61 plate W204 side light bulb replacement.

[Deleted member 139143]

Hi all. just spent the last umpteen hours trying to remove the side light bulbs on my W204 61 plate to replace with LED's. do they just pull out or is there another way, I have used brute force, lotsa blood and skinned knuckles and that is on the drivers side. not got to passenger side looks even tighter for space. tried long nosed pliers, which resulted in breaking a piece of the holder off. am I missing the point or is there just a knack to it...

 

[Chrishazle]

I have tried numerous different LED's in the side and parking lights of my 08 S204, invariably they last not very long before failing. My suspicion is that the "enclosures" they live in are small, hence the LED's overheat and fail. In the end I gave up and went back to ordinary filament bulbs which last a whole lot longer! There is a white version I've seen recommended but have not tried myself - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MZQUU70/?tag=amazon0e9db-21.

As for getting the damned things out and in, an inspection mirror, inspection light and a pair of fine long nose (cranked if poss) pliers, patience, large swear bucket and pack of elastoplast! IIRC they just pull out, but angled slightly towards the engine rsather than straight back. If/when you do get one out and change the bulb, check that it lights before refitting, especially if you're installing LED's, as Murphy's Law is that you almost always get LED's upside down first time you fit them!

 

[Deleted member 139143]

Cheers, the swear bucket is a wheelie bin, elastoplast are on a monthly subscription and the patience is wearing so thin it is almost transparent. trying again tomorrow, if no joy they are staying put till they blow then the local garage can have it..

 

[GLK]

Not familiar with W204 position lights, but if they are W5W type (501 or T10), as on my C169, then I fashioned this little gadget - to pull the bulb holders out:

It's not particularly pretty (but polished to a smoothest finish, despite appearance), but it locks on the holder almost by itself - no need to see it - and makes changing bulbs very easy.

As to replacing filament bulbs with LEDs - I too have tried quite a few different types, all failed miserably, until I finally found the one that works fine and lasts between 1.5 and 2 years, which is perfectly acceptable, as far as I'm concerned, considering their cost.

Just recently replaced both, as they have failed within a couple of weeks of each other, so very consistent quality-wise. I bought a 10-pack this time

 

[Chrishazle]

That's one of the types I've tried and have spares in the box - but not in the sidelights! Decent enough in the puddle lights and boot lid lights though, although I've recently found better!
Door LED Courtesy Lights Puddle Laser Projector LOGO Fits for Mercedes Benz C200 | eBay
T10 W5W 501 LED CANBUS 57 SMD CREE BRIGHT CAR INTERIOR SIDE LIGHT BULBS | eBay
Best change I've found is that the original reversing lights are W16W filaments, changed those for LED then fiddled the filament bulbs into the footwell light fittings both sides of the front, they dim up and are great, just have to be a bit creative to get them to fit!

 

[Deleted member 139143]

Hi GLK, thanks for the info. that looks very similar to what is on mine, I can now see what I am dealing with.

 

[GLK]

No worries

I have to confess - I have been playing with these things for a while now - the only lights in my car, that are not LED/COB, are the full beam H7 bulbs (for now at least), and rear position/fog P21/4W BAZ15D lights.

All interior lights, including retrofitted footwell lights, my own mod's door handle and pull recess lights, OCP lights - all LEDs.
Many have been fitted nearly five years ago, footwell and handle lights - more recently: about 3.5 and 2 years ago respectively.
I think there was just one LED bulb I had to replace, in OCP, so far.
Interior lights in my car are not monitored, so no need for built-in resistors (aka CANbus compatible) bulbs.

Front position lights, reversing lights, number plate and rear indicators are all LEDs too.
Same for the brake lights - LEDs and work via my own adaptive brake light system.
I also modified front lights into dual-function DRL/Fog and DRL/Turn Indicator lights - about 3 and 2.5 years ago.

Everything works

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[Deleted member 139143]

Hi all, hooray finally managed to remove both side light holders and fit the LEDs . boooh now getting a fault warning for the right side light, even though it is on and it came in the same packet as the left side. but they are working and stopping in for a while after all the grief involved fitting them. will try and get a pic later when it gets a bit darker.

 

[Deleted member 139143]

Just been out to take a piccy. turned lights on, guess what no fault light all showing okay, so deffo stopping in for time being.. they look a lot clearer and brighter.