W212 faulty reg plate wiring?

[TeddyRuxpin]

Hi all,

Purchased a car that had a reg plate light out. I'm going to change the bulbs, but I do think that it is wiring based, as I've seen both the bulbs (left and right) come on and off at various times.

I also took the car to MB Cardiff and got a note to say the reg plate light not working and that the wiring was suspected.

I also notice that the left hand side boot trim on the hinge was off when I purchased the car - revealing some of the wiring. So there's likely a loose connection or faulty wire.

Has anyone tackled this on a W212 saloon (pre-facelift), and could you give any tips before I go ripping out all the innards of the trunk liner?

Thanks!

Ed

 

[AMGeed]

The boot hinge is a known spot for wires breaking on some models.
Might be worth a look to see if one has broken and just making occasional contact.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Sure - thanks! Just wondering if there are is a common place for this to go, before I rip everything to shreds.

The plastic is off the left hinge - not sure of the routing of the cable to power the lights.

Need to order some new bulbs just to make sure!

Thanks!

Ed

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

After lots of digging around (the work you have to get to the reg plate bulbs is INSANE - especially with the 'one use' clips...), the source of the issue in my case seems to be around the actual bulb holder. A touch there will get the light back functioning... so the bad cabling is not likely to be the boot hinge, I think it's the actual bulb connection/connector

I did also have a dead bulb. I'm going to change the bulbs, push in the connectors properly, and leave the boot liner off for a few days, to see if the issue is resolved (seems to good to be true) before putting everything back together...

Cheers!

 

[Uky]

The "one-use" clips has the same (hole) diameter as reuseable two-part clips once used by SAAB and several other brands
until the bean counters wanted even cheaper ones. The two-part clips can still be purchased here and there.

(hint hint)

 

[clk320x]

Hi all,

Purchased a car that had a reg plate light out. I'm going to change the bulbs, but I do think that it is wiring based, as I've seen both the bulbs (left and right) come on and off at various times.

I also took the car to MB Cardiff and got a note to say the reg plate light not working and that the wiring was suspected.

I also notice that the left hand side boot trim on the hinge was off when I purchased the car - revealing some of the wiring. So there's likely a loose connection or faulty wire.

Has anyone tackled this on a W212 saloon (pre-facelift), and could you give any tips before I go ripping out all the innards of the trunk liner?

Thanks!

Ed

So you’re the one who bought the car!!!! Gary’s car from Richmond right??

I was going to buy it on the Monday lol, but I think you got it on the Sunday

Have since bought another.

What a small world!!!!! I thought I recognised the reg plate and checked and it’s that car

On that car you should get the gearbox oil changed as when I checked when I looked at it there was no history of it being done.

Tried to PM you but you are 5 messages away from having that facility unlocked.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Hey!

Yes, it was I! Very happy with it overall - but did post in another thread about the gearbox history... interested in your thoughts! Maybe this is the wrong thread for it but hey, I started it!

As you know it was on the MB service plan and had a full MB history, but as you said, on the service records there's absolutely no info on if/when the gearbox oil should have been changed in the records.

I asked MB in Cardiff about it, and they didn't have any answers - one person told me that it should be done every 50k (nonsense) and another person said it must simply be human error and that they must have just 'missed it off' - AFAIK as it's the 231HP version with the 7G standard, it should have a change every 37,500 miles... not sure what to do about that... Given the milage, it should have last been done last at the 112,500 service, but it doesn't mention it.

I've continued the service plan, next service is a 'B' service...

I'd appreciate any advice on that, perhaps it's worth kicking up a fuss with MB... I think I let it go a little too easily when I was with them.

I'll be back there this week for a new key!

Cheers

Ed

 

[clk320x]

Hey!

Yes, it was I! Very happy with it overall - but did post in another thread about the gearbox history... interested in your thoughts!

It's had a full MBSH on a service plan, but as you said, on the service records there's absolutely no info on if/when the gearbox oil should have been changed. There is not even a 'box' on the printout which is for gearbox fluid. Even when I put the info on the ESS, there's no info on the gearbox. Weird!

I asked MB in Cardiff about it, and they didn't have any answers - AFAIK as it's the 231HP version with the 7G standard, it should have a change every 37,500 miles... not sure what to do about that... Given the milage, it should have last been done last at the 112,500 service, but it doesn't mention it.

I've continued the service plan, next service is a 'B' service...

I'd appreciate any advice on that, perhaps it's worth kicking up a fuss with MB...

Cheers

Ed

Hey Ed!

What a small world! Drop me an email and we can chat! A good thing about your car is he’s had the oil cooler replaced at MB, that’s a very common fault on the 09 350 as the seals were not suitable.

My email: CLK 320 X @ gmail . Com
Happy to have a chat!

Cheers

 

[clk320x]

Hi all,

Purchased a car that had a reg plate light out. I'm going to change the bulbs, but I do think that it is wiring based, as I've seen both the bulbs (left and right) come on and off at various times.

I also took the car to MB Cardiff and got a note to say the reg plate light not working and that the wiring was suspected.

I also notice that the left hand side boot trim on the hinge was off when I purchased the car - revealing some of the wiring. So there's likely a loose connection or faulty wire.

Has anyone tackled this on a W212 saloon (pre-facelift), and could you give any tips before I go ripping out all the innards of the trunk liner?

Thanks!

Ed

Hey Ed, just wondering if you sorted this yet?

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Hey,

Yes I believe so - I simply replaced the bulbs and gave the connectors a bit of a wiggle, and it's been fine. The bulb on the right was definitely blown and the left one was intermittent. Changing the bulbs and blowing the area with compressed air has sorted it I think - luckily for me.

I tested it with halogen bulbs that i removed from the doors (LED replacements) and once they behaved, I replaced them with relatively low power, white LEDs, for a newer OEM look.

They've been fine for about a week - I've run the car with the boot lining off to make sure before I put everything back together. I will probably put the lining back tomorrow.

So, it's definitely worth simply replacing the bulbs first, then seeing if the problem persists!

Cheers,

Ed

 

[clk320x]

Hey,

Yes I believe so - I simply replaced the bulbs and gave the connectors a bit of a wiggle, and it's been fine. The bulb on the right was definitely blown and the left one was intermittent. Changing the bulbs and blowing the area with compressed air has sorted it I think - luckily for me.

I tested it with halogen bulbs that i removed from the doors (LED replacements) and once they behaved, I replaced them with relatively low power, white LEDs, for a newer OEM look.

They've been fine for about a week - I've run the car with the boot lining off to make sure before I put everything back together. I will probably put the lining back tomorrow.

So, it's definitely worth simply replacing the bulbs first, then seeing if the problem persists!

Cheers,

Ed

How hard was it to replace the bulbs? I’m having the same issue with mine! Although they seem to work 95% of the time, and when they don’t work opening and slamming the boot close gets them going lol

Which Leds did you use pal? Do they error? and do you remember what type of bulb is used? Is it festoon or a wedge type? Thanks so much

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

To be honest, it's a pain in the **** to replace the bulbs. You have to remove the boot liner, the plastic which is on the lip of the boot (the one that has the trunk light in it) and the arms which cover the hinges. A bit mad really.

There are lots of pop rivets which you need to brutally pry out (use a plastic prying tool to pull them out) and you'll feel like you're breaking stuff, but that's what they're supposed to do. They cost £1 each (!) from MB but you might get some cheaper ones online, or you might be able to reuse yours.

I used some LED bulbs from eBay, they are canbus safe and don't produce errors. They are very similar in light output to the halogens, I wanted something conservative and not too bright, just a nice OEM look. I bought a range of LED bulbs to test, some are expensive and really fancy, however you can't use bulbs that are any bigger than the halogen bulbs - the brighter bulbs I have are all too long to fit the reg plate. So I had to use the lowest powered ones.

Here are the ones I used: XENON WHITE 5 SMD 501 T10 W5W CANBUS ERROR FREE LED SIDELIGHTS HIGH POWER UK | eBay

You can of course buy the entire light unit too, but I thought it would be too bright.

FYI all the interior bulbs in the car (including the licence plate and wing mirror courtesy lights) are wedge type (W5W or T10 or whatever). The only exception is one of the rear interior lights.

All of them can be quite big except for the reg plate.

I'll post some pics of the difference between the halogen vs LED, although it doesn't really do justice to the fact that the LEDs are brighter, due to the iPhone camera exposure compensating etc etc

 

[clk320x]

To be honest, it's a pain in the **** to replace the bulbs. You have to remove the boot liner, the plastic which is on the lip of the boot (the one that has the trunk light in it) and the arms which cover the hinges. A bit mad really.

There are lots of pop rivets which you need to brutally pry out (use a plastic prying tool to pull them out) and you'll feel like you're breaking stuff, but that's what they're supposed to do. They cost £1 each (!) from MB but you might get some cheaper ones online, or you might be able to reuse yours.

I used some LED bulbs from eBay, they are canbus safe and don't produce errors. They are very similar in light output to the halogens, I wanted something conservative and not too bright, just a nice OEM look. I bought a range of LED bulbs to test, some are expensive and really fancy, however you can't use bulbs that are any bigger than the halogen bulbs - the brighter bulbs I have are all too long to fit the reg plate. So I had to use the lowest powered ones.

Here are the ones I used: XENON WHITE 5 SMD 501 T10 W5W CANBUS ERROR FREE LED SIDELIGHTS HIGH POWER UK | eBay

You can of course buy the entire light unit too, but I thought it would be too bright.

FYI all the interior bulbs in the car (including the licence plate and wing mirror courtesy lights) are wedge type (W5W or T10 or whatever). The only exception is one of the rear interior lights.

All of them can be quite big except for the reg plate.

I'll post some pics of the difference between the halogen vs LED, although it doesn't really do justice to the fact that the LEDs are brighter, due to the iPhone camera exposure compensating etc etc

Thanks so much for all your help Ed, really appreciate it.

Wow what a silly design by MB! What was wrong with having 2 screws that take the light holder out like on the older cars
So it’s a real pig of a job then!

Please post up some pics that would be lovely!

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Here's a picture of the old halogen lights, then a picture with the LED on the left, then a picture with them both changed over to LED. In real life it looks much nicer with the LEDs but it looks quite similar in the pics...

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

FWIW I replaced the puddle lights (bottom of each door), wing mirror courtesy lights, boot lights (either side and also the one on the boot lip) and glove box with powerful LEDs and it really makes a big difference. I live in a rural location so really need the powerful lights and the extra visibility - also really makes the whole car feel/look more modern.

The wing mirror ones are not for the feint of heart, however!

 

[clk320x]

Here's a picture of the old halogen lights, then a picture with the LED on the left, then a picture with them both changed over to LED. In real life it looks much nicer with the LEDs but it looks quite similar in the pics...

View attachment 82975 View attachment 82976 View attachment 82977

Lovely!!!! I’m glad you found a set of LEDs which aren’t too bright!

 

[clk320x]

I used some LED bulbs from eBay, they are canbus safe and don't produce errors. They are very similar in light output to the halogens, I wanted something conservative and not too bright, just a nice OEM look. I bought a range of LED bulbs to test, some are expensive and really fancy, however you can't use bulbs that are any bigger than the halogen bulbs - the brighter bulbs I have are all too long to fit the reg plate. So I had to use the lowest powered ones.

Here are the ones I used: XENON WHITE 5 SMD 501 T10 W5W CANBUS ERROR FREE LED SIDELIGHTS HIGH POWER UK | eBay

Thanks Ed, I have bought the bulbs you linked it’s much appreciated!!

Also discovered MB make a special ‘clip removal’ tool which I’ll probably buy to get the plastic clips off!

Will keep you posted

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

The clips are £1 each from the dealer, by the way!

I am picking up five today (to replace some of the ones that broke a tiny bit), even though I could probably reuse my old ones. I need another to reattach a piece of trim so some spares are good to have.

Hope it gets sorted soon!

I’ll be putting all my trim back together again this weekend, let me know if you need any pointers, there isn’t much W212 specific info on a DIY online!

 

[clk320x]

The clips are £1 each from the dealer, by the way!

I am picking up five today (to replace some of the ones that broke a tiny bit), even though I could probably reuse my old ones. I need another to reattach a piece of trim so some spares are good to have.

Hope it gets sorted soon!

I’ll be putting all my trim back together again this weekend, let me know if you need any pointers, there isn’t much W212 specific info on a DIY online!

hey Ed!

Going to attempt this tomorrow, how long did it take you to take it all apart/put back?

I had a look at the wis diagrams and it doesn’t mention taking off the plastic trims on the arms? Why do they need to be removed pal?

Cheers!
Abs

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

It takes about 4 minutes to put things back together, seriously easy, I did it today. Taking apart is easy enough, but I had to 'figure it out' and then I felt like I was breaking stuff, until i realised that I wasn't. I could do it all again now in 15-20 mins, but it's about an hours job in the cold and wet weather, with no real DIY to help you!

The arms need to be removed before the boot liner is tucked into them!