Hi, I'm new here
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
E300 W212
Hi, I'm new here
Hey all,
I'm new here.
I've been owning my 2016 E300 W212 for about 6 months now and decided to join this forum.
I've got a question about a headlight issue:
Last night, the "Intell Light System inoporative" messaged showed up on my dashboard.
I noticed that my left headlight is also stuck on high beam mode now.
What could be the issue? And how can I fix it?
Thanks!
I'm new here.
I've been owning my 2016 E300 W212 for about 6 months now and decided to join this forum.
I've got a question about a headlight issue:
Last night, the "Intell Light System inoporative" messaged showed up on my dashboard.
I noticed that my left headlight is also stuck on high beam mode now.
What could be the issue? And how can I fix it?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
E300 W212
Thanks for moving my post @MJ50
I want to add some more information about my issue for anyone reading this:
- I have wiped down all the sensors/cameras to make sure they are clean.
- I have replaced fuse number 75 (20A) in the trunk (N10/2 Rear SAM Control Unit).
I have recorded a video of the right headlight reacting fine when going from low beam to high beam.
You can see that the left headlight does not respond as it should. It seems like some kind of shutter is not operating.
I want to add some more information about my issue for anyone reading this:
- I have wiped down all the sensors/cameras to make sure they are clean.
- I have replaced fuse number 75 (20A) in the trunk (N10/2 Rear SAM Control Unit).
I have recorded a video of the right headlight reacting fine when going from low beam to high beam.
You can see that the left headlight does not respond as it should. It seems like some kind of shutter is not operating.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
E300 W212
Thanks @rapidoxidation , I've ordered a scanner and it should arrive tomorrow.
In case this scanner doesn't provide me with the info I need.
Do you have a decent scanner you recommend?
In case this scanner doesn't provide me with the info I need.
Do you have a decent scanner you recommend?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,607
Likes: 6,554
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,749
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
I like my Launch X431V+ scanner. It wasn't cheap but it has done everything I've needed it to do on all my cars. Being able to have a two way conversation with the car's systems is invaluable for owning these cars. The $1,000 price of a good scanner is quickly recuperated in not going to the dealer or other mechanic each time there's a problem.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 1,550
From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
There's all different price points, even something as cheap as the Autel AP200 will be fine. No screen so it's cheaper but Autel also makes high end stuff too, the AP200 I think is based off the 808 which is a lot more. The difference is that the Ap200 is limited to one car line instead of the higher end stuff which works on all car lines. Perfect for the DIY, not so good if you're a shop.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,957
Likes: 6,796
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
Thanks for moving my post @MJ50
I want to add some more information about my issue for anyone reading this:
- I have wiped down all the sensors/cameras to make sure they are clean.
- I have replaced fuse number 75 (20A) in the trunk (N10/2 Rear SAM Control Unit).
I have recorded a video of the right headlight reacting fine when going from low beam to high beam.
You can see that the left headlight does not respond as it should. It seems like some kind of shutter is not operating.
I want to add some more information about my issue for anyone reading this:
- I have wiped down all the sensors/cameras to make sure they are clean.
- I have replaced fuse number 75 (20A) in the trunk (N10/2 Rear SAM Control Unit).
I have recorded a video of the right headlight reacting fine when going from low beam to high beam.
You can see that the left headlight does not respond as it should. It seems like some kind of shutter is not operating.
Both sides lights work in tandem through networking.
Is this a daily-driver or a secondary car ?
I believe you'll find one of the HL module got swamped through its non-waterproof connector. The fix requires coding a priceless replacement unit.
Ultimately you need to RTV-silicone all these amazing connectors exposed before couple drops of water drain your savings.
Fortunately for MB /unfortunately for owners the 3rd party modules are made super vulnerable. They are not weatherized with basic conformal coating and circuits boards are built with ultra narrow gaps to help develop oxidation.
Once you understand the game, it's easier to enjoy at face value. These are great cars!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,607
Likes: 6,554
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
There's all different price points, even something as cheap as the Autel AP200 will be fine. No screen so it's cheaper but Autel also makes high end stuff too, the AP200 I think is based off the 808 which is a lot more. The difference is that the Ap200 is limited to one car line instead of the higher end stuff which works on all car lines. Perfect for the DIY, not so good if you're a shop.
https://www.amazon.com/Autel-AP200-B.../dp/B07QD4GZW4
https://www.amazon.com/Autel-AP200-B.../dp/B07QD4GZW4
AP200 can't do bidirectional control. It is not worth its low cost.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,607
Likes: 6,554
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
RutGeur,
When first headlight gets powered up , it will do the aiming up and down, will the left do that ?
Is this a Code 632 static LED headlight or the code 642 Dynamic LED ILS ?
When first headlight gets powered up , it will do the aiming up and down, will the left do that ?
Is this a Code 632 static LED headlight or the code 642 Dynamic LED ILS ?
Last edited by S-Prihadi; Jul 14, 2023 at 04:58 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,607
Likes: 6,554
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
E300 W212
@CaliBenzDriver this is my daily driver.
I live in the United Arab Emirates so there's almost no rain here. I did drive through a puddle a few days ago and it's always mega dusty out here.
You mentioned the fix requires "coding a priceless replacement unit". What exactly does that entail?
I live in the United Arab Emirates so there's almost no rain here. I did drive through a puddle a few days ago and it's always mega dusty out here.
You mentioned the fix requires "coding a priceless replacement unit". What exactly does that entail?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
E300 W212
@S-Prihadi when the car starts (and the headlights get powered up), the right one dances as it should, the left one doesn't do anything.
I am not sure what code it is. How can I check this?
I just purchased an useless OBD scanner. It wasn't able to read the error code.
The OBD scanner I tried is the: Creader 3001 (https://www.amazon.ae/dp/B07D1KH9SC?...roduct_details)
I saw you already recommend a scanner. The: LAUNCH Elite Benz.
I will buy that instead. That scanner should allow me to diagnose and recode to in order to fix the issue when needed right?
I am not sure what code it is. How can I check this?
I just purchased an useless OBD scanner. It wasn't able to read the error code.
The OBD scanner I tried is the: Creader 3001 (https://www.amazon.ae/dp/B07D1KH9SC?...roduct_details)
I saw you already recommend a scanner. The: LAUNCH Elite Benz.
I will buy that instead. That scanner should allow me to diagnose and recode to in order to fix the issue when needed right?
Last edited by rutgeur; Jul 14, 2023 at 05:44 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,957
Likes: 6,796
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
dry sandy climate.... poor GND or DUST + FANS !!
@CaliBenzDriver this is my daily driver.
I live in the United Arab Emirates so there's almost no rain here. I did drive through a puddle a few days ago and it's always mega dusty out here.
You mentioned the fix requires "coding a priceless replacement unit". What exactly does that entail?
I live in the United Arab Emirates so there's almost no rain here. I did drive through a puddle a few days ago and it's always mega dusty out here.
You mentioned the fix requires "coding a priceless replacement unit". What exactly does that entail?
-- Knowing moisture oxidation is not prime factor, I would then CLEAN your PAINTED GND screws on the car frontend, specifically those located under both side beams. Disconnect battery power while doing so.
-- If clean GND does not restore joy, your front bumper assembly will need to come off to access your HL...
+++++ Solderless HL??
I am not 100% positive the LED Modules are built with easily repairable loose-pins.
Let's see ~
++++ dusty air + LED fan = limited life??
Many of us complain about the crazy LED FAN that run in the morning to cool perfectly cold LED.... so we know each HL has a cooling fan.
Imagine what fine desert dust can do to these air circulation fans... Do they use any sort of filtration ?
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jul 14, 2023 at 06:59 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,607
Likes: 6,554
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
@S-Prihadi when the car starts (and the headlights get powered up), the right one dances as it should, the left one doesn't do anything.
I am not sure what code it is. How can I check this?
I just purchased an useless OBD scanner. It wasn't able to read the error code.
The OBD scanner I tried is the: Creader 3001 (https://www.amazon.ae/dp/B07D1KH9SC?...roduct_details)
I saw you already recommend a scanner. The: LAUNCH Elite Benz.
I will buy that instead. That scanner should allow me to diagnose and recode to in order to fix the issue when needed right?
I am not sure what code it is. How can I check this?
I just purchased an useless OBD scanner. It wasn't able to read the error code.
The OBD scanner I tried is the: Creader 3001 (https://www.amazon.ae/dp/B07D1KH9SC?...roduct_details)
I saw you already recommend a scanner. The: LAUNCH Elite Benz.
I will buy that instead. That scanner should allow me to diagnose and recode to in order to fix the issue when needed right?
Use any MB VIN decoder and you will get a datacard.
https://www.vindecoderz.com
Example my car Data Card, one from MB original software and one from available VIN decoder on the internet.
You will see code 641 DYNAMIC LED HEADLAMPS, LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
Your car is Left Hand Drive or Right hand traffic, it will be 642 , assuming you have dynamic LED.
OP wrote : That scanner should allow me to diagnose and recode to in order to fix the issue when needed right
This scanner is Benz only car, hence low cost but is VERY powerful.
If you have other cars and want a scanner to do more cars, you can get Launch CRP919E
I just got this one too yesterday for a friend.
Fixing issue with your headlight is not a scanner job. A scanner job is to tell you what is wrong and you can do actuation test ( bi-directional ) test to see roughly at which part of the light system is not functioning.
Scanner is not a magic pill, but a tool and a must have tool to save time and see data you can't see with a digital meter.
True fixing a component, is by replacing defective one with a new good one.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
E300 W212
Use any MB VIN decoder and you will get a datacard.
https://www.vindecoderz.com
Example my car Data Card, one from MB original software and one from available VIN decoder on the internet.
You will see code 641 DYNAMIC LED HEADLAMPS, LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
Your car is Left Hand Drive or Right hand traffic, it will be 642 , assuming you have dynamic LED.
OP wrote : That scanner should allow me to diagnose and recode to in order to fix the issue when needed right
This scanner is Benz only car, hence low cost but is VERY powerful.
If you have other cars and want a scanner to do more cars, you can get Launch CRP919E https://www.amazon.com/LAUNCH-Scanne...4-dc28e6d374b3
I just got this one too yesterday for a friend.
Fixing issue with your headlight is not a scanner job. A scanner job is to tell you what is wrong and you can do actuation test ( bi-directional ) test to see roughly at which part of the light system is not functioning.
Scanner is not a magic pill, but a tool and a must have tool to save time and see data you can't see with a digital meter.
True fixing a component, is by replacing defective one with a new good one.
https://www.vindecoderz.com
Example my car Data Card, one from MB original software and one from available VIN decoder on the internet.
You will see code 641 DYNAMIC LED HEADLAMPS, LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
Your car is Left Hand Drive or Right hand traffic, it will be 642 , assuming you have dynamic LED.
OP wrote : That scanner should allow me to diagnose and recode to in order to fix the issue when needed right
This scanner is Benz only car, hence low cost but is VERY powerful.
If you have other cars and want a scanner to do more cars, you can get Launch CRP919E https://www.amazon.com/LAUNCH-Scanne...4-dc28e6d374b3
I just got this one too yesterday for a friend.
Fixing issue with your headlight is not a scanner job. A scanner job is to tell you what is wrong and you can do actuation test ( bi-directional ) test to see roughly at which part of the light system is not functioning.
Scanner is not a magic pill, but a tool and a must have tool to save time and see data you can't see with a digital meter.
True fixing a component, is by replacing defective one with a new good one.
I checked the VIN and my car is equipped with the:
642 DYNAMIC LED HEADLAMPS, RIGHT-HAND TRAFFIC
Just FYI, I was close to the garage where I usually get my car serviced. Popped in and ask them to diagnose the issue. They said they can diagnose it in 1h so I’ll revert back here with the findings.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
E300 W212
After running diagnostics the garage told me that I need a controle unit on the left headlight replaced. Once replaced, some recoding also needs to be done.
The weirdest thing just happened though. I parked the car out in the 40C (104F) degree sun this morning and after starting it up, the error was gone.
I drove in a parking garage after to test the lighting and everything seems to work fine again.
I am guessing it must have been water from that puddle I drove through a few days ago and that condensation must have evaporated by the heat.
I will be informing the garage a replacement of the controle unit is currently no longer needed.
The weirdest thing just happened though. I parked the car out in the 40C (104F) degree sun this morning and after starting it up, the error was gone.
I drove in a parking garage after to test the lighting and everything seems to work fine again.
I am guessing it must have been water from that puddle I drove through a few days ago and that condensation must have evaporated by the heat.
I will be informing the garage a replacement of the controle unit is currently no longer needed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,607
Likes: 6,554
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
Lucky you.............
ADD : if you car under carriage protection plastic is all there and the front wheel well fender all good, no puddle can spray water to the headlight.
Unless it is a very deep 30-40cm high water pool, the radiator fan then will splatter water all over the engine bay
Front spraying the headlight is no issue, backside of light is where it has risk
ADD : if you car under carriage protection plastic is all there and the front wheel well fender all good, no puddle can spray water to the headlight.
Unless it is a very deep 30-40cm high water pool, the radiator fan then will splatter water all over the engine bay
Front spraying the headlight is no issue, backside of light is where it has risk
Last edited by S-Prihadi; Jul 16, 2023 at 03:52 AM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 3
E300 W212
Yesterday, another issue appeared on my car. The battery was leaking. This triggered the car not to start. It turns out the car had a cheap battery in there so I replaced it with the proper one: Original AGM Varta Germany 12v 80AH.
She's running great now.
I was wondering, could that crappy battery be the cause of the "Intell Light System inoporative" message I was getting 2 weeks ago?
She's running great now.
I was wondering, could that crappy battery be the cause of the "Intell Light System inoporative" message I was getting 2 weeks ago?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,957
Likes: 6,796
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
UAE...
Yesterday, another issue appeared on my car. The battery was leaking. This triggered the car not to start. It turns out the car had a cheap battery in there so I replaced it with the proper one: Original AGM Varta Germany 12v 80AH.
She's running great now.
I was wondering, could that crappy battery be the cause of the "Intell Light System inoporative" message I was getting 2 weeks ago?
She's running great now.
I was wondering, could that crappy battery be the cause of the "Intell Light System inoporative" message I was getting 2 weeks ago?
A good AGM battery and alternator output is going to work wonders to run more reliably.
In the UAE, there is an legendary MB expert from Greece. His name is Tasos, he works on all MB cars, often the C63 TT -
Go say hi to him, post a pic!!
✌️
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jul 23, 2023 at 02:11 PM.
