BigKutta

Hello all. I have a 2006 ML350 and like many of you, I have experienced several issues with the real taillights being recognized, etc, which was fixed by a grounding kit available through MB. Fast forward many years, and now I started to get the rear left turn signal out warning, even though the bulb is new. It turns out that the spot where the bulb makes contact with the housing has completely worn away and there is a hole in the metal in that exact spot on the housing. So I suppose I have to replace the whole tail light housing now, or perhaps put a tiny bit of solder in that spot.

Has anyone experienced this and have a fix? Or do you have a video of how to replace the entire housing? I see I can buy the housing for like $100

Thank you

Maj. Dundee

They sell the sockets separately.

Also understand that the bulbs must be 12v-21wats Osram/Sylvania.

BigKutta

Thanks, but its not the socket thats gone bad, but the contact in the light housing that the socket twists into

Maj. Dundee

This is your best bet instead of buying a new lamp. To remind you again, the bulbs must be quality ones 12v-21 watts.

BigKutta

I only use Sylvania, available from Autozone, etc. I will go the solder route, as it may be cheapest most cost effective for now. I would like to know if its easy to replace the entire assembly, but i cannot find a youtube video on it

Racin_fool

On bulbs that get used frequently with the twist in sockets like that, there is always a chance it will burn/melt the contacts like that. Mercedes has had issues for the last few decades on their cars with that stuff. Now many of the tail lamps come with bulbs you can't replace or LEDs that aren't serviceable. If you ever knew someone who owned a W210 or R170, they had these issues in the late 90's.

If you can figure out which wire the turn signal is on the tail lamp connector, you could attempt a fix like the brake lamp bulb with the separate socket and ground wire, but typically the twist in sockets are keyed differently from brake lamp bulb and turn signals.

Maj. Dundee

Very easy.

BigKutta

Exactly what I was looking for! If the quick solder doesn't fix it, I'll replace the unit. Looks simple...3 nuts

Thank you!!!

BigKutta

I've ordered the tail light unit (non-OEM) which was half the cost of the OEM assembly. Reviews of the place are good so I hope it works well. Lets see...

flybd5

Beware the Chinese knockoffs. Sometimes even the wiring polarity is backward and the connectors are wrong.

BigKutta

Well, I'm sure this is made in Chinese as well, but the site is a US site has many positive reviews, and sells lights for various makes/models. I hope it works well, because frankly I dont want to spend 2, 3x more on the ML that is now 11 years old

Maj. Dundee

Before you replace the new tail lamp, I strongly suggest that you buy new tail lamp seal. The morons at the assembly plant stuck the seals to the lamp and not to the body, as they should have been.

If you don't replace them, you will have water entry in the rear and your electrics will be damaged.

BigKutta

Geez, thank you! And there goes another $35. This whole situation is so unprecedented for me that its pissing me off. I have always had issues with all the lights/lamps in the ML. Changing the headlight bulbs is the hardest, along with the DRL. I dread when I have to change them. Now this...some metal connector part got a hole in it...wow, that's a first for me

flybd5

Changing headlights on an ML is easy, all you need is the right tool, a set of long (10") needle nose pliers with a 90 degree bend at the tip.

BigKutta

Thanks, but this is for a tail light. Seems simple enough though

flybd5

And I quote: "Changing the headlight bulbs is the hardest..."

BigKutta

My apologies. I completely forgot that I had even bit*hed about the headlamps...LOL

BigKutta

Anyway folks. The parts company told me the housing I ordered would not fit so canceled my order. So I decided (given the removal instructions above) to remove the tail light housing and give the solder another shot (yes,I previously tried while it was still installed!!). The instructions above were perfect and the tail light came right off easily. As a matter of fact the water seal was in very good condition and came right off too and can be reused with a new tail light if needed (FYI for those of you who may do this...will save you $40). Now with the tail light off i was able to solder the one hole in a flat position and it filled the hole. I reinstalled the tail light and everything is great now!!! Hope this sticks for a few years.

Thank you Mj. Dundee and everyone else!!! I hope I just saved a few hundred $$.

BigKutta

FYI, I called MB parts at the local dealer and they said they couldnt bring up that part number and its likely not sold separately, and probably comes with the whole headlight assembly. Maybe other have better luck, but wanted to pass that along

Maj. Dundee

Impossible. Did you read off the part number to him? Call a different dealer.

Call this dealer and ask them.
https://www.mbpartsworld.com/oem-par...usi-1648261591

BigKutta

Yes, and he even agreed that it sounded like a legit MB part number, but it didn't come up in the system. He asked for the VIN which i didnt have on me, and also suggested that it may come attached to the light

Maj. Dundee

Was this dealer located on Mars?