Buy Mercedes-Benz E350 Tail Light Assembly

Key Points

Mercedes-Benz E350 tail lights (also called rear lamps, brake lights, or tail-lamp assemblies) help drivers behind you see your car, know when you are stopping, and spot your turn signals. They use a mix of bulbs and LEDs, follow strict safety rules, have had past recalls for dimming, and are fairly easy to swap with hand tools. Keeping them bright and damage-free boosts night-time visibility and prevents tickets or crashes.

What Tail Lights Do

Tail lights glow red whenever the headlights or parking lights are on, shine brighter for braking, and flash amber or red to signal turns. Federal rule FMVSS 108 sets the color, brightness, and wiring so every car on U.S. roads looks the same to other drivers.
Outside the U.S., the E-Class also meets UN ECE R48, a similar global lighting code.

Design Changes

• W211 (2003-2009) - mostly halogen bulbs in a clear-red housing.
• W212 (2010-2016) - switch to LED light bars for running lamps and brake lamps, plus fiber-optic turn signals that light faster than bulbs.
• W213 (2017-2023) - full-LED clusters with adaptive brake light that flashes in hard stops.
• W214 (2024-2025) - adds scrolling "welcome" animations and wider LED strips.

Bulbs & LEDs

Early E350 models use single-filament 7506 bulbs for rear turn signals and dual-filament 7528 or P21/5W bulbs for tail/brake; later models have sealed LED boards that last 20+ years. (static.oneweb.mercedes-benz.com) LEDs draw up to 90 percent less power than old bulbs, easing alternator load and saving fuel.

Safety Tech

Adaptive Brake Light flashes the brake lamps during emergency stops to warn following traffic and can also trigger the hazards if the car stops from over 70 km/h. A failed lamp will trigger a dashboard alert and store a code in the body-control module.

Recalls & Issues

A 2014 recall (NHTSA 14V177) covered some E-Class cars because oxidation on a ground pin made lamps go dim or fail. Another bulletin notes cracked seals letting water into the housing, which can corrode contacts and cause flicker. RepairPal summarizes the visibility risk from dim lights.

Fuse & Wiring

Tail-lamp power passes through a 15-amp fuse in the right-side trunk panel (location varies by year; see fuse chart). If both sides go dark, test this fuse first with a multimeter before replacing the lamp.

DIY Replacement

1. Open trunk and remove small carpet panel behind the lamp.
2. Release two plastic wing nuts; pull lamp straight back.
3. Disconnect wiring plug.
4. Swap bulb carrier or LED unit; be sure rubber seal is seated to stop leaks.
5. Reattach nuts to 3 Nm (hand-tight).
   Detailed walk-throughs show the same steps for W211 and W212 sedans.

Upgrades

Many owners retrofit late-model LED clusters into earlier cars for brighter light and a modern look. Ensure replacement lamps carry DOT or "E-mark" stamps so they stay legal. LEDs also reduce maintenance because there are no filaments to burn.

Maintenance Tips

• Wash lenses with mild soap; avoid harsh cleaners that cloud plastic.
• Check lights every month; ask a friend to confirm brake and turn lamps.
• Replace bulbs in pairs so brightness matches.
• Dry condensation by removing the bulb carrier and letting housing sit in a warm, dry spot.

Environmental Note

LED lamps last many years, cutting down on bulb waste; recycle old halogen bulbs at a household hazardous-waste site rather than tossing them in the trash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are my E350 tail lights dim on one side?
A: A corroded ground pin or blown fuse often causes one side to go dark or dim. Cleaning the connector and replacing the fuse fixes most cases.

Q: Can I drive with a cracked tail-lamp lens?
A: It is legal to drive only if the red lens area still shows red light, but moisture will soon fog the lamp and may short the circuit, so replace it quickly.

Q: Do I need special tools to change an E350 tail lamp?
A: No. A trim-removal tool and an 8 mm or T20 socket will remove the two wing nuts that hold the lamp.

Q: Will an LED upgrade fit my 2008 E350?
A: Yes, many plug-and-play LED housings fit the W211 chassis, but you may need a resistor or coding to prevent bulb-out warnings.

Q: What color should the running light be?
A: Federal rules require tail lamps to glow red and stop lamps to shine a brighter red. Amber is allowed only for turn signals.

Q: How long do factory LEDs last?
A: Mercedes rates its LEDs for the life of the vehicle, often 10-15 years or 30 000 hours of use.

Q: Where is the tail-lamp fuse on a 2014 sedan?
A: It is Fuse 71 (15 A) in the trunk fuse panel on the right side behind the liner.

Q: Why do my brake lights flash fast?
A: A fast flash means the car detects a failed bulb or LED; scan the body module for codes and inspect the lamp.

Q: Are smoked tail lights legal?
A: Any tint that reduces light output below FMVSS 108 levels is illegal; choose lamps that are DOT-compliant to stay street-legal.

Q: Do I have to replace LEDs when one diode fails?
A: Yes, LEDs are sealed; you replace the whole lamp or LED board rather than a single diode.

Frequently Asked Questions Markup

For deeper reading, see the full FMVSS 108 text, the NHTSA recall notice, and the latest E-Class owner's manuals linked throughout this guide.