Parking sensors wiring on W211

[MikeG]

Hi all,

Just purchased a E220 CDI, 07 reg. and wanting to fit some parking sensors. From the previous posts, I understand how to fit the sensors on the bumper. The power/actvitation is by attaching it to the reversing light. In the boot, I can not seem to get to the rear lights. The owner's manual says that it uses HiP bulbs and should only be accessed by qualified persons!
Can anyone help.

 

[jberks]

I have wondered what we all do when a tail light pays up in a few years time!
I'd imagine that you could remove one side of the boot panneling and access the rear of the cluster. There must be wiring, though knowing MB, they may have simply built a switching circuit into the cluster, in which case you're looking at 3 wires for the whole cluster and are out of luck. Lets hope not.
You also run the risk of upsetting the blown bulb warning system which is really touchy (Bing every time you go into reverse!)and if you were unlucky enough to lose the rear SAM, I dare say MB might use to to wriggle out of any claim.

 

[MikeG]

if you were unlucky enough to lose the rear SAM, I dare say MB might use to to wriggle out of any claim.

Thanks for the tip, I shall try that.

What is rear SAM?

Sorry, new to all this.

 

[premmington]

Don't attempt the job. Most of the parking sensors are not postion coded, they need a 29bit CAN identifying code installed into them. Siemins software can be a problem. PDC (parking distance control on BMW's) has been a dealer nightmare, with new-newish cars having bumper replaced after a small knock, and not being able to restart with the CAN system crashing after trying to reprogram a addtional node (new PDC sensor). Some of these cars have needed a whole CAN system change at about £4-5k.

Best left alone... Trust me...!!!!!!!!!

http://www.remmington.plus.com

 

[jberks]

Are you saying that an after market system cannot hook into the reverse light bulb circuit and must run off the CANBUS?
IF so, then it would be a nightmare.

Mike,
In the old days, an indicator had a live wire that ran from the switch to the bulb. The reverse light similarly had a live wire from the switch on the gearbox to the white bulb at the back of the car. (Oh heady days!).
These days, 'clever' cars like Mercs have data networks, similar to that used by your PC to access the internet. SAMs are Signal Aquisition Modules and are basically small computers that take the instruction to flash the indicator bulb or put on the brake light, and make it happen. So, rather than a wire going to each bulb, there is a single wire going to the SAM which in turn controls everything else. Hence the "29bit CAN identifying code ". This I assume would be a code that the standard parktronic control box would have to identify itself to the rest of the network.
In your case, you are fitting an after market parking system (I assume). In theory, provided you can find a wire that goes live when in reverse, and tapping into that wire doesn't upset anything else, I'd imagine you should be ok.
It may be worth contacting the sensor kit manufacturers and asking if they or any of their fitters have any advice as regards attaching it to an E class. As lots of cars now have a canbus, this shouldn't be a new issue to them.

 

[MikeG]

Thanks jberks and premmington, I will get some advise first. I know a guy who services mercs at his own garage (used to be the service manager at my merc dealer) can do it.

Cheers

 

[premmington]

jbergs demonstrated a good understanding of the system.

We have never attempted job in the workshop on a Merc, but have done plenty of BMW's and wish we had not taken the job on.

http://www.remmington.plus.com

 

[television]

There is a retro fit for this car and many have done it

 

[MikeG]

There is a retro fit for this car and many have done it

what is this retrofit and where can I get it?

 

[television]

what is this retrofit and where can I get it?

Hi Mike, you can get it from MB, though some other members have done a good job on some after market ones, I will try and find some links