I'm frustrated. I have my 2000 E320 and love it. I want to drive it until the wheels fall off -- well, maybe just *before* that!
Here's my stumper (at least it's stumping my specialist up here in Dunwoody who's had the car about four or five times)
Headlamps are blowing:
About six months ago a fog lamp blew. The specialist said he thought it was odd, because it was melted.
A month or two later, left headlight blew. He replaced.
A month or two later, the right headlight blew. He replaced. I figured German engineering was just that precise on the life of the bulbs.
Then the fuse blew inside the car, turning off the lamps to the dash and center console.
Then an inside front headlight blew and the fuse blew again.
I told the Specialist that all these things seemed electrically related, he said that my model (2000 E320) had a problem of the alternator overcharging, so he replaced it. About three weeks went, so I was feeling good. Then the left inside front headlamp blew and a week later the big left front headlamp blew out.
So, one fog light, two fuses, an alternator, three big head lights and two or three small head lights, what do you think the problem might be? I only get the notification of the lamp problem when I start up the car (meaning I don't think the lamp is blowing while it's running). So that points to some kind of spike during ignition, but I don't know anything about cars.
I have an extended warranty on the car, so up to the alternator I had to pay for all the head lamps myself. My specialist wants to check the sockets on the lights, which makes no sense to me. For example, the inside front head light is blown in "City" (low) mode but works in "High" mode, so wouldn't that suggest the socket is fine? Moreover, that wouldn't explain the plethora of lamps failing (five unique sockets so far -- and the right fog lamp may have failed and I just can't keep track) would it?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you. BTW - I have searched the threads for the problem and didn't see anything, although I did see someone fixed that infernal "lamp malfunction" that comes up on rainy days even when all the lamps are fine! Of course, that solution way surpasses my capabilities, but it was cool to read about! Thanks!
hey man, I read your problem, unfortunatley... i did not have those problems, but ive had other electical related problems. The point im trying to make is that i bought my car from an auction. it had electrical damadge (fire by the fuse box to be exact) and i had to re-assemble my car electrically wire by wire. Good thing is, i did it all correctly. and where im going with this is, i also learned alot about mercedes electronics and the way mercedes sets there elsectronics up.
First of all, it would be great if we had more history about your E-Class. Thanks for letting us know about the alternator, but sometimes its more than that. Has your car ever been in a front end collision? any loose? slight cuts or so? those can all lead to a shortage therefore blowing your bulbs.
Second, I suggest you send your car to a person that is not mechanically inclined, but instead, electronically... I have reason to believe that the dealer just goes by there books that could be the possible problem and then they end up digging deeper.
Its a rat race for them... i dont like the dealers, sorry.
And finally, check out your wires. put a voltage tester to your lights or something. see how much power those suckers are getting. And if you feel that its because of your fuses, do not put higher ampage ones in there because that can make problems worse.
Thats about all i could say. Good luck to you. And if for some reason your lights "melt up" agian, call my company... i have replacement parts for the e-class.
I agree with you; I'm staying away from the dealer. The Buckhead dealer told me I needed new rotors on my car at 50k miles, but when I took it to one of the independent specialists, he said they were fine.
Yes, the voltage test is a good one. I'll suggest that.
The car was in a wreck, but a low impact one on the front (an 18 wheeler backed up and pushed me about 10 feet). Still, it didn't even knock out a light! Just crumpled the hood.
That's all for the history, except I hit a really bad pot hole that even cracked the plastic below the bumper on the right side. Pretty serious.
About six months ago a fog lamp blew. The specialist said he thought it was odd, because it was melted.
A month or two later, left headlight blew. He replaced.
A month or two later, the right headlight blew. He replaced. I figured German engineering was just that precise on the life of the bulbs.
Rick
There has been a recall on these vehicles for the fog lamp harnesses. They melt. I would advise your taking it to the dealer. I am of the opinion of using both the dealer and an indie mechanic for these cars. You cannot rule the dealer completely out. Unless they're bad.
I have the A/B services done at the dealer so I get the service book stamped. It adds value to the car when selling it.
Well, good luck with your findings.
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