Indicator bulb holder replacements

[tujbx]

I have been getting the problem which is mentioned here about front indicator bulb holder failing on my 2000 W203 C Class. Went to the local Merc agents and told that the replacement bulb holder was modified to cure the problem. This would suggest to me that Mercedes knows there is a design fault with the originals, and technically that they were not fit for purpose. Heres the sting, instead of £14 each holder, they now want an additional hours labour minimum to fit the new holders, as they now have a wire coming from the back which needs to be spliced into the headlamp assembly wiring. My opinion is that Merc should be paying for all of it, as it’s a design fault! Dealer was non-comittal until I booked it in, just wanted to see what other people’s experiences have been, have they had to pay or has nyone had joy getting MB to stump up?

 

[television]

There are lots of faults, through poor build or design, from a lamp holder through to a cylinder head costing £3-4k, I think it depends on how loud you shout.

malcolm

 

[tujbx]

Shouted as loud as I could, but still had to pay £100 for replacement of both front bulb holders. Cant believe this as this is obviously a design fault?? Not sure what trading standards would say about it, not fit for purpose and all that....

 

[itass]

Hi - got this reply from a very helful man and it fixed my faaulty indicator problem

This is caused by a defective design in the light cluster. The contacts inside the cluster get burned, so that even a new bulb holder wont fix the problem. Mercedes' solution is to replace the whole light cluster!

With the help of a Mecedes engineer, I 'fudged' a bypass to avoid this costly replacement.

If the holder is undamaged (contacts not burned), then drill a small hole through it, so that you can feed a cable (two wires) through. Solder these two wires on to the metal sprung contacts that connect to the bulb. Seal the hole with mastic ( actually, I just used blu-tak). The other ends of the wire have to be patched into the umbilcal that feeds the light cluster. I can't remember which, so I'll look tomorrow and let you know. If memory serves, there's five wires - an Earth and four power wires for different bulbs in the cluster.

One wire of your patch must be connected to the earth, the other to the indicator power (which I think is wire number 4 if numbered 1 - 5, with 1 being the thicker earth). The power wire going to the bulb via the original route must be severed otherwise the computer still detects the fault and uses an alternate bulb. The earth must remain intact for the other bulbs to function.

 

[type49]

I've fitted these "mods", they take about 10 mins MAX. Unless they have been modified again, as I havn't fitted one for poss 18 months but then surely this time scale means that they were cured first time. Does this make sence??

 

[television]

I've fitted these "mods", they take about 10 mins MAX. Unless they have been modified again, as I havn't fitted one for poss 18 months but then surely this time scale means that they were cured first time. Does this make sence??

I think so, so many mods on much of the range these days,from bulbs blowing to lamps stuck in to lights filling up with water.

Malcolm

 

[type49]

I think so, so many mods on much of the range these days,from bulbs blowing to lamps stuck in to lights filling up with water.

Malcolm

I think this is what's called "progress" isn't it??????