W2111 Xenon Issue
Discussion
Gents - first time MB owner and first-time poster in this forum.
Yesterday I picked up a 2003 E270CDI to use on my weekly commute from Shrewsbury to Bournemouth. I'm pretty happy overall tbh because the car is largely sound with just a few little bits for me to tinker with and improve.
However, there is one issue I need sorting asap which is with regard the o/s front Xenon which is not working (the onboard computer calls it the front-right dipped beam or something similar). It worked 2 days ago for the seller when it was given 12-months MOT without advisories but failed on the day I collected when he ran it through the car wash..... Very apologetic and all that plus he gave me a brand new Xenon bulb to replace it (worth about £100 apparently from the main dealers). Anyway, I drove home in daylight and thought I'd have a look at fitting the new bulb myself today - no joy, very difficult to get the ignitor to attach without dislodging the bulb from the bracket. I took it to my friendly main dealer in Shrewsbury who very kindly attempted to fit it gratis. They managed to fit it but it didn't work. They cannot be sure that it isn't a fault with the 'new' bulb but identified two things:
1) The ignitor apparently does not look like an original MB part - it looks like it has been soldered into place with exposed wiring rather than shrouded in the loom between ignitor and main vehicle electrical bus.
2) The protective plastic case to the rear of the o/s front lights is missing. I had already noticed this and have one on hold in Bournemouth to collect this week.
They checked my chassis details against their dealer records and confirmed that my car did have Xenons as a factory option (which adds mystery to why there is a non-original part in its place now).
Basically, the Shrewsbury dealer wouldn't quote me for the work required due to the amount of investigative work clearly required - could be as simple as a new 'new' bulb and the plastic cover all the way up to requiring a new bulb, ignitor, looming, back-protector etc all plus labour of £120ph. Logic would lead me to guess that the lack of protection from the rear allowed water ingress of some kind during the car wash just before my collection. Therefore it probably needs more than just a new bulb.
Can anyone shed any light on why a aftermarket ignitor would have been used in the place of an original when it was originally specced for them? Also, can anyone recommend a specialist indie in the Bournemouth area? I'm able to leave my car with them Mon-Thurs this week but clearly need it sorted before I do any night driving.
Thanks in advance guys,
Dave
Yesterday I picked up a 2003 E270CDI to use on my weekly commute from Shrewsbury to Bournemouth. I'm pretty happy overall tbh because the car is largely sound with just a few little bits for me to tinker with and improve.
However, there is one issue I need sorting asap which is with regard the o/s front Xenon which is not working (the onboard computer calls it the front-right dipped beam or something similar). It worked 2 days ago for the seller when it was given 12-months MOT without advisories but failed on the day I collected when he ran it through the car wash..... Very apologetic and all that plus he gave me a brand new Xenon bulb to replace it (worth about £100 apparently from the main dealers). Anyway, I drove home in daylight and thought I'd have a look at fitting the new bulb myself today - no joy, very difficult to get the ignitor to attach without dislodging the bulb from the bracket. I took it to my friendly main dealer in Shrewsbury who very kindly attempted to fit it gratis. They managed to fit it but it didn't work. They cannot be sure that it isn't a fault with the 'new' bulb but identified two things:
1) The ignitor apparently does not look like an original MB part - it looks like it has been soldered into place with exposed wiring rather than shrouded in the loom between ignitor and main vehicle electrical bus.
2) The protective plastic case to the rear of the o/s front lights is missing. I had already noticed this and have one on hold in Bournemouth to collect this week.
They checked my chassis details against their dealer records and confirmed that my car did have Xenons as a factory option (which adds mystery to why there is a non-original part in its place now).
Basically, the Shrewsbury dealer wouldn't quote me for the work required due to the amount of investigative work clearly required - could be as simple as a new 'new' bulb and the plastic cover all the way up to requiring a new bulb, ignitor, looming, back-protector etc all plus labour of £120ph. Logic would lead me to guess that the lack of protection from the rear allowed water ingress of some kind during the car wash just before my collection. Therefore it probably needs more than just a new bulb.
Can anyone shed any light on why a aftermarket ignitor would have been used in the place of an original when it was originally specced for them? Also, can anyone recommend a specialist indie in the Bournemouth area? I'm able to leave my car with them Mon-Thurs this week but clearly need it sorted before I do any night driving.
Thanks in advance guys,
Dave
Sorry to hear of your bad experience so early on with your first MB. Non standard parts soldered in and a few other bits and pieces missing in action classic evidence of a repair done on the cheap. The fact that the seller was able to lay his hands on a new xenon bulb at short notice suggests he might be closer to this bit of DIY than he has let on. Pointless trying to prove or disprove any of this with him but it would be worth politely asking him what light, in a manner of speaking of course, he can shine on the history of the headlight issue. At the very least it might jog his memory as to where in his garage the missing bits and pieces could be, or the indie who did the work (so that you know who not to take the car to going forward).
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