W210 headlamp failure

[grahamf505]

Hi All,

I have a really strange problem with my 2002 W210 Estate. The offside headlamp bulb has blown and after repacing it, I've still got no light. Its wierd. I've checked the wiring and comfirmed that there is an earth on the brown wire to the connector, but there is no voltage to the yellow wire with the headlights switched on. I've also checked the connector where it plugs into the headlam and again there is no power there, so it looks like a possible fault in the loom - maybe. The nearside works fine by the way. Since having this car (for last 3 years) it regularly seems to destroy headlamp bulbs.

I thought about "hot wiring" across from the nearside yellow wire to the off-side as a temporary fix, but I don't want to bugger anything up. I use the car daily in the eveings and travel lots so I don't have much time to take it into the garage.

I'm assuming that maybe there is a seperate feed for each headlamp (rather than it being common like most cars have had in the past) to enable the bulb failure warning thingy to work. Its totally confused me. It must be something fairly simple. I'm assuming the headlights are not seperately fused - that would seem the obvious thing.

Thanks for any help.

Graham

 

[television]

Hello graham, and welcome, could you please put up the next 3 numbers after 210 and the year of the car

 

[brandwooddixon]

If it's not Xenons then it's possible that the relay or the intervening wiring needs replacing. Fuses do their best but are sometimes slow to blow.

 

[grahamf505]

OK, I've fixed it now. I didn't realise there was a fuse panel adjacent to the headlamp switch. Sure enough, the fuse associated with the offside headlamp had blown. Changed the fuse and drove 200 miles last night and everything is fine now. Thanks for your help. Vehicle is 2002 year W210 E240 by the way.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Good result!!!

 

[television]

I asked for the VIN owing to the fact that there are 2 fuse box layouts, changed during 99 pleased its fixed

 

[edwinwg]

Graham,

May I know what is specifications of your bulb? Are you using a H1 12V 100W bulb? I just changed mine and having a warning indication on my instrument cluster. However, my headlamp is functioning well, but not sure why the warning lights is still ON.

 

[brandwooddixon]

I thought they were H7 on W210, but nevermind.

Changing them for 100W bulb (illegal incidenatally for road use) will trigger the bulb failure warning as they're resistance is too high.

 

[television]

Graham,

May I know what is specifications of your bulb? Are you using a H1 12V 100W bulb? I just changed mine and having a warning indication on my instrument cluster. However, my headlamp is functioning well, but not sure why the warning lights is still ON.

The warning lamp is staying on as the 100w lamps have a different resistance to the standard 55w. there is no way that the warning can be turned off

 

[edwinwg]

I thought they were H7 on W210, but nevermind.

Changing them for 100W bulb (illegal incidenatally for road use) will trigger the bulb failure warning as they're resistance is too high.

Hi Chris,

Yes, originally it was H7, but when I got this car, the previous owner has changed the headlamp to a clear type and I found out that he used H1 100W. It was ok that time, but after a while, 1 side light bulb burnt and the warning light illuminated. Now even I have changed to new light bulb (H1 100W), it remains illuminating. Do you suggest I change it back to H7 with 55W?

Regards,
-Edwin

 

[television]

By the way, welcome to the forum, why not get some of the lamps made with the standard wattage but give 30% more light, both Philips and Osram make these bulbs and the warning lamp will not come on

 

[edwinwg]

The warning lamp is staying on as the 100w lamps have a different resistance to the standard 55w. there is no way that the warning can be turned off

Hi Malcolm,

Thought there is a way to bypass or reset the reading. So, what if I just leave it illuminating, does it harm the circuit?

Regards,
Edwin

 

[television]

Hi Malcolm,

Thought there is a way to bypass or reset the reading. So, what if I just leave it illuminating, does it harm the circuit?

Regards,
Edwin

Hello Edwin, it will do no harm, the only down side bit is that you will not know if another bulb fails. I used my 124 like it for years as the lamps that off 30% more light for the same wattage had not been invented back then