I am looking at installing xenons in the car. I spoke with the service manager and he has never had to do this before so he wasnt sure how long it would take. Does anyone have an idea as to what is involved to set the correct code. Maybe I am just an optimist but I would think its a 5 min job, plug into the computer, go to the correct code and switch it, bam done. Does it take longer and is it more involved than what I think, meaning is it going to cost me an hours worth of labor?

It won't take too long if they know where they are going in the menus. Steve did mine in a few minutes, but that is Steve.

Yes , it depends on your guy in dealer have done this before or not, It may take more than 30 min if the guy can't find it ! I heard some guy spent more than 60 min and still can not get it !! Better try some other dealer if your guy said he has never done this before.

My dealer charged me @ a half hour.

I tried 2 different dealers here in So. Cal and the will NOT do it.

You can try a Mercedes Automotive shop, they should have the STARDiag system.

It takes 5 to 10 mins.

I just had it done by Steve over the week-end here in So. Cal.

I paid $50 .

the best $50 bucks I have spent in a long time. Now i don't need to wait to charge my lights before I turn on the ignition.

How about after it charge your head lights, it will work fine without doing the Xenon=present ?? I just want to find out what happen before you spent the $50 ?? thanks

Bottom line, you need to get it done. The flickering is a very bad thing and can lead to $$$ problems down the road.

the headlights will flicker on and off if you dont set the xenon present code. I think it has something to do with the Merc sensing that the front lights arent pulling the correct current the light normally does. So when it senses something is wrong, I guess the lights will then flicker....

Well, I had it down to a science, since I had no choic

When starting the car cold (morning) warm up the car for about 2mins.
turn off engine.

turn on the headlights without turning on the engine. for about 30 secs..

turn on the engine... and they will stay on but at times they will flicker. Repeat


Once the car has been running throughout the day, lets say for lunch.

Open the door, turn on headlights wait 20 secs, and turn on engine. repeat 1 or 2 more times, but after that they will stay on.

it was PAINFUL and embarrasing at times. But thats the price you pay.

Just find a MB shop with the system, they will do it.

EIS > VERSION CODING > XENON > PRESENT

Press the coding button to upload.

May have to also run a QUICK TEST in order to validate that the car is running correctly in other areas.

Total time for coding 5 minutes.
Total time for satisfactory inspection and validation and coding - 30-40min.

if the stardiagnose is already running: 5 mins...if the stardiag has to be started up and happens to be slow: 12-15 mins

greetingz,

thanks for the info guys. I knew it shouldnt be an hour long project (unless tech doesnt know what he is doing)....