Nice Ride

For anyone that has had the decadent packs installed, I highly recommend you have them removed immediately to prevent an extremely costly repair. Since 2015, I have had moisture issues in the headlights. No failures, just annoying moisture. The dealer installed the recommended solution from MB to install the decadent packs in a custom designed basket.

Here is the problem with this solution. The decadent will absorb the moisture, however, it will NOT properly release it to dry out. This in turn will cause a Honey Like Substance ( Melted decadent ) to leak out of the packs. It will then collect on the inside of the basket rib which allows the goo to make its way into the Headlamp Controller ( one of two ) the basket is actually installed right on top of the controller. The rear of the controller has NO gasket at all to prevent the goo from getting in causing total failure of the controller, headlamp failure and safety system items shutting down. This has happen 2 times to me in 4 years. I sat with the shop Forman and a senior tech, we all looked at the design and agreed that the failures are absolutely from the decadent.

I have had 4 Headlamp assemblies replaced and 3 controllers over a period of 6 years. The cost if out of pocket will be upwards of 7K for each repair. NOTE: I have Night Vision so the headlamp has a little extra going on. Inside the headlamp are factory cooling fans, the only purpose is to keep the 2 Control assemblies cool.

I had the opportunity to be in the shop and look closely at the assembly with the Forman.

The solution was to NOT install new decadent packs and to seal around the Controller assembly with silicone and around the plug assembly to prevent any infiltration of any liquids.

It is not IF the packs will fail its WHEN.
Climate, Car Washing, etc. will impact how quickly this will occur. The Solution IS worse than the problem.
Look at your own packs, ask to see the pack when they check them. Look for Goo....

Good Luck to anyone with this problem. Moisture wins in my case.

Tom in Austin

Those are dessicant packs ... decadent describes people like us who drive around in $100K+ cars ...

MBNUT1

They are desiccant.

RJC

Living on both coasts of humid S Florida we use DampRid self contained bags in all of our closets even though they are fully air conditioned, and when the bags get close to the end the granules turn the color you’re describing. Beware that stuff is also highly corrosive.

SmokinJoe

How hard are they to replace the desiccant?
It is likely made predominantly with calcium chloride, cheap, effective, used in Damp-Rid.
If easy to get to I'd refresh them as needed.

RJC

It’s not so easy, if I remember correctly you need to remove the headlight assembly and go from there

MBS63AMG

This should be considered a factory recall.

sclass350d

Its not so difficult, I can replace the gel packs in both headlights in 30 mins or so without removing either headlight, instead the coolant bottle and window washer need to moved aside to gain access. Like the OP I too have sealed the control units with a high quality silicone, this was done over 12 months ago and I've had no issue since.

I now pick up a new set of gelpacks every time I get the car serviced in my MB dealership and replace them myself in both headlights every 12 months. Speaking of which I'll be doing it again in the next few weeks.

I do it at the start of winter here in the UK when the outside temperatures start to drop as this was previously the time of year I encountered this issue many times

I've tried other solutions as mentioned in the below thread but nothing worked for me, you will find more details on this thread how I replace them if you are interested.

https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ml#post8220075

RJC

Lovely, dealer told me at the time the lights have to come out, glad they don’t but most S owners won’t be removing coolant tanks etc when need to change these things out. I think MBs solution to the condensation issue is poor.

Nice Ride

Lol... Don't you just love spell check... See what happens when you rely on technology....

sclass350d

Just to clarify for others neither the coolant tank or windshield water bottle bottle don't need to be drained or removed at all, instead you unscrew the retaining screws and lift them to one side to allow for access to the upper control unit screws.

RJC

Good to know but honestly screwdriver use with most S class drivers especially on their new/er cars is just not happening lol

BenzV12

That's a good point otherwise it would screw the car's headlamps for good