Problem with light in door handle recess-help!
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 627
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From: The Earth
Mercedes all the way!
Problem with light in door handle recess-help!
hi everyone, i have a 2004 S350 in the far east. recently there's been an annoying problem with the little interior light in the door-handle recess. the one on the right rear keeps turning itself on and off repeatedly--it seems like some connection is loose. we don't have a real merc dealer here and the general mechanics can't find whats wrong. has anyone else got this problem? and how did you solve it? any help is very, very much appreciated. thanks! 
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Germany
'00 S320 W220, '98 A160 W168/ sold in 2005 '86 260 E W124 '90 260E W124
I dont think it's a fiber optic but a small SMD-LED, like the lighting in the foot wells. To get to it you need to take the upper part of the door panel off.
Pry off the wood carefully, open the 4-5 screws you find behind the wood, take out the little cover under the upper part of the door handle, another screw appears, then you pull off the plastic part including the seat memory thingy. Then you should have access to the recessed LED or what ever it is.
Pry off the wood carefully, open the 4-5 screws you find behind the wood, take out the little cover under the upper part of the door handle, another screw appears, then you pull off the plastic part including the seat memory thingy. Then you should have access to the recessed LED or what ever it is.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 45
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From: Eagles Mere, PA
2005 S500 4MATIC
Warranty?
In your opinion, if the LED in the rear interior door handle burns out would that be considered a warranty item or normal bulb wear? My S500 is still under factory warranty. I would prefer if the dealer made the repair?
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Joined: Jul 2006
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
I replaced mine.. it was 8.00 at the dealer. its not a light, but a small led module that is housed with a resisitor and a light pipe. it connects to the DCM.
I'm thinking it should be warranty if your car is covered, but mine wasn't. ITs a quick and easy fix.
I'm thinking it should be warranty if your car is covered, but mine wasn't. ITs a quick and easy fix.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Houston, TX
2015 E250D
There is a surface mounted LED with resistor to drop voltage. The light passes through a fiber optic tube and lights the interior of the handle. This is what all the w220 from 2003-2006 got. Earlier cars has a different lught (i think was a bulb)
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Eagles Mere, PA
2005 S500 4MATIC
Tips on removing the wood
Do you have any tips on removing the wood. I'm concerned that I'll crack it.
I dont think it's a fiber optic but a small SMD-LED, like the lighting in the foot wells. To get to it you need to take the upper part of the door panel off.
Pry off the wood carefully, open the 4-5 screws you find behind the wood, take out the little cover under the upper part of the door handle, another screw appears, then you pull off the plastic part including the seat memory thingy. Then you should have access to the recessed LED or what ever it is.
Pry off the wood carefully, open the 4-5 screws you find behind the wood, take out the little cover under the upper part of the door handle, another screw appears, then you pull off the plastic part including the seat memory thingy. Then you should have access to the recessed LED or what ever it is.
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Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, Tx
2008 S550 designo
My rear passenger light is out as well. I bought a new one at the dealer ($15)and attempted to remove the door panel. I managed to get most of it apart, but something at the top was holding it too tightly to get in there and do anything. I have yet to see a good write-up on door panel removal and I have door shades that just complicate things. I decided to stop before breaking things and will wait until I take it to the mechanic for service to have it replaced.
From the shape of the module, I believe the entire door panel needs to be rmoved to gain access. The main body of the module goes behind the door handle with the fiber part wrapping around the back of the handle to the front.
trey
From the shape of the module, I believe the entire door panel needs to be rmoved to gain access. The main body of the module goes behind the door handle with the fiber part wrapping around the back of the handle to the front.
trey
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,578
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
My rear passenger light is out as well. I bought a new one at the dealer ($15)and attempted to remove the door panel. I managed to get most of it apart, but something at the top was holding it too tightly to get in there and do anything. I have yet to see a good write-up on door panel removal and I have door shades that just complicate things. I decided to stop before breaking things and will wait until I take it to the mechanic for service to have it replaced.
From the shape of the module, I believe the entire door panel needs to be rmoved to gain access. The main body of the module goes behind the door handle with the fiber part wrapping around the back of the handle to the front.
trey
From the shape of the module, I believe the entire door panel needs to be rmoved to gain access. The main body of the module goes behind the door handle with the fiber part wrapping around the back of the handle to the front.
trey
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,578
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
IF you remove the wood trim, then remove the handle insert, you can see the module clips, they may be covered with some clear glue looking material You just push those tabs back and it frees the module.. If i get time today I will take mine apart and send you pics of how to do it.. Its not as hard as it looks...
Its the same way you get to the DCM except that doesn't get removed.
I'll post a DIY Later today. Been away to Germany the past 10 days so I have to cut my grass so I can see my house from the street again..
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, Tx
2008 S550 designo
I should clarify,, yes have to pull the door panel out slightly, but not remove it.
IF you remove the wood trim, then remove the handle insert, you can see the module clips, they may be covered with some clear glue looking material You just push those tabs back and it frees the module.. If i get time today I will take mine apart and send you pics of how to do it.. Its not as hard as it looks...
Its the same way you get to the DCM except that doesn't get removed.
I'll post a DIY Later today. Been away to Germany the past 10 days so I have to cut my grass so I can see my house from the street again..
IF you remove the wood trim, then remove the handle insert, you can see the module clips, they may be covered with some clear glue looking material You just push those tabs back and it frees the module.. If i get time today I will take mine apart and send you pics of how to do it.. Its not as hard as it looks...
Its the same way you get to the DCM except that doesn't get removed.
I'll post a DIY Later today. Been away to Germany the past 10 days so I have to cut my grass so I can see my house from the street again..
Thanks,
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Can anyone shoot me a part number for one of these lights?
One of the lights took a dive on me, and the only part I found 220 820 04 21 (or 03 21 depending on side) are listed as being $30 retail price.
Thanks
One of the lights took a dive on me, and the only part I found 220 820 04 21 (or 03 21 depending on side) are listed as being $30 retail price.
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
YOu found them for 17 bucks at parts. com That's good I'm going t look there also.
You may want to get some door new clips for the slim door trim as they will likely be toast when you remove the trim. those trim peices can only be removed a couple of times befor the clips have to be replaced.
They are a little over 2bucks a peice at the dealer. I think there are 4 of them total per trim peice. Sorry I don't have the number I just tossed it the other day and forgot to record it.
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 115
Likes: 13
From: Maryland
S550 4-matic
My door handle LED on the drivers side just starting turning off and then on again every couple of minutes. From the earlier post on this topic is the LED about to go out and will replacing it solve the problem. Also any DIY threads with pic's on how to remove the upper door panel.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 508
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From: california high desert
2003 S500, 03 C240, 03 E320, 03 tahoe
im not convinced it is the led
both our front doors do this intermittently.for the past two years,so it cant be the led.is the light on at all times that the ignition is on or is their a circuit/sensor that switches it on when it is dark?
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 115
Likes: 13
From: Maryland
S550 4-matic
if i'm not mistaken the light comes on when the doors are locked and unlocked as well as when you have your lights on in the evening. i'm gonna try and take the upper panel off to get to the unit if anyone has any pic's of how to take the panel off would be appreciated.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 26
From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
You will have to remove the entire panel, and you should use a plastic or nylon panel removal tool to avoid pulling the anchors out of the panel and damaging it.
Unfortunately I do not have panel removal bookmarked to give you a link, but it has been written up either here or on BenzWorld - a search on "door panel removal" will probably get it for you.
Unfortunately I do not have panel removal bookmarked to give you a link, but it has been written up either here or on BenzWorld - a search on "door panel removal" will probably get it for you.
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 115
Likes: 13
From: Maryland
S550 4-matic
ok so the earlier post of having to remove the upper wood panel to get to the LED is incorrect or is it just easier to remove the whole door panel. i don't want to damage the door nor get involved with the removal and such with the SRS (airbag) on the door.
Newbie
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2000 s430 mercedes
hi everyone, i have a 2004 S350 in the far east. recently there's been an annoying problem with the little interior light in the door-handle recess. the one on the right rear keeps turning itself on and off repeatedly--it seems like some connection is loose. we don't have a real merc dealer here and the general mechanics can't find whats wrong. has anyone else got this problem? and how did you solve it? any help is very, very much appreciated. thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,474
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
I just searched for orange LEDs, then bought several, as they were very cheap. I took the light assembly out and replaced the LED. Just make sure that you have the polarity correct before you put it back in the door...
