Need your opinion on hidden EZ Pass idea
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
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From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
Need your opinion on hidden EZ Pass idea
I'd like to get rid of the white EZ Pass transponder that's on my windshield, and replace it with a black external mount version. You know, the kind that is meant to be screwed on to your front license plate. I'd like to be more discreet, however, so I thought I'd mount it behind the small plastic lower grill between the driver's side fog light and the license plate (the area shown in the attached photo).
If you lift the hood, you can easily reach behind that lower grill, so I thought I'd just attach it to the backside of the plastic grill with small black cable ties -- no screws required.
Do you think the transponder could be read from that location?
Any other thoughts/suggestions?
If you lift the hood, you can easily reach behind that lower grill, so I thought I'd just attach it to the backside of the plastic grill with small black cable ties -- no screws required.
Do you think the transponder could be read from that location?
Any other thoughts/suggestions?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Its a dark car with a black license plate frame... mounting it on the plate won't be so obvious. Who knows if it could be read where you want to put it, and it might be able to be read by the slow speed readers but not by the high speed readers and you wouldn't want to find out at a bridge or tunnel toll booth would you?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
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From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
Its a dark car with a black license plate frame... mounting it on the plate won't be so obvious. Who knows if it could be read where you want to put it, and it might be able to be read by the slow speed readers but not by the high speed readers and you wouldn't want to find out at a bridge or tunnel toll booth would you?
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Exit 16E
07 E350 4Matic / Sport with P1
Oggie,
Stop at a car-parts store (like Strauss') and look around for one of those nylon canvas pouches with the suction cups. Then you really wont see it from the front.
Stop at a car-parts store (like Strauss') and look around for one of those nylon canvas pouches with the suction cups. Then you really wont see it from the front.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: Boston, Massachusetts
LC200
I literally just moved my fastlane transmitter a few days ago, its on the lower grill of my car as well, mounted with a similar apparatus... works totally fine with all cameras/detectors...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Bay Area
E500 Sport
I'm not sure how big your transponder is, but the one in CA is about 5" x 5". I just store it in my arm rest, and hold it up to the windshield if I pass a toll plaza. Then back in storage it goes
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 77
From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 77
From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
One more question -- do I need to mount it facing forward the way it would be if it were on the license plate? (This would be a little awkward, but doable).
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: Boston, Massachusetts
LC200
I really don't think it matters which way it's facing, I can check on my car when I get home in 2 days, but I'm 90% sure it makes no difference... Good luck I hope it all works out!
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Oakville, ON
'12 ML350
This is definitely a topic of interest as I found out another problem with the front plate mounted EZPass transponder on the 'updated' front bumper with the bend when I picked up my car: the front Parktronic sensor detected the object and was triggering the warning lights and alarm.
I didn't believe the dealer so tried both upper and lower plate mounts and it found them all; then I took it off and all was well!
So if you can mount the transponder behind the lower grille then that'd be the solution!
I didn't believe the dealer so tried both upper and lower plate mounts and it found them all; then I took it off and all was well!
So if you can mount the transponder behind the lower grille then that'd be the solution!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
Likes: 77
From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
This is definitely a topic of interest as I found out another problem with the front plate mounted EZPass transponder on the 'updated' front bumper with the bend when I picked up my car: the front Parktronic sensor detected the object and was triggering the warning lights and alarm.
I didn't believe the dealer so tried both upper and lower plate mounts and it found them all; then I took it off and all was well!
So if you can mount the transponder behind the lower grille then that'd be the solution!
I didn't believe the dealer so tried both upper and lower plate mounts and it found them all; then I took it off and all was well!
So if you can mount the transponder behind the lower grille then that'd be the solution!
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From: GMT -8 hours
Mercedes-Benz
Oggie, the parktronic wasn't picking up the frequency being given off by the EZ-pass but rather the fact that the EZ-pass sticks out too far and the parktronic "sees" it.
Also why are you so against the glass mount? I used to put mine behind the rear view mirror on the passengers side so I couldn't see it while driving.
Also why are you so against the glass mount? I used to put mine behind the rear view mirror on the passengers side so I couldn't see it while driving.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
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From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
Oggie, the parktronic wasn't picking up the frequency being given off by the EZ-pass but rather the fact that the EZ-pass sticks out too far and the parktronic "sees" it.
Also why are you so against the glass mount? I used to put mine behind the rear view mirror on the passengers side so I couldn't see it while driving.
Also why are you so against the glass mount? I used to put mine behind the rear view mirror on the passengers side so I couldn't see it while driving.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
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From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
Luckily, I had the small white transponder inside the glove compartment, and I took that out, waved it at the reader and got through. It seems the lower grill is too low and/or too recessed for the transponder to be readable. Now, I'm back to using the white interior transponder mounted at the top of the windshield.
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From: Long Island, NY
W220 S65 AMG
Glad somebody brought this up... 
My car suffers from the 'no-front-plate' syndrome so the license plate mount EZ-Pass won't cut it. It also does not work through the windows so you have to stick it out the sunroof every time you hit one of the toll booths.
My idea was to mount it on the DISTRONIC brackets right behind the grill.
I have not been through a toll booth yet so I don't know if it works or not.. but I will let you know soon!
Here it is:
My car suffers from the 'no-front-plate' syndrome so the license plate mount EZ-Pass won't cut it. It also does not work through the windows so you have to stick it out the sunroof every time you hit one of the toll booths.
My idea was to mount it on the DISTRONIC brackets right behind the grill.
I have not been through a toll booth yet so I don't know if it works or not.. but I will let you know soon!
Here it is:
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
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From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
Good thinking. That was my second choice for a hidden mounting location. I have a feeling that the chrome on the grill will cause the EZ Pass transponder not to be read in that location. But, please let us know if it works the next time you go through a toll booth.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 967
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From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Long Island, NY
W220 S65 AMG
But, before the weather turns too cold, you guys have to come to the weekly Thursday Night Meets at the Best Buy in Westbury.
See this thread for all the details:
https://mbworld.org/forums/events-gatherings/263412-westbury-best-buy-thursday-nights-long-island.html
Let me know if you guys want to come out tomorrow... I always bring our mobile STAR DIAG unit with me.
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From: Chicago, IL
ML350, Lotus Elise
I'd like to get rid of the white EZ Pass transponder that's on my windshield, and replace it with a black external mount version. You know, the kind that is meant to be screwed on to your front license plate. I'd like to be more discreet, however, so I thought I'd mount it behind the small plastic lower grill between the driver's side fog light and the license plate (the area shown in the attached photo).
If you lift the hood, you can easily reach behind that lower grill, so I thought I'd just attach it to the backside of the plastic grill with small black cable ties -- no screws required.
Do you think the transponder could be read from that location?
Any other thoughts/suggestions?
If you lift the hood, you can easily reach behind that lower grill, so I thought I'd just attach it to the backside of the plastic grill with small black cable ties -- no screws required.
Do you think the transponder could be read from that location?
Any other thoughts/suggestions?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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Posts: 5,640
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From: GMT -8 hours
Mercedes-Benz
If there is any Metal surface between the EZPass and the line of sight of the Toll Booth sensors it will not work. It looks like the Distronic location maybe too far underneath the hood to work correctly. Like Midcity said it would have to be right on the grill basically so the Hood would not be in the line of sight. Shoot, sometimes it doesn't even pick up the windshield mounted EZpass.
bentley, continental, ezpass, front, gt, license, mercedes, ml350, mounting, plate, suction, transpondence, transponder, w215, windshield, zpass
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