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Brake lights are burnt out? How do you replace them?
I have a 04 e320. I have 2 malfunctions saying that my right and left brake lights have are basically burnt out, and it says back up lights have been turned on. So i checked and they are both burnt out on the top of the headlight, and also the third brake light on the trunk is half burnt out.
Can someone please explain how do i change the brake lights...? I did the headlights but this one seems a bit more complicated and im not sure where to start.
Did you read the manual? Ther should be access panels behind the light fixtures. Most cars don't require tools to access the bulbs. However, M-B may be different.
For the right and left rear taillight housings, the bulbs themselves cannot be changed. They are a special gas type bulb soldered on a circuit panel. You have to buy a new light circuit panel for each side - if thats actually your problem. The 'socket plate' is about $34 on parts.com. Parts.com socket plate link
To access the rear tail lamps, you have to remove the rear trunk lining. In the order of how i remember, the bottom black plastic part where the trunk locks (i think like 4 bolts?), the cargo tie points on both the trunk sides and the floor of the trunk (i think there should be 2 on the floor of the trunk and 1 up near the light). You also will have to push out the black square plastic ring thing where the trunk lid arms slide through. Just take your time and you figure out what you have to remove. ***If you have airmatic, the passenger side will have a round metal air canister that you MAY need to remove to be able to access the rear passenger lamp circuit.
Hope this helps. These bulbs were designed to last a very long time so you may have another issue. Search the forum for similar issues that may involve the rear SAM - trying to remember if that may something discussed.
Sorry i never did the rear trunk brake light.
Last edited by MercFiveHundred; 11-13-2011 at 09:42 AM.
Here's a quick walkthrough with pictures. I was getting the message "Brake light, left Back-up light on!" and "Brake light, right Back-up light on!". For my 04 e500, the part numbers for the replacement socket plates were: 2118200177 (right) and 2118200277 (left). Check EPC to look up the correct part as this part can be different for different packages (appearance, etc) and cars (wagons vs sedan). As MercFiveHundred said, parts.com is the cheapest source for this. My local dealer wanted $80 each.
1. Remove the plastic lip/cover that runs along the length of the trunk opening by popping up the 6 plastic fasteners. Just use a slim screwdriver and gently pry upwards. There is one tab on each side near the interior lights of this plastic cover -- gently pull outwards to disconnect. Detach the cables that connect to the interior lights.
2. Use a t20 to remove the two cargo tie hooks on the side trunk liner. Use a screwdriver to pop out the two fasteners near the top of the side trunk liner. Look at how the liner wraps around the trunk lid arms -- there is a cut where it splits apart. Pull outwards and bend downwards to get it out of the way. You don't need to completely remove this liner -- you only need to give yourself enough space to access the nuts that hold the tail light assembly in place.
2a. If you have to do the left side, and you have an airmatic, there is a large metal canister that prevents you from remove a couple of the nuts. Unbolt the entire bracket and slide it out of the way by removing the 4 bolts that hold it in place (2 on top, 2 on bottom). Note that there is a small pipe that connects to the top of the canister -- be sure not to screw with this.
3. Use a 8mm socket and remove the 5 nuts that hold the tail light assembly in place. Disconnect the cable. Push out the tail light assembly.
4. Remove the black foam surround.
5. Remove the 3 t20 screws that hold the socket plate in place. Replace with new.
6. Install in reverse.
Another note, I had read somewhere that the socket plates are wired in a series, with the drivers (left) side first -- which means that if you're seeing error messages for both sides like I was, then you may want to try fixing the drivers side first as it is very uncommon for these lights to burn out, let alone at the same time. I replaced my drivers side first and checked my error messages and all messages went away (including the ones for the passenger side).
Thank you very much for all the response everyone. Im going to order them on parts.com and try and do it myself. If i run into any errors i will let you guys know.
I drive a 2004 E500 Wagon 4matic. I had the same issues that Chenney had. I followed Chenney's directions, which are great by the way. A little different given I drive a wagon. I changed the left bulb first, that did not work and then went ahead and ordered the back right. That was the trick. All of the malfunction errors are gone. Saved me some serious dough. All in I spent $70 for the bulbs from parts.com. Very much appreciated Chenney - thank you.
My right "tail light" and "fog Light" warning just went on. Funny, I went to Pep Boys expecting to buy a $1.99 bulb! They had no idea why they didn't stock the "bulb."
Of course, this forum has now educated me, and my order to Parts.com is complete. $46.50 with handling fee and shipping. I don't expect any issues installing, given the instructions above. Any bets on how long it will be before the other side goes out???
My car is at 112k miles now, and every little thing that goes wrong with it is hundreds of dollars (except for this $1.99 bulb issue - which will only cost me $50 - yahoo!).
My engine mounts and transmission mounts are supposedly leaking as well. Hoping the car can hold out one more year for trade-in!
I know this is an old thread, but I am hoping someone can help.
I drive a 2008 E350 4MATIC wagon. I am getting malfunction messages that both my left and right tail lights are out and that auxiliary lights are on (don't even know where those auxiliary lights are).
I have access to the EPC and no matter how much I search on EPC and Google, I simply cannot find out whether I must change the entire tail lamp assembly or can I get away with just changing the bulbs. Based on what JHwagon said, changing the bulbs alone should be possible on the wagon just like on the sedan. Can someone please confirm this?
A related question is, where do I get the bulbs from? Parts.com has shut down. EPC is only showing the part numbers for the tail lamps and not the bulbs. Each tail lamp is going for $135 and above. I don't wanna be spending on $270 + tax + shipping. That is crazy! I just want to buy the bulbs but don't know where to buy them from.
I have the same issue with the malfunction messages. I checked both top brake lights are not coming on. Tested both top bulbs by running 12v to them and they both come on. Check the rear sam for errors with a icarsoft i980 and their was not one code. I'm stumped! 2004 E320. Does any ever help people on here still??
I know this is an old thread, but I am hoping someone can help.
I drive a 2008 E350 4MATIC wagon. I am getting malfunction messages that both my left and right tail lights are out and that auxiliary lights are on (don't even know where those auxiliary lights are).
I have access to the EPC and no matter how much I search on EPC and Google, I simply cannot find out whether I must change the entire tail lamp assembly or can I get away with just changing the bulbs. Based on what JHwagon said, changing the bulbs alone should be possible on the wagon just like on the sedan. Can someone please confirm this?
A related question is, where do I get the bulbs from? Parts.com has shut down. EPC is only showing the part numbers for the tail lamps and not the bulbs. Each tail lamp is going for $135 and above. I don't wanna be spending on $270 + tax + shipping. That is crazy! I just want to buy the bulbs but don't know where to buy them from.
Ebay do have 2nd hand tail light both outer and inner that come with bulb and circuit for wagon. Cost around 15-25 USD each and you can swap the circuit locked by 2 screws.
Geez, replacing bulbs is covered in great detail in your owners manual. ... standard Mercedes practice. If it tells you to go to the dealer, that means the bulbs aren’t individually replaceable.
You can find complete illustrated parts breakdowns for your car here. Lighting is in group 82
Ebay do have 2nd hand tail light both outer and inner that come with bulb and circuit for wagon. Cost around 15-25 USD each and you can swap the circuit locked by 2 screws.
On my vehicle they are soldered on, but what has me confused and not running out to buy two new "bulb cluster assembly" is I de-soldered the very top brake build and I ran 12v to it and it came right 🤔
TY for that parts listing, but I'm not going to run out and start buying parts W/O know 100% that the cluster is the problem. Like I said I tested the bulb that its saying is bad by de-soldering it and running 12v to it. Why would the bulb work when removed from the cluster? 🤔
TY for that parts listing, but I'm not going to run out and start buying parts W/O know 100% that the cluster is the problem. Like I said I tested the bulb that its saying is bad by de-soldering it and running 12v to it. Why would the bulb work when removed from the cluster? 🤔
Agreed.
Also, the probability of both sides stopping to work at the same time is very low. I feel that there is something else going on, but I don't know what.
No codes, pull SAM to check connections. Also, if you have not already done so you can pull both bulb mounts and plug each in independently @ left side.
06-15-2015, 01:37 PM
