Problem with retrofitted OEM LED Taillights
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
From: Austria
Mercedes
Problem with retrofitted OEM LED Taillights
Okay, following the instructions from some other posts, I had the OEM LED taillights from 09+ W164 models installed on my 07 ML 350.
I bought the LED taillights from ebay and a new rear SAM from MB and took all of this to a tuning garage where they have a SDS to program the SAM etc.
After a couple of hours, everything was done. It looked awesome, I paid and drove away happily. However, after a couple of weeks, the taillights started to flicker. It started with the left one. I thought "Awww... Ebay crap!!!" and replaced the left taillight with a new one (bought at the dealership). I was happy again.
1-2 weeks later, the right taillight started to flicker, too. I thought "Awww... Ebay crap!!!" again and replaced the right one.
Having the confidence that I now had two brandnew OEM LED taillights, I thought that this chapter was finally done. And it was..., but only for around 6 weeks. Today I noticed that the left LED taillights started to flicker again.
I really don't know what to do. I don't want to go on buying new LED taillights every 6 weeks. Could the programming of the rear SAM be somewhat faulty? Any ideas? Heeeeellllppp!!!
I bought the LED taillights from ebay and a new rear SAM from MB and took all of this to a tuning garage where they have a SDS to program the SAM etc.
After a couple of hours, everything was done. It looked awesome, I paid and drove away happily. However, after a couple of weeks, the taillights started to flicker. It started with the left one. I thought "Awww... Ebay crap!!!" and replaced the left taillight with a new one (bought at the dealership). I was happy again.
1-2 weeks later, the right taillight started to flicker, too. I thought "Awww... Ebay crap!!!" again and replaced the right one.
Having the confidence that I now had two brandnew OEM LED taillights, I thought that this chapter was finally done. And it was..., but only for around 6 weeks. Today I noticed that the left LED taillights started to flicker again.
I really don't know what to do. I don't want to go on buying new LED taillights every 6 weeks. Could the programming of the rear SAM be somewhat faulty? Any ideas? Heeeeellllppp!!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
From: Austria
Mercedes
Problem solved:
The sealing let through too much water that was creeping into the insides of the LED taillight. The sealing and the inside of the LED taillights seem to be somewhat vulnerable... As we had an "all-rain-winter" in Germany, this most likely was the problem with my previous LED taillights as well.
Sealing was replaced, taillights were dried... everything works fine now.
The sealing let through too much water that was creeping into the insides of the LED taillight. The sealing and the inside of the LED taillights seem to be somewhat vulnerable... As we had an "all-rain-winter" in Germany, this most likely was the problem with my previous LED taillights as well.
Sealing was replaced, taillights were dried... everything works fine now.
Last edited by Sharkster; Feb 23, 2012 at 01:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
From: Austria
Mercedes
Sure, come over and pick them up! 
Nah, seriously... I have them in my garage, but I would prefer to check them, before I sell them.
Also, with all the shipping and export fees, I guess it doesn't make a lot of sense to sell them to someone in the US. Will most likely put them up on Ebay Germany, if they still work.
Nah, seriously... I have them in my garage, but I would prefer to check them, before I sell them.
Also, with all the shipping and export fees, I guess it doesn't make a lot of sense to sell them to someone in the US. Will most likely put them up on Ebay Germany, if they still work.
