Finally, after having the clear side markers sit in my garage for 6 months, finally got around to putting these babies into the car.
Thanks to others on the forum for directions. I just wanted to add some pictures since I couldn't find any good pictures of the actual change and some of the problems I encountered.
Tools Needed, needle nose pliers, a plastic trim removal tool (got from Amazon), clear side markers, chrom yellow bulbs (use your own choice here, wife is picky, wants yellow lights so she stays "legal", I would have gone with clear white...
1. pop the pins out from the clip screws from the wheel well covers. Will need to turn wheel all the way to the right (for left wheel) and the left (for the right wheel). See picture for location of clips. Pull the center pin, not the wider round lip of the clip. Remove pin first then pull the clip out.
2. pull the cover off from the bottom, push the cavities in the wheel well cover away from fender and you should be able to get enough space to slide your arm in. (see Pic 3)
3. the clear side marker bought off Ebay, the black trim goes inside the fender and the clear part clips in from the outside. I left the original MB black trims inside and just clipped the clear piece in from the outside. (pics 4 and 5)
Removing the old yellow marker was a PAIN, the clips on the back in are TIGHT! I used the needle nosed plier to crimp it as tight as possible and pushed from the inside with one hand and pulled with the other hand from the outside. I didn't use trim tool for this since I didn't want to scratch anything on the outside. If somebody has a better way of getting these clips to release, please share! The original bulbs are clear/yellow, probably around 2500K, you can use a blue tinted bulb for white light or just leave the bulb in if you don't care about the yellowish hue of the light through your new clear markers. I chose the chrome coated orange light to stay "legal" for my wife's peace of mind. The blue coated light shown in the pic would have been my personal choice.
4. Twist lock the light socket with your bulb of choice back into the clear marker. I should have tried LED but forgot, and no, not pulling it off again. If somebody has an LED that works on this model, please share as well. I have an LED bulb on my 2004SL's front side marker, it blinks then goes out. Needs resister.
Once the bulb is twisted in, simply match up the tabs in the fron end and then push the black bracket from the inside and the clear marker from outside and clip the clips back in.
Test your light bulbs before you do this, hate to have to release the clips again... my finger tips still hurt from all the squeezing!
5. Replace the wheel well clips and pins.

The right side was pretty much the same except that the sapce inside the fender was quite a bit tighter due to extra radiator piece in that area in the E63. Not sure if that is in there for the other E Class trims. But, still doable and I've got big hands.

Hope this helps undertaking the same job. It took around 30 min for both sides... mainly trying to release the side marker tabs from the inside.
The result was definitely worth it! Clear side markers! why don't they just sell them like this with the chrome bulbs! looks lots better!

 

a few more pics of the completed change. Love the results! Oh, and a comment on the Ebay bought clear side markers, quite good quality in terms of trim and fit, no gaps against the fender, tight fit. only thing is that the trim is a bit rough on one side where it was probably removed from the sprue. Took a piece of sand paper and sanded it down a bit. No biggie!

 

Looks great. You did the right way. I just popped it off from the front and replaced.

 

I think you have to pop it out from the inside for 2007-2009 models. the 2003-2006 you can pop from the outside...

 

Looks shweet but why did you have rubber gloves on

 

my tender skin on the fingers can't handle the dirt and grime! haha! just don't like having to scrub off the dirt afterwards, I work in medicine, scrub my hands as is already! Too rough and I'd scare away the ladies!

 

Just messing with you homey. Car looks so clean.

 

just wanted to say thanks to erichen for the great post!!

just completed this on my wife's 2007 e550 4matic sport. came out great!

needle nose pliers was key. thanks!!

 

What wheels are these?

2011? 19"?

 

Congratulations!

Very nice personalisation.

 

Thanks! wish I could do more, but the wife wont let me!

 

Those are AMG replicas 20", think the original design was off the CLS 63... but AMG does not make 20" wheels, all the ones I know are replica's. As far as I know, AMG's went up to 19" as recently as 2011.. But I think they have 20" rears as options for SLS. could be wrong,... please correct me if I am wrong.

 

Yeah! Its a bad business, this modifying cars.

I almost got divorced on a couple of occasions because of it.

 

Did this last night, your instructions were spot on and only took me 10-15 minutes total. One comment on the fitment of DEPO lights, it seems it's just slightly too tight on both sides, so the clips that hold the thing together don't really have room to expand much and grab hold to the inside piece. Will see how well it holds, but might have to put a dab of glue on that spot (not on the car). All in all, I don't see how these could ever pop out if that problem is solved, so for DEPO clear side markers with chrome amber bulbs.

 

Thanks.

 

I really only had to change the bulb on the left, but the socket clearly showed moisture invasion. So, I decided to pull the fixture.

Aaaaaarrrrrrggggghhh! Insane force to get that clip undone. For something so straight forward, it took too long and cut up my hands.

Glad I did, heat had cracked the fixture. Cleaned it out, epoxied the cracks, and re-assembled. Used some silicon/dielectric grease in the socket and O-ring.

Then decided to change the right bulb, which cut up my hands more. Looked like it was getting ready to fail as well.

I will post some pictures when I get them off the phone.

Thanks for the original post, or I would have thought I was doing something wrong. Also, did not wear gloves and got dirty as sin. Don't let the criticism stop you.

 

^ I changed mine out as well and it was the biggest pain in the ***. Ended up destroying the passenger side marker. My hands were cut up as well.

 

I'm curious to know if someone sells an LED side marker light for my 2008 E63.

 

Many. Besides the W5W, 194, and 168 work. They have some in Autozone.

A google search should return many

 

i have a guy i get all my LED stuff for my car from in the bay area. t&r lighting in san lorenzo, ca. tell him i sent you and he'll get you a great deal. i have the smoked side markers on my car (wish they were a bit darker) and LED license plate lights. i still have to change the undercarriage bulbs in the front and rear doors to LED. next project.

 

smoked would of looked sick too

 

Thanks guys! Will check them out!

 

just completed this.. what a PITA... i bought mine off Ebay, so i had to file some of the new reflector down to make it an easier fit (trash mold was used). quick tip, with the first one i installed i spent about 10min trying to fit the reflector into the black back fitting, its much easier if you put the reflector on the car and then put the black back fitting on the reflector its much easier to line everything up.

 

Never felt so defeated by something so simple in all my life. I know this is an old thread, but it's still as relevant as ever. I spent the better part of an hour last night pulling and pinching on the driver's side, just to NOT have the lens release. My finger tips are still on fire despite the use of needle nose pliers and I still have amber lenses. So frustrated. Is there any other way to get these things out w/out breaking the tabs? Because that's my next move.

 

Is this true? I am new to this forum and am going crazy with an issue with my front right side marker. It is aftermarket and it has popped out but still connected to the wiring harness. For the life of me I can't pop it back in. Any help would be appreciated