Hello,

I just bought a 1996 e320 with 34k miles, which is in perfect condition, except for a brake light issue.

Passenger side bulb looks fine and works with just the lights on, but no brake (high) light. Replaced the bulb, same issue, even swapped the working "plug" from the other side and same issue.

Any Ideas? Thanks for the help!

more detail and if you have picture post it to get an accurate answer

Common issue with the 210 tail light sockets. The bulb doesn't always make good contact. Every couple of years I have to remove the bulb and turn it until I find the sweet spot. It then works well for quite a long time. There are other options that a search will yield, things like adding to the contact area, adding a wire, replacing the bulb holder, etc.

Len

Most of the tail lamp assemblies on the 1996 model W210 chassis HAD to be replaced for that problem...wasn't a recall but almost all failed back then.

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One thing I've tried with my cars (Benz and non-Benz) is to coat the base of the bulb with a thin layer of conductive grease.

It improves contact and it makes it easier to remove bulb at a later date. I once had to literally break apart a bulb, in a GM car because it was impossible to pull out. After I started using conductive grease I no longer have had that problem.

Hope this helps.

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

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Not in this weather!

It's a poor design, almost designed to fail so you have to buy a new assembly.

The circuit boards on the tail lamp assemblies are basically an exposed contact board that is held on by plastic tabs that are melted and smashed down onto the circuit strip to hold it down.

Those circuit strips often corrode and warp causing poor contact.

You can scrape the corrosion off where the bulb makes poor contact, but the problem will come back.

Also scrape and bend the tabs on the bulb socket itself to make better contact, but again, it will act up again down the road.

The best fix is to replace the assembly itself, but they have not been upgraded much and will most likely give problems down the road as well.

Fantastic info, thanks guys.

I've got it parked at the moment, till i can get it registered.

Have you found whether the use of conductive grease helps at all?
It has in the case of my cars. I was wondering, however, whether it has helped others.

__________________
Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

Mine is still original.

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2010 W212 E350 Sport
1996 W210 E320 (220K miles)

Never tried it on them, but it may not hurt to try.
Usually the problem is caused by heat transfer from the bulb so maybe a heat sink type dielectric grease may not hurt.