HELP!!! - CLK320 Headlight Problem
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M3
HELP!!! - CLK320 Headlight Problem
Hi,
I got a CLK320 who's Xenon headlight always goes out. The headlight is fine because it will magically start working again, but later it will go out again.
Has anyone else experienced this problem, and if so, how was the dealer able to fix it? My dealer has replaced the Xenon bulb 5 times, but the problem still persists. I told them it was probably a wiring problem (since it works intermittently), but they won't listen to me.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be really appreciated!
Thanks,
KJ
I got a CLK320 who's Xenon headlight always goes out. The headlight is fine because it will magically start working again, but later it will go out again.
Has anyone else experienced this problem, and if so, how was the dealer able to fix it? My dealer has replaced the Xenon bulb 5 times, but the problem still persists. I told them it was probably a wiring problem (since it works intermittently), but they won't listen to me.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be really appreciated!
Thanks,
KJ
Last edited by KJ-TypeR; Jul 20, 2004 at 06:08 PM.
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From: Taiwan, ROC
FX35 plus
I got the same issue when I swap the 12000K HID bulbs
(for show only)
poor connection on the bulbs random shut them down.
Solution....change another set of HID bulbs (6000k)
they work fine so far.
(for show only)
poor connection on the bulbs random shut them down.
Solution....change another set of HID bulbs (6000k)
they work fine so far.
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M3
Originally Posted by Shine_1023
I got the same issue when I swap the 12000K HID bulbs
(for show only)
poor connection on the bulbs random shut them down.
Solution....change another set of HID bulbs (6000k)
they work fine so far.
(for show only)
poor connection on the bulbs random shut them down.
Solution....change another set of HID bulbs (6000k)
they work fine so far.
Someone help us!!!
- KJ
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,559
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From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
Originally Posted by KJ-TypeR
The problem is, it's the stock HID bulbs that are giving us the problem. And the dealer is switching them out and we still have the problem afterwards!
Someone help us!!!
- KJ
Someone help us!!!
- KJ
(It's probably the ballast, possibly the igniter but since the light goes out after working, I would say the ballast. Wiring problem would cause the issue too, but generally doesn't go bad by itself.)
-s-
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From: Denver, Capitan NM
08 E320 Bluetec
Lemon Law. Mercedes has got to deal with problems like this. There have been too many times with all models and dealerships with things that can't be fixed. Laying out 50-60k for a car that you can't drive at night is unacceptable.
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M3
Originally Posted by scorchie
Well, even if I give you a suggestion, it seems the dealer won't listen to you. So what good would it do?
(It's probably the ballast, possibly the igniter but since the light goes out after working, I would say the ballast. Wiring problem would cause the issue too, but generally doesn't go bad by itself.)
-s-
(It's probably the ballast, possibly the igniter but since the light goes out after working, I would say the ballast. Wiring problem would cause the issue too, but generally doesn't go bad by itself.)
-s-
- KJ
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From: Tucson, Az
10 GLK350/ 15 Accord/ 94 Supra Turbo
bump, anyone else have this problem? my driver side just went out! no low beam or parking light. turn signal work and so does high beam, already switch out the bulbs and still nothing, not getting power.
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C63s Cabriolet, BMW M4, Civic
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2005 CLK500 Cabriolet 2004 Maserati GT Coupe 2004 BMW 328cic
Guys if the bulb burns out it WILL NOT COME BACK TO LIFE. So if the light is going out and coming back on it is NOT the Xenon bulb. Light bulbs do not work like that (even Xenon bulbs). With Xenon headlights when you get flickering or bulb going off and on it is the ballast or igniter that’s the problem. Actually when igniters burn out they don’t come back on. I would say 99% of the problem is the ballast. Most likely moister is getting to the interior of the ballast. The other 1% is loose connection to the headlight (which is very unlikely as Mercedes harness connections are very sturdy).
Check the ballast, if under warranty demand Mercedes to change it. If not look on eBay or hidplanet.com/forums as you can find the ballasts for $50-$100 there.
Check the ballast, if under warranty demand Mercedes to change it. If not look on eBay or hidplanet.com/forums as you can find the ballasts for $50-$100 there.
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From: Toronto
SLK280(Gone), C63, CLK550
Guys if the bulb burns out it WILL NOT COME BACK TO LIFE. So if the light is going out and coming back on it is NOT the Xenon bulb. Light bulbs do not work like that (even Xenon bulbs). With Xenon headlights when you get flickering or bulb going off and on it is the ballast or igniter that’s the problem. Actually when igniters burn out they don’t come back on. I would say 99% of the problem is the ballast. Most likely moister is getting to the interior of the ballast. The other 1% is loose connection to the headlight (which is very unlikely as Mercedes harness connections are very sturdy).
Check the ballast, if under warranty demand Mercedes to change it. If not look on eBay or hidplanet.com/forums as you can find the ballasts for $50-$100 there.
Check the ballast, if under warranty demand Mercedes to change it. If not look on eBay or hidplanet.com/forums as you can find the ballasts for $50-$100 there.
But since the OP replaced the bulb 5 times, then it is not the bulbs.
Last edited by dumpsta; Mar 30, 2010 at 01:18 AM.
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From: Tucson, Az
10 GLK350/ 15 Accord/ 94 Supra Turbo
well fuse when i unplug fuse 63 it turns off the passenger side lights, fuse 62 does nothing. so it seems its not getting any power at all, i went through all the fuses and they all look great. The thing that got me is that its just not the HID low beam but the parking light is not coming on either on the driver side. are they connected in the same wiring/fuse?
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Tucson, Az
10 GLK350/ 15 Accord/ 94 Supra Turbo
So i figure it out.
something weird is that the peanut light in the high beam housing area is attached to your HID ballast, so if that goes out so does your peanut light, so if you ever wonder if your ballst is done then a good reference is the peanut light. Another thing is if you want to get to the ignitor you must open up the housing.
All in all it took me about 2hrs from start to finish, that is with removing the headlights, the housing, replacing both the ballast and ignitor, and putting everything back. I do not think my ignitor is bad but replaced it anyways
something weird is that the peanut light in the high beam housing area is attached to your HID ballast, so if that goes out so does your peanut light, so if you ever wonder if your ballst is done then a good reference is the peanut light. Another thing is if you want to get to the ignitor you must open up the housing.
All in all it took me about 2hrs from start to finish, that is with removing the headlights, the housing, replacing both the ballast and ignitor, and putting everything back. I do not think my ignitor is bad but replaced it anyways
Senior Member
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From: Western Canada
S320 GL350
Good job and pics. I had a bulb flickering and flashing and going out intermittently - the dealer replaced it with a new xenon bulb (the previous bulb was a blue-colored aftermarket one) - and I've had no problems since. Now I need to go buy another to match on the other side since the color is white on the new one - bluish on the other side.
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Supercharged CLK500,ML500,S580
So i figure it out.
something weird is that the peanut light in the high beam housing area is attached to your HID ballast, so if that goes out so does your peanut light, so if you ever wonder if your ballst is done then a good reference is the peanut light. Another thing is if you want to get to the ignitor you must open up the housing.
All in all it took me about 2hrs from start to finish, that is with removing the headlights, the housing, replacing both the ballast and ignitor, and putting everything back. I do not think my ignitor is bad but replaced it anyways
something weird is that the peanut light in the high beam housing area is attached to your HID ballast, so if that goes out so does your peanut light, so if you ever wonder if your ballst is done then a good reference is the peanut light. Another thing is if you want to get to the ignitor you must open up the housing.
All in all it took me about 2hrs from start to finish, that is with removing the headlights, the housing, replacing both the ballast and ignitor, and putting everything back. I do not think my ignitor is bad but replaced it anyways
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ML500
KJ: A dealer that switches bulbs he charges 200 for without having the test equipment to validate the old bulb is faulty is a dealer you should report to the BBB, yelp him, and make sure he feels the wrath of the internet. There are only a couple of HID bulbs currently in use by Mercedes. A test fixture with a battery, an Igniter Control Module (this is Mercedes-speak), and an igniter (again Mercedes-speak) for both bulb types is easily done. Phillips is the OEM for Mercedes HID bulbs and you can get a pair of Phillips D2S bulbs from Amazon for $79, and my Igniter Control Module from Mercedes was 750, but Hella made the OEM part (got the Hella logo on it) for Mercedes, and again Amazon had the Hella for $199. To clarify Mercedes-speak, the Igniter Control Module is the silver metal box that on my ML is mounted under the plastic headlamp module, the Igniter is the block mounted at the back of the HID bulb. In many posts, people call this the "ballast" and the metal box the "igniter" but if you order and "igniter" from Mercedes, you will get the little block at the back of the HID bulb.
