When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Looking for W203 Bi Xenon Auto Leveling Components
Slammer was gracious enough to send me the instructions for retrofitting the Bi-Xenon auto leveling system in my car. I had hoped to find the components in a car at my local pick and pull, but only one car with the factory system has shown up in the last few months. Unfortunately, the components on that vehicle were not salvageable.
If anyone has access to a parts car with the factory system and is willing to pull the parts, please send me a PM. I can provide details about the parts I'm seeking, and we can discuss price and other terms.
I’ll add anyone with it OEM and in working order - please post pictures of the front and rear sway bar attached to the sensor. There is a lot out there on the position of the sensor arm, the connecting rod and the sway bar.
My front connecting rod has become lost/broken/detached and I look to re-install soon. An image of it OEM would be beneficial.
I will be on the lookout for parts, leads and information for you, Kevin!
After work today, I stopped by the "Pick and Pull" near my work and re-visited a car that I had previously considered too rough to yield useful parts. I managed to obtain some of the wiring and the sensor for the front wheel. I also took some photos in case anyone else is considering this project. Note that the front sensor mounts to two bolts extending down from the frame of the car. I'm wondering whether those will be on my car since it did not come from the factory with the sensors. I'm returning to the yard on Saturday to resume scavenging documenting the position of each part. Engine compartment showing position of wiring harness. The Bi Xenon headlights have two connectors for the headlights versus one for the halogen headlights. I'm assuming the additional connector provides a signal that controls the motion of the headlights. Picture showing the mounting of the level sensor for the front suspension I need to check my car to see whether the attachment points are there. I doubt it, but you can't blame me for hoping.
A slightly different perspective on the mounting for the level sensor. Another angle. This photo shows how the level sensor attaches to the sway bar. Wiring tray in the engine compartment.
I’ve made a few trips to two different “Pick and Pulls.” Here is an update covering the parts I have been able to acquire, what I have learned (or more accurately what I think I have learned) and my next steps.
At this time I have acquired the front level sensor, the wiring from the passenger side of the engine compartment, a small component from the rear level sensor and the connector and some wires for the front SAM connection point.
Front level sensor and wiring from the passenger side of the engine compartment. Hardware used to connect front sensor to the sway bar. Hardware for connecting rear sensor to the rear sway bar. Wire and connector for front SAM.
The vehicles I have been scavenging don’t have the wiring for the driver’s side headlight.
I can see and touch the rear wheel sensor, but I couldn’t remove it.
Rear level sensor.
It appears to be held in place by a T20 torx fastener, but someone may have attempted to remove it before me and damaged the head. I couldn’t get enough leverage to make it turn. Part of the problem is that the car is sitting at a low part in the yard and recent storms have created a pond underneath the car.
Unless I lie in several inches of contaminated water I am limited to stretching at an awkward angle to reach the fastener. The weather forecast calls for storms today and tomorrow. The area may dry out by next weekend. If anyone has suggestions for removing the damaged fastener, please share them and I may make another attempt next weekend.
I have learned that the wiring harnesses are interconnected and it is difficult if not impossible to remove only the wiring I need. The technique I am using is to obtain as much wiring that is attached to each connector or component as I can. I will need to build a harness with the components I obtain.
The other option I am considering is to contact the dealer and determine whether a retrofit kit is available. The fact that retrofit instruction from Mercedes exist implies that a kit was available at one time. I retrofitted Litronic headlights (the Porsche equivalent of bi-xenon headlights) in my 2000 Boxster and components were available from Porsche that provided some of the functionality of the OEM system. That kit is no longer available, and the same may be true regarding the Mercedes components. But, it won’t cost me anything to ask. I will also be searching for additional donor cars.
As always, I welcome feedback and suggestions. At this time, my total spending is $16. If, I ultimately decide that this is not feasible, my biggest expense has been time.
All bumpers (as in the metal beam) have the cutouts for the headlight washers. However, the stock bumper covers obviously won't have the holes. I guess there's always the dremel method.
Thanks for asking. I'm not able to spend much time on projects during the week. I probably won't have a major update until this weekend. My only action was to contact the local dealer to ask whether Mercedes made a retrofit kit. I haven't received a response. My gut feeling is that the kit is no longer available - if it ever existed.
My current plan is to return to the "Pick and Pull" on Saturday with some tools that will enable me to extract the fastener that is holding the rear sensor in place. If I can do that, I will continue pulling wires and adding to my stock of components.
If anyone has suggestions for removing the fastener, I'm open to suggestions. The two techniques I'm contemplating are
I can’t believe someone was in there and stripped the torx…double check you have the right one/size - I’ve read of plenty of people stripping them with a size down or so…maybe when the pool has receded you can make a more earnest effort securing the right bit in there and have luck…as I said - I know the actual sensor is same front to back - you just need (rear) mounting hardware/brackets if you can source another front sensor…
You may be right. This photo shows the fastener much more clearly than I could see it on Saturday. I couldn’t think of a good way to apply pressure to hold the torx bit in place. I may be able to access it from farther back by using a long extension. I may also remove the brake line to create more working space.
It appears to have some damage, but it may not be completely stripped.
As you know from watching my work on other challenges, I often have to make several attempts before I succeed. Because I’m not blessed with extraordinary mechanical ability, I am forced to rely on persistence. (Or irrational stubbornness if you prefer.)
I checked with the local Mercedes dealer regarding the availability of a retrofit kit. The parts specialist responded that, "I don't show any retrofit kits available from MB. I don't remember ever doing one, but they may have been around at one point." I'm not sure that checking with other Mercedes dealerships will be worth my time. But if anyone knows a great parts specialist and is willing to ask on my behalf, please feel free.
I guess it is back to crawling in the mud at the wrecking yard. I may not be able to get back there until Sunday. The car with the parts has been there over a month, and I hope I can get back to it before they crush it. The forecast for Thursday calls for rain, so I'm not optimistic that my working conditions will improve. They do have a parts-pulling service. I may ask them to get the part for me. However, I think it is helpful to see the part in the car and photograph it, so I know exactly how to install it.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
So just wondering, why are you going to all this trouble?
Do u already have Bix?
I mean Bix are now probably almost obsolete now that they have LED lights, though I
have not yet installed them on any of my cars.
But all you have to do is set the height manually.
Set it and forget it!
Seems a bit '****' to go to all that trouble to retrofit
the leveling stuff. I recall seeing a documents describing retrofit for
Bix and washers, as though they are somehow related?
Requires coding too. Been enjoying my Bix since
what, 2007 or so? Never gave a thought to the autoleveling, ok well I did read up on it,
and decided Fuggettaboutit!!
So just wondering, why are you going to all this trouble? - Like any modification I've made to the car, I anticipate that I will enjoy the results and (usually) find the work mildly interesting and fun. I agree that sometimes "the juice isn't worth the squeeze." This project may be one of those times that I take a shot and miss. But, as Wayne Gretzky said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
Do u already have Bix? Yes. I picked some up from a recycling yard a few years ago. I also have them on my 2000 Boxster. Porsche calls them "Litronics." Porsche sold a retrofit kit which included a module that enables the low beams to swivel when flip on the high beams and level themselves when you start the car. I installed that module on my Boxster and found it a worthwhile investment.
I mean Bix are now probably almost obsolete now that they have LED lights, though I have not yet installed them on any of my cars. I briefly flirted with the idea of buying a new Volkswagen GLI. I believe it has LED headlights. I don't know whether anyone makes a retrofit for the W203, but if that is and option, I would consider it.
But all you have to do is set the height manually. Set it and forget it! True
Seems a bit '****' to go to all that trouble to retrofit the leveling stuff.I wouldn't use that terminology. "Unrealistically optimistic" may be a more appropriate descriptor.
I recall seeing a documents describing retrofit for Bix and washers, as though they are somehow related? In EU countries, the headlight washers are required if you have HID headlights. The issue appears to be that dirty headlights will refract the light from the HID's and cause problems for oncoming drivers. The washers are installed with the Bi-Xenons from the factory, but they don't seem to be required in North America.
Requires coding too. I share custody of a STAR system with Jake. My car is already coded for "Bi-Xenon = Present" but if the car requires any additional coding, I should be able to handle it.
Been enjoying my Bix since what, 2007 or so? Never gave a thought to the autoleveling, ok well I did read up on it, and decided Fuggettaboutit!! I could reach the same conclusion, but I will invest a little more time (and not much more money) before I make a decision that the project beat me.
I usually run into a few technical issues with every project. For example, my C63 seat upgrade seemed like a waste of time and money for several months. Eventually I solved all the technical issues, and the seats are now one of my favorite features of the car. I'm not guaranteeing that I will succeed, nor am I saying that adding the feature is necessary for my enjoyment of the car.
I'll report back on any progress. As always, any suggestions or leads on parts will be appreciated. As a side note, I will need to find a new donor car. The car that I was using as a resource went to the crusher before I could return to the yard.
Last edited by KevinH2000; 08-11-2023 at 11:00 PM.
07-27-2023, 09:17 PM
