Jun 24, 2015, 06:45 PM
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Wheel Well Liner - Only Way to Replace Headlight Bulb?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
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2020 G63, 2021 E450 All-Terrain Wagon
Wheel Well Liner - Only Way to Replace Headlight Bulb?
What size and type of rivets are in the wheel well liner?
I want to remove the wheel well to gain access to the driver's side headlight, and need to remove the rivets. However, I don't think I'll be able to save them from breaking if I remove them.
Is there any other way to change out the driver's side headlight bulb???
I want to remove the wheel well to gain access to the driver's side headlight, and need to remove the rivets. However, I don't think I'll be able to save them from breaking if I remove them.
Is there any other way to change out the driver's side headlight bulb???
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 561
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From: New Mexico
2014 E350, 2012 SL550
What size and type of rivets are in the wheel well liner?
I want to remove the wheel well to gain access to the driver's side headlight, and need to remove the rivets. However, I don't think I'll be able to save them from breaking if I remove them.
Is there any other way to change out the driver's side headlight bulb???
I want to remove the wheel well to gain access to the driver's side headlight, and need to remove the rivets. However, I don't think I'll be able to save them from breaking if I remove them.
Is there any other way to change out the driver's side headlight bulb???
Regards,
Don
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
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2020 G63, 2021 E450 All-Terrain Wagon
Oh, but still...Does anyone know of any other ways to swap out the driver's side headlamp bulb? If I remove the three washers and plastic screws in the wheel well part closest to the headlight, can I just peel the liner back or do I have to completely remove it? I bought Diamond Vision lights from Philips and I wanted to change the bulbs back to stock without taking it to the dealer. PLEASE ANYONE!!! If you have pics, it would be greatly appreciated.
I bought 24 hour access to WIS-Net and Startek and the instructions say I have to remove AC hoses and other pumps from the wheel well. Has anyone maneuvered around it?
I really need help! honestly i really don't know the first thing about changing the bulb on the drivers side
I bought 24 hour access to WIS-Net and Startek and the instructions say I have to remove AC hoses and other pumps from the wheel well. Has anyone maneuvered around it?
I really need help! honestly i really don't know the first thing about changing the bulb on the drivers side
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Bergen Co,NJ
14' CLS550
Ive heard this is the only way to get to the head light, but when i had my hid's installed the shop got to it from the top of the engine bay.. Sorry if this isnt helpful, if your hands are small enough give it a shot.
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1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
Oh, but still...Does anyone know of any other ways to swap out the driver's side headlamp bulb? If I remove the three washers and plastic screws in the wheel well part closest to the headlight, can I just peel the liner back or do I have to completely remove it? I bought Diamond Vision lights from Philips and I wanted to change the bulbs back to stock without taking it to the dealer. PLEASE ANYONE!!! If you have pics, it would be greatly appreciated.
I bought 24 hour access to WIS-Net and Startek and the instructions say I have to remove AC hoses and other pumps from the wheel well. Has anyone maneuvered around it?
I really need help! honestly i really don't know the first thing about changing the bulb on the drivers side
I bought 24 hour access to WIS-Net and Startek and the instructions say I have to remove AC hoses and other pumps from the wheel well. Has anyone maneuvered around it?
I really need help! honestly i really don't know the first thing about changing the bulb on the drivers side
I had a discussion with a MB tech about this last week and he told me that the only safe way to do the one side is to remove the liner and move a bunch of stuff out of the way but - like Bigigg said - it is possible to do it from the top but that often comes with bloodshed and broken bits. Fitting the bulb and properly securing the cap will be difficult from that angle.
The discussion came up because I was asking about the warning in the owner's manual that one side had to be done by a tech.
You may be best off getting an indy to do this for you.
Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 104
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From: Florida
2019 CLS450 4 Matic 2011 E550
The best and easiest way to get to the headlight is to remove the inner liner. It is in 2 pieces you only have to remove the front part. Once that is done you will see the low beam cover clear as day. If you are going to put in HIDs or change the bulb you have to do it this way. There is 4 or 5 push pin in the well and 2 screws in the area behind the DRL. Hope this helps.
Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 192
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From: Washington, MI
2011 E350 4-Matic Sport
You must jack the car up, remove the wheel and the wheel liner. Just neet to pry out the push pins and use a 10mm socket for the plastic nuts. It's not hard dude. Once you get that liner off you will have conplete access to the headlight assembly.
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Super Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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E350
I am 6'4" and have large hands and replaced driver side bulb from engine compartment. Thee is a small bracket that can be moved aside and then I could just get my hand in there to change bulb. You do not have to remove wheel liner.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: San Francisco, CA / Middlebury, CT
600 SWB
I, too, did not have to remove the wheel well liner. I merely removed the a single bracker in the engine compartment that was blocking the way to the inner headlamp cover. And then it was a matter of twisting my arm/hand into the headlamp unit to remove and replace the bulb.
Thread Starter
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2020 G63, 2021 E450 All-Terrain Wagon
Thanks for all the replies guys! I'm finally getting some answers. dbtk and MCF, which bracket did you have to remove? Do any of you have a picture or can any of you describe which bracket it is? I much rather go from up top than remove the wheel, fiddle around with removing the wheel well liner, etc.
dbtk, congrats on the new CLS! I noticed it in your signature
dbtk, congrats on the new CLS! I noticed it in your signature
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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2020 G63, 2021 E450 All-Terrain Wagon
Ok so I found something attached to rubber positioned on a metal bracket. I took this thing attached to rubber off the metal bracket. Is this what y'all did? I can only get my left hand inside there, but I can't unscrew the bulb because only my left two fingers can touch the actual bulb holder. Did you unscrew the black nuts on the metal bracket to let your right hand inside?
i attached a pic for reference
i attached a pic for reference
Last edited by newyorktoLA; Jan 5, 2012 at 12:30 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 68
From: San Francisco, CA / Middlebury, CT
600 SWB
Ok so I found something attached to rubber positioned on a metal bracket. I took this thing attached to rubber off the metal bracket. Is this what y'all did? I can only get my left hand inside there, but I can't unscrew the bulb because only my left two fingers can touch the actual bulb holder. Did you unscrew the black nuts on the metal bracket to let your right hand inside?
i attached a pic for reference
i attached a pic for reference
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 127
2020 G63, 2021 E450 All-Terrain Wagon
If you don't have P2 or an HID kit, you can go through the top. I couldn't, but the dealer tech was able to! For replacing an HID bulb, ballast, or whole kit, you have to go through the wheel well. I published an in depth guide on how to install the HIDs and remove the liner with pics if you want to check that out
Good luck!
Good luck!
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 1
S550
If you don't have P2 or an HID kit, you can go through the top. I couldn't, but the dealer tech was able to! For replacing an HID bulb, ballast, or whole kit, you have to go through the wheel well. I published an in depth guide on how to install the HIDs and remove the liner with pics if you want to check that out
Good luck!
Good luck!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 127
2020 G63, 2021 E450 All-Terrain Wagon
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2011 Mercedes E350
Gents, I have followed your directions for removing the bracket on my 2011 E350 driverside. Now I have the cover off and the bulb housing exposed. I can grab it but I can't see or feel any screws/locking mechanisms that are holding the bulb in. How did you guys get it out? Please help!! :/
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 26
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E550
Check out this thread over on BenzWorld.
It has a full tutorial on how to get to the driver's side headlamp, complete with pictures. I had to follow this about two weeks ago, and it worked pretty well. The lamp can be in there pretty tight, to the point where I had to (gently) use a pair of pliers to get some mechanical leverage on the lamp in order to twist it to get it out.
It has a full tutorial on how to get to the driver's side headlamp, complete with pictures. I had to follow this about two weeks ago, and it worked pretty well. The lamp can be in there pretty tight, to the point where I had to (gently) use a pair of pliers to get some mechanical leverage on the lamp in order to twist it to get it out.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Central Coast, CA
2020 X7 xDrive40i, 2016 X3 sDrive28i
Ok so after 6 hours and lots of cuts and scrapes on my hands, I still cannot get to the driver side bulb from top. I removed the bracket, could get my hand just barely in there (6' tall, average size hands), but not enough to actually twist the bulb out of the socket.
I had my 7 year old son try to help me. His little hands/arms could get in there but couldn't get enough strength to turn it either.
So we went to plan B. Remove the wheel and wheel liner. After 2 hours of fussing with that, we could only get 1 out of the 5 lug bolts to come out. The other 4 are so tight that even jumping around on the lug wrench for an hour wouldn't loosen them. (I guess they must've used a really strong impact wrench at the factory or the dealer to install those lug bolts).
So now on to Plan C, get a local independent german shop to help remove the wheel and wheel well liner. Sent an inquiry in. Waiting for their response.
Anyone have suggestion on an easy way to get the lug bolts off? (keep in mind my motion is some what restricted due to bad back and prior back surgery).
I've got 3 out of 4 lights replaced with Philips Diamondvision (passenger side high/low beam, driver side high beam), and the parking lamps replaced with the AZN Optics LED's in about 30 minutes. But so far have spent nearly 9 hours this weekend trying to replace the driver side low beam without any success.
I had my 7 year old son try to help me. His little hands/arms could get in there but couldn't get enough strength to turn it either.
So we went to plan B. Remove the wheel and wheel liner. After 2 hours of fussing with that, we could only get 1 out of the 5 lug bolts to come out. The other 4 are so tight that even jumping around on the lug wrench for an hour wouldn't loosen them. (I guess they must've used a really strong impact wrench at the factory or the dealer to install those lug bolts).
So now on to Plan C, get a local independent german shop to help remove the wheel and wheel well liner. Sent an inquiry in. Waiting for their response.
Anyone have suggestion on an easy way to get the lug bolts off? (keep in mind my motion is some what restricted due to bad back and prior back surgery).
I've got 3 out of 4 lights replaced with Philips Diamondvision (passenger side high/low beam, driver side high beam), and the parking lamps replaced with the AZN Optics LED's in about 30 minutes. But so far have spent nearly 9 hours this weekend trying to replace the driver side low beam without any success.
