Problem with xenon headlights

[malcolmm]

Help………1999 320 SL V6 with xenon front headlights.

Driving home the other day I switched on both the side lights and headlights as it was just getting dark. On the dash warning lights the bulb out light came on, I got out and checked and it was the offside (Right Hand) xenon lamp not working.

Phoned the local stealership and was told a new bulb was £80 plus vat and fitting, so thinking this was a bit steep for a headlamp I then phoned various other garages that specialise in these type of cars, and I was astounded when I was quoted up to £180 for a replacement bulb. Eventually I decided to go to the official dealer. On arrival, I was greeted and given a very nice coffee whilst I waited. Then after a wait of about an hour it was ready, went to collect it and started it switched on the lights and guess what still the same. They took it back inside and after another hour and a half was pronounced ready started it up switched on lights and still the same, no light from the offside (Right Hand side) dip beam xenon headlight.

At this stage, the General Manager was involved, she decided to give me the use of their loan car, and they would keep mine to work on it. Next day a phone call to tell me that part of the headlight fixing had been damaged beyond repair by an electrical, fault and I needed a completely new headlight assembly at over a £1,000 in cost. Anyone had a problem with xenon’s that has resulted in this.

 

[television]

In short if the lamp was damaged beyond repair that would have been seen in minutes on a 129.

Please get the old one back,,it is yours and we can take it from there

The electric are separate from the lamp

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GA=722.624&CT=F&cat=44F&SID=82&SGR=195&SGN=07

 

[bigasotonuk]

Provided they actually replaced the bulb properly, it seems to be pointing to a faulty control unit item 85 or 90 in the link posted by malcolm.
These can be expensive but very easy to replace provided there is reasonable access to the rear of the headlight unit.

 

[television]

Provided they actually replaced the bulb properly, it seems to be pointing to a faulty control unit item 85 or 90 in the link posted by malcolm.
These can be expensive but very easy to replace provided there is reasonable access to the rear of the headlight unit.

129's are easy to work on Andy, plenty of room and the light can be removed in minutes on these cars

 

[bigasotonuk]

Good news for the OP then lets hope the control units are not too pricey.
Malcolm could the xenon control units be repaired? i have yet to look at my 202 units too closely as yet, indeed can they be taken apart or are they sealed for life.

 

[command]

320 oem xenon ballast

you car orignal xenon ballast have problem.need chage it .

but ,First you need tell us you car which type?

then can help

for example ML320 and C320 oem xenon contral union is different.

this is c320

this is ML320

 

[teddycatkin]

Help………1999 320 SL V6 with xenon front headlights.

Driving home the other day I switched on both the side lights and headlights as it was just getting dark. On the dash warning lights the bulb out light came on, I got out and checked and it was the offside (Right Hand) xenon lamp not working.

Phoned the local stealership and was told a new bulb was £80 plus vat and fitting, so thinking this was a bit steep for a headlamp I then phoned various other garages that specialise in these type of cars, and I was astounded when I was quoted up to £180 for a replacement bulb. Eventually I decided to go to the official dealer. On arrival, I was greeted and given a very nice coffee whilst I waited. Then after a wait of about an hour it was ready, went to collect it and started it switched on the lights and guess what still the same. They took it back inside and after another hour and a half was pronounced ready started it up switched on lights and still the same, no light from the offside (Right Hand side) dip beam xenon headlight.

At this stage, the General Manager was involved, she decided to give me the use of their loan car, and they would keep mine to work on it. Next day a phone call to tell me that part of the headlight fixing had been damaged beyond repair by an electrical, fault and I needed a completely new headlight assembly at over a £1,000 in cost. Anyone had a problem with xenon’s that has resulted in this.

Hope they did not go ahead and fit one ????????
Just ask for the car back as it was originally-do not take any bu-s-t from them two days to find why a bulb is not working from a dealership is not just acceptable ? Do not feel in anyway obliged to pay --grooming you with a loan car is just another ploy to trap your conscience into feeling guilty and paying out.

 

[Alex Crow]

i hope he got it fixed, this was nearly two years ago.

OLD THREAD ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[television]

i hope he got it fixed, this was nearly two years ago.

OLD THREAD ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a bit green in those days LOL

 

[robertgskinner]

robertgskinner

Regarding the 320sl headlights. I had a carbon copy experience.
I took my 1999 320sl to the garage when the xenon headlight failed. I thought it was a bulb. MB, Milton Street Glasgow eventually told me it was the headlighter igniter but that the headlight came in a unit and it would be £900 plus fitting! They charged me over £100 for the diagnosis.
Not very pleased as you can imagine.
Does anyone know where this headlight unit can be purchased more cheaply?
Robert Skinner

 

[television]

Regarding the 320sl headlights. I had a carbon copy experience.
I took my 1999 320sl to the garage when the xenon headlight failed. I thought it was a bulb. MB, Milton Street Glasgow eventually told me it was the headlighter igniter but that the headlight came in a unit and it would be £900 plus fitting! They charged me over £100 for the diagnosis.
Not very pleased as you can imagine.
Does anyone know where this headlight unit can be purchased more cheaply?
Robert Skinner

You can buy the components inside from Ebay,, there are loads of sellers for these things now, the igniter is the cable bit that goes from the control unit in the lamp to the bulb

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Try this web site explain to them exactly what you want and for which car in an e-mail they maybe able to help.
http://www.oemxenonpart.com/OEM_Xenon_Part.htm
Call me cynical but i would,nt trust their diagnosis, i would swap the bulbs and control boxes from one side to the other, if it still does,nt fix the problem then their diagnosis will be correct.

 

[vincewells]

xenon headlights and warranties

I have had a similar problem with headlights on a 2007 E320 cdi estate. warning, bulb gone, took it to mercedes was told it needed to go on computor to see if it was bulb, control unit, headlight unit or worse case all 3. On purchase of vehicle I took out an extended warranty but was now told if it was water ingress I was not covered, I was later told the control unit would be covered, the unit was stripped and i was informed they could not commence work until it had been inspected by a warranty inspector, causing a 2 day delay, I was then informed the damage was caused by water ingress therefore none of the work was covered and the bill would be about £1500 !. can somebody explain how you get water ingress in a part under the bonnet, there is no external damage to the headlight which I assume is a sealed unit. It would appear the warranty is worthless.:confused vince:

 

[vincewells]

update to message

car now repaired, garage put in claim for work to be completed under warranty but warranty assessor stated it was water ingress in the control unit connection and not covered. mercedes garage were unable to explain how water could enter unit. The final bill was £1300 but Mercedes agreed to pay 50%. I am still not satisfied with the warranty explanation and await a report from them. Has anyone else had this problem, I am obviously concerned re other headlight.
Vince