lamp unit via computer. Confirms bad internal connection.
- Remove front bumper
- Remove and replace entire headlight assembly, which needed to be ordered.
- Reinstall front bumper.
- Program new headlight assembly
Anyone here old enough to remember purchasing a side marker bulb at your auto store for a couple dollars? Even older remember when there were no side marker lights?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 315
From: Pearland, Tx
2020 AMG GTC Coupe & 2018 Macan Turbo
While my car was in for warranty work one issue that I thought would be a very minor was one front side marker light would intermittently fail to light giving me a warning message. Obviously check connection and possibly replace the bulb.
- Dealer tests lamp unit via computer. Confirms bad internal connection.
- Remove front bumper
- Remove and replace entire headlight assembly, which needed to be ordered.
- Reinstall front bumper.
- Program new headlight assembly
Anyone here old enough to remember purchasing a side marker bulb at your auto store for a couple dollars? Even older remember when there were no side marker lights?
- Dealer tests lamp unit via computer. Confirms bad internal connection.
- Remove front bumper
- Remove and replace entire headlight assembly, which needed to be ordered.
- Reinstall front bumper.
- Program new headlight assembly
Anyone here old enough to remember purchasing a side marker bulb at your auto store for a couple dollars? Even older remember when there were no side marker lights?
Thanks for reminding me of my age.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,322
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
On the other hand aside from defective components, with everything LED shouldn't normally have to replace a light for at least 10 years. I don't mind not having halogen or xenon bulbs go out on me eventually and drive around one eyed temporarily.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 307
Likes: 74
From: New Orleans. LA
amg C63s
LED bulbs should have a very long life. In previous cars (x2) where I switched to LED bulbs to replace non LED, I had a a few failures. I know the quality of these mentioned LED bulbs may not be up to the standard of OEM Mercedes but failures do occur. I'm fortunate this occurred on warranty. The cost is extreme. Side marker lights need to work to pass state inspection. Why didn't Mercedes make this light a separate lamp from the headlight assembly?
Last edited by mstraka; Jun 4, 2021 at 11:37 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,322
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Probably because the failure rate is so low that it's not worth designing and engineering it as separate parts. My past two cars had LED taillights and Xenon headlights. I had both for 6-8 years. They both needed at least two sets of Xenon bulbs for the headlights, but the LEDs lasted as long as I had the car and probably are still working fine now for whoever owns those cars now. Electronics in general either fail early or they fail once they are past their life expectancy. The failure curve is famous for looking like a bathtub, so if you have a faulty component it will almost guaranteed fail early during the warranty period.
