Has anyone else experienced continual, catastrophic, brake light bulb failures on their 240? Under warranty I reported the problem whereby each time there was a reasonable downpour, the brake light bulbs explode. I end up having to fish out glass fragments with, at times, only the metal base remaining attached to the holder. It appears to be the result of cold water coming into contact with hot glass.
The Australian version of the 240 has a high-level brake light at the bottom of the rear window and at the bottom row, outside corner of each tail light assembly. The latter are dual filament, 5/21 watt globes.
The dealer's 'solution' was to drill a small hole in the bottom of each lens assembly to let the water out. Now, IMHO, the water shouldn't get in there in the first place. Needless to say the modification had no effect.
I have used clear silicone sealant all around each assembly but the problem persists.
Has anyone else encountered this and found a cure? I don't mind getting new (expensive) lens assemblies if it guarantees to rectify this annoyance.

Ivan -

The problem is endemic with 240 sedans. Follwo the run-off route. Down the back window into the trunk trough. Zoom along that trough then down and splat up against the lens-to-lamp-body seal. Usually the reverse lenses go first as they are the first hit. Others can go , too.

The hole drilling solution is also wide spread. Some even drill three holes along to bottom edge of the lens so the water drain rate exceeds the fill rate. Helluva note, ain't it?

Never have I tried this but you might. Remove the tail light unit from the car (use a new gasket when replacing) and do all you can to clean out the stuff accumulated in the space between the lens and the body. You have to look in from the side next to the car.

Once that's clean and dry, see if you can sort of flow into the space some kind of marine sealant. Enough to run up against the interface between lens and body.

Another idea is to use wide tape, like duct, duck, or package sealer, to cover the gap between the car body and the lenses along the top edges of the upper three lenses. Let the water hit that and go elsewhere.

Post with results, OK?

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

BC is absolutely correct.

fyi, they sell replacement back up lenses (the clear ones) at IPD and a couple other places. If you go that route, make sure you have some GOOD sealant when you put the new one back in.