S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600

Anyone got a source for taillight bulbs?

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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 02:37 PM
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Anyone got a source for taillight bulbs?

My rear fog light is out. While I'm in there, I'd like to replace the other two (backup and turn signal) as well.

I tried 3 different auto parts stores with no luck. Apparently, the only one available as a bulb-only from the dealership is the clear backup light. The rest only come attached to the plate ($70+).

The part numbers in the photos are Phillips (light bulb company) part numbers.



W221 Taillight board

W221 Rear fog light

W221 Backup light

W221 Turn signal

I'm not interested in switching to LED. I just want to replace all of the above with new ones.
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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 03:04 PM
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What's a rear fog light?

I think something might be wonky with your part numbers. Old part numbers for Philips maybe? Luckily, the wattage is printed right there on the bulbs.

Turn Signal - PHILIPS 12271NA
Reverse Lamp - PHILIPS 12184

I can only find the brake lamp on eBay for some reason. Maybe they don't go out very often? PH19W was getting results. It's a module instead of just a bulb.
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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 03:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Shadly1
What's a rear fog light?
If you have a light switch with this second fog light you can do it.
  • Turn on the lights (not auto).
  • Pull towards you one click for the front fog lights.
  • Pull towards you a second click for the rear fog lights.


Bright red lights are here. They are as bright as brake lights and are always on. They are there to keep cars from running up on you in very foggy weather.




This is a very popular option on German cars. I've seen them on BMWs, Audis, and even VWs. That being said, not all W221s have this feature.


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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 03:26 PM
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lol here is a 3rd switch configuration with an example of how the switch works and what it activates:


You'll notice that his switch only activates a single light. I have rear fog light bulbs on both left and right sides of my US spec car...but maybe only the left is programmed to illuminate? It's the right side that will not illuminate, even though there is a bulb in the assembly. Hmmm....I just realized that I don't have any "bulb out" codes. So, maybe it's working as designed?? But, why is the bulb there? Questions...
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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 03:32 PM
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Correct bulbs are soldered into sockets except for backup bulb as far as MB is concerned you need to replace mount assembly. Not too difficult to unsolder the old bulb and solder the new one in contact AZV Optics (MBW sponsor) to see if they can assist with bulb: aznoptics@gmail.com



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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 03:37 PM
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Those are parking lamps. You use them for visibility when you have to parallel park your car on narrow streets. They're supposed to be only on the driver's side.
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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by konigstiger
Correct bulbs are soldered into sockets except for backup bulb as far as MB is concerned you need to replace mount assembly. Not too difficult to unsolder the old bulb and solder the new one in contact AZV Optics (MBW sponsor) to see if they can assist with bulb: aznoptics@gmail.com

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Shadly1
Those are parking lamps. You use them for visibility when you have to parallel park your car on narrow streets. They're supposed to be only on the driver's side.
No. I'm familiar with the parking lights. I'm referring to rear fog lights (see the video I posted above).

For Parking Lights, you twist the knob to the left (past O) one or two clicks. They activate the front and rear "corner lights" (I don't know the proper term. But the lights that are on at night along with your headlights).

It's the lower left or right of the rear:





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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Shadly1
Those are parking lamps. You use them for visibility when you have to parallel park your car on narrow streets. They're supposed to be only on the driver's side.
Here are the parking lamps...note how they are separate from the fog lights:
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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 04:05 PM
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Yeah, you're right. I have that too. I have never had a need to use such a thing. No fog in the Phoenix area and every street and highway is lit up like daytime at all hours.
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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Shadly1
Yeah, you're right. I have that too. I have never had a need to use such a thing. No fog in the Phoenix area and every street and highway is lit up like daytime at all hours.
Yeah, it'll be there when you need it. I've been in some really tense situations where I've been caught in unexpected fog and worried about people running into me.

There have been several pileups on the interstate due to fog. I wish these were mandatory equipment on all vehicles. It's such an easy add-on with a great benefit.
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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 04:45 PM
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I did check them and only the left one lit up when I pulled it out 2 clicks.
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Old Feb 28, 2023 | 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Shadly1
I did check them and only the left one lit up when I pulled it out 2 clicks.
Interesting.

Maybe for US-spec cars it's only one light. I had an Audi A8 that was also only one light.

It's throwing me off that the other bulb is indeed in the assembly (that's it in the pic above), but it's not wired/coded to work.

OK. Problem solved! I don't need a new bulb!

Thanks, @Shadly1 !
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Old Mar 1, 2023 | 09:51 AM
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Old Mar 1, 2023 | 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by konigstiger

"(driver's side only)"!! Mystery solved!

This is really cool! How long did it take you to make that? 😄

Just kidding. Yeah, it would have been easier for me to post the relevant pages from the Operator's Manual...doh!

Thanks for posting this!
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Old Mar 1, 2023 | 09:58 AM
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And it would have saved me headache by referring to it before I pulled my taillights apart and posted here.

Rule #1: RTFM

(Read The Freaking Manual)
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Old Mar 1, 2023 | 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by CQHall
My rear fog light is out. While I'm in there, I'd like to replace the other two (backup and turn signal) as well.

I tried 3 different auto parts stores with no luck. Apparently, the only one available as a bulb-only from the dealership is the clear backup light. The rest only come attached to the plate ($70+).

The part numbers in the photos are Phillips (light bulb company) part numbers.



W221 Taillight board

W221 Rear fog light

W221 Backup light

W221 Turn signal

I'm not interested in switching to LED. I just want to replace all of the above with new ones.
Rock Auto has turn signal and backup. Probably has rear fog also, but I didn't take the time to match up the numbers.
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Old Mar 1, 2023 | 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Shadly1
What's a rear fog light?
Originally Posted by CQHall
I'm referring to rear fog lights

Bright red lights are here. They are as bright as brake lights and are always on. They are there to keep cars from running up on you in very foggy weather.
high intensity rear lights - they are in fact significantly brighter than a brake light in the tail light cluster
dangerous and stupid European safety idea way back in the early 1980's where headlamps were yellow glow worms, cars had no brakes and no grip and the tail lights on most cars were smaller and dimer than a 1960's bicycle dynamo light

there are used by most morons at the slightest sign of inclement weather - when the legal use is only if visibility in FOG is below 100m. Used at night or in heavy rain basically you can't see ANYTHING in heavy traffic on motorways and they are the cause of many multiple car pileups
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Old Mar 1, 2023 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Shadly1
What's a rear fog light?
Learn about rear fog lights here

http://www.dastern.torque.net/Rearfogs/Rearfogs.html
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