Sourcing Parts for a 2011 Mercedes C250 CDI

redturtle on 12/05/2021 - 19:56

The front headlight of my 2011 Mercedes C250 CDI went out the other day and despite changing the light bulb the light still isn't working. After taking it to a mechanic and auto electrician, they both said that I needed to replace the entire headlight and module for the headlight.

The quotes I've received on those parts are not cheap and one of the mechanics suggested that I could source the parts myself as they are often cheaper online.

Does anyone have any experience buying car parts online? Mercedes in particular? If so, could you please share the source and your experience?

Thanks :)

Automotive Car Mercedes-Benz

Comments

  • SF3 on 12/05/2021 - 20:09
    +3

    Mercedes
    those parts are not cheap

    The second order effects of a High Yield…

  • brendanm on 12/05/2021 - 20:10

    Why are they suggesting you need an entire headlight? Did they check the ballast?

    • Blue Cat on 12/05/2021 - 21:10

      For a Mercedes, I wouldn't be surprised if it is needed to replace the whole headlight.

      OP, have you checked if maybe some of the fuses are blown?

      • brendanm on 12/05/2021 - 21:45

        It's not. You can just buy a ballast, a Mercedes C series is not a Zonda.

        • Orico on 12/05/2021 - 23:05

          In Corollas you need to replace the whole headlight. it's not a feature only in super cars

          • brendanm on 13/05/2021 - 06:17

            @Orico: Is that so? Got a source for that? You can buy ballasts for those as well.

            The Zonda reference was not serious by the way.

            • Orico on 13/05/2021 - 20:26

              @brendanm: My family's corolla 2016. The high beams can be replaced but the headlight comes in an assembly that you can't take apart easily. It's a whole sealed assembly.

              I don't know what the ballast is. I'm talking about bulbs

              Take a look at this:

              https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/164586163718?hash=item2652198e06…

              • brendanm on 13/05/2021 - 20:41

                @Orico: That looks like an led light, which is not what is being discussed here. A ballast is used for xenon lights.

                • Orico on 13/05/2021 - 20:43

                  @brendanm: Is Xenon is different to halogen light bulbs because the corolla 2016 uses halogen.

                  • brendanm on 13/05/2021 - 20:45

                    @Orico: Halogen can all be replaced. Xenon can also be replaced. They are both replaceable globes.

                    Also I assumed you were talking about the corollas with leds. Leds should last the lifetime of the vehicle. Having a proper look at the one you linked, it is just a projector housing. The bulb is replaced by removing the cap on the back. Parts of it may be led, eg DRL, which won't be replaceable.

      • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 15:57

        Fuses all checked and no issues

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 15:56

      Yeah the mechanic checked the ballast, all good. The mechanism that moves the light up and down (part of the intelligent light system) is loose and can't be repaired so they have suggested that I replace the whole thing.

      • brendanm on 13/05/2021 - 16:17

        Ok, that makes more sense then.

        • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 22:19

          I think I have been mistakenly referring to the module and the ballast as two different things. Now I'm thinking they are the same thing.. Pretty sure the auto electrician referred to it as a 'driver' the first time too which doesn't help someone like me who knows nothing about cars…

          https://gtautoparts.com.au/product/mercedes-ml350-a166900280…

          The ballast is what supplies power to the headlight for it to turn on right?

          From what I've been told, I could just change the ballast/module and the headlight should still function. Just won't move up/down.

          • brendanm on 13/05/2021 - 22:32
            +1

            @redturtle: Correct. The ballast provides the correct power to the xenon globe. Pretty sure in your model it is also a "controller" for the other headlight functions as you mentioned.

  • Boioioioi on 12/05/2021 - 20:30

    If money is your objective, find a used one from wreckers, or find one on Facebook marketplace/Gumtree. No gaurantee they'll work if you buy privately. I think some wreckers offer some kind of warranty with their parts.

    I am doubtful that the headlight is the issue though? Your headlight merely holds the bulb. I would guess the fault is somewhere in the electrical circuitry between your light switch and the bulb itself. As someone else said, maybe the ballast, maybe the wiring, maybe the switch?

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 15:59

      You're right, changing the switch/module should fix the light but the mechanism that moves the light up and down is broken. So I could just change the switch but that means one light will move as the car senses a close object and the other won't

  • Bid Sniper on 12/05/2021 - 20:31
    +1

    Wreckers, ebay, gumtree

    If you have part number and want new I get parts from Dubai, way cheaper than local
    https://partsouq.com/

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 16:00

      Thanks! Will look into them.

  • pegaxs on 12/05/2021 - 21:14
    +1

    Being a MB, the light is probably ok, but the rest of the car is (fropanity).

    It will probably end up being something stupid like a CAN bus error to a tail light ecu that isn’t telling the ABS ecu that the alternator isn’t supplying exactly 14.38475 volts, thus causing the SRS module not to talk to the body module, who isn’t getting the signal from the hand brake switch to de-interlock the engine ECU that is faulting the sunroof ECU into thinking the sun roof is open and signalling the headlight ECU that it is still daytime…

    It’ll be cheaper and easier to keep the globe and replace the shitbox around it.

  • Randxyz123 on 12/05/2021 - 21:16

    Have you gone to a European specialist?

    Probably cheaper from the UK or Germany but the risk is unless you know exactly what the issue is, and that replacing the entire thing will fix the issue I’m not sure I’d do it.

    The mechanic might have a guarantee on their work if replacing the module doesn’t work and be able to help you further.

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 16:02

      Yeah they suggested getting something from the UK market would be a lot cheaper.. The challenge now is to find a trust worthy source to get it from.

      I've had three different mechanics and auto electricians look at it so far so somewhat confident that it's the right issue

  • bdl on 12/05/2021 - 21:39

    Westfield Bondi Junction car park :)

  • knasty on 12/05/2021 - 21:59
    +2

    I use fcpeuro.com and spareto.com (US and Europe respectively). Closer to home https://runautoparts.com.au/mercedes-benz

    If you have the MB part number a google search can help find who has it.

  • bazingaa on 12/05/2021 - 23:07

    wreckers ?

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 16:03
      +1

      Yeah that's going to be my first option if I can find the part.

  • Scraw on 12/05/2021 - 23:15
    +2

    I have used Ozepart in Dandenong for my Merc, they sell Korean part and are OEM quality
    Link to their ebay store

    https://www.ebay.com.au/usr/ozeparts-com-au?_trksid=p2047675…

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 16:04

      Thanks! Will look into them

  • herecomestheoost on 13/05/2021 - 06:36

    I own a Toyota Crown (JDM) and use an import specialist for issues like this, in my experience if headlights go you need a whole new one. I personally would take the car to a euro specialist before buying a whole new headlight though.

  • Euphemistic on 13/05/2021 - 06:41
    -1

    What did google say when you asked what’s wrong with my car? Pretty sure there’ll be some info out there about your specific problem.

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 16:05

      I did.. Too many variants of the same problem and multiple solutions

      • Euphemistic on 13/05/2021 - 20:07

        Which makes it really hard for members of a non specific forum to give you a solution without knowing the actual problem - other than ‘headlight needs replacing’.

        I know you are really asking for a cheap headlight, but to get the cheapest solution you need to know the real problem.

        • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 22:24

          Yeah for sure.. didn't expect to find a diagnosis or solution to my problem on this forum. Was just curious to see if anyone had any experience sourcing cheaper parts from an online source and how that experience was.

          Trust me, I searched for quite a bit to find alternative solutions and even got the mechanics to try and make sense of some of the 'solutions' but no dice.

  • mshanann on 13/05/2021 - 09:29

    If you can remove both front head lights yourself, you could try switching them over without actually installing them assuming there is sufficient cabling length (or jimmy an extension up if not).

    That would hopefully confirm either the integrity of the unit, or a fault somewhere else. You could put the non-working one first on the working-side to see if it springs back to life.

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 16:05

      Definitely not up to that task haha. Apparently they need to take bumper off the change the light

  • Baysew on 13/05/2021 - 10:37

    How much were the quotes?

    • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 16:07

      $2300 for the head light

      $1300 for the module/switch

  • Euphemistic on 13/05/2021 - 13:34

    Is it a standard halogen globe or a fancy xenon projector thingy?

  • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 16:06

    $2300 for the head light

    $1300 for the module/switch

    • bazingaa on 13/05/2021 - 19:17

      is this the car ?

      Private Price Guide $13,400 - $15,700
      *Trade In Price Guide $10,300 - $12,600

      so around 23% to 35% of the car value for a single headlight ? OMG!

      • redturtle on 13/05/2021 - 22:43

        Yeah.. feels bad man haha

  • canadian in Oz on 13/05/2021 - 16:51
    +1

    have a look on rockauto. Ordered parts for a Santa Fe from them and even with shipping it was $200 cheaper than buying from any parts place in Oz. Just have to make sure its the same as a NA equipped vehicle but worth a shot

    • Euphemistic on 13/05/2021 - 20:05

      Do you need to be careful with xenon headlights light regulars headlights and make sure they are for right hand drive?

      Got caught once getting cheap mirrors from OS. Only worked from the passenger side until I got the dremel out.

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