BF_JC230

No - I did not and will not be making these amazing multicolor molded items...They are very impressive, I would love to see the multiple nozzle and barrel set up on this mold! These are the OEM ones - what I did is measured strictly the location of the clear parts, and the black line - compared it to the other OEM buttons and I hope that my art will land and re etch the locations correctly!

The first half of the FULL missing white buttons mold is done...will share soon.

I hope to have quality updates soon...this is a back burner, back burner spare stove project now...It sort of always has been...Unfortunately...

I have a choice to make though - and could use your opinion...Do I paint them slightly richer and deeper black like #1...Or do I go a little flatter and grey like in #3?

Thanks all,
Jake

johnand

I would go the darker black (#1).

SickSpeedMonte

I second that.

BlackC280

Definitly Richer & Deeper black.

BF_JC230

UPDATE...
Here are the buttons that I resurfaced...before I paint them the "final" color...I ran a good TEST on sheet stock of "MY" icons...in no real order...

Here are the results...
Thanks,
Jake

SickSpeedMonte

Looking good!

What are the sound waves coming off the front end of the car supposed to be again? At first it seems like those might be for the deer alert, but isn't that what the sound waves over the trees is for?

bdgdl08

I think that's parktronic.

BF_JC230

Yes, that is my "Re-Design" on Parktronic instead of the universal... P)))[]


Molds made of all the parts M-B did not want to mold white for me...I do NOT understand this molding logic...some parts are white, with a black overspray...and some are black, with a black overspray...What does the tooling look like, I would assume most of / all of these are in the came cavity...

Anyway...In these images you can see my fill holes, and the vent holes...Hope to make parts soon...We shall see...

SickSpeedMonte

Very nice work, I look foward to seeing the final castings.

BF_JC230

Working on it...Need to find some time for this project!

I "reworked" the file for a "NEW" IMS switch / button...

Also thinking of using the "RED OFF LED" as reading "OFF"

Thoughts?
Jake

BF_JC230

*UPDATE*

Almost all parts are finished...here are some pictures...

1.) Left Side
2.) Right Side
3.) R&D
4.) Cast Part v. Finished Part

Thanks!
Jake

SickSpeedMonte

Wow that looks great!

BF_JC230

Well...This part is done! Now on to stage TWO...

What do you think...Look factory?

Thanks,
Jake

johnand

Awesome job Jake, those look fantastic I am really looking forward to seeing how you do on part II.

bdgdl08

really looks great!

SickSpeedMonte

I'm going to say, yes that looks factory. Great work!

jrsmith_68

Hey Jake, I've been following this for a while, looks pretty good. Any chance you could take a shot with the OEM buttons side by side with your new ones?

BF_JC230

Sorry all...just got back to updating this...and working on it.

I have the "Final Product" and here it is!

The hick-up was that the fine engineers at Mercedes-Benz decided to mold in little redundant ribs on the outboard side of the over travel snap rib. I did not notice this until I went to reassemble everything, and they would not lower! So I had to cautiously remove ALL OF THESE RIBS on the added "Buttons" which have two per!

Oh Fun!
Hope to have in car pictures soon!
Thanks,
Jake

ffotop

You've done a great job. Two slight issues could prevent most people from replacing the whole switch row. Some of your pictures are way out of context (i.e. tow-alarm replaced by a ring?) and you are missing the three blue leds on both ventilated seats switches - see my switch row for example. The other buttons are really cool and you've done a great job making them look like OEM.

So, when are you going commercial? Would love to get my hands on some of these extra buttons

SUNILP

VEry nice work.

OneOfaKindTrini

Wow Man Thats pretty Sweet.. NiCe Job On that.

BF_JC230

Well...I installed COMAND last weekend - Was able to hang out with my Dad...change the oil, plugs all filters and install the new HU...While I was there I figured it was time to install one of my "Custom" UCPs...Here it is!

Thanks,
Jake

BF_JC230

1.) Thank you!
2.) "Ring"...that is an Alarm in the "Off" mode...which is what you do with the "Tow Away" setting...see image.
3.) Those three blue LEDs on the cooled seats I could not replicate...they are AMAZING (all of the OEM clear parts) and co-molded, with multiple injection nozzles for white and black ABS / PC - see earlier images.
4.) Thanks again!
5.) No commercial, no for sale...these took too long, are not 100% perfect and they were a learning tool for me - and to fuel my automotive / industrial designer hobby needs....Now to get them to work!

Thank you all for your encouraging comments...I look forward now to figuring out how to make these work - as they are as useless as a phone key pad on Audio 20 with no MHI...Any tips, tricks or ideas are GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks,
Jake

BF_JC230

***Update***

Well...I installed the surface mounted LEDs...and they all bench tested on when I tried them before assembling the UCP...now installed - THEY WONT LIGHT!

First)
Is the UCP smart enough to know not to send voltage to these LED locations - even though the PCB has solder spots for LEDs? - I need to pull apart a UCP again to trace the power leads...DANG IT!

Second)
I am reading that the UCP may need to be "coded" (if at all possible) to run the LEDs and possibly even read (if there are) CAN signals from never loaded button locations...Can I start simply by "Coding the UCP to turn on these LEDs?" That seems awfully complicated to just illuminate these icons I have made...

Third)
For those of you that have UPGRADED with OEM stuff...IE - added a switchrow with and for heated seats, rear sunshade, IMS, etc...did you NEED TO CODE the NEW UCP to "work" the OEM options and also "illuminate"...I would think not...In this picture - I DO NOT HAVE IMS OR OEM PTS INSTALLED...yet this "optioned UCP" did have the "buttons" to operate IMS and PTS...and these OEM LEDs ARE infact illuminating! AARRGGG!

Thanks!
Jake

ffotop

I really don't know the tech stuff, but there should have been 2 more lit buttons, the vented seats, which are OEM.

Since you are not going commercial, is there any chance to get from you the 4 non-OEM buttons that I am missing? (2 horns, plug, light)

Currently my car is under heavy re-construction (several non OEM options are being added, will post pics here https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...teve-here.html) and now would be a great chance to test for possible coding of the extra buttons so we can actually make them do something. I will share any findings and reimburse you for the buttons...