Hey Mercedes Forum. I am now the very proud owner of a '98 E430. The car is amazing and I wanted to join what seems to be the best forum of other people who feel the same way I do. Sadly I already have a question!

Earlier today a message appeared on my dash that says (something like) "exterior lamp failure". I checked my headlights, taillights, and blinkers. All of them seemed to be operating fine. Is there something I'm missing? Any help would be great, I'm new to such a complicated automobile. Thanks in advance!

- BTF

 

Try turning on all the lights especially the fog lights. Usually there is a rear brake light in the back that stays on for heavy fog days. They mainly are the ones that go bad.

 

Thanks for the advice, I will have to look into that. In the mean time, is there a way to make the warning message go away? It stays on at all times while I'm driving the car.

 

the light will come on when it is activated. so if you hit the brakes and the light comes on then its a brake bulb issue. turning the lights on park bulbs first and see if it lights up then go to headlights. but that car commonly has issues with the rear taillights.

 

Thanks for the info, Chassis. What if the message is on no matter what I'm doing? As soon as I start the car the message appears and does not go away until I shut the car off.

 

shouldnt do that at all unless lights are on automatic, or you press the brake, not sure on that unless it related to you turnsignals flashing when you unlock the car but i believe thatthe light out indicator does not activate untill you turn the key. but youve got an issue with the wrong bulb wattage or the wrong bulb type,the pins are wrong or youve got electrical wiring problems. check to make sure all the bulbs are lighting the side markers on the front bumper and the tag bulbs too and also the small round park bulbs beside the headlights too. they all are common.