2012 w204 LED Taillights 2008-2011 NO SAM RECODING
 

Nice! This will be a big hit on here. Now the question is will it work on 2008-09 cars?:D

cool thanks for doing this!!!

thats how my tails looked BEFORE getting them done the right way... :smash:

and after getting the SAM programmed correctly they look like this
http://i47.tinypic.com/mszz3r.jpg

you get what you pay for...

You do, but if you look at a 2012 w204 the lights are how mine are. What you have done to your lights is not how Mercedes programs them.

But yes yours does look very clean.

But also for under $25 i dont mind how mine look.

thats great, but dont misled people...your lights look just as mine did before getting them programmed, all you have seemed to have done is remove the error message...

http://i45.tinypic.com/33vopiu.jpg

I wouldn't say he's misleading. He just found a way to do what you had to pay $100 to get done for a lot less and with a bit of good 'ol nerdy elbow grease. I think someone else had actually used a method similar to this though as I recall seeing it on the LED Tail lights thread in the C63 section. Though I think this would be simpler as it seems to involve only 1-2 wires of soldering with little to no need to rip/cut other wires out.

To the OP :y Great post. If I ever decide to upgrade I might just do this method. Better bust out the soldering iron.

ALSO: Quick edit. Do the rear fogs still work as intended however?

I gotta say though, this is a really clean shot. :y

Thats correct, and created an alternate solution that is affordable, but yet easy enough to do it your self.

his bottom brake lights are half way lit up at all times....guess you cant see that...need glasses???

OP's lights on left, reprogrammed SAM on rights, can you see the difference???
Attachment 379457

its only clean cuz the lights are programmed correctly, otherwise it would look sloppy like the OP's....

or you could have cut the fog wires for free and pressed the OK button to cancel out the error...

but to get it done the right way, the way the lights come on a 2012 model, hit up whipplem....otherwise just roll with the sloppiness :y

http://i46.tinypic.com/29qm5u0.jpg

Roll with sloppiness? Look at a 2012 c250, the tail lights are exactly like mine. The brake light is half way lit.

So I guess mines sloppy like the rest of the OEM c250's in the US.

But I know where your going here. Yes, YOU ARE BETTER then mine.

YOURS are WAY COOLER.

I envy you and your tail lights.

My tail lights are Garbage.

Are you satisfied or you wanna keep writing stupid SHlT like a child.

Its great that someone took the time to figure out a simple DIY method. Its always nice to have an alternative to having it professionally done.

Both tail lights are great, appealing to people who want show-room quality or those who just want LED brightness at a quarter of the cost.

Good job :y

http://www.myfacewhen.net/uploads/71...u-mad-thou.jpg

Wrrooonnnggg!
Their method IS how Mercedes programs them. Yours is not. I know this because I have a 2012 and I can verify how the lights are supposed to look, not to mention the other 2012 models I see on the roads here in NYC.

This is a very childish response, makes it hard to respect you. If there is anyone who started with a "better than you" attitude it was YOU when you posted in your original post that you didn't spend $100 followed by "BOOM! DELLMON OUT!" Grow up!!

Either way, it's nice that you figured out how to solder in a load resistor (this is old news).
I honestly think it's great that you posted a how-to and people should be thankful that you spent the time doing that.
At the same time, your lights do not look right as the brake lights are falsely lit. This is a potential safety issue.

Are they only dimly lit (do they get brighter when you hit the brake pedal)?

Its not a safety issue, once the brake are pressed the halogens get much brighter. If I just had the original tail lights no LED, its the same thing when the lights are on. The brake likes are dimmly lit till the brake is pushed.

well said......

and that is because your SAM needs to be programmed correctly....

....and once again, I find that I am asked to intervene in a thread with the same name coming up. I am trying to find a balance between maintaining our goal of civil and polite treatment and stepping aside to allow free-flowing conversation. This thread has some great information about the OP's attempt to solve a problem. Dialogue about whether he has the best, or even an optimal solution, is fine. Here's what is NOT fine...

- accusing someone clearly motivated by an attempt to share of misleading people.
- sarcastically asking if someone "needs glasses"
- language such as "stupid s**t"

Whether someone is struggling with uncontrollable anger or simply lack of maturity, this level of conversation is not acceptable. Please go work out frustration somewhere else...go for a run, hit the gym...not here! The same technical counterpoints could have been made without the snideness. Please treat each other with more courtesy, whether agreeing or disagreeing on technical issues. If anyone feels this approach is "too sensitive", so be it...we all have different barometers, but we're not going to coarsen this forum. Personal attacks are not going to be tolerated, but it would be nice to stop at this point and not elevate this to official warnings.

Happy Sunday and have a good day! :D

really??? then explain why my tails light up the same as the RS spec C63..

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5040/7...97d80a0a_c.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7...e1a569cd_c.jpg

Next time you google pictures make sure their in the US. Look at the license plate, and look at what side of the road hes driving on.

You live in Irvine.

sooo fresh, sooo clean....thats just how they are supposed to look, straight from CALI

http://www.evosport.com/public/evosp...-C63BS-001.jpg

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...ck-series.html

and another w204 with 2012 tails, with no half way brake light lit up....

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/1493/img0729a.jpg

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...c63-owner.html

and another one from CALI

https://mbworld.org/2012_C63_coupe_04.jpg

https://mbworld.org/features/c-class...dustrynews.php

So getting the SAM reprogramed does more than just fix the foglight issue?Before a SAM reprogram you have the left fog light on all the time and the bottom brake lights half on? I didn't know that I thought the only problem was the fog, but hey I'm always learning.

Yes, without reprogramming the SAM the fog is stuck on and the brake lights are lit up (but more dimly according to Dellmon, which does make sense).

The photos Caligreenzzz posted are indeed the way these vehicles are supposed to look, and this is how they look from the factory - EU or US. I'd take a photo of mine, but Caligreenzzz has posted more than enough fully accurate photos.

I think this thread is pretty much settled.

Okay good to know. I think Dellmon's findings are still very useful because as of now they are the only option for 2010 and 2011 cars to get their fogs off without error messages. The $100 does seem worth it though because caligreenzzz car looks very nice.

you proved ur point caligreenz, and thanks dellmon for the guide, its a great temporary fix to the problem i would say,

on a side note is it possible to get the c63 rear bumper on the 09 sport c300?

ok how much are the led taillights n when you guys say reprogram the SAM who can do that cuz i noe a benz tech in nyc can he do it with a benz computer?

We can all get along

Attachment 379451

I can believe that nobody is available to reprogram the SAM in the LA area.

Forget LA, I am in Canada
I wish Wipple would tell me how to do it local, I have access to Star Diag and Xentry
I'll pay $200 if he would give me coding instructions

just overnite it, at the max you would be without a car for 3 days...

Can anyone PM me whipple's contact information? I sent him a PM but he hasn't replied yet. I have 2 09 C300's and I am ready to send him both the SAMs.

Thanks.

I've also emailed him and pm'd him, and no response yet. I'm in SoCal, hopefully we can find someone to do this for us locally.

Agreed. To be clear, please nobody be mislead by trying Op's way of fixing the lights to work factory.

The bottom tail bulbs are still partially lit. This is not OEM spec. These should be off completely and you should only have the 2 LED bars running.

I would be pissed if I tried this after reading the first post and then realized it wasn't correct still.

Oh, and Caligreenzzz, whipple said you still owe him $50 bucks because we did not meet the 10 person requirement.

Please send your extra $50 in and honor his prices.

uhhh really??? mind your own......

Caligreenzzz could you help me with his contact information since you have done business with him? I have two sets here ready to go but not sure how to approach him.

Thanks

I just bought these 2012 tail lights for my 2011, I hope this will works for me!!
I will post the results soon!!
Thanks guys

where do you guys buy the taillights?

2012 PART #s to order from www.Parts.com:

Left Tail: 204 820 41 64 ≈ $200
Right Tail: 204 820 28 64 ≈ $200
Shipping: ≈ $60

The 2010 c300s w/ prem pack II come w/ LED tails, my 10' c300 sport doesnt have them, could I order the 2010LED tails for less or is the 2012 LEDtails my only option?

Hoping to avoid errors

My 2011 C300 does not have LED's either...but I think you could get it with the lighting option to include bi-xenon's and rear LED's. Can't I just swap out mh regular 2011 lights with 2011 led lights? Thanks.

Yes, but not the 2012 lights.

See my post in re: selling my Euro (yellow LED turns) tail lights fitting 2008-2011 models.

$300 including Fedex ground shipping in the US.

Hi there, i am new to this, i have just bought the new led style lights for my w204, it is a 2009 plate uk car, could you please explain to me in dummy terms what you had done to your sam, example what program? Just so i can tell my technician what is requires to be done.

Thank you in advance

Has anyone yet to discover a way to properly program the SAM for a 2010^ ? :nix:

Has anyone purchased these? http://www.ebay.com/itm/EURO-RED-08-...bf9797&vxp=mtr

If so, could you post pictures of it?

I would like to know too plz

Search function................

Look for DIY - Facelift Tail Lights

Hello Henry,

I've purchased the one from vipmotoz not k2motors, in smoked.

k2 motors has too many loop holes, and theirs are loud according to some here on top of condensation. besides they've changed their prices up and down every week which is pathetic .

no I do not work for vipmotoz , just my 2 cents


Posted from Mbworld.org App for Android

Hows the hissing noise coming from the lights?

DELLMON I'd really like to do this to my 2010 w204 C63 AMG!

Could you possibly link me to go about getting the tail lights as well as the Load Resistors I live all the way in New York but I need to go and do this mod it looks so crisp! Fresh and Clean thats exactly how I want my tail lights to come out - I currently have the LED turn signals but I really hope I can install these new LED tails please get back to me or anyone on the forums I am new to this I apologize. Used to have an iridium silver 2011 C class sport (4Matic) that was worked up but decided to close on this offer of my cousins old C63 sometime around Thanksgiving and it was the best decision I've ever made

Also dont hesitate to go add me on facebook and talk on there: Shaan DonJuan

Chillll, they won't work right from what I understand. Yes he removed the error light, but his brake lights are partially lit at all times which is where the real problem is. I've been trying find someone who has done this successfully on a 10' for quite awhile. Just thought u should know the method above is not functioning as it should. I'm also on NY so if u find someone local let me know.... (Read post #38)

Guys, for it to be done right you MUST get your SAM reprogrammed. Your efforts would be better spent sharing places or people you know willing and able to do this.

This resistor fix simply eliminates the rear fog light from constantly being illuminated and hides the error messages.

HOWEVER, this does NOT fix the brake lights from being partially illuminated. I do think this is a safety issue as when you brake your car, the tail lights don't show much of a brightness difference.

Not to mention, that it doesn't look nearly as good as the OEM 2012+ tail lights. You are ONLY supposed to have the 2 LED strips on each side illuminated. It looks very clean, crisp and aggressive. This setup does not and looks like you have the 2012 tailight on the top portion, and a 2008-2011 tail light on the bottom portion.

If anyone is interested in the replica 2012 style from ebay, i'm selling mine that I took off when I sold the car

200 shipped -

I have the final resulution!!! Well I hope this will work for America as well as it does for Europe. Try to instal some bright Cree Can Bus chipped (error cancel) LED's instead of those pesky bulbs! No need to cut wires or pay for coddings, and you'll get more LED look!
Thank you guys for opening this discussion and to HELP EACH OTHER! Special thanks to Mr. Dellmon for his solicitude ;)
PS: Ebay is full of Cree LED's important is the Can bus function. Let me know how you ended up. Hope my English is not that bad if it is sorry for that Hawk

How would led bulbs solve this problem? And which problem are you referring to exactly? The error message or the incorrectly lit light?

Both of this two problems.

I too bought the same tail lights from ipexmotoring (same exact smoked lights), you cannot here the buzzing when the car is running. I have the factory LED turnsignals but The left brake light flickers a little with low voltage (car is not running and cold) but start it up and boom! no errors or faults, works great, looks awesome!

Pics?

Okay i need my SAM of 2009 C300 reprogrammed as well. Who can do it? possibly in NYC area?

I was about to go with ipexmotoring as well but maybe I'll do more research. Thanks for the info.

Anyone ever successfully program a SAM on a 2010^ as of yet???

I brought my car into my indy and he was not able to see the menu to program the FL tail lights. But he can see it on a 2009 w204. I do not think its possible on 2010 and 2011 directly.

Another member did it on his 2011.... Will soon be trying to establish a group buy, in order to get mine done also. I have a 2010 and have been waiting awhile for someone to figure this out.... if you want to join the group buy I will let you know once a list has been established. Where did you buy ur lights?

He was able to do it but had to put his SAM in a 2012+ car first. No need for group buy for me. Thank you though. Same member already found me a 2012 sam a while back which I'm greatful for since it will allow me to go back to stock by puttng my old sam and tail lights back when it comes time to sell or trade my car in. I bought my lights on ebay.

Correct, in order to program the SAM.... Did you not need to program your 2012 SAM?? Was it simply a plug and play process for you? What options does your car have?

Btw, where in the hell is the rear SAM located? Is it the fuse panel on the right side of the trunk, behind the panel?

The rear SAM is behind the fuse box plugged into it.

The 2012 sam I got from ebay that w204_generic found me was a direct plug and play and it already had heated seats programmed so I didn't lose that option. The only thing I'm missing is rear view window sun shade control.

Behind the fuse panel thats in the trunk? Looks like theres 2 10mm bolts on a bracket, correct? So I would have to remove the bracket/fuse box, then the sam is attached to the rear of the fuse box your saying? Have a pic of the sam?

W.... can u pm me those part numbers when u get a chance.... tryna my best to get this done asap.

Here is a picture of what the rear SAM looks like. As you can see, it is behind the rear fuse box. Yes, it is in the trunk location on the right. It is the rectangular box with the rectangular plug-ins where the connectors go.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Mercedes-W204...RHQ~~60_35.JPG

And here is a tutorial on how to remove it:

https://mbworld.org/forums/5161899-p...tml?styleid=19

And here's my quick diagram. Red outline is the sam. Needs to be detached from the fuse box if you're going to remove/swap it.
Attachment 376402

You guys are great, thanks to the both of yous... I was in the right location, but by looking at the fuse box prior to receiving the info you provided, the fuse box didn't appear to be more than one piece, now that I have a visual, I understand completely.

Subscribed

I'm sorry to bring this topic back from the dead but can someone confirm there is truth that even if you get someone to program the SAM you can't on a 2010 Mercedes C-Class? Also the dealer wouldn't even be able to do it because they don't have the codes? Why does Mercedes have to be a pain in the butt. :nix:

Correct. I've did some researching and it seems that the 2010-2011 SAMs are different..in that you cannot reprogram them, not even the dealer. You will need a 2012+ SAM and that'll need to be programmed by the dealer. The dealer still isn't able to program it manually either, instead, the software downloads the information based on VIN(a 2012+ car's VIN) to the SAM.. Even then, you may have issues with the sunshade not working..tough luck for us 2010-11 owners...

Great DIY, Thanks for sharing

Need a favor
 

Can you provide me with the part number for the 2012 rear SAM unit that you put in your 2011? I've got a 2011 as well and would like to take the same route as you. I have the lights on my car now but getting all the annoying check lights messages.

Don't know if anyone still needs advice on this. But I am in the UK and going to buy some 2012 genuine MB lights for my 2010 C350 and try this method.

Before you go screaming, yes I can see that the brake lights are PARTIALLY lit! but it makes no difference to me when I can't even get it coded by MB anyway as I have tried with my local dealer.

I am going to try what our friend adamrotor suggested (buying some canbus led bulbs for the brake lights) as he might be on to something there and that would solve all the issues completely!

I'll come back and let you know with pictures when I get this done for those who are unlucky enough to have been screwed by MB's 2010 & 2011 cars.

w204 fog light issue
 

instead of going through all that book into a place called london code they will program out the rear right fog light issue .and it will work as face lift 02085912121 post code IG119PG HOPE THIS HELPS.

Just had a good read of this thread.

I own a 2010 c250 cgi here in the U.K.

Ive been to prestige car specialist and surprise surprise they can't program my sam.

Just had a thought. If I use load resistors to remove the always dim fog light led, can I not do the same for the 4 brake light bulbs to remove the dim lit lights.

I tried the cree can bus leds and they are always on albeit dim with tailights on and a little brighter with brake lights on.

hope someone can help.

Minesh

I read this entire thread and am still non the wiser about what actually needs to be done for my 2011 C250 CGI if I do decide to upgrade but it does seem like a lot of work if I go the OEM facelift option, so I might just cut all the crap and go Depo Taiwan lights which are supposed to be error and SAM (or Ivan) free ;)

w204 rear led lights
 

get geuine rear led w204 lights you dont need and new rear sam 500 plus fitting ...just buy some genuine w204 rear lights get them coded in from london code 30 mins fitted and coded chinese rear lights are pants .

Thanks mate, London Code is a bit far from me in Sydney ;)

Can any Mercedes specialist with access to STAR, code the lights for me?

W204 rear light coding
 

Hi sorry didnt know you where in oz lol mercedes cant help you there not allowed and will only help you if you buy a new rear sam they then code it to your car so its compatable , you need some body that has xentry star with developer mode for coding through a program called vediamo the hard part is finding some body that has it but if they do, it is a 20 min process programing your back lights in if you find some body with star xentry and there worth there salt you could phone london code and connect your car via net and they will program your car in i know its hard doing any kind of retro fits to a merc but good luck 👍

Thanks for the advice and as I already found out Down Under, it's not an easy process at all, as not even my local Mercedes Specialist (whom I visited today) could communicate with my exiting SAM and he advised me not to upgrade.

DEPO Taiwan seems to be the most convincing solution thus far..... for us Australians that is ;)

led rear w204
 

ok no worrys he doesent have the correct codeing machine ask him if he has star xentry you could connect remotley to london code and that will do it ,or advice him to get star xentry with vedimo developer or go chinese 🤔

Hello Paul

Am I right in assuming that you can code my rear Sam. I have a 2010 pre facelift
Where in London are you and how much will it cost me for the 20 min job if successful.

I have genuine facelift lights on my car at the moment.

Regards.

Minesh

W204 face lift rear lights
 

hi minesh i didnt say i could code them my self i said there is a place in london that does , called london code . they are on ebay also 👍

Apologies paul. I thought it was your company. Couldn’t find them on ebay but googled them I have sent them an email.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Minesh

If I read this correctly, I can do this LED tail light conversion on my 2008 with OEM LED tail lights and get a used SAM unit out of a 2012?

you dont need a different rear sam your original one is all you need ,your original rear sam will be reprogramed to your 2012 led rear lights to stop the rear right led fog light issue 👍 london code

What is London Code? If that is in the UK then not really cost effective to send a SAM from Canada and would take forever.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...395ff7a96b.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...f3391a7b75.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...ffc23f01a9.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...595e1e65b5.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...dcf2d7e931.jpg
Many thanks to Paul for recommending London Code. Ask for Faheim. He knows his stuff. Well worth the trip!

For all those who have said that you need to buy a new SAM from a facelift model and then program it, Its all BS. No need for that. You just need a competent mechanic who can program your 2010 SAM with the new face lift rears.

The last pic is with tail lights and fog lights on working as they should and most importantly no stupid Fog light error!!

My car is C250 CGi first registered on 30/12/2010 (I'm in the UK)

Thanks

Minesh

Sorry mate but the comment above about not needing a new SAM is not applicable to all models and it seems to be directly related to the country you are in.

i finally found a mechanic in Sydney who has the right coding tools to communicate with the car and the SAM so when he changed over the lights he told me that my existing SAM simply refused to allow him to do any changes when it came to the rear lights configuration. He put the replacement SAM from the facelift model and bingo, he could program everything. All working now with the facelift LED tail lights.

Australian 2011 C250 CGI



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...521d7ce8cc.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...0ee1a6d047.jpg

Hi. Got the same issues with my 2008 w204 c200. Is your benz left or right hand drive? which side of the tail light you should install the resistor? Coz my rear fog lamp is on the left side but my error says "rear right fog lamp". Need guidance on this. Thank you.
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