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Problem with left headlight. SAM issue?

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Old Aug 14, 2020 | 04:32 PM
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Mercedes E220, 2012
Problem with left headlight. SAM issue?

I thought i had a broken bulb, but it did'nt help to replace it. So i got to my local work shop and got diagnosis. Error code B1005 lightcontrol signal error (my own translation from norwegian). They said it could be broken sam module, but i have to take my car to a Mercedes dealership for further troubleshooting. My car has bixenon and ILS. E220 2012. It sounds very expensive. Have anyone had the same issue?

Last edited by AW81; Aug 14, 2020 at 04:43 PM.
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Old Aug 14, 2020 | 05:15 PM
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Sounds like a ballast issue - where is the ballast on one of these lights? Surely it is not internal?
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Old Aug 14, 2020 | 05:31 PM
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Mercedes E220, 2012
Originally Posted by LILBENZ230
Sounds like a ballast issue - where is the ballast on one of these lights? Surely it is not internal?
Is'nt ballast in the bulb? D1s xenon bulb

https://www.eurodel.no/xenonpaere-os...QaAnrcEALw_wcB
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Old Aug 14, 2020 | 09:56 PM
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Originally Posted by AW81
Is'nt ballast in the bulb? D1s xenon bulb

https://www.eurodel.no/xenonpaere-os...QaAnrcEALw_wcB
There's a separate ballast for the bulb. You would probably have to post the vin to get the exact part but probably something like this:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...503787&jsn=515
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Old Aug 15, 2020 | 03:32 AM
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Mercedes E220, 2012
Originally Posted by cetialpha5
There's a separate ballast for the bulb. You would probably have to post the vin to get the exact part but probably something like this:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...503787&jsn=515

Ok, i hope it might be this simple. But why did they say that the SAM unit was probably broken?
They even called Mercedes and asked. But my car has no other symptoms and i find it strange... But if it is the ballast, could that give can bus (communication) error?


The strangest thing about this is that i had my car at the garage for a different problem a few weeks ago. When i got my car back the left headlight did'nt work, the back lid was off and the lamp was full of condense. The next day it suddenly started to work again, but after a day or two it was out again. I changed the bulb 8 months ago after it started blinking and after a few weeks it died.

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Old Aug 15, 2020 | 07:15 AM
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Yeah the thing attached to the bulb is the igniter. Obviously you've ruled that out already.

I am not sure why they told you the SAM is broken. It does sound like you might have more issues, but no reason not to start with the simplest first.
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Old Aug 15, 2020 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by AW81
Ok, i hope it might be this simple. But why did they say that the SAM unit was probably broken?
They even called Mercedes and asked. But my car has no other symptoms and i find it strange... But if it is the ballast, could that give can bus (communication) error?


The strangest thing about this is that i had my car at the garage for a different problem a few weeks ago. When i got my car back the left headlight did'nt work, the back lid was off and the lamp was full of condense. The next day it suddenly started to work again, but after a day or two it was out again. I changed the bulb 8 months ago after it started blinking and after a few weeks it died.
They scanned it and that's the error codes they were getting, it's still possible that it's the sam but less likely. As mentioned earlier, the basic troubleshooting is swap bulbs from one side to the other. Usually it's either the bulb or ballast. Bad sam is less likely.
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Old Aug 15, 2020 | 12:25 PM
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Mercedes E220, 2012
Originally Posted by cetialpha5
They scanned it and that's the error codes they were getting, it's still possible that it's the sam but less likely. As mentioned earlier, the basic troubleshooting is swap bulbs from one side to the other. Usually it's either the bulb or ballast. Bad sam is less likely.

It is not the bulb. I tried with a brand new one.
But i might be the ballast. Is it possible to access without taking out the lamp?

Last edited by AW81; Aug 15, 2020 at 12:32 PM.
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Old Aug 15, 2020 | 03:40 PM
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VIN, I will confirm lamp unit and attachments. Following shop’s lead you can pull SAM to check connectors/connections below as highlighted.




Attached Files
File Type: pdf
212 Front SAM.pdf (463.7 KB, 199 views)
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Old Aug 16, 2020 | 05:40 AM
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Mercedes E220, 2012
Originally Posted by konigstiger
VIN, I will confirm lamp unit and attachments. Following shop’s lead you can pull SAM to check connectors/connections below as highlighted.



Is the highlighted connections (yellow) for the lamp and ILS? Is it easy to lift out without ****ing anything up? And regarding ballast. I read somewhere that this is in the D1s bulb. If there is a separate as mentioned above, is it accessable without removibg the bumper?
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Old Aug 16, 2020 | 08:05 AM
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Originally Posted by AW81
Is the highlighted connections (yellow) for the lamp and ILS? Is it easy to lift out without ****ing anything up? And regarding ballast. I read somewhere that this is in the D1s bulb. If there is a separate as mentioned above, is it accessable without removibg the bumper?
The D1S bulb has the igniter built in, not the ballast.
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Old Aug 16, 2020 | 10:23 AM
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Mercedes E220, 2012
Originally Posted by LILBENZ230
The D1S bulb has the igniter built in, not the ballast.

Ok thanks👌 Crossing my fingers for broken ballast. Do i have to take out the lamp?
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Old Aug 16, 2020 | 01:24 PM
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Most likely the ballast , if the back lid was off and you saw condensation , 99% its that.

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Old Aug 17, 2020 | 05:32 AM
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Originally Posted by belarus27
Most likely the ballast , if the back lid was off and you saw condensation , 99% its that.
I got a replay from my local garage after they spoke to a Mercedes dealership. The ballast or control unit under the lamp do not control the light....
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