I've got this message in the display:" 1 malfunction, Tail light R, substitute lamp used".
No lamp is off in the rear on either side. cannot find substitute lamp. Does it exist? To be sure I replaced the tail (back) lamp and made a reset.
Still getting this message.
Last time I left my car for service, with a message (Light sensor) it ended with a substitute of battery(?) and high costs.
I am not interested i paying for the brand workshop to educate there staff. can anyone give me a hint? Is there something fishy with the car computer, or is there another "funny" fault, that doesn't show up with the correct error code?

 

After service this message shows in display: "1 malfunction, Tail laight R, Substitute lap used".
There is no substitute lamp what I can see, and no lamp seems to be out of order. How do i get rid of this message.
Or is there a similair problem i had last time, when the battery was replaced, due to an erreor message on Light sensor?
I do not want to spen lots of money to educate the branch service station.

 

I checked my Owners manual and found the solution you're looking for. As I quote and as follows from "Practical Hints" section pg. 350 of the 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sportcoupe' Operator's Manual (Sounds educated and B.S. huh? hahaha):


Standby Bulb Function

The stop lamps, dimmed, will act as a replacement lamp, if one taillamp stops working.

The left stop lamp acts as a replacement for the rear fog lamp, if it stops working.

The respective fog lamp, dimmed, will act as a replacement lamp, if the left or right standing lamp stops working.

Notes:

The multifunction display will indicate that a bulb has failed. See malfunction and warning messages on page 290.


When all else fails young grasshopper, read the instructions. [:@]hahaha.

 

Yeah, thanks.
problem is that the instruction manual (Swedish) doesn't clearly indicate which lamp is which. The damaged lamp didn't seem to be bad. A visual examination isn't always enough!
In the manual it would have been helpful to indicate om the picture whick lamp is acting as standby. The truth is that the manuals tend to be written for the people who writes them. So in there sense it is OK, but without a logic scheme it is difficult to understand the intention in every case.
Anyway, you can never betoo old te learn, huh.
Thanks