Al Rivera

Hi everyone.

I just wanted to make a post about the problems that other W164 (ML350, ML500) owners might be having with their headlight high beams with the wiring insulation cracking/falling off and leaving bare wires exposed. I was changing out the high beams of my 2008 ML350 4Matic because of a burnt out bulb. As I was trying to position the bulb back into the reflector socket, I noticed some debris on my hands: it was the wiring insulation falling off and onto my hands. I used a flashlight to illuminate the area and was shocked to see what I found. As you can see from the photo, this is the wiring condition of the high beam socket of the passenger side. The driver's side high beam was equally deteriorated. I thought Daimler fixed this cheap wiring issue in the mid '90s but I guess I was wrong (I used to have a '94 SL500 but junked it due to the engine wiring harness and other wiring deteriorating.) This is totally unacceptable to be happening to a vehicle that is less than 8 years old. One suggestion is to use "Liquid Tape" which is an electrical paint that can be found at Home Depot. I didn't use it because it would require me to remove the bumper, etc. and I just didn't have time to do it right now. I just improvised with electrical tape for now.

In the meantime, I would advise all W164 (ML350, ML500) owners to check the headlight wiring for short circuits and deteriorated wires or if they keep blowing out new, replacement bulbs.

AZN Optics

Welcome to MBWorld!

Unfortunately shoddy wiring is still fairly common, not just in your w164. This has been the culprit in many electrical issues as you have exposed to elements wiring.

ML63BITURBO

anyone know how to get access to the parking lamps in the headlight? or just how to take out the headlight in general?

thanks

Al Rivera

But this problem is happening in the enclosed space of the headlight assembly: it has a access cap that is covering the connections so it's water tight and not exposed to the elements.

This should be happening to a 8 year old vehicle. I also have a 2003 Ford F150 and this kind of sh*t doesn't exist on vital, electrical wiring.

MJ50

moved to W164 forum...