Low Beam, R...check light
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 436
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Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
Low Beam, R...check light
My car has been at the indy for 3 days now and they're having a hard time trying to figure out why the right headlight flashes, doesn't turn on etc....
They have replaced the bulb, ballast/igniter and even hooked up a spare headlight off another W220 and the light still doesn't work properly. Either doesn't turn on or flashes a few times and turns off
He looked at the SAM and said they look new. Replacing the SAM may be the next step but if it was the SAM, wouldn't the car have multiple electrical issues since the SAM controls many components?
They have replaced the bulb, ballast/igniter and even hooked up a spare headlight off another W220 and the light still doesn't work properly. Either doesn't turn on or flashes a few times and turns off
He looked at the SAM and said they look new. Replacing the SAM may be the next step but if it was the SAM, wouldn't the car have multiple electrical issues since the SAM controls many components?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 436
Likes: 79
Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
Yes. They called yesterday and said the diagnostic is saying there's an issue with the SAM. No codes were coming up a few days ago.
I remember posting on here about all the weird electrical issues I was having a few weeks ago. (Instrument cluster changing settings on its own, sunroof stopped working etc)
We found a couple used SAM's for $75-$100 so hopefully this does the trick
I'll keep you guys posted
I remember posting on here about all the weird electrical issues I was having a few weeks ago. (Instrument cluster changing settings on its own, sunroof stopped working etc)
We found a couple used SAM's for $75-$100 so hopefully this does the trick
I'll keep you guys posted
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 436
Likes: 79
Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
Update- I took the car from the indy mechanic (he had it for 4 days) and took it to another Indy. He was having a difficult time figuring out my issue and I decided to take it from him before he destroys something else. (ok shop, just kinda low budget).
I took it to a reputable indy and he just called me and said the module has never been changed. The cost for the module new is $1200. He said he can get used headlight with the module built in for $600
Another Update- I decided to go up there to see what he was talking about. The ballast/part his computer was pulling up was the incorrect part for my 2002 S500. I called the dealer in front of him and got part number 2208208326 which is $700 new and $50 used on Ebay. And he was going to charge me $600 for a new headlight with the ballast already attached. Good thing I know cars. I ordered the part off Ebay and will update you guys once he installs it
I took it to a reputable indy and he just called me and said the module has never been changed. The cost for the module new is $1200. He said he can get used headlight with the module built in for $600
Another Update- I decided to go up there to see what he was talking about. The ballast/part his computer was pulling up was the incorrect part for my 2002 S500. I called the dealer in front of him and got part number 2208208326 which is $700 new and $50 used on Ebay. And he was going to charge me $600 for a new headlight with the ballast already attached. Good thing I know cars. I ordered the part off Ebay and will update you guys once he installs it
Last edited by imtheking; Apr 11, 2018 at 01:12 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 436
Likes: 79
Former R230, W220 and W221 owner
BUMP
So after replacing the ballast, the headlight is back to saying "Check Low Beam R" 2 months later. I once again ordered a used ballast (2 of them in case left side goes bad) and both ballasts didn't work; still getting check light error
I took it to the dealer and they said the ballast needs to be changed and that I should replace it with a NEW part and not used. I took this same ballast and put it on the left side and no errors.
I'm starting to think SAM but the benz diagnostic didn't return any codes for SAM
I'm out of ideas. I've replaced every part to get that damn headlight working and even went to 2 reputable shops and they all say ballast.
Yesterday the headlight gave no errors, today it popped up with errors. I'm confused
Help?
So after replacing the ballast, the headlight is back to saying "Check Low Beam R" 2 months later. I once again ordered a used ballast (2 of them in case left side goes bad) and both ballasts didn't work; still getting check light error
I took it to the dealer and they said the ballast needs to be changed and that I should replace it with a NEW part and not used. I took this same ballast and put it on the left side and no errors.
I'm starting to think SAM but the benz diagnostic didn't return any codes for SAM
I'm out of ideas. I've replaced every part to get that damn headlight working and even went to 2 reputable shops and they all say ballast.
Yesterday the headlight gave no errors, today it popped up with errors. I'm confused
Help?
