Replacing the Reverse or Backup Light Bulb with a LED 400 Lumen
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ml350 2014
Replacing the Reverse or Backup Light Bulb with a LED 400 Lumen
We bought our new 2014 ML350 last December 2014. It was one of those things - great SUV with the elegance and quietness of a high-end sedan. Walked out of the floor room at $70k with about 8% off of list.
Anyway, the backup lights are insanely weak. I'm guessing that the bulbs are about 40 lumens each. I found some nice high-intensity LED lights that are around 400 lumens. The back up lights are located in the rear door or lift-hatch. Being somewhat of a klutz I'm a bit nervous with just popping off the lens cover since I figure I would just break the tabs and then be really screwed.
Given this background, I figure you guys might have some ideas about how to do this rudimentary simple task? I'm also prepared, since it is Mercedes, to hear "don't touch it - run to a certified mechanic!".
Thanks heaps and Happy New Year!
George
Anyway, the backup lights are insanely weak. I'm guessing that the bulbs are about 40 lumens each. I found some nice high-intensity LED lights that are around 400 lumens. The back up lights are located in the rear door or lift-hatch. Being somewhat of a klutz I'm a bit nervous with just popping off the lens cover since I figure I would just break the tabs and then be really screwed.
Given this background, I figure you guys might have some ideas about how to do this rudimentary simple task? I'm also prepared, since it is Mercedes, to hear "don't touch it - run to a certified mechanic!".
Thanks heaps and Happy New Year!
George
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2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
Possible Help
I would be very wary of trying to pop off the tail lights, but ymmv.
See if the attached are at all helpful.
See if the attached are at all helpful.
Last edited by DUTCH; Dec 31, 2014 at 07:41 AM.
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It's also available from various software pirates for less, the cheapest and most unreliable being the Chinese Ebay sellers.
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ml350 2014
Thanks to you all. The PDF's were great.
From my reading, if I want to replace the backup light bulb, I'll need to disassemble the door panel or be brave and ugggg...pop the lens cover off.
Until I hear the "word" from someone who has actually done it successfully, I'll just wait until I visit the MB Dealership. It is life. I have done enough backyard mechanic'ing to be very leery of just going forth. Yeah - I'm a bit chicken.
The reason? I want to put in these 400 lumen LED bulbs and get some real illumination when I back up. Our garage is at the end of this long driveway and it requires backing up between things and exiting onto sidewalk/street. Hence, having some floods would be nice. Yes - I could just install an LED light bar and so on and so forth. But I like the idea of just something simple and clean - like swapping out the existing weak non-LED bulbs with some high-intensity LEDs. I'm not worried about heat damage since the whole backing up process is 30 seconds. (I own a consulting company that specializes in simulation modeling and we have done thermal simulations on headlight assemblies...).
Nice for all the help,
Cheers,
G
From my reading, if I want to replace the backup light bulb, I'll need to disassemble the door panel or be brave and ugggg...pop the lens cover off.
Until I hear the "word" from someone who has actually done it successfully, I'll just wait until I visit the MB Dealership. It is life. I have done enough backyard mechanic'ing to be very leery of just going forth. Yeah - I'm a bit chicken.
The reason? I want to put in these 400 lumen LED bulbs and get some real illumination when I back up. Our garage is at the end of this long driveway and it requires backing up between things and exiting onto sidewalk/street. Hence, having some floods would be nice. Yes - I could just install an LED light bar and so on and so forth. But I like the idea of just something simple and clean - like swapping out the existing weak non-LED bulbs with some high-intensity LEDs. I'm not worried about heat damage since the whole backing up process is 30 seconds. (I own a consulting company that specializes in simulation modeling and we have done thermal simulations on headlight assemblies...).
Nice for all the help,
Cheers,
G
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ml350 2014
Waiting to hear from someone with direct lens popping experience
Hi Dutch,
Great nickname....had a family member with that moniker.
Off on vacation until the 14th of January.
As for just going for it and popping the lens cover on the hatch door of my semi-new ML350 2014.....ugghhhh....I figure that with my luck I would crack the lens. I know...timid...scared...wimp.... Just so many bad experiences with popping interior and exterior components off...
Thanks for helping out,
Out-of-here,
Cheers,
G
Great nickname....had a family member with that moniker.
Off on vacation until the 14th of January.
As for just going for it and popping the lens cover on the hatch door of my semi-new ML350 2014.....ugghhhh....I figure that with my luck I would crack the lens. I know...timid...scared...wimp.... Just so many bad experiences with popping interior and exterior components off...
Thanks for helping out,
Out-of-here,
Cheers,
G
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2025 Panamera GTS
I hadnt tried it in this car but in all others it's easy. Then i saw the instructions for this one and its a pain. I wouldn't want to break clips in the interior panels. I wouldnt worry about the tail lenses those will just pop off. The access is the tedious part
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From: markham, ON, Canada
2014 ML 350 BT
I just read this on another forum. Does anybody know anything about it?
"Just got a new 2015 GL 550 fully loaded. Loved everything but the 360 degree camera at night. Without a nearby streetlight, the rear view monitor was worthless. I blamed the puny back up lights. Complained to the dealer service department, who offered to update the lighting software. I was doubtful software could make a difference, but I was wrong. The software update, now makes the night view 90% the brightness of the day view (which was always outstanding). A simple no cost solution. Why a new SUV did not come with the latest lighting software is beyond me, but it sure solved the problem. Happy in Oregon."
"Just got a new 2015 GL 550 fully loaded. Loved everything but the 360 degree camera at night. Without a nearby streetlight, the rear view monitor was worthless. I blamed the puny back up lights. Complained to the dealer service department, who offered to update the lighting software. I was doubtful software could make a difference, but I was wrong. The software update, now makes the night view 90% the brightness of the day view (which was always outstanding). A simple no cost solution. Why a new SUV did not come with the latest lighting software is beyond me, but it sure solved the problem. Happy in Oregon."
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From: Gresham, OR
2020 GLE 450
Talked to my dealer and was told a new wiring harness and receptacle is required making it quite a project. He did say there was some aftermarket folks out there that could do it but did not name any.
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I don't think we're talking the same thing. However, I'll find out about it tomorrow. I'm scheduled to have the software update done and will report back.
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18 E63s Wagon 15 GL63 (sold), 10 Turbo TT MT, A36 Bonanza, 20 JLU Rubicon
I believe the update came out in December...
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2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
Software Update
Had the camera software update done today. No hardware change - software only.
There is a very definite improvement to the night time backup camera. Still not as good as daylight, but a whole heckuva lot better than it was. It is now usable.
There is a very definite improvement to the night time backup camera. Still not as good as daylight, but a whole heckuva lot better than it was. It is now usable.
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From: markham, ON, Canada
2014 ML 350 BT
Thanks,
Sergio.
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2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
The SA at my dealer also had no clue, but the shop foreman did. The Bulletin # is: LI54.65-P-059114.
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2014 ML550
I've been a lurker here ever since I purchased my 2014 ML550 and I just wanted to thank DUTCH for that bulletin software update information. It absolutely works! My cameras at night were practically useless. Now the sensitivity appears to increase when my headlights click on, which it didn't do before. My dealership service department had no clue of course. So thanks again! 
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2015 ML350
We bought our new 2014 ML350 last December 2014. It was one of those things - great SUV with the elegance and quietness of a high-end sedan. Walked out of the floor room at $70k with about 8% off of list.
Anyway, the backup lights are insanely weak. I'm guessing that the bulbs are about 40 lumens each. I found some nice high-intensity LED lights that are around 400 lumens. The back up lights are located in the rear door or lift-hatch. Being somewhat of a klutz I'm a bit nervous with just popping off the lens cover since I figure I would just break the tabs and then be really screwed.
Given this background, I figure you guys might have some ideas about how to do this rudimentary simple task? I'm also prepared, since it is Mercedes, to hear "don't touch it - run to a certified mechanic!".
Thanks heaps and Happy New Year!
George
Anyway, the backup lights are insanely weak. I'm guessing that the bulbs are about 40 lumens each. I found some nice high-intensity LED lights that are around 400 lumens. The back up lights are located in the rear door or lift-hatch. Being somewhat of a klutz I'm a bit nervous with just popping off the lens cover since I figure I would just break the tabs and then be really screwed.
Given this background, I figure you guys might have some ideas about how to do this rudimentary simple task? I'm also prepared, since it is Mercedes, to hear "don't touch it - run to a certified mechanic!".
Thanks heaps and Happy New Year!
George
Agreed, I bought a 2015 ML350 a few months ago and the backup lights are dangerously dim. The wife agrees that it's quite dangerous for a big SUV to have such dim backup lights as well. I can't believe how this passed inspection at MB.
I changed my stock halogen headlight bulbs to PIAA H7's following the suggestion of another thread here. It improved the headlights a little bit. Still unfathomable to have such bad lighting overall on this beautiful SUV.
So, did anyone come up with a solution to change the backup light bulbs? What kind are they and can you recommend a certain light bulb? I don't have the backup camera option in my ML350, so the bulletin service is out of the question for me.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 714
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From: Los Angeles
2025 Panamera GTS
Agreed, I bought a 2015 ML350 a few months ago and the backup lights are dangerously dim. The wife agrees that it's quite dangerous for a big SUV to have such dim backup lights as well. I can't believe how this passed inspection at MB.
I changed my stock halogen headlight bulbs to PIAA H7's following the suggestion of another thread here. It improved the headlights a little bit. Still unfathomable to have such bad lighting overall on this beautiful SUV.
So, did anyone come up with a solution to change the backup light bulbs? What kind are they and can you recommend a certain light bulb? I don't have the backup camera option in my ML350, so the bulletin service is out of the question for me.
I changed my stock halogen headlight bulbs to PIAA H7's following the suggestion of another thread here. It improved the headlights a little bit. Still unfathomable to have such bad lighting overall on this beautiful SUV.
So, did anyone come up with a solution to change the backup light bulbs? What kind are they and can you recommend a certain light bulb? I don't have the backup camera option in my ML350, so the bulletin service is out of the question for me.
