E-Class (W210) 1995-2002: E 200, E 220D, E 240, E 290TD, E 300TD, E 200, E 240, E 280, E 320, E 420, E 430 (Wagon, Touring, 4Matic)

Who Has Had Bulb Burnout Problems?

Old Aug 22, 2002 | 01:35 PM
  #1  
SpeedLimits?'s Avatar
Thread Starter
Super Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
E320 CDI
Who Has Had Bulb Burnout Problems?

This seems to be a common wiring harness related problem so i was wondering how many have had these problems. I have counted 7 changed bulbs on my 98 E. About 3 headlights and 4 miscellaneous such as city lights and license plate lights.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2002 | 12:59 AM
  #2  
Lightman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
'99 E, 2 tail lights and one fog light. I've heard there's a harness problem thats common. The dealer played dumb.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2002 | 02:53 AM
  #3  
Fanatic's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: The PJ's
an import
Angry

Ditto. 97 W210. Burned out the headlight on both side at least 2 each and the DRL at least once each over the last 2 years.
Spoke to different MB dealers and they all say the same thing 'nothing they can do about it. Nature of the beast.' BS.

I had my last car (Honda) for 7 years and never burned out a single bulb. WTF?!? Any suggestions on a fix?
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2002 | 08:33 AM
  #4  
dcc's Avatar
dcc
Junior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: northville, mi
1999 MB E320
mega dittos. 99 E320. six license plate, four rear directional and two right side parking lamps. i keep two of each in a baggie in the glovebox.

dcc
99 E320
103K miles
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2002 | 02:35 PM
  #5  
Air Marshall Eldritch's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 9,815
Likes: 13
John Deere
In the last six months, I've replaced one side marker and one front running light. Neither of which could be found anywhere on the planet except for the dealer, and they get almost $10 for each tiny bulb. What a rip.

And when you do have a light out somewhere, the computer readout will nag you to death. I can't see my ODO and such until I replace the bulb.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2002 | 02:47 PM
  #6  
dcc's Avatar
dcc
Junior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: northville, mi
1999 MB E320
dittos again -- as to parking lamp and message indicator. found all other bulbs at an import car parts store in my area. even more aggravating than the message indicator is the often 7+ business day wait to get dealer appt. to do a 15 minute job.

dcc
99 E320
103K miles (buzzing fuel pump below 1/4 full)
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2002 | 02:52 PM
  #7  
Air Marshall Eldritch's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 9,815
Likes: 13
John Deere
You can do it yourself. The manual actually tells you how. Before I looked it up, I couldn't figure out how to get at the sidelights short of removing the entire quarter panel.

But I found the secret hatch in the wheel well.
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2002 | 09:19 AM
  #8  
dcc's Avatar
dcc
Junior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: northville, mi
1999 MB E320
didn't know there was an access panel for side markers. pulled the inner liner to get at it the last time.

do you know if they've issued a print manual for the 99 model year??

dcc
99 E320
103K miles (fuel pump still buzzing)
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 26, 2002 | 11:27 AM
  #9  
E320's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
check your owner's manual about changing bulbs
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2002 | 11:55 AM
  #10  
bigtire's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 708
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
96 E 320 and 87 560 SL
I've only had my 96 E320 for about 3 months. I occasionally get a burned out bulb message but all bulbs are OK. Its only happened 4 or 5 times but it's still annoying. Maybe it's related to the wiring problem. Anyone else experienced this?
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2002 | 02:02 PM
  #11  
SpeedLimits?'s Avatar
Thread Starter
Super Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
E320 CDI
When you get the message but none appear to be burnt out go check the panel that houses the tailight bulbs. The way the bulubs mount in there have caused some problems with me. Occasionally Ill have one bounce loose just going over a speed bump. Also you might try taking everything out and coating the terminals real well with electric grease.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2002 | 11:21 AM
  #12  
Lightman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, OH
1999 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel
I've heard that the wiring harness is defective and theres an updated one. Why the dealers consistenly play dumb to this is the question to me. Maybe it is a pain in the butt, or mercedes doesn't want to go through the expense and told them to play dumb? Either way it's annoying. My fog light is out.

Now that i think about it, the first time when my tail lights were supposedly out, which I dont think they were, but that was the dealer's explanation for why the 'defective lamp' light was coming on. They told me that there were non-german bulbs in there, and that was the problem. I drove off and 2 hours later the warning came on again defective lamp...lol
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 09:27 AM
  #13  
t.b.'s Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City, OK
99 E430
Replaced 2 left front turn indicators, right main, and left tail. I get the same excuses as everyone else lists.
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2002 | 10:26 PM
  #14  
Dema's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 3
From: California
i535
Maybe voltage is too high and this is the reason why bulbs burnout so fast?
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:14 PM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE