W212 LED headlamp replacement, £1,100?!

[rpalmeida]

You can’t / mustn’t swap the LED controllers as the lights have different LEDs and you may blow them up
A new controller needs to be coded using the barcode on the light to set up the power output on the various channels. This is because same controller used on a number of lights.

R

 

[davidsl500]

You can turn off daytime running lights I think?

 

[V6Matty]

Day time running lights are for the headlights to be on permanently where as the led drls can’t be switched off.

 

[cheapshots]

Day time running lights can be switched off during the day. But during night time driving they’re permanently switched on and you can’t switch them off.

Interestingly when I switch the car on, the day time running lights switch on for 5 seconds before switching off.

So the bulb must work, therefore I’m thinking it’s the controller / connection issue.

I’m going to see an indie on Monday and keep you all posted.

 

[cheapshots]

I went to the Indie today who ran diagnostics.

They said it could be:
1) control panels (£350 each but both may need changing)
2) the headlamp (£1200)
3) both the above

I genuinely cannot believe this crazy price.

The LED strip comes on for a few seconds then goes out, so the bulbs are obviously working.... any idea's or advice?

 

[anyweb]

might be a long shot but check for any loose connections to the light that isn't doing the business, i had a similar issue on my W212 and it turned out to be a loose cover on the light housing itself, causing rain to ingress and shorting...

Once I properly closed the housing cover (which I didn't loosen) the problems miraculously disappeared, however my problems were related to Intelligent lighting (adaptive light assist) but i thought' i'd mention it anyway in case it might help...

 

[cheapshots]

Thanks anyweb.

I’m sure the garage would have checked for loose connections and I can’t see any cracks / water ingress but I’ll give it a once over myself tomorrow.

I don’t think I it’s shorting because the LED light comes on for about 5 seconds every time. If it was shorting I’d imagine it would cut out much quicker than that.

Hmmmmm.... I’m wondering if it’s worthwhile taking it to Mercedes themselves :’(

 

[cheapshots]

Hi guys, a mini update in the hope it may help others.

• The headlight is a sealed unit - approx £1200
• Each headlight has two control modules attached
• 1 control module is sometimes called ballast/voltage converter and is responsible for the LED's - approx £420
• 1 control module is sometimes called light range adjuster and is responsible for ILS, low/high beam - approx £300
• If purchasing these parts news then coding is required using STAR
• If purchasing second hand then it should be plug and play provided the part numbers are the same
• Merc will charge around £150 just for the coding (buggers)

With regard to my ongoing issue - I've taken it to two different places, both suggest the ballast control module is the likely culprit. The issue is I don't know the part number so can't search for used items on eBay.

Annoyingly Mercedes will NOT give me the part number, citing something about company policy - can they really do that? If I wanted to get the old part off I would need to remove the bumper

Does anybody have any idea how I can identify the part number?

Thank you

 

[EmilysDad]

....The issue is I don't know the part number so can't search for used items on eBay.

.....

that's why MB won't give part numbers ... they want to sell you the part rather than you go elsewhere for them. I know my local MB parts dept won't normally give part numbers though one of the lads has, on occasion, done so.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Can’t believe any manufacturer would design a car in this way, it’s lose lose, spare prices are ridiculous and it adds to car insurance repair costs so we are all paying for it regardless.

I’d pull the bumper off and get the part numbers you need, if you can’t do this yourself it wouldn’t cost much for a garage to do this.

I’m all for DRLs but don’t see why they have to be incorporated and sealed in the headlight unit, my 212 pre-facelift doesn’t

 

[EmilysDad]

Can’t believe any manufacturer would design a car in this way, ....

But, unfortunately, they do. A lad at work with an Audi A6 had a similar quote for the same DRL problem

 

[McDonald]

Proof, if anyone needed it, that older models are more manageable.

 

[cheapshots]

I would never buy a car with incorporated DRL’s again, I wish I had known this before I bought this car.

Its clearly just another way from Merc to extract yet more money from us. I mean all this rubbish about having to code in the parts and not willing to give part numbers - it’s not on!

I think I may have to take the bumper off - what a hassle.

My 2nd cars halogen headlight recently went after 10 years of service; cost £1.20 and took 20 mins. Ahhhhh

 

[Botus]

Can’t believe any manufacturer would design a car in this way, it’s lose lose,

no its you lose, they win....

lease a car or pay for 3 and have a **** life fighting it

rent for 3 or 4 years and put it in a skip.... that's the business model they been on for 5 years now

 

[cheapshots]

So I'm rather chuffed with myself - after lots of research I found the part number, and the best bit is I didn't need to remove the bumper

I paid 60EURO (for 1-year access) to get access to Mercedes Parts Catalog - you enter your VIN and it displays your car parts.

https://service-parts.mercedes-benz.com/dcagportal/DCAGPortal/portalMarket.action?market=Europe

The voltage converter / ballast control module part number is A2228700789 (which replaced A2228700689).

I'm now on the hunt for a second hand part from eBay - wish me luck

 

[EmilysDad]

S .. - wish me luck

Good luck!

 

[cheapshots]

Looool that is how I feel.

I know ****** merc still got 60euro’s from me but it still feels like a win

 

[grahamcol]

I've been reading this with interest.
As someone mentioned, older models are sometimes better and l'm glad my two cars don't have xenon / drl's. It's just utterly ridiculous to have all the expense and hassle the op has had.
Well done though on your progress in the matter and good luck to you in achieving a good final outcome.

 

[star]

Personally, I would have purchased a new control unit with a guaranteed, put the money saved from buying the part number access to it. Nothing worse than having to take the headlamp our again when the secondhand part fails and it’s more money down the drain.

 

[EmilysDad]

Personally, I would have purchased a new control unit with a guaranteed, put the money saved from buying the part number access to it. Nothing worse than having to take the headlamp our again when the secondhand part fails and it’s more money down the drain.

I bought a brand new cabin fan resister for EmilysMum's Citroen because everything pointed towards it having failed & two Peugeot/Citroen experts suggested it too .... it wasn't & Citroen won't accept electrical returns.

Anyone want a fan resistor? eBay suggests it fits some Mercs too