Mercedes Benz E320 headlights problems

Filed Dec 27, 2023 · Lights · FL

Mercedes Benz has a KNOWN safety problem with this model and has not put it under recall yet and it needs to be. The wire casing in the wiring harness for the headlights crumbles and leaves exposed wires that touch, short, and draw causing dim headlights. Due to being cited for dim headlights the night before, I called MBUSA on December 27 2023 and they initially REFUSED to take a case from me.

Filed Mar 22, 2017 · Electrical · 124,000 miles · FL

The insulation on the wiring harnesses for the headlights has completely disintegrated and is sitting in a pile of bits on the bottom of the headlight assembly, literally leaving completely bare wires leading up to the headlamp sockets. If these wires were to touch and short out it could result in complete loss of headlights at night at highway speed. This defect was discovered when attempting to replace a burned out low beam headlight bulb. Other such wiring in the vehicle might also have deteriorated or disintegrated but not yet been discovered, with attendant risks of damage to other extremely expensive parts of the electrical system, or risk of fire or catastrophic failure of the vehicle while operating at highway speeds.

Filed Jan 20, 2017 · Electrical · 143,000 miles · HI

Headlight and engine wiring deteriorating beyond repair! Dangerous and may cause sudden crash or fire.,.

Filed Nov 27, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 159,000 miles · VA

The insulation covering the electrical wiring that powers the low beam headlights on both passenger and driver sides has failed and crumbled away exposing the bare copper wire. This circuit powers two halogen 55 watt bulbs (110 watts total or ~10 amps) at 12 volts. The insulation failure will present an immediate vehicle fire hazard if the electrical protection fuse fails to actuate as a result of the short circuit created by potential bare wire contact. If the electrical protection fuse does actuate properly the car will lose forward illumination which is essential for safe vehicle operation at night. In either instance a property and personal hazard can result from this defect. This defect can be traced directly to the wire mercedes benz selected for the manufacture of this circuitry. Either the gauge of the wire selected is insufficient to dissipate the heat generated by the current flow the circuit demands or the insulation of the wire selected is inherently defective as evidenced by its crumbling deterioration for a component that should be expected to last the life of the vehicle. In either case this wiring failure constitutes a manufacturing defect which should be subject to recall and correction by the manufacturer at his expense. The defect was discovered while attempting to replace a failed low beam headlight bulb, a maintenance activity that can reasonably be expected to be performed a number of times during the vehicle's lifespan. The defective insulation was immediately evident by visual and tactile observation. It was immediately clear an immediate hazard was present and that the lighting could not be used rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate under condition when the lighting circuit might be operated.

Filed Apr 9, 2015 · Lights · 51,000 miles · LA

During renewal of headlamp bulbs I found that insulation had broken off leaving substantial portion of bare conductors. Wires are in close proximity to each other and if they touch there is the possibility of loss of lighting or electrical fire. Should this occur, while driving on a dark road, it likecould result in catastrophic crash. This is commonly discussed by owners in the mercedes-benz forums. I am surprised that mercedes has not been forced to recall w211s from 2003 to 2009 model years.

Filed Jul 20, 2014 · Lights · 92,000 miles · TX

Bought car new and love it. But last week the right low beam headlight failed. I had left and right h7 standard low beam halogen bulbs changed since the front bumper has to be removed. Later that day the new left side h7 failed. So my mechanic explained that the hella light fixture seen in mb, bmw, etc.. Commonly have premature disintegration of wiring insulation. They pulled both light fixtures, showing me the bare wires inside both fixtures. The mb wiring harness was unaffected. For the cost of about $1200 I replaced both hella headlight fixtures. I reviewed bmw and mb forums online and in both there are similar discussions about hella wire insulation failure in headlights. This is a dangerous and expensive issue. From the forums it seems that fires have occurred. It is possible that auto accidents have happened when night lighting has failed. At a minimum there have been many expensive repairs that should be part of a recall. I did not contact mercedes benz because this seems to be a global problem with a automotive parts supplier and not specific to mb or the e class.

Filed May 11, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 104,101 miles · MI

Replaced the headlight bulbs on my car. The insulation on the 2 wires to the bulb crumbled on both the left and right when I touched the wires. Wiring is defective. This is a safety issue since the wires could touch causing the fuse to blow and cause the headlights to go out while driving at night.

Filed Feb 10, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 167,000 miles · TX

The plastic coating on the wiring for the headlights is coming off leaving exposed copper wires that short out causing headlights, etc. To fail.

Filed Dec 24, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 95,000 miles · CA

The passenger side front low beam headlamp stopped working. We changed the light bulb, but that did not correct the problem. We noted that the socket for the passenger side low beam appeared burnt. We took it to a mechanic who rewired the right front low beam light socket and wire harness. After this initial problem, the driver side high beam headlamp stopped working. We replaced the lamp bulb. We noted that the driver side high beam headlamp socket appeared burnt. We did not replace the driver side high beam headlamp socket. So it does not work. After the above two problems, the driver side rear brake, tail, and parking lamp stopped working. We changed the lamp bulb, but that did not correct the problem. The driver side rear brake, tail, and parking lamp socket did not appear burnt. Instead the lamp was lose and could not be tightened. We used black electric tape to hold the lamp in place, which has worked. However, we must periodically re-tape.

Filed Jan 30, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 60,000 miles · TX

I changed the low beam halogen bulbs in my headlights when I discovered that the wire leads to the bulb had lost nearly all of their insulation, exposing bare wire. The insulation flakes were sitting in the bottom of the capsule that contains the light assembly, which is normally closed, accessed by a removable "door". Both headlights had this same issue. This is an obvious sparking/fire danger, so I applied electrical tape over the wires. Had I not changed the bulbs [they lose brightness over the years], I would have been unaware of this danger. I am concerned that this same wire insulation has been used throughout the vehicle. I am amazed that mercedes has not issued a recall on this. I purchased this car new in 2007.