'99 E's and 'lamp defective' message..
 

Anyone getting this message, even when no bulbs appeared burned out? I have this problem, and have heard about a wiring harness update, but my dealer claims there isn't one. If you have heard of this or have had it done, please let me know, or the part numbers from your records would be awesome. Thanks.
Dave

it happens if you put a very low voltage bulb, for example LEDs
i also think it could be caused by a deffective relay

did yo check your reverse light,plate light?

Not sure what the reverse light/plate light is, but as far as I know, all lights are working. I haven't added any LED lights to the system... There was talk for a while of a wiring harness update, nobody gotten it or heard of it?

Please remove the rear bulb holders and Inspect for Melted plastic at the base of the bulb contact...I Have seen this on Several W210s ...Also please check if you have replaced any bulbs...The Bulbs Must Match...The Same Wattage!
Hope this helps

I have received the same message a couple of times and none of my bulbs were burned out. You just need to take every bulb out of the tail light assembly and use a fine sandpaper to sand down the contacts on the bulb sockets. Also stretch out the contacts just a little with a flathead screwdriver, so that when you put the bulb sockets back on the light assembly, they fit in there tight with good contact of the metal.

How about the brake light?
 

This took me a while to find since I was checking the lights by myself, but with help from another person (my 10 y.o. niece in this case), I found that my right rear break light was intermittent.

This was due to a loose contact that was arcking and had actually melted part of the plastic base underneath.

My quick fix: Took rear tail light lens off and bent the contacts to insure proper contact.

Long term fix: Replace lens assembly - will do this this weekend after parts arrive.

TJ

I recently had the "headlamp malfunction" message. I didn't see anything that looked burned out. So I took it to the dealer and while I waited, they replaced the rear brake lamp. This was covered under the warranty.

Great, whenever that happens I know what to do, I have extended warranty and it doesn't say it is not covered, so it should be covered.
I think I'm one of the few 99 E classes that are at 60k miles.

Thanks for the replies guys. I don't think its the brake lights. I had the recurring lamp defective message before AND after switching/upgrading to the newer avantgarde tail lights...which of course had all new bulbs etc....any other ideas?

Ask someone to check your reverse light.

thanks to all who suggested it, in fact after looking, I do have one of my two license plate lights out. Thanks so much, can't believe I missed that! This forum rocks! =]

thanks to all who suggested it, in fact after looking, I do have one of my two license plate lights out. Thanks so much, can't believe I missed that! This forum rocks! =]

I had a plate light out too. It's easy to miss that one.

My dealer was nice enough to replace it for $30 labor (20 mins) haha! wished he just pointed it out to me.

I just made a run to discount auto parts, picked up two bulbs and fixed the plate light, for $3.87 :D

I told you but you did not listen.:D :D

yeah yeah:D

I've been reading this over and over, as this only popped up on our vehicle (97 E320)

Lamp Defective message..

on the front, the driver's side running light / high beam / DRL does not light up (they're permanently on), but if I use the manual flash / high beam, it works just fine.

what about my bulbs !!
 

I have been having thew same fricking problem with defective light issue the past 3 months. It goes away for a week and come back on. I checked all of the exterior lights, brake lights, signal lights, front and back, mirror lights, city lights, headlights, fog lights, lic plate lights, side lights ..etc u name it I chkd it. I replaced one of the rear light sockets becuase it looked lose, but it kept on hapening. I checked the rear bulp sockets 3 days ago, I makde sure they are tight and not lose. The problem is gone now for 3 days, but I think it is a matter of time !! any other possible idea?

Consider some of the bulbs that you do not use every time you drive (fog lamps, front and rear, head lamps , parking lamps, etc). The message only appears when you actually try to use the defective lamp.

i have this occasionally and it goes away. all bulbs appear intact and functional. then it occured to me the pattern: only on cold days and it only began to manifest this error msg after I installed HIDs. Hella gen3 ballasts,
E55 into Depo shell. so if I'm right (in my case) I could either change the
ballast, have dealer reset management system to HID operation, or just put
up with the few times it has done this since last Fall.

all have been checked, no issues with the bulbs what so ever. All are working. However, it does appears to happen more in cold weather than when it happens in warmer weather. I have a feeling it has to do with a switch of some kind shrining in colder weather and expanding in warmer weather !!

I received a PM from coder..

I had my brother look into it from home and yes, he did find a second bulb in the inner headlamp.. this was the one that was broken!

Thanks!

Headlamp Wiring
 

Does any of you chaps out there know what value the charred diode/resistor/slow blow fuse is that is in line with the side light wire in the headlamp please. Mine has got rather hot and took all identification off it.