I recently have purchased a 99 SLK 230 and had a side front marker light that was not working. Upon removing the amber lense I found that the socket that goes into the lense housing is missing and actually the wires taped. Is this an item (socket) that can be found at a local parts store or will only the MB socket work?

 

Probably, most of these types of parts are standard in the industry, just make sure it is the right size. If the holder is like the ones on my 450SLC they are held in with a screw. Might be hard to find, that type of mounting. You'll need to go to a dealer for one of those.

The ones on the under the bumper parking/directionals on my car are standard sockets, which most auto parts store carry. Make sure you get one or two contacts on the part, whichever you car uses Check the bottom of the bulb that is supposed to be in there and see how many contacts it has. Most have one one contact, on the upper markers, on the under the bumper ones there are tow contacts.