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replaced the tail lights on my 2003 to to brand new 2007 tail lights. Not even a week later and 1 rain storm, the inside of the tail lights are filled with condensation. This is the same thing that happened before that lead to my tail lights LED's all eventually burning out
The seal around the tail lights look good. What am I missing?
Yes the seal is not good. You need to return them. If you cannot return them if possible drill one or two very small holes at the bottom of the tail light where water cannot enter but air can change in the tail light and the condensation will evaporate on a dry hot day. I have done this on other cars
replaced the tail lights on my 2003 to to brand new 2007 tail lights. Not even a week later and 1 rain storm, the inside of the tail lights are filled with condensation. This is the same thing that happened before that lead to my tail lights LED's all eventually burning out
The seal around the tail lights look good. What am I missing?
Gotta put a bead of silicone around where the plastic housing meets the lens, air it out and dry it up first then put some silicone around it and should be okay. I think you have an issue with your foam tape not sealing against the back of it as well, check that foam piece that goes around.
Gotta put a bead of silicone around where the plastic housing meets the lens, air it out and dry it up first then put some silicone around it and should be okay. I think you have an issue with your foam tape not sealing against the back of it as well, check that foam piece that goes around.
I was going to seal the foam tape with silicone as well. Or at least trying to seal the foam tape with super glue or something.
Originally Posted by Gene Fiorot
Yes the seal is not good. You need to return them. If you cannot return them if possible drill one or two very small holes at the bottom of the tail light where water cannot enter but air can change in the tail light and the condensation will evaporate on a dry hot day. I have done this on other cars
To late to return. I’ll see if I can dry it up when I take the tail light out to seal it
Yes the seal is not good. You need to return them. If you cannot return them if possible drill one or two very small holes at the bottom of the tail light where water cannot enter but air can change in the tail light and the condensation will evaporate on a dry hot day. I have done this on other cars
here is my old taillight. Where do I drill these small holes?
I am sorry I only told you a fix that worked in the past for me I cannot tell you where to drill the holes. I have never had the tail light in my hands. I only know if you let the air change the condensation will evaporate. As far as my experience is you can seal all you want but you have to get the water out of the tail light maybe with a hair dryer with some small holes. If you think your effort to seal the entire light will work fine. if it does you can always seal the holes you drilled. as per the picture take out the leds and dry it and maybe use a desiccant to absorb water as a temporary fix.
Last edited by Gene Fiorot; Aug 4, 2020 at 10:06 PM.
I am sorry I only told you a fix that worked in the past for me I cannot tell you where to drill the holes. I have never had the tail light in my hands. I only know if you let the air change the condensation will evaporate. As far as my experience is you can seal all you want but you have to get the water out of the tail light maybe with a hair dryer with some small holes. If you think your effort to seal the entire light will work fine. if it does you can always seal the holes you drilled. as per the picture take out the leds and dry it and maybe use a desiccant to absorb water as a temporary fix.
So I took the tail lights out last night and they were filled with water. I took the bulbs out and the water came rushing out the holes. The bottom lens where the LED's are had the most water and when I turned it upside down and around, the water came thru the LED's area where the circuit boards sit. At this point, I'm sure water on the boards and other electrical parts fried something- i have to reconnect to find out. Sent 2 emails to the Mercedes parts center and left a VM and still no response. I'll give them until Friday until i dispute the charge on my credit card and get ALL my money back- *******s
I put the old tail lights back in for now BUT did seal them with silicone before installing them. We are supposed to get rain for the next 2-3 days so that will let me know if the silicone seal worked. If they send me new ones I will seal them before installing
I'll keep everyone posted
Update- received an email from the parts center and they said its under warranty. I can go to my closest dealer to have them inspected and they will replace under warranty as long as it is a manufacturer defect
Last edited by imtheking; Aug 6, 2020 at 11:52 AM.
So I took the tail lights out for a second time, dry them out and put silicone seal all around where the lens meets the plastic. I even put some putty all around where the foam meets the headlight and two days ago once again I noticed condensation in the right tail light. I don’t think I could’ve sealed this thing any better.
This time I took it to the dealership and they said that they need to diagnose where the leak is coming from and they want to charge me $150 to do so. They said water in the tail lights is a symptom and the tail lights themselves are not the cause so they don’t want to replace the tail light under the warranty because they think the issue will just return. I didn’t say anything but I agree with them. I don’t think the issue is the tail light because I was having the same issue before I even purchased these new ones. My right tail light was filled with water and condensation
Is there anything on the right side of the vehicle near the tail light where water could potential get in? Is there some type of drain tube hidden somewhere that might be causing the water to leak into the tail light? When I originally installed these I took the hose and let water run down the side of the car with the trunk closed. I sat there for at least 15/20 minutes spraying that tail light down and the entire trunk down the seals and no water got in the tail light. A week later I now have condensation in the tail light.
I don’t know what to do anymore at this point. I wouldn’t care as much but there’s a battery and I believe a rear Sam located near this tail light that could lead to other major issues which is why I need to figure out where the hell this leak is coming from
can someone clue me in and tell me where else I can look and troubleshoot because I just don’t know. The trunk is dry and I’ve looked all around and see no water whatsoever. When I pull the tail light out there’s water on the connectors and there’s even water on the black adapter that connects to the tail light.
I saw on YouTube where someone said put some seal around the lightbulb connectors but I just don’t understand why I have to go to this extreme with brand new tail lights
"This time I took it to the dealership and they said that they need to diagnose where the leak is coming from and they want to charge me $150 to do so. They said water in the tail lights is a symptom and the tail lights themselves are not the cause so they don’t want to replace the tail light under the warranty because they think the issue will just return." WTF 150 dollars to do WHAT???? Dude you need a NYC adjustment or you need some Big Uncles to visit the dealer with you. What nonsense the water entering the tail light needs a 150 dollar inspection. Dude they don't want to do the work and they don't want to stand by the parts. Time to reach out to the division level.
"This time I took it to the dealership and they said that they need to diagnose where the leak is coming from and they want to charge me $150 to do so. They said water in the tail lights is a symptom and the tail lights themselves are not the cause so they don’t want to replace the tail light under the warranty because they think the issue will just return." WTF 150 dollars to do WHAT???? Dude you need a NYC adjustment or you need some Big Uncles to visit the dealer with you. What nonsense the water entering the tail light needs a 150 dollar inspection. Dude they don't want to do the work and they don't want to stand by the parts. Time to reach out to the division level.
I did one better. I disputed the charge on my credit card and got a $500 “refund”.
So the original dealer in Chicago is either going to send me a new pair, tell me to send these back or I just ended up with some free tail lights. I’m not playing this game anymore.
no retailer should be telling someone to go through warranty for a defective product they’ve owned for less than 30 days.
I did one better. I disputed the charge on my credit card and got a $500 “refund”.
So the original dealer in Chicago is either going to send me a new pair, tell me to send these back or I just ended up with some free tail lights. I’m not playing this game anymore.
no retailer should be telling someone to go through warranty for a defective product they’ve owned for less than 30 days.
maybe- but the issue remains. Like I said the condensation issue has been around before I even bought these. Probably the main reason why the LEDs burned out in my original tail light
The tail lights are sealed, correct? If yes then the problem is in the lights, not the car. There must be a breach or they would not condensate. I have also gone the route Gene detailed, drilling a hole at the bottom inside of the light. Usually the seal breaks down around the edges and you get a breach.
The tail lights are sealed, correct? If yes then the problem is in the lights, not the car. There must be a breach or they would not condensate. I have also gone the route Gene detailed, drilling a hole at the bottom inside of the light. Usually the seal breaks down around the edges and you get a breach.
I took them out today and drained the water. The middle and bottom of the tail light were filled with water.
So I didn’t use silicone to seal the edges where the plastic meets the lens- I used gorilla tape.
I added some more putty around the foam seal and right on top of the tail light on each side where the water runs down. I also put some around the openings of the car where the headlight meets/screws into the car.
The interior of the car was completely dry. I ripped out as much carpet as I could and there was no sign of water so the water is getting directly into the tail light- a breach somewhere like you said. I just don’t know what to seal anymore. Or maybe I’m just using the wrong material- Like gorilla tape and putty. The only reason I avoided the silicone seal was because I was afraid the dealership would void the warranty. Tape and putty would be easy to remove and clean up
This is insane. I have now removed and drained those tail light like 4 times- in 90 degree weather. Ugh
Does anyone know what exactly this is called or referred to as?
I had water condensation in my tail light. When I removed it to find the compromised area I found that one of these were missing. MB said in order to get this piece I’d have to purchase an entire tail light.. lol. Thanks in advance!!
I had water condensation in my tail light. When I removed it to find the compromised area I found that one of these were missing. MB said in order to get this piece I’d have to purchase an entire tail light.. lol. Thanks in advance!!
I bought brand new SL tail lights and they continue to fill with water. I drilled 3 holes under the tail light to at least have a place for the water to escape instead of having it fill up. At this point I give up. My mechanic said the car may have had frame damage and the lights are not sitting flush. He made some modifications and still water getting in.
What model vehicle is that tail light for because my SL tail light does not have that piece.....
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Your Majesty, I had one tail light assembly off to replace a few leds and I didn't come across the slighted bit of moisture. I regularly wash the car with a hi pressure hose, with caution and enough distance of course. I wonder if the body of your car is the culprit here. Two sets of lights, four assemblies that is, gathering water or moisture, and lots of it? There's got te be something structurally wrong there. Not helpful. I know...
Your Majesty, I had one tail light assembly off to replace a few leds and I didn't come across the slighted bit of moisture. I regularly wash the car with a hi pressure hose, with caution and enough distance of course. I wonder if the body of your car is the culprit here. Two sets of lights, four assemblies that is, gathering water or moisture, and lots of it? There's got te be something structurally wrong there. Not helpful. I know...
Yea- no idea. It was happening with the original tail lights to. I'm not sure what to look for. There's no water in the trunk at all. Nothing is wet. We even added extra seal around the tail light and water still got in somehow.
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