xenon intermittent bulb failure

[david@dhepworth.plus.com]

C Class sports coupe 2003 bought new
When the light switch is set to "auto" just occassionally the offside bulb goes out and "bulb failure" warning is displayed. Turning the engine off and on restarting and setting the light switch to "dipped" and the bulb works OK
No help from the dealer who just gave a list of all the possible parts which may be faulty and an estimate of about £500 to £3,000.
I wonder if Mercedes technical department would help. Anyone out there with experience of this problem or contacting Mercedes directly

 

[television]

This could be a SAM related fault,,if the fault codes were read out, you may find that the SAM does not always recognize the lamp.

An indie with STAR would be the way to go to find out with little cost

 

[BlackC55]

Start with replacing the actual bulb first.

 

[television]

Start with replacing the actual bulb first.

Dont think so Ollie as it comes on with the second start, when my SAM went down, the lights were all over the place,until a second start where the car had found the things, is was only when finally programmed that the car new that it had the things

 

[david@dhepworth.plus.com]

xenon intermittent bulb failure
thanks Malcolm, but I am obviously ignorant - what is an indie with Star?

 

[television]

xenon intermittent bulb failure
thanks Malcolm, but I am obviously ignorant - what is an indie with Star?

STAR is the only way to see what is wrong, and the fault will be recorded, STAR can extract this info and say where the actual fault is.

An Indie is someone who works on their own as an MB independent Garage / workshop. Where in the UK are you

 

[codemonky]

I have the same problem with my sports coupe, it's a 2002 and the past year has been doing the same as your car. My husband had a look at the light fitting and they seem to be very ill-fitting and the bulbs seems to rattle in them. Find that it gets sorted then if I go over a bump is doesthe same again. don't feel ignorant - I don't know what and indie with Star is either. LOL