dborleis

After seeing the Illuminated Star on display at my local Mercedes dealer, I immediately wanted one. I wasn't about to fork over $400-800 to buy one and get it installed. After some research on this board, I learned there are several different configurations, all with pros and cons. Some only allow the star to come on for a few seconds when you lock / unlock the car. Others only work with the engine running and then are on full-time including in daylight where it is virtually unnoticeable. This configuration seems to have eliminated the ability for it to light up when you unlock the car with the fob.

I have wired mine in such a way that it automatically comes on when it is dark enough for your headlights to automatically come on (I have it wired to the parking lights). You can also turn them on during the day (or anytime even with the car off) by simply turning on your parking lights if you wish. And the best part is, when its dark, when you unlock the car with the fob it comes on along with the running boards / mirror lights. In my opinion it is the best combination of all the other configurations out there.

Here is how I did it:

First, I wasn't about to pay $400 for the star at the dealership. I found a used one out of a wrecked 2014 GL 450 on ebay. Cost was $125 delivered. I also did not need any additional wire harness (I made my own).

1) To remove the original star, twist it counter clock-wise. This may require some muscle power. Be sure to pay attention to the orientation of the star. Then place the new illuminated star in the receptacle with the same orientation as the original one and turn it clock wise until it stops.

2) As mentioned, I spliced into the parking lights for this to work. This is located just behind the headlight on the passengers side. It is actually part of the wiring harness that plugs into the headlight. I will attach pictures showing locations, wires, etc. Find this wire cluster and come back about 6-8 inches from where it plugs into the headlight unit. This bundle of wires is wrapped in electrical tape. Remove about a 2-3" section of the electrical tape.

3) Inside this now exposed cluster of wires, find the purple wire. This is the wire that controls the parking light on the unit. This is the wire we will splice into using a simple Quick Splice (pictured) in step 5.

4) While the star itself comes with a short wire and plug, I did not actually use the plug. Instead I used 2 more of the Quick Splice devices and added two 4 foot wires to the wires (one is white / +, the other black /-) coming off the star.

5) Using zip ties, I secured the 2 wires behind the top underside of the grill and ran it over to where the headlight harness is from step 3. Using a Quick Splice, connect the 4 foot wire that you connected to the white wire on the star (+) to the purple wire we identified in step 3.

5) Take the other 4 foot wire connected to the black wire on the star and crimp a ring terminal to the other end of it (pictured). Now connect the ring terminal to the Negative threaded stud about 8 - 10" to the right of where you spliced onto the purple wire. To do this, remove the thick brown wire already attached to the stud with a 10 MM nut. Put the ring terminal on the stud then put the original wire with nut back on top and tighten the nut.

That should do the trick. Enjoy!

Mike450

Nice diy write up.

Count Laszlo

Great work!! Looks awesome.

4everalone

So on a 2014 that already has the Illuminated Star, you would just need to disconnect the plug from the star, do the electrical work you detailed and wrap things up to keep them weatherproof. Correct?

dborleis

Yes. Then it will work just as mine does.

jlim

If you just want it to come on when the headlights are on, what do you need to do with the 2nd gen illuminated star?

And if you want it to be on all the time when engine is on, what do you need to do?

Thanks.

dborleis

Hi- really simple. It will turn on when you turn your head lights on. Or it can be turned on anytime by turning your parking lights on. I did not set mine up so its always on when the engine is on- not sure how to do it that way...

chriscmore

Sorry to be daft, but could you clarify where exactly to get into which harness? I feel like maybe a label on pic 3 would have helped. There are several harnesses tied together here and I'd like to make extra sure before I start operating. I'd plugged the star into fuse 218 but I don't like how it behaves there (it's on when the car is on, but stays on sometimes several minutes afterwards and doesn't come on when I hit the unlock button.) The best will be when it's tied to the parking lights. As a side note, I found the service manual that describes how the factory tie-in is into the fuse box under the back seat. Oh, Germans...

* In the upper right is a nice lug to grab a ground.
* On the bottom is the headlight
I can't tell where these lead to, but per your pictures that tie-down point is a good landmark.
1.
2. Goes to that large connector in the foreground right
3. Goes to that Y split you can see under the large connector.
4. Labeled with the blue tape
5.



Thanks for your help.
Chris

snowflakeGL

Hi, did you figure which harness to cut into? I plan on doing this this weekend and would like to be 100% sure.

chriscmore

No, not yet.

AutosRUs

Can someone answer me what the difference is between wiring into the parking lights vs using the oe harness with fuse location? Obviously I am aware and prefer results of tapping into parking lights but what result will fuse/harness location wiring give you? Lights up when lock/unlock but off while driving??

dbldpr

I tapped into fuse box . Fuse #23. Goes on when you open door and stays on while driving. Goes off about 1 minute after turning car off. I also put a shut off switch under dash in case I do not want it on.

AutosRUs

Great thanks!

AutosRUs

Sorry but fuse#23 doesn't show up on my diagram. Is this located in fuse box in engine compartment behind pass headlight or inside passenger interior location?

wally AMG

Nice Job !! I know you can get it here for a good price

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Merc.../141797339096?

I do have distronic plus, wish I can install illuminated star but I can't, is any one install any of those Chinese made illuminated star? I saw some for $45 ... sound like wear a pair of fake ray bans

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Illuminated-...VX2MYL&vxp=mtr

dbldpr

Mine was drivers side engine compartment but I have a E350 2014 You may have it somewhere else. I used the diagram that was under the spare tire in the trunk.

AutosRUs

I looked through my diagram and that fuse number doesnt exist. Only additional wiring I have been able to locate goes all the to the rear seat fuse box which I dont think should be necessary. I dont know if anyone has a fuse location that works on the passenger side engine fuse box otherwise I just have to splice into parking light wire. I don't mind I just prefer to use the push in fuse location provided with oe harness.

dbldpr

Sorry I could not hfusepanel1.pdfelp but here are my diagramsfusepanel41.pdf

dbldpr

fusepanel2.pdf

chriscmore

Respectfully, a fuse diagram for an E-class is not going to help in the discussion on wiring into a GL.

Attached are some helpful fuse diagrams and the installation instructions for the OEM wiring for anyone crazy enough to try it. I can see where the dealers would want good money to install these things.

Fuse 218 in the engine bay behaves the best, as it comes on when the engine is on, stays on with DRL or lights, and driving around just fine. But I don't like that it doesn't pop on when you key-fob unlock it, and it stays on too long after everything else shuts off, leaving just the star by itself. Weird. But if you want to fuse it in the engine bay, 218 is the only choice.

I'll cut into some harnesses to see which purple (I suspect every bundle has a purple) and report back what I figure out.

Cheers,
Chris

dbldpr

Respectfully I sent the diagram of the E class because it shows that the E class has a fuse 23. It was for informational purposes. If my class has a fuse 23 to use to do the work then other classes must have a similar fuse. He needs to go to an audio shop that does MB work. They will know which fuse to use. Who in there right mind would wire the star the OEM way. It is a total waste of money and is not needed.

AutosRUs

I ended up splicing into a bundle behind passenger light and everything is working out fine. My only concern is if it is going to void any kind of warranty. I ordered some of the same harness tape they use so it should cover up just fine.

dbldpr

I would not worry about warranty. I know I do not worry about it and I have 3 more years under the MB extended warranty. And I have dome many things to the car.

chriscmore

Anyway, keeping the discussion on wiring into a GL, I found the wire to splice it into the eyebrow parking light, which is a purple/white striped wire. Instead of referring to my prior picture of the bundles down behind the passenger headlight, I traced it back up to a large bundle near the fuse box. This makes for more working room and a more obvious picture.

Along the fuse box are two large wiring bundles. You want the one identified with the blue tape as in the picture. Slice into the tape and locate the 18ga purple/white striped line. Snip, strip, splice, seal (silicone caulk or glue) and retape.






Where can I order the same wrap tape they use?

Cheers,
Chris

snowflakeGL

CHRISSCMORE<

I bought mine on Amazon.

https://smile.amazon.com/Tesa-Highes...lectrical+tape