GL Class (X166) 2013-2015 after facelift became GLS (X166)

13 GL450 noise in driver side headlight

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Old Dec 21, 2023 | 08:36 PM
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2013 GL450 2013 C300
13 GL450 noise in driver side headlight

2013 GL 450 head light issue. On the driver side, when starts, noise heard around the headlight, headlight turns on. after a few seconds, the noise goes away, and headlight turns off. no message on the dash.
Anyone has any idea what's could be wrong? Ballast?
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Old Dec 22, 2023 | 12:17 PM
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From: Gresham, OR
GL450
Do you have bi-xenon or halogen headlights?
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...t-upgrade.html
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Old Dec 22, 2023 | 12:21 PM
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Start by swapping the bulbs from one side to the other. Does the problem follow the bulb? Replace the bulbs. If the problem stays on the same side, maybe swap the ballasts from one side to the other. Does the problem follow the ballast? Replace the ballast.
A good scanner tool might give you some insight.
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 10:24 AM
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2013 GL450 2013 C300
Xenon light.
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 10:26 AM
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2013 GL450 2013 C300
Did the bulbs swap. Problem persists. Wait for a warmer day to try the Ballasts swap. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Old May 19, 2024 | 12:29 PM
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2013 GL450 2013 C300
has to swap the whole assembly

The symptoms: driver side headlight comes on when start the car, it comes on with a humming noise, then it goes out after 10 15 sec. Passenger side no issue. No code, no message.
The fix: 1st swapped the ballast with the passenger side. no effect. Bought the whole assembly, and changed out the old unit. The humming noise comes from within the assembly. It seems that some of the mechanical thing get stuck. Works fine with the new assembly. No need to reprogram or anything.
Steps: 1. take the fender liner out -- I took out the left wheel, much easier to get access.
2. take the front bumper out. Only left side. unscrew all the bolt in the underguards. 3 screws inside the bumper. then just push the bumper out/away from the plastic piece, then forward.
3. there are 7 10 mm bolts to take out the whole assembly: 2 on the left, 1 front, 1 top, 2 on right side, 1 from inside.

Not too difficult to do, once I figured out all of the bolt locations. Whatever info I gathered before hand did not mention # of bolts. I thought there was only 2 or 3. Some pictures to show the bolt locations, and what it is like after the assembly is taken out.

The bolt inside the fender

right side 2 bolts

Front side 1 bolt

left side two bolts

The top bolt (not shown) is on top. Also, the fender is away from the plastic piece.

what's like when the whole assembly is taken out

Hope this is useful for some one.



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