Forum,
And then there's this little jewel I came across on the SLK 320 Forum: I got a Saftey Recall letter from Mercedes.

Campaign # 2006080005
1-800-367-6372 to speak with Customer Realations Staff.
Certain model years 1998-2004 SLK-Class Tail Light Assemblies based on your VIN #.

Heat generated by the Brake lamps, the base of the lamp sockets can be subject to thermal deformation over time. The deformation can cause movement in the socket-to-bulb connection, which may lead to a loosening of the electrical contacts in the sockets, and a failure of the bulb to illumiante.

Center brake lamp not affected.