12V from lighter: how? - MBWorld.org Forums

May 15, 2006 | 08:00 AM

zamfr01

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 9

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12V from lighter: how?

Hi, I have found on this forum several people who took the 12V power supply from the back of the lighter. Could someone describe me "how" this could be done?
I have searched in any DIY areas, but without success...
Mine is a C220SW, sold in Italy one month ago (I guess it is the same as elsewhere, but just in case I would clarify).
Thanks guys!

May 15, 2006 | 01:55 PM

jedcred

Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 453

Likes: 3

From: Bay Area, CA

'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zamfr01

This may depend on MY (I have a 2004 C230), but see if it works for you. The cigarette lighter in my car is located behind the shifter in the small pocket for the flip-up cup holder. If you have a 2005 or above, you'll need to search for instructions how to remove the surrounds to the radio, as it will be accessible there (2005s, AFAIK, relocated the cig lighter to the ashtray area).

So if you have the flip up cup holder, keep reading. Using a small thin plastic wedge (I used a Listerine Pocket pack, worked great), pry up the front part of the shifter assembly (the chrome part) and move the boot part up the shifter (but don't remove, as it is attached). Then open the ashtray, and carefully pull up on the surround there (mine is aluminium, but yours may be wood). It will be difficult, but eventually it will come out, then remove the rest of the piece, all the way back to the center glove box, and then you should see wires going past the shifter to the lighter. I ended up removing the lighter completely and putting an adaptor in it to get the power, but it would have been more prudent (something I'm planning on doing soon) to get a clip-on wire and split the 12v between the radio and the cig lighter, since I don't have the cig lighter the way I did it.

Hopefully that helps.

May 15, 2006 | 03:12 PM

bnzct

Almost a Member!

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 71

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From: St Louis

06 C230

I removed the big piece of trim around shift stick & cup holder.
Then removed the lighter/ash-tray assembly and tap on the wires that goes to the back of the lighter.
There are 3 wires if I remember correctly. 1 gnd, 1 power all the time (for ash-tray light) and 1 switched power (Only when ignition on).