**UPDATE**

I replaced the sidemarkers with new ESDEPO clear lenses (the same ones installed as before but not melted or cracked) and got a 194 CANBus LED Amber bulb from superbrightleds.com, and I am glad to report it works perfectly with minimal heat output. No issues with errors on the dashboard and it's a simple plug-n-play installation as before... the light spread inside the sidemarker isn't as pronounced as before but it definitely looks good at night and was worth the time and money to fix. I used this bulb http://www.superbrightleds.com/morei...se-tower/1127/ without issue and it fits in the housing no problem. To any other forum members who have had this issue: get a new replacement housing and get yourself some LEDs, they look great and run cool.

 

Thanks for the update!

 

Still no issues with heat or melting. Looks as new as the day I installed it. I think it's safe to conclude that using amber LED bulbs in your sidemarkers is the way to go to eliminate any issues, they look great at night and no complaints.

 

My clear markers finally suffered the same fate and I installed LED Bulbs with new black tinted markers. Looks a lot better.

 

If/when I get this E63 AMG that I'm looking at, I will install the tinted markers for sure. Definitely looks good. I'm surprised that this happened to the ESDEPO sidemarkers but I guess you get what you pay for. LEDs are a much better option for people doing this modification, still no issues or leaks on mine after months of running them.

 

Lol. Glad I found this post. I've had the depo clear side markers and chrome bulbs sitting in my trunk for 2 weeks now waiting to be installed. Glad I never got around to it. Just ordered the led bulbs. I'll put them on with LEDs. Thanks AMG.

 

For sure man! Those chrome bulbs are gnarly, and the plastic is cheap haha.

 

I picked up clear side markers and got the amber leds from superbrightleds, and I'm extremely disappointed in how dim they. I believe they are only 2lm of light which isn't a lot. I have the same version of bulb from them but white and it's 72lm of light.


I think I am just going to run a normal 5watt amber bulb. I've been testing a bulb in the housing for hours and haven't noticed any soft spot on the housing. I am not happy with chrome covered bulbs because those have even less light output and run even hotter due to the coating.


I would use the white leds that I have from our CLK but because of inspection they require amber light coming through... It might be one of those things where I change the bulbs before inspection time like I do with the current car now.


It's a hit or miss depending on who is inspecting the car. One time I had smoked side makers with white leds and that passed one year, then the following year it failed because it wasn't amber. They wouldn't even accept an amber bulb in the smoked housing. It has to be either a clear lens with a orange bulb, or orange lens with a white/orange bulb...so silly.



I will note that the side markers I got from fishcakes. No mention if it is Depo though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171836312360?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
-Nigel

 

Just picked up my w211. Already started taking it apart. Changing out the front bumper lenses and noticed that the stock bulb was corroded. Sure enough exactly what is shown in this thread with aftermarket lenses doesn't appear to only be with them as MB has the same issue. See picture of stock side marker light.


I got the superbrightled amber canbus leds but dissapointed by the lack of light... very tempted to either use my white leds which means I would then have to change once a year for inspection since they will fail it if it's not an amber bulb... or run amber normal bulbs and eventually have them burn a hole like the stock MB lens...lol

-Nigel

 

I currently run the clear markers with white LED bulb, in my opinion it looks way better that way. If you're worried about inspection, it really only takes 5 minutes to pop it back in and out.

 

^


This is what I have concluded and will be doing...lol Sucks that they are so **** for inspections about silly things, but I am with you. After looking at it back and forth and swapping bulbs the white just look super clean since there is no amber at all in the front.


-Nigel

 

I totally agree, especially in Virginia with that darn state Inspection!