w203 coupe bulb warning - cant resolve

[MecrazyBenz]

Recently purchased a 2001 w203 c180 coupe for the wife . Pictures to come shortly, or whenever the sun shines again - might be next year now by the looks of things

Anyway, we bought the car knowing there was a bulb warning message for the left brake light, and when the previous owner told us they had replaced both brake light bulbs with Hellfords ones, I kinda thought thats probably why the error is still there

I am having a nightmare now trying to resolve the warning message in the console/dash window. I have tried the brake bulbs from my w202 (known working ones) and still cant get rid of the message.

I have also swapped the entire buld holder from right to left, hoping the warning message would say right side failure, but it still says left.

All bulbs are lighting up ok, its just the warning message thats annoynig me.

I have searched the forum like mad, and members have said:
- try cleaning the contacts, which I have
- replace the bulb holder, which iv not tried yet - there are no burn holes
in the contacts and the holders look fine plus the fact that I swapped the holders around and same fault

The fact that the warning message is always stating the left side is a bit worrying.

Is there anything else I could check before I get it professionally looked at?

Could it be possible the fault needs to be cleared from the computer?

Could another dodgy bulb cause it to report the left brake light ?

Appreciate any help on the matter please. Thanks.

 

[MecrazyBenz]

Anyone ?

Anyone ?

 

[Ian B Walker]

Number plate lights also affect the warning light. There are two bulbs in the number plate light system.

 

[MecrazyBenz]

Number plate lights also affect the warning light. There are two bulbs in the number plate light system.

Yeah, both light up.... so there ok im guessing. I suppose i could try and replace them, but that should not really be the answer - replacing all bulbs

Just doing some reading on the US forums, and there are a few posts about bending the contacts out slightly on the holder or something in that nature to get a better conatct between the buld holder and the assembly. Will have a play again.

Thanks anyway.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

I had an issue very early on with bulb failure warnings. Replaced both offending bulbs, first with Halfords bulbs (no change) then with bulbs source from the MB dealer (no issues since then).

I believe from some US Forums that early W203's (pre-2001) had issues with the bulb holders...

 

[nigel cross]

I use to get losts of bulb failures but when i looked all was ok with them Thought that it would drive me mad.
Took out the lamp holders and put more tension on the connecter that goes to the rear of rhe bulb. Been ok since.

 

[Deleted member 2227]

Agreed, I've had similiar issues. Mine was a recuring number plate bulb. I made sure the contacts were good and tight and replaced the non OEM bulb with a MB sourced one and I've had no problems since.

 

[MecrazyBenz]

Update

Just to update this thread for future reference.......

Tried playing around with the holder again - no luck
Tried new bulbs - no luck

Took a trip to stealers in Leicester (Evans) and explained my problem to the service desk chap. He went and got a technician who came out and had a look at the issue, who also had no luck. So he took the car into the service bay and plugged in the diagnostics (In the mean time im sat in reception having a coffee drooling...i mean admiring the CLS AMG).

20 minutes later, he came back with a print out of the diagnostics and adviced I need a new SAM replacement. Quoted £192 + VAT + labour

Gona get a second quote from an independant specialist. Hopefully will be a bit cheaper. Otherwise might just live with the warning error for a while as the bulb operates correctly.

Anyone else had one of these replaced before ?????

Also would the warning message affect the MOT in anyway eventhough the lights are operating correctly?

 

[Flash]

Anyone else had one of these replaced before ?????

Also would the warning message affect the MOT in anyway eventhough the lights are operating correctly?

My last W203 had 3* Rear SAM Units all done FOC under warranty... Price sounds about right!

My problem was that the rear tail lights would constantly flicker periodically every few seconds. I had one error message on the MFD warning that the RH Reverse Bulb had failed flash up on couple of occasions when it had not failed. The error message never appeared again but the lamps would flicker. Car was less than a year old at the time too!

Have you asked the Technician IF he has even attempted to reset the Rear SAM unit via Star in an attempt to clear down the error code first???

Edit: The Rear SAM unit is not difficult to replace yourself but you need access to Star...

 

[MecrazyBenz]

My last W203 had 3* Rear SAM Units all done FOC under warranty... Price sounds about right!

My problem was that the rear tail lights would constantly flicker periodically every few seconds. I had one error message on the MFD warning that the RH Reverse Bulb had failed flash up on couple of occasions when it had not failed. The error message never appeared again but the lamps would flicker. Car was less than a year old at the time too!

Have you asked the Technician IF he has even attempted to reset the Rear SAM unit via Star in an attempt to clear down the error code first???

Edit: The Rear SAM unit is not difficult to replace yourself but you need access to Star...

3 SAM's wow

Unfortunately i have no warrenty which is a bummer.

I didnt ask him if he could reset the SAM, but when he took the car in the service bay, he did mention he would try to reset the warning message.

So that fact that he came back saying it needs a new SAM suggested to me he may have tried but the fault didnt clear.

Thank for the reply anyway. Just gona have to put up with it for the time being

 

[fuzzer]

hmm , i was guessing the sam from the word go

sorry to hear that dude

 

[Flash]

Just gona have to put up with it for the time being (

Perhaps if you were to disconnect the battery for 20 minutes or so then this may posisbly clear the error in the MFD... However, it may possibly not work but would be worth a try.

PS. If you do disconnect the battery then there is small reset procedue to follow for other functions i.e. electric window switches which is very easy.