SLK/R170: About time, I got around to connecting up my other rear fog light.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,537
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
About time, I got around to connecting up my other rear fog light.
I added the wire and the bulb socket to the other side tail light as well as installing lower wattage bulbs. Now I can run with them on and people will not think that I have a brake light stuck on or out on one side. Mercedes just leaves the wire out on the other side and there is a cap on the socket in the taillight.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,537
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
Top pin needs to be added and run over to the same position on the other side.
Light socket needs to be added after the plastic blank is removed from the hole for the bulb.
Install 5W bulbs in place of the 21W used for the rear fog light.
Light socket needs to be added after the plastic blank is removed from the hole for the bulb.
Install 5W bulbs in place of the 21W used for the rear fog light.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 31
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From: USA
1999 SLK230 Kompressor
E-Klasse, what pin/wire did you have to add/run over to the same position? I am looking at my grid and it looks like the grids are identical on both housings. There are 6 pins in the black adapter your red arrow is pointing to in the attached picture. What am I missing? I thought it was a matter of plug & play...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
There will be a pin missing in the very top position of the connector that plugs in to the taillight and not on the taillight. Add the pin and run a wire to the same position on the drivers side. The sockets that Mercedes use are made by AMP. You can get one from some other connector on the car or at the dealership.
Last edited by E-Klasse; Feb 12, 2007 at 11:13 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,537
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
You can get the socket from the dealership or salvage yard. The part number is on the back of the one you have. I had an extra set of tail lights so I just used one that I had. The pin that you have to add is common to most of the connectors on the car. That too can come from the dealership or stripped out of another connector. I got one at a salvage yard and took a pin out and just added wire from the hardware store. I picked up some 5W bulbs that have the same base to fit in the socket as the original bulb. I ran the wire from side to side under the plastic trunk lid sill.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,537
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
I don't have any photos but the easy way to wire them together is to look at the socket on the right tail light. Find the pin that is left out. Install a pin in the socket that is connected to about 5 feet of wire. Run that wire behind the carpet and under the plastic cover along the sill of the trunk to get to the other side. Now count over the same number of spaces where the empty hole was on the other socket and push the wire in to make contact with the connector. Test by installing the bulb in the empty hole and turn on the rear fog lights. You can secure the wire or splice in to the wire once you know it is the correct one. I would recommend installing the 5W bulbs in place of the 21W original one so that the brightness matches the running lights and not the brake lights.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2007
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SLK32
You guys are kidding, right? I'm hoping you don't drive around with your "fog lights" on all the time. It's poor form, just like running around with the beams on high.
I haven't checked the manual, but I consider that light to be an extra backup light, for reversing in particularly dark areas.
I haven't checked the manual, but I consider that light to be an extra backup light, for reversing in particularly dark areas.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19
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From: Northern Virginia
2007 SLK 280
Similar question to immediately-preceding post: why? I had an R170 and now have an R171 and I still don't know what purpose a rear fog light serves. All perimeter lights must be on before any of the fogs can be activated anyway, so conspicuity isn't the issue. I used the fogs as daylight running lights so I don't disappear to traffic, but someone please explain the purpose of the rear fog light to me. Thanks.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Long Island, NY
Any AMG Thats Around..
Similar question to immediately-preceding post: why? I had an R170 and now have an R171 and I still don't know what purpose a rear fog light serves. All perimeter lights must be on before any of the fogs can be activated anyway, so conspicuity isn't the issue. I used the fogs as daylight running lights so I don't disappear to traffic, but someone please explain the purpose of the rear fog light to me. Thanks.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 2
From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
You guys are kidding, right? I'm hoping you don't drive around with your "fog lights" on all the time. It's poor form, just like running around with the beams on high.
I haven't checked the manual, but I consider that light to be an extra backup light, for reversing in particularly dark areas.
I haven't checked the manual, but I consider that light to be an extra backup light, for reversing in particularly dark areas.
The reverse fog light has no use for me. I live in the southwest where we don't get fog. The idea for the added light was to be seen on the drivers side in extreme fog.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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2011 E350 4 matic Wagon
I never thought to do this as I have had MB cars since 1987 and I love the expression on peoples faces when they tell me I have a burnt out light or a brake light stuck on. They seem surprised to consider that if fog lamps are necessary for improved vision looking forward that maybe it would be good to have a brighter light on in the rear as well. I will have to consider doing this.
