Head Lights

[mioba]

My car has LED lights am I able to get spare lamps to change myself?

Sure you can buy an LED sepertely (shops like mapline, or online, can imagine them costing pennies), fitting it, as mentioned above is another story.

Sure you could also buy the unit from mercedes,

You need to check the light in question as to if the LED can be removed, not always easy...

 

[EmilysDad]

Sure you can buy an LED sepertely (shops like mapline, or online, can imagine them costing pennies), fitting it, as mentioned above is another story.

Sure you could also buy the unit from mercedes,

You need to check the light in question as to if the LED can be removed, not always easy...

I don't think Peter was being serious ....

AIUI .... you're only expected to replace those bulbs/lamps at the roadside that can be replaced without the use of tools. Though I'm willing to be proved wrong.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Part of the problem is that car reviewers are in the pockets of the manufacturers so they get no bad press there is absolutely no chance of a car review mentioning anything to do with maintenance so it’s an open goal. Let’s face it there is little money to be had in selling new cars the real money is paid out in finance and to keep them on the road with hyped service and spare part prices. I asked MB for a price for two new rear shock absorbers for the S212 today and the reply was that they only had one available for the princely sum of £390 (discounted from £470) - you couldn’t make it up. I asked if there had been a mix up and didn’t want a rear airbag just a shock absorber - no mistake sir came the reply

 

[EmilysDad]

Part of the problem is that car reviewers are in the pockets of the manufacturers so they get no bad press there is absolutely no chance of a car review mentioning anything to do with maintenance so it’s an open goal. Let’s face it there is little money to be had in selling new cars the real money is paid out in finance and to keep them on the road with hyped service and spare part prices. I asked MB for a price for two new rear shock absorbers for the S212 today and the reply was that they only had one available for the princely sum of £390 (discounted from £470) - you couldn’t make it up. I asked if there had been a mix up and didn’t want a rear airbag just a shock absorber - no mistake sir came the reply

Shocks were a similar price for my R Class with Airmatic from MB .... I got them from Aerosus for around half the price

 

[Peterbrake]

So the Gendarmerie can’t fine me or lock me up for not carrying spare light bulbs???

 

[mioba]

So the Gendarmerie can’t fine me or lock me up for not carrying spare light bulbs???

they will stick you on a fishing boat instead with Macron as punishment and send you into UK waters

 

[Peterbrake]

Hmmm

 

[Bahnsturmer]

Changing a Xenon headlight bulb on w210 is very straightforward, although MB advises this is a dealer job only. I guess they are worried about people electrocuting themselves with the 20000 volts that comes off the ballasts.

 

[ajlsl600]

My work involves a lot of driving about, and also the commute backwards and forwards.
Is it just me or do others notice an awful lot of cars with only one headlight ??
Is this because a lot of vehicles these days headlight bulbs are not made easy to change ?, some even requiring the complete front end to be taken apart just to change a bulb, and of course this costs, so are drivers leaving it until MOT time, then they have to have it done. What is more annoying is that some drivers are using main beam to see where they are going to make up for the lack of the light that is out, i seem to get dazzled nearly every day, and of course, on dark roads you think they are a motorcycle !.

I wonder why cars are made like this, for example, daughters boyfriends fiat 500 failed MOT on front lower wishbone joint, he bought one and was quoted £300 to fit, he asked if i would do it, and stupidly i thought "got to be easy" and said yes. due to one bolt, the whole front end has to come off, to access four bolts to remove a part of the front chassis, then you can get at the bolt. Took me about three hours start to finish, so with labour rates at what they are, can understand the cost from a dealer.

I suspect all the replies i get will say motor manufactures make cars like this to deter the home mechanic, but is that really the case ?

Makers are not interested in Yr hassle, dealers love it. Makers only care ref assly times to fit and cost to produce these days bodies often go onto rolling chassis where makers never need to think of Yr prb . I think there one fiat where eng has to come out to change water hose!!!!

 

[LostKiwi]

I think there one fiat where eng has to come out to change water hose!!!!

Ever tried changing the bypass hose on an A Series engine? It's about 40mm long and needs either cylinder head removal or waterpump removal or a lot of brute force and contortion.

 

[Frontstep]

Does anyone believe that manufacturers even care, MB make shed loads of money from flogging new cars, and whilst that is happening they ain't going to change their ways.

If it gets past the warranty period then so what if you need £900 £1500 or whatever for a headlamp unit because the bulbs gone, oh and plus fitting and coding no doubt.

 

[DSK]

That’s exactly it people have been brain washed thinking new is best.

The number of people we get begging for used tyres on new flashy cars is just surreal when they get told how much new new cost.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Cars are going the same way as phones, un-repairable fashion accessories with a very short shelf life. They want us to buy a new one every 4 or 5 years.

 

[rf065]

The french require (or they used to require) a full set of lamps be kept in the car, and yet french cars are amongst the worst offenders for having impossible to replace headlamps. So you must carry the lamps...but they didn't allow for being able to change them at the side of the road.

No they don't and they never have.

The problem here is the French Police will not let you carry on a journey at night if you have a bulb out. That is in compliance with French law.
Then we have people with a vested interest to sell you something, i.e. the ferry company, the AA etc etc, who tell you it's illegal to travel in France without a set of spare bulbs, and we can actually sell you a set, what a coincidence!

There is no law in France that says you have to buy headlight convertors, the actual French law states it's illegal to blind oncoming traffic, but there are many ways to do that without buying plastic stickers for your headlights.

If you wear glasses, you don't need two pairs of spectacles either, the law only states you need a spare pair of specs if you wear contacts.

You don't need a fire extinguisher either, the actual law only states, if a car is on fire you have to stop and assist, it doesn't say you need to put the fire out with your extinguisher.

I'm amazed the ferry companies, AA and RAC etc have got away with selling all this kit for years without anyone questioning it being required by law as they state it is.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Managed to replace the bulb on my wife's Micra in the dark.
Sounds good, but in reality it took ages and as its impossible to see the bulb fitting at the back of the headlight anyway, I couldn't have done it any quicker in daylight. Smaller hands would certainly have helped though.
As for my W216, it looks as if I'll have to remove engine compartment components before I get access to the dipped beam lamp - perhaps that's why the handbook says that its a dealer replacement part only.

 

[LostKiwi]

Managed to replace the bulb on my wife's Micra in the dark.
Sounds good, but in reality it took ages and as its impossible to see the bulb fitting at the back of the headlight anyway, I couldn't have done it any quicker in daylight. Smaller hands would certainly have helped though.
As for my W216, it looks as if I'll have to remove engine compartment components before I get access to the dipped beam lamp - perhaps that's why the handbook says that its a dealer replacement part only.

They'll be HiD so high voltage which is why they're dealer only.

Try popping the inner arch out and accessing from under the wheel arch.