RLE

This is a question for Vic Viper.

I intend to buy a pair of 2012 tail lights for my '08 C300 but in order for them to work properly, a change must be made in the rear SAM programming. The light supplier doesn't know what that would be and the C63 owner in Dortmund doesn't either. His local dealer couldn't help but a local independent shop was able to do it. Here is part of his answer:
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You also can use the tails without encoding. But it looks a bit different to mine when you turn them on. To make them work right you need someone who has the "Star Diagnostic Developer Software".
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See the YouTube video of his car below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwK1oDi_uNw

Any ideas?

kuraishin

This sounds like a good thing. I would like that on my 09 c300

tcm2008

I want buy too for my c300,how can get them?

blue00r6

I imagine you would need to get the updated bootload and config file for that module. If you found a smart tech at a dealership I'm sure they could update it for you.

Those tails look really nice, though btw - I'm sure this will be all the rage in 6 months when they become available more easily.

RLE

US dealers do not have access to the country code dvd to convert the whole thing which is what I'm told by a friend who is a local dealer's parts & service manager.

For those who want to buy right now, I'd say hold off until some conversion info surfaces here.

The cost for a pair of lights (euro version with yellow LEDs as shown in the video) is 400 Euros delivered to my door by international parcel post.

MBenzNl.nl does not accept Paypal and requires a USPS money order. I've purchased from him twice and it went well with the items delivered to me in about three weeks. I have no hesitation ordering again and paying this way.

hannes

It's not that simple as the rear SAM module is responsible for more than just the rear light cluster. So a complete update would break other things on an older car.
That's why the Star Diagnosis Developer Kit is required. I know of two smart German C-Class drivers that have the kits who have figured out exactly which parameters to change to make the new LED rears work properly. At least in Germany dealers can only work on C-Classes with Mercedes Xentry Diagnostics which does not allow for changes in individual parameters, only wholesale updates.

If I remember correctly the problems with the LEDs if you do not recode are that the top LEDs are on permanently and the brake light (which btw is still a regular bulb) is always on in a dimmed mode.

jctevere

Yeah, a guy with a c63 got this done. He said that you need someone with Star Diagnostic Developer Kit to program the car with the new 2012 software for just the tail lights. Otherwise he says that the rear foglights are always lighted.

whipplem104

So we did the coding on the lights tonight and were able to get everything the way he wanted except the led strip at the top is still on. No warning lights though before or after.

jctevere

I think that is the lighting pattern on the 2012 tailights. The top and bottom stay illuminated when the lights are on, then one should get brighter when you apply the brake. At least that is how someone's c63 lights up with the 2012 tailights. The top portion isn't brighter correct?

RLE

I think you had better take another look at the Youtube video of that C63. The rear fog (four LEDs at the top, left side) does NOT stay on all the time, obviously.

LandSeaAir

Anyone know if I can take a SAM pulled from a 2012 car and install it in my 08 to get the new tail lights working properly?

dolvio

Did you try this?