My 95 E300 exterior bulb warning lamp is lit, but I have checked all the exterior bulbs and they all work fine, whats the problem. I did notice that it does not light up untill I put the car into reverse or touch the brake pedal, which leads me to think it may be something in the rear light pods. Any ideas?
I have removed all the bulbs and cleaned the contacts and replaced them but it still happens. It's almost time for the black tape over the light.

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Karl B
95 E300 D
2006 Mazdaspeed 6
2001 GMC Yukon XL
1997 Contour SVT
Mazda RX-7 SCCA race car

did you check your center brake light ?

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2010 ML350 Bluetec
2012 Mustang Convertible

Did you replace any bulbs recently?
Sometimes if non-factory style bulbs are used with brass instead of silver (nickel plated?) bases, the change in resistance is enough to trip the 'bulb out' diagnostic. The other possibility is a defective Light Diagnostic circuit.

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1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

Probably one of the white backup lights or the left rear brake "Fog" light element.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

I had a bulb with a loose filament. When you looked at it or tested it it was fine; when the car hit a bump it wiggled the loose end of the filament and tripped the light-out warning.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I just replaced a brake lamp holder, Pink in color, as the lamp was fine(replaced anyway) but I got the lite out warning with a tap of the brakes.
I cleaned the contacts both holder & socket light pods.

I was told by other MB owners & the dealer this "socket/holder" has a history of being problematic.
So far, so good.

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Gary
Experience is something you get, Just after you needed it....
'99 E300 295K, '83 300D 220K, '75 240D 185K sold
'80 MCI Bus Conv DD 6V92TA, w/4 cyl. Kubota diesel GenSet 12.5KW

My warning light comes on too and I don't have a bulb burnt out either, what I do have, however, is a loose wire that likes to come unplugged from one of the lisence plate illuminating bulbs - have a look there, if everything else is good, there's a good chance your problem might be one of those bulbs or a loose wire.

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'95 E300D ("Tank") - 231,000 miles
'79 240D ("Biscuit") - 197,250 miles (Sold)
'83 240D ("Ding-Ding") - 217,000 miles (Death by deer)
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"Back off, man. I’m a scientist” ~ Peter Venkman

When does the warning appear? It will first come on when the defective lamp is first used, ... with brake lamps it stays on until the key is turned off, with running / headlamps only while the defective lamp is turned on, etc.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I will try cleaning everything again, all the bulbs are lit. It only occurs when you push the brake pedal so it is not in the backup lights or rear fog light circuit.
I may have a brass bulb, that's an interesting solution, have to check that.

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Karl B
95 E300 D
2006 Mazdaspeed 6
2001 GMC Yukon XL
1997 Contour SVT
Mazda RX-7 SCCA race car

All the bulbs in a particular circuit MUST be the same brand and socket type ie silver or brass and wattage. If a silver based bulb is replaced with a brass, the difference in resistance will trigger the warning. The light will work just fine though. Also if the candlepower (wattage) is different side to side the warning will come on. The silver based bulbs will have the candlepower stamped on the base, they must match left and right.

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81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.

It is then, one of your three brake lights.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff