Today I finally removed the bumper after two attampts via the backside - impossible my hands are too big.

So with it on the bench I can get the new bulb in much better and it's secure but ... I'll be damned I I can get that exciter twisted on.

I've rotated it from every possible position and I CAN press it so that it sort of feels like it's seating on the end of the bulb but I cannot get those four tangs inserted and rotated into locked position.

They won't rotate at all. Period.

So is this a one way only orientation before you try and rotate?

If so does someone have a photo of which way to orient these before twisting to lock.

This is worst GD headlight system I've ever seen.

But that's no surprise for this car as my brand new coolant tank is weeping again. Always the same spot on these crappy tanks. I don't lose a lot but they just are all defective it seems. My third tank and not a one of them ever did not leak from day one.

Got what piece of crap this car is in some respects.

 

Same as jag S-type

GENUINE OEM! 03-06 Mercedes E 320 350 500 55 Xenon Headlight IGNITER IGNITOR HID D2S Light Bulb SOCKET - Factory Xenon

 

I got the passenger side one on by using a very slight smear of silicone grease on the retaining tabs. It wouldn't go WO that. But the driver's side was just a complete no go. That's the side I tried twice from within the car and failed. It appears that the bulb retaining clip got distorted a bit in those arduous attempts and was sitting too proud of the flange surface that the exciter has to be come flush with. So after many trial and error attempts to reshape the clip, I couldn't find one anywhere online, it finally went in. The photos show the orientation that worked for me.

 

I have had this issue as well .
I re angled the back side of the four locking tabs with a cuting disk on an angle grinder ,
you could also use a fingernail file , no way one of mine would twist lock in un till I done This , now it works pefectly !

 

I'm not a developmental engineer but ... when I look at the socket of the reflector housing with those spring tabs and the complexity of the socket in that exciter (there so many tabs and pieces) plus the four plastic retaining tabs plus you have to pull the front bumper off ... I think this thing was designed by Lucifer or at least Lucas ...

That this is in all cars now OMG!

Can I have my sealed beams with SS screw-on retainers back please?

 

I think they're Hella made/design.

 

Yes it's a hell of a design ...

 

Gave it to an intern or some such

 

Well It now appears that this was a VERY bad idea!

The Passenger side lamp failed shortly after installation and I have just replaced it now. In these photos you can see how an arc was set up and burned these two pieces out.

Even though I had but the slightest of grease on those tabs some of it apparently must have dripped into the area and caused the failure.

This time no grease but still no go with the 4 tabs and in trying one of them snapped! So DAMN I thought, now it's ruined!

But ... with the 4th tab non functional it now locks in beautifully, seems to be secure and has been working for a week.