2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 headlamp

382 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
.Brake-/Tail Lamp
LeftThe left brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. This message will only appear if
a critical number of LEDs have
stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake-/Tail Lamp
RightThe right brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. This message will only appear if
a critical number of LEDs have
stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Front Foglamp
LeftThe left front fog lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Front Foglamp
RightThe right front foglamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Rear Foglamp
Auxiliary Bulb OnThe rear fog lamp on the driver’s
side is malfunctioning. A backup
bulb has been brought into use.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
High Beam
LeftThe left high beam lamp (halogen
headlamps)/high beam flasher
lamp (Bi-Xenon* headlamps) is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).

383 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
.High Beam
RightThe right high beam lamp (halogen
headlamps)/high beam flasher
lamp (Bi-Xenon* headlamps) is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
License Plate Lamp
LeftThe left license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
License Plate Lamp
RightThe right license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
Reverse Lamp
LeftThe left backup lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
Reverse Lamp
RightThe right backup lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
Low Beam
LeftThe left low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

384 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
.Low Beam
RightThe right low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Parking lamp, Front Left
Auxiliary Bulb OnThe left front parking lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
Parking Lamp, Front Right
Auxiliary Bulb OnThe right front parking lamp is
malfunctioning. A backup bulb has
been brought into use.Replace the bulb as soon as
possible (
page 400).
Marker Lamp
Front LeftThe left front side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Marker Lamp
Front RightThe right front side marker lamp is
malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Marker Lamp
Rear LeftThe left rear side marker lamp is
malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of
LEDs have stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

385 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
.Marker Lamp
Rear RightThe right rear side marker lamp is
malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of
LEDs have stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Tail Lamp, Left
Auxiliary Bulb OnThe left tail lamp is malfunctioning.
This message will only appear if a
critical number of LEDs have
stopped working. A backup bulb
has been brought into use.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Tail Lamp, Right
Auxiliary Bulb OnThe right tail lamp is malfunction-
ing. This message will only appear if
a critical number of LEDs have
stopped working. A backup bulb
has been brought into use.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Switch Off
LightsYou have removed the SmartKey
from the starter switch, opened the
driver’s door and left the headlamps
on.Switch off the headlamps (page 61).
Switch off lights or
remove key
.
The exterior lamp switch is set to
positionU, and you have forgot-
ten to remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch. The parking
lamps remain switched on.Switch off the headlamps (page 61).
or
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

400 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Bulbs
Safe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp
assemblies are in good working order at
all times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
headlamp adjustment.
Warning!G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas.
A bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot

drop the bulb

scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
iIf the headlamps are fogged up on the inside
as a result of high humidity, driving the vehicle a
short distance with the lights on should clear up
the fogging.
iBackup bulbs will be brought into use
when lamps malfunction. Read and observe
the messages in the multifunction
display (
page 381).

401 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Front lamps
LampType
1Additional turn signal
lampLED
2Turn signal lamp3457 AK
3Halogen headlamp:
Low beam
H7 (55 W)
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Low and high beam1
1Vehicles with Bi-Xenon* headlamps: Low beam
and high beam use the same D2S-35W lamp. Do
not replace the Bi-Xenon* bulbs yourself. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
D2S-35 W
4Front fog lampHB4 (51 W)
Front fog lamp
(vehicles with Sport
Package* and
SLK 55 AMG)H7 (55 W)
Corner illuminating
front fog lamp*H7 (55 W)
LampType
5Parking and standing
lampW5W
6Halogen headlamp:
High beam/high beam
flasher
H7 (55 W)
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
High beam flasher
H7 (55 W)
7Side marker lampW5W

403 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a
front lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM (
page 109).
Open the hood (page 294).
1Housing cover for low beam (halogen
headlamps only)
Housing cover for Bi-Xenon* head-
lamps. Do not remove.
2Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
3Bulb socket for high beam/high beam
flasher lamp
4Bulb socket for parking and standing
light lamp
5Bulb socket for low beam bulb
(Halogen headlamps only)
Warning!G
Do not remove the cover1 for the
Bi-Xenon* headlamp. Because of high volt-
age in Bi-Xenon lamps, it is dangerous to
replace the bulb or repair the lamp and its
components. We recommend that you have
such work done by a qualified technician.

404 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Low beam bulb (Halogen headlamps
only)
Turn housing cover1 counterclock-
wise and remove.
Turn bulb socket5 with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove.
Pull the bulb out of bulb socket5.
Press the new bulb into bulb socket5.
Place bulb socket5 back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.
Reinstall housing cover1.
High beam/high beam flasher bulb
(Halogen headlamps) / High beam
flasher bulb (Bi-Xenon* headlamps)
Turn bulb socket3 with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove.
Pull the bulb out of bulb socket3.
Press the new bulb into bulb socket3.
Place bulb socket3 back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.Front turn signal bulb
Turn bulb socket2 with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove.
Press gently onto the bulb and turn it
counterclockwise out of bulb
socket2.
Press the new bulb gently into bulb
socket2 and turn it clockwise.
Place bulb socket2 back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.
Parking and standing lamp bulb
Turn bulb socket4 with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove.
Pull the bulb out of bulb socket4.
Press the new bulb into bulb socket4.
Place bulb socket4 back into the
lamp and turn it clockwise.
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a rear
lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM (
page 109).
Open the trunk lid (page 99).
Tail lamp unit
1Bulb socket for rear fog lamp
(driver’s side only)
2Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
3Bulb socket for backup lamp