I posted previously about my exterior light bulb problems. I was getting a warning light on my dash that one of my light bulbs was "out".

When I checked the taillights and compared the left cluster of lights to the right cluster of lights, there was always a right rear bulb that was out that I kept trying to fix. I tried new bulbs, scraping off the 'calcium' build up that gets on the metal, etc.

As it turns out, it wasn't that the right bulb was OUT, it was that the LEFT bulb was ON!! It wasn't supposed to be "on". Plus I had a front left side marker bulb that burned out so I replaced that one with a spare that I had around the house.

After tracking the problem down to the headlamp switch and replacing that with a new one, I STILL had a problem! Some here thought it was a grounding wire and other issues.

Turns out the problem was that I used the WRONG LIGHT BULB in the front left marker! The kicker is that the replacement bulb was WORKING, but causing problems with the rear bulbs!! The CORRECT BULB has TWO connector points on the bottom. The one that I was using only had ONE.

So, expensive lesson learned, USE THE RIGHT BULBS!!

1991 300d, 215k

Yep! The wrong bulbs can cause weird problems or even damage. The PO, or his service garage, used the wrong bulbs and melted a couple of fixtures on mine.

__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Observation with all too many things is pretty critical. The newer the car I either get the bulb number from the bulb or elsewhere. For example the parts places have an extensive index on what bulbs are used for what function on each type of car. Then replace with the same right number. An unintentional wattage change the monitoring system just might detect.


Some of the newest bulbs might be getting pretty pricy. You can order them for next to nothing from China. Sometimes come two to a package so you even have a spare.

I would NEVER order a bulb from China. It'd probably be COUNTERFEIT, it wouldn't last long, and probably be made with TOXIC CHEMICALS, not to mention it'll probably catch on fire. It's bad enough big name companies have their bulbs made there but at least the factories are under USA control.

Probably the same bulbs you buy locally. There are unlikely many factories even in China producing a given number of bulb.


Not all Chinese stuff is junk either. It would perhaps come as a surprise the amount of Chinese content in many so called American products.


As an example on houses I have built even years back. I could incorporate features that normally just cost too much to source in north America. I got the identical items from China. Things like builders hardware at ten to twenty cents on the dollar.


You are right that American companies shift production to other countries as well. Brands I used like wiser also are now manufactured in Mexico. One way or another I sourced them usually for perhaps 25 cents on the dollar often enough. Even branded the same and they were not knock offs.