Would anyone who has removed the interior trim from the CLK boot lid to get access to this light please list the instructions here.
I can see about 10 plastic retaining 'rivets' holding it in place. How do they come out, and does this destroy them? And does anything else have to be removed to get inside? Parts guy didn't know.
M-B priced a replacement assembly today at GBP 61, and 10 rivets at GBP 6.80
Current part number in stock is MA209 820 10 56. (but these vary according to the supplier, I was advised)
I just did it this afternoon...whole deal took about 15 minutes.
The "rivets" are actually plastic pins that insert into a threaded plastic retainer. I guess the pin expands the retainer and keeps it in place. I used a very low-tech tool, a butter knife, with masking tape on one side so as to not mar the plastic. Pry the pin gently for the first 1/8th inch or so; it should then pop right out. There are also plastic trim pieces for each trunk arm, they unsnap and come off with no trouble. The liner will start to feel loose at this point. As far as the retainers, some came out easily, others when I started to pry the liner out. Just make sure you catch them all. The inside trunk release button is a simple unsnap affair to get free of the liner, but I didn't see a convenient clip to disconnect it, so I just left it hanging. The only thing left holding the liner in place is the
left side star screw that holds the trunk latch in place; back that out (just remove that one, not both as it's not necessary and will probably mess up the latching process) and the whole liner will drop out. At that point you can access the brake light, attached from within the lid with spring clips. (Oddly enough, mine was punched in and lying inside the trunklid) The light can be unclipped, and removed from its metal housing. Looks like a nice row of LEDs in a light gray plastic housing.
Why does this happen so much? I dunno, but the plastic light assembly on mine was attached to the metal so tightly that the metal had deformed slightly and there were what appeared to be stress cracks in the light housing. Maybe there is some gorilla on the assembly line torquing the pieces together a little to tight and causing a stress- related premature failure. Just my .02 cents.
BTW, my part number for my 03 CLK was A 209 820 09 56. Trying to souce a replacement part has been way harder than removing the thing.. Good luck.
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I had a clk320 and the 3rd brake light crack on mine as well on the 2004 models i was told that there was a recall for the third break light and the dealer did infact relpace mine installed no charge =)
I had a clk320 and the 3rd brake light crack on mine as well on the 2004 models i was told that there was a recall for the third break light and the dealer did infact relpace mine installed no charge =)
Hi. Was just wondering, was there really a recall for it? Did you get a phone call or mail notice/email? So when they fixed yours for free, was you car still under warranty? Did they install those "new", heavy duty, much thicker lights? If there is a recall, does it mean that they'll replace mine for free eventhough it's out of warranty already? Thanks.
I've followed this thread for a while, especially relating to the replacement light unit being an upgraded item.
As my CLK was new in December 2005, I assumed it would have an upgraded light fitted from new. Well, this weekend it cracked and fell out. Dealer is going to replace it tomorrow under warranty. The trunk has to be shut forcibly to make sure it closes, I'll have them look at that & see if it needs any adjustment.
My 3rd blew up in my garage yesterday after I hit the interior trunk release. A rain of tiny red plastic flew all over the place. Will advise as to how the dealer handles it. Mine's an '04 with 33k, but in-service date was January '05 and it is certified to Jan 2010 or 100k. I'm covered on the warranty, but you never know with this kind of thing.
My 3rd blew up in my garage yesterday after I hit the interior trunk release. A rain of tiny red plastic flew all over the place. Will advise as to how the dealer handles it. Mine's an '04 with 33k, but in-service date was January '05 and it is certified to Jan 2010 or 100k. I'm covered on the warranty, but you never know with this kind of thing.
My MB dealership didn't bat an eye and replaced the 3rd brake light under warranty with no charge. I am now aware of the issue which has prompted me to treat my trunk lid a bit differently. I no longer use the internal release, rather use the trunk lid release and avoid letting the lid spring all the way up. It a shame that I have to worry about it. I have no idea whether the replacement part is stouter that the original, but I'm not one to take the chance.
Ideally, MB would install some sort of hydraulic damper to ease the final few inches of upward motion on the lid. It really slams up, so I can see how the light housing could take a beating.
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