Originally Posted by LantanaTX
I hope you haven't spent money yet and the car is not at the dealer. first off unless you are under warrenty NEVER go to a dealer and especially if you are a woman that doesn't work on a car. You will spend hundreds more than you need to. If the check enigne light is out all you have to do is drive about 75 miles and have turned the car on an off about three time. The system Texas uses will still detect the code unless you have completed a few drive cycles without thowing the code again. the good new is you may not throw that code again.
you wil need the headlight working to pass inspection. Take it somewhere else. If you were in Dallas I would fix it for free. the best place to take these cars is to an independent shop that works on Mercedes. any tech that has worked on an SLK can work on your car. did they actually try to chanage the bulb? or just told you it was wiring? Any shop can change the bulb.
As far as tires go. If get a set 18" wheels like I have in my signature, the cost to replace tires goes WAY down.
Thanks for your reply, Lantana. Well, the headlight issue has been resolved. Someone on this site suggested that it might be the fuse and that's what it was. So that's fixed. The tires aren't an issue at this time, either.
The problem is still the 'check engine light'. So you're saying to drive it for 75 miles, and during that timeframe the engine needs to be turned on and off 3 different times, and that should re-set everything? I, too, am hoping that the CEL won't come back on once the codes re-set (again, not holding my breath). If it does come back on, I'll have to take it to a shop again. I can find an independent Mercedes shop - that sounds like a far better option than a dealership. I hate taking my car to the dealership because I always feel ripped off. Thanks for the suggestion - I didn't think of that.
Hey, I wish I were in Dallas, too. I'm going to head your way tonight for 40 miles on I-45 and then turn back around again. That'll be 80 miles and the coudes should be re-set (I'll also make periodic stops to turn the engine off and back on again). Then I'll see what happens with the light. Thanks again.