Self levelling headlight problem ?

[LostKiwi]

Ok if its like a 210 SLS valve the sensor may be on the anti roll bar at the rear.
You'll have to get underneath and follow the ARB as it goes across the car and see if its attached near the middle.

 

[Wighty]

Ok if its like a 210 SLS valve the sensor may be on the anti roll bar at the rear.
You'll have to get underneath and follow the ARB as it goes across the car and see if its attached near the middle.

Appreciate it LK , I'll keep you updated with progress

 

[L John]

I

The rear Spring compression was shown as 58mm but even when I bounced on the back it barely moved , it did flick to 56-57 mm once , so barely any signs of life . I'm guessing it is the rear sensor arm because of that , just got to find it .

... and when you find it and sort it, you will likely need to adjust your lights again to be right at the new position of the sensor.

 

[Wighty]

I


... and when you find it and sort it, you will likely need to adjust your lights again to be right at the new position of the sensor.

That's spooky I was just this Minuite thinking that when I picked up the iPad

 

[Wighty]

Ok if its like a 210 SLS valve the sensor may be on the anti roll bar at the rear.
You'll have to get underneath and follow the ARB as it goes across the car and see if its attached near the middle.

As you thought , it was above the diff on the anti roll bar .

 

[Wighty]

After finding the rear level sensor (thanks LK) above the rear diff , it was in a sorry state . I'll have to see Monday when MB parts reopen but I'll probably need a new sensor , arm and bracket fixing for the anti roll bar as well .

 

[Wighty]

Just been down to MB parts and ordered the new improved part which is now metal rather than plastic (A2113201889 part number ) £28+vat . Officially halfway in the saga now .
I'm trusting that the sensor is ok , because that is £125 ish.....eeek

 

[L John]

You said earlier in this thread that you got readings from the sensor, was that your own reader?
If so, connect the reader and move the arm to see if the values change.

 

[Wighty]

You said earlier in this thread that you got readings from the sensor, was that your own reader?
If so, connect the reader and move the arm to see if the values change.

Yep , I did that with the front sensor and then forgot the rear until I'd taken the car off the ramps , I will check the rear sensor when I first lift the car again before I fix it all in place . I've got some rust converter and black paint on order as well , so I've got a full day under the car at the end of the week when the weather is reported to be warm and sunny .

 

[Wighty]

Right , refitted the new arm and the old sensor today . The new arm is much more substantial and looks like it will cope with all the salt and dirt from our roads a but better . This is a pic of the new arm/part next to the old one . My advice would be if you have the old one , then make sure it is well lubed/cleaned , otherwise it's just going to self destruct .

 

[Wighty]

Just to update the thread in case anyone is searching tinternet and looking at front sensor problems as well . I've just spotted that MB now do a front sensor arm seperately to the sensor . The new arm was around £22 (on MB smart Newcastle eBay page ) . So an easy cheap fix if the sensor works and just the arm self destructs on our salty roads .

 

[Wighty]

Did one of my first drives down dark unlit roads last night since repairing the sensor arm . The headlights were terrible , I had to drive slowly to see unless I could use main beam .
Took the car to my local garage to check the beam settings from where they had been adjusted to pass last years mot (before I then fixed the Senor arm) .
He adjusted them up to where they should be , and £15 and 10 mins later I'm back in the game .
Off to Wales this weekend so may need to see where I'm going

 

[Jimbo1959]

Great thread Wighty, very helpful.

 

[Wighty]

Great thread Wighty, very helpful.

Hope it helps , it took me ages to sort it all out and get my head round it . If I had to do it again it would be easy

 

[Jimbo1959]

Hope it helps , it took me ages to sort it all out and get my head round it . If I had to do it again it would be easy

Fancy a weekend over in Ayrshire?

 

[Wighty]

Fancy a weekend over in Ayrshire?

Funny buddy , 16 hour round trip I'd break something else on the car

 

[Jimbo1959]

Funny buddy , 16 hour round trip I'd break something else on the car

Ach, now you're just trying to make me feel guilty.

I'm sure it would be fine.

 

[PB53CLS]

Recently had my rear linkage replaced on my CLS...Its above the rear axle,and a bit fiddly to replace,but just under £30 delivered from MB Grangemouth.

 

[Barndoggy]

I know this is an old thread, but thought it might be worth asking. I have a 2005 E320 4Matic Estate Wagon (which must be one of the longest automobile model names in history) with auto-leveling rear suspension, which works fine. Over the past several years my headlights have independently stopped auto-leveling. They still track (turn side to side) but years ago the right started pointing at the ground, then occasionally work properly, sometimes point into the sky, but now is almost always pointed down. A couple of years later the left one started doing the same, but is now aimed at the ground virtually all the time. I've always thought the issue was inside the headlights, themselves, and I don't see how sensors on the suspension could be the issue (or at least the only or primary issue), since they failed independently and, on rare occasions start working independently. Does anyone know if this is any different on the W211 Wagon, with rear auto-leveling? I'll look for the front sensor in the wheel well, and hopefully that's actually the problem - because replacment headlights are around $750 each. I've upgraded the headlights on every car I've ever owned, in part because I love road trips, often driving on dark, 2-lane highways in the middle of nowhere, so it's really frustrating that the low-beams on this, the "best" car I've owned, are completely inadequate and unsafe in that situation. Any help or recommendations would be appreciated!