Parking System Problem

[noby39]

I own an E270 CDi, on a 53 plate. I decided to have a non-MB parking system fitted, having been quoted around £1400 by MB dealerships to have the MB Parktronic system retrofitted. I selected the SteelMate system for £300, but when I took the car along to have this fitted, the fitter could not find a convenient way of connecting the SteelMate box-of-tricks to the MB electrics. Usually, he connects the box to the rear-lights electric supply in a car boot, but he couldn't get at this supply in the E270 without dismantling the lining in the boot; and he wasn't sure if he dismantled the lining that he'd be able to tap into electrics anyway. He mentioned that recent models of MB and Audi were being designed and built in such a way as to make his job difficult if not impossible (and that goes for more than just parking systems).

Any thoughts on where in the boot of the E270 the fitter could tap into the car's electrics, without a major dismantling job?

 

[smee]

u should only have problems if mb have gone onto can bus data streaming which means all the the electrics use a single cable and instead of using voltages they use signals not sure if merc have gone this way or not
if they have it will not be easy 2 connect universal after market items

if they havent u should be able 2 pick up ur feed at the back of the lamp unit it shouldent need that much stripping because u still need 2 change the bulbs at some time

 

[noby39]

Thanks for your post. I learned on reading the MB manual for the car that if a light blows the car has to be taken to an MB dealer to have the lights replaced. It seems that the light clusters are pressurised. I've had a go at trying to get at the rear light clusters but without success.

 

[andy_k]

Thanks for your post. I learned on reading the MB manual for the car that if a light blows the car has to be taken to an MB dealer to have the lights replaced. It seems that the light clusters are pressurised. I've had a go at trying to get at the rear light clusters but without success.

50p bulbs which cost £100 an hour to fit - the world has gone mad

 

[smee]

it has gone daft knew the headlamps where gas discharge but dident realise the tail lamps where going the same way

 

[noby39]

Regarding the parking system, I misunderstood the fitter when he said he needed to get at an electrical supply or point. He was referring to the need to be able to detect reverse gear - he normally does that by tapping into the supply to the rear lights cluster and he uses the power to the reversing lights to activate the rear parking sensor system. As the car battery is in the boot, getting electrical power would not be a problem; getting a suitable supply is. A further possible obstacle could be fibre optics. He wasn't sure if the lighting and other systems in my car use fibre optic cables; but the use of fibre optics on MB cars (and possibly other makes of car) is making them a no-go area for retro-fitting of certain non-MB accessories (like parking systems). He told me that he had to turn down work on 2 very recent MB cars because of this.