CitronC230K_03

thats nuts!

Saprissa

I can't wait to get my Illum Door Sills from Harris. I'm still a little wary about the install, but everyone says I can do it. I hope so, because I'm not mechanically inclined at all. Although, I've managed to install '05 grill, and new door handles, and side-mirror blinkers by myself. Granted good, clear instructions are required. Hopefully, I won't electrocute myself, or take out the car's electronics in the process.

I don't want to rip my car apart the way MB dealers do this install, and Harris' short-cut method sounds good to me, but I don't want to void any warranty coverage on anything either.... Maybe I'm asking for too much, but too late now, illum door sills will be here soon !!

CitronC230K_03

let me know how the install goes carlos. im considering upgrading my illuminated sills. i want something that is brighter in the day light.

it will have to wait since parktronic is next on my mods list. $$$$

Saprissa

yeah, no prob Citron,
might consider having a mod/install party at my place or wherever, when I get them. Maybe if you're in the San Diego area you and other MB locals can stop by. I could always use the assist (use of correct screwdriver, green wires vs red wires, etc...), and then you can check out how they turn out (day/night brightness).

CitronC230K_03

yeah thats the only compaint i have with my illuminated sills, they are bright enough during the day. they look great at night though.

scorchie

I noticed that on older OEM as well as aftermarket sills, the background lights up a little as well as the logos. I have a 2002 vehicle with sills installed at the factory and the backgrounds certainly light.

On the newer ones, it seems the aftermarket sills have better constrast and the background don't light.

-s-

Saprissa

ok, this 1 hour install, is now going on 3 hours + and i'm not even half-way done. Harris provides good instructions, but they are definitely not for a COUPE. After an hour of struggling with the rear cloth panel behind the passenger's side seat belt, I found the blue/brown wire that goes to the door light pin. I'm supposed to "tap" (whatever that means) the passenger side door sensor wire with that "blue/brown" wire. How the heck do you do that ???? There is nothing in the door light pin assembly that allows you to plug in the door sensor wire that comes from the door sill transformer.

Anyone installed HARRIS' illum door sills on a COUPE !!????!!! anyone ?

other questions surely to come... like:
- how do you open the fuse box on the driver's side next to the steering wheel column ?
- do I need a yellow voltage measuring thing ?
- what if the spade doesn't fit ? How do you trim the spade plug ?

Carlos / Saprissa@aol.com

CitronC230K_03

put a flat head screwdriver in the slot and pry the little panel open. the slot is near the light switch area of the panel. the side thats like 45 degree angle towards the driver floor, long section just about in the center.

Saprissa

thanks Doug,
Still stuck on the "TAP" thing. If I don't get past that, I'll never get to the Fuse Box part. Might show up tomorrow with non-illum door sills with a bunch of hanging wires dragging behind the car ! At least I got trunk cargo nets !

CitronC230K_03

lol.

to tap into the wire you can buy little plugs the will splice 2 wires together without cutting them. you can get them at radio shack or places like that. the wires you are referring to are the power so when you open up the door the lights go on under the door, therefore turning on the sills.

Saprissa

plugs, splice, wires, radio shack !! never heard of this stuff....

man, this is not what I wanted to be doing on a FRIDAY night !!!

I just had to go and get another mod !!!

CitronC230K_03

story of my life!

Harris

Carlos: I personally put two wire taps into the package. They are in PINK color. If you cannot find them, they must have fallen off somewhere or still in the package. If you still cannot find them, just go to Radio Shack tomorrow and get two, should be around $1.

The construction of the C-coupe and C-sedan are exactly the same. I have had many coupe owners who installed my door sills following the exact same instructions and none of them have any problems with it.

As for your other questions, check your e-mail. I'll guide you through. I dont think there is ANY company in the world who will provide customer assistance on a Friday night at 11:30pm. READ through the instructions a couple of times, have an idea of what you are going to do, then you will find the install much easier.

Saprissa

Must of fallen off, because they weren't in the transformer wire package. I opened that very carefully.

I guess my C-COUPE is totally different, because it doesn't look anything like the pictures in the instructions.

Here's where I'm stuck. I found the blue/brown wire that leads to the door pin thing, but there's nothing on that assembly that will hook up to the wire coming from the sill. So I have to "TAP" it. Problem is, no one has explained to me what TAPPING is, nor how to do it. Told ya, I was pretty hands-off when it came to self-install projects. I'm just going to have someone else do it for me tomorrow, and just be glad it's over.

Thanks for the late night assist.
Carlos / Saprissa@aol.com

CitronC230K_03

you use a connector to "tap" into the wire. basically it wraps around the brown/blue wire, you slide in the wire from the sill, crimp it down and it taps into the wire. you dont have to cut and splice, you are tapping. ill explain it to you tomorrow if you havent figured it out by then. we can get more wire taps.

Saprissa

the only thing I've ever tapped, is my girl's @$$ and beer !



AUGUST 21st...

Illum door sill install party at the Saprissa MB Meet !!!

I'm buying dinner for whoever gets this thing to work for my Coupe !

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com
2003 C320 Sportcoupé CL203 V6 3.2L

Wiedermann

Mr. Saprissa:

There are two people that can better assist you on this task...

1.- Mr Harris himself....

2.- Mr. Sunman who know ANY W203 better than MB itself...

(I have lit a candle for you Mr. Saprissa )

Cheers!

Wiedermann

JohnCL

Hey Saprissa, did you get your sills installed? Did you post pics anywhere? I am thinking of doing this next.

CitronC230K_03

yes he did. i helped him with the passenger side at the meeting place in OC. then my brother and Bryan (Preyx) helped with the driver side and fuse box at the meet in city of industry. they do look awesome btw.

JohnCL

I saw that he was fighting with it, so I am glad that all worked out. I think I will do that next. I am sure that it looks great.

CitronC230K_03

it does look really good. they turned out awesome!

Saprissa

yeah, they're finally on. After a Radio Shack run, and running around in circles, had to splice some wires, and make the kit longer, COUPE doors are much larger than back doors on the SEDAN. Wires just didn't reach the fuse box. Went on a wild hunt for some extra wire. Got that fixed, thanks to Doug, Citron's bro (Donny ?) and Bryan. Wiedermann was cheering for me and kept that candle lit. I'll post pics later on. Definitely NOT a 1-hour job for the electrically impaired. Looks like the KIT needs to be re-measured for COUPE vs SEDAN set ups. Seek professional help if TAPPING, SPLICING, WIRING, or RADIO SHACK are not in your vocabulary !

CitronC230K_03

lol! donnie and bryan were the onsite electricians.

JohnCL

Hopefully I can muddle through. I did like your definition of "tapping" in an earlier post. I can't wait to see your pics.

Anyone know who had the red coupe at your meet? I like the blacked out grille.

Saprissa

I think that was Mark's red COUPE. Actually, he's got the CARBON-FIBER grille.
The picture doesn't do it justice. It looks 1000 times better up in person.

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I'll post pics of my illum sills later tonight.