CSportAnt

i found the wires to the cigarette lighter, but there are three wires, which one is which? please help. One is brown, one blue (wire is thinner) and the other is grey with a black strip i believe.

Moviela

Brown is the car chassis or "ground"

The blue (smaller) is for the wee lamp that illuminates the lighter socket.

The Beefy grey wire does the heavy lifting of heating the lighter.

I'd connect the shift knob lamp to the smaller blue wire so the dimmer can control the shift knob brightness.

FrankW

I didn't use the cig light wires when I had mine. I used the red connector for the shifter lights.

If I remember correctly the Black wire taps into the brown one and the red wire from the shift knob taps into the blue one.

PM Cappa26. I did his wiring when I sold the shiftknob to him.

CSportAnt

Thanks MOVIELA and Frank for the input. Will try that out.

CSportAnt

Thanks Frank, It works!!

CSportAnt

Problem. I just noticed the light goes out when the car starts or when it is in the first position when the key is turned. Does anyone know what wires to hook the shift knob up to? Thanks!!!

FrankW

I just found my old R171 shiftknob's instruction, but I can tell you this...IT IS TOTALLY USELESS...LOL

"step 7: Connect the cables to the centre console illumination, so that the gearshift lever is illuminated when using the parking light." ---courtesy of Brabus Fitting instruction.

I'll fax it to you if you have fax.

CSportAnt

Thanks Frank. PM sent with fax number.

Moviela

Did you try connecting the Black wire to the brown on the cigar lighter, and the Red to the small blue on the cigar lighter? That would put the lamp in parallel to the lighter illumination.

CSportAnt

I did that, but only comes on when the when the key is in the ignition, but once i turn the key the light shuts off on the knob, but everything else is still on. I finally figured it out and actually hooked it up to the red dot light on the shifter, and it works now. Thanks again for all the help.

anthuny85

hey i saw the brabus style grilles that have the flat fins and no center line for the clk and ML's...do they have em for the w203? i want one really bad...but cant find it, or does anyone know where i can find a variety of different grilles besides the typical CL style? thanks..and yea i tried STFF.

rlee02135

they are custom made... like SEXPHERE's

CSportAnt

I can get them, but very expensive.

CSportAnt

pictures of the grill i can get. Supposily made of Carbon Fiber.

rlee02135

i like it. how much?

CSportAnt

Seriousily too expensive. I am talking to someone who MAY be making a mold for it, and may be making non Carbon Fiber ones, and will sell them for alot less.

BadAssC230k

I heard the Carbon Fiber one's for the CLS run as high as $1800-2300... for a GRILLE?!


Noooooo Way Jose

CSportAnt

They wanted $750 for the one in the pictures, and that is before freight charges overseas. Crazy!!

JDM

Sexpheres is awsome...I'm suprised there is'nt an abundance of various grill's like that out there already..I could go for that carbon fiber one myself, just painted or chromed. The guy making those prototypes is gonna make a killing if he gets them off the ground..That look is the best alternative to stock in my op.

Blake P

$239.99
EDIT: link removed due to violation of terms of use. Sorry guys.

JDM

wow.

dac086

have you seen this thread
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=132162

CSportAnt

They no longer sell it. I asked them a few weeks ago. The person I spoke to regarding the mold, said he will NOT be making it for the W203, since the W204 is coming. SO he will be making it for the W204 C Class. Just FYI.

Blake P

Consider it a blessing. That grille looked bad (meaning BAD, not GOOD).

14cue

ditto, it looks like pure crap. no offense.
an amateur photoshop image looks better than that.
stick with the oem, much cleaner or even paint it yourself.