capt_paul

I just got done retrofitting the hotel lock (90 deg position) for my car.

Basically, when you use your metal key to lock the trunk, it will bypass the car remote. So, if you have precious items in the trunk when you valet your car, you can be assured that items will not be stolen (just like the lock for the glove compartment).

I got all the information from the MB maintenance CD. Procedure is AN88.50-P-0005P. I ordered the pins, switch, and connectors through the trademotion parts online. I purchased the wire locally and made the harness per the instructions.

It took a total of about 5 hours or so because I had to figure out how to open up the connector from the rear SAM in order to install the new wire, and to route the harness after I removed all the trunk liners.

No reprogramming necessary either.

nlpamg

nice! can you please post up the instructions or DIY?

thanks.

LinDenKid

What about folding the back seat?

capt_paul

I don't have the rear folding seats. If someone really wanted to get in, I guess they can take a recipricating saw to the car.

Glyn M Ruck

Nice touch & proven useful. My car came standard with that & I too don't have/did not want the folding back seat. In my case Parktronic, BiX, 6cd shuttle, leather etc. etc. were far more important options than 1/3 folding back seat which always looks a little untidy.

krisv420

Good thing it came on my car =P

bdgdl08

I'm pretty sure the back seat can only be folded down from inside the trunk... so if the trunk's locked, and the seats are up, the trunk is sealed. That's how it was in my CLK

LinDenKid

Not being a smart ***, I'm an esl person so I don't know the part name , but I have a coupe , of course sedan models don't have that cover that lifts up when you lift up the trunk , it has two clips that come off and you can actually take that out.

LinDenKid

Plus it was only a little joke lol , good Info.

BF_JC230

I have wanted to do this for a little while; I also wish we had a [VALET] button to activate a rev limiter that was behind the lockable glove box door...see AUDI reference.

Can you please post the Part Numbers and COST (with date) for this DIY...I am pretty sure I recall the "Retro Fit" procedure having only a simplified list to order, as a "kit", and not actual part numbers.

Thanks,
Jake

bdgdl08

Sorry, I wasn't thinking that you had a coupe. I was just trying to be more clear about the functionality of this. Not trying to bash you!

That would be awesome. It would make sense for this to also have a governor to limit the speed.

C230 Sport Coup

Capt.
If you download the 2 files on the left of this page,
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp
Install the 2nd one 1st, then the cute pdf writer, you can print the
stuff on the maint. DVD as pdfs and post them.
Thats how I do it....

Since you've opened a can of worms with your post, it would be nice if you print the pdf and post it for future reference.

Thanks!

capt_paul

When I get back home after my work this week (I fly al over), I will post the part numbers and try to post the install instructions. Give me a few days. I think it came out to about $25 total, so it is a cheap retrofit.

C230 Sport Coup

I thought my car had this feature, as it was explained to me when I bought the car..
ha, after 2002, they didn't even put a lock cylinder in the rear hatch...
a 'cost saving measure'.
Turns out the lock cylinder doesn't allow me to lock the hatch, just open it if the electronics fail.
I distinctly recall them talking about the Valet feature, but alas it doesn't exist on the
coupe. Doesn't matter much since I don't carry anything back there, and they could just pull the seats down.

Having just had this whole thing apart to solve 1st the hatch not opening probllem which required a slight tweak of the metal that contacts the micro-switch..
then to resolve the issue with the constant 'trunk open' error, i can see how this would work pretty easily. But of little use on a coupe, with the seat latches in the back seat.

Lots of good stuff on the maint CD eh? I like the Bix + headlight washer retrofit instructions, as if anyone would do all that...including the leveling sensors etc...
but bless their souls they include all the pn's to do what would amount to about 10K in work at the dealer...and then there's the trailer hitch we can never get....

Good job on the install....

capt_paul

Part of the install is that you have to remove the lock mechanism and install a microswitch as well as grind off the key stop to get the key to go to 90 degrees. I tried to do it without removing the mechanism, but it is at a weird angle to get n there.

The wire harness was just a matter of getting pins, and getting the wire ( .5mm yellow and .5mm brown), and wrapping the wire with tape.

Then you just route the wire hareness to the rear SAM. You have to unbolt the SAM, remove one of the connectors, open the connector and install the new wire lead into the predetermined pin position in the connector.

It is not that hard of an install, just kinda time consuming to make sure everything is in the right place.

For the price of the MB maintenance CD (less than an hour of MB labor), you can perform this retrofit. Like I said earlier, the parts to do this was very inexpensive. You have to get a microswitch, a connector, and 3 connector pins, and 1 wire eyelet for the ground, plus the wire (I believe about 2900 mm).

BF_JC230

Look forward to the information - this may move up "The List"

Thanks,
Jake

OneOfaKindTrini

Nice...

eesjunin

My key came with the valet key, which allows only to turn the car on..its a very flat key. Now couldnt you just pop the trunk open with the inside trunk opener?

bdgdl08

This isn't the valet key. This is a spare. This key contains a hard key, and if you pull on the part where the key ring attaches, this key comes out. The hard key is the only way to lock/unlock the doors, as there are no buttons.

The valet lock on the trunk overrides all of the electrical functions that pertain to the trunk. Once the trunk is locked, the only way to open it is to unlock the trunk with the hard key.

capt_paul

Exactly!

eesjunin

Exactly what?
I understand that the spare which is the same thing as the original key. And i know that there is a little metal key that comes out of it.
What i am saying is that your car should have came with the valet key. I 'll take a pic of it tonight and show you what i am talkig about...

capt_paul

In each of the keys, there are the metal keys that come out of them. Those metal keys will lock/unlock the glove compartment as well as trunk lock (when the valet mod is done). You cannot open up the trunk electronically if you turn the trunk lock to the 90 degree position; hence, if you don't want anyone to still your stuff when having your car valet parked somewhere, you would lock the trunk with the key and you give the valet person the plastic part only.

bdgdl08

I have one of the plastic keys as well, it's just not a valet key. That plastic key has full functionality. On most other cars, the valet key is keyed slightly differently so that it will not open the glove box or any other lockable feature.

Because of this thread, I had my car valeted (it was free). I put my laptop in my trunk and locked it up! It's a great feature to have. Only problem was, I was so focused on the trunk, I forgot to lock the glove box. Nothing was missing though.

capt_paul

As far as I know, in the states, this car never had valet trunk lock feature standard, or offered as an option. I had to order the contact switch, which came from Germany. You have to grind down a portion of the trunk lock assembly in order for the key tumbler to rotate the whole 90 degrees. And the wire harness goes from the lock assembly to the rear SAM, becuase that is what will disable the electronic release for the trunk at the trunk handle as well as the switch in the driver door. If you indead have the valet feature installed, you would be able to lock the trunk with the key and not able to open the trunk with the electronic switches, even with the doors unlocked.
I found the retrofit procedure only by viewing the MB maintenance CD.

bdgdl08

My car came with it stock! Bought new from Gainesville, FL. And my highly Scottish grandfather would never pay for extra options, so it must have been included in something. Someone told me to plug an address into my Navi the other day... nope! HAHA