ShinyHypnotoad

How? Please tell so I can do this to the car!!

Its annoying as hell that they turn off.

AMGAffalterbach

It's because of US law they do that - check my response in the Headlamp Questions thread.

ShinyHypnotoad

I've seen other W211's coded to allow them to keep them on, but I don't know how they did it. Most likely through coding but I don't know specifics.

ShinyHypnotoad

Found this on how to do it:

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...igh-beams.html

But its a couple years old now. :S

AMGAffalterbach

I'm sure it can be done possibly through wiring a separate relay to the front SAM or doing it through STAR if you can find a shop to do it for you but the reason they don't do it from factory is that there is some type of US law or provision saying that cars have to have their fog lights turn off when high beams are on for reasons of blinding oncoming drivers or visibility or something frankly pretty stupid. But it's law so car manufacturers follow that.

EDIT: Ah okay I see it can be done through STAR, however you will lose the amber sidemarker lights as they said and I'm not sure if there's a way around it probably not worth it.

ShinyHypnotoad

I think there is a way if you code the car like if it was a Canadian spec.

Can someone confirm this?

LemonSqueezy

If those are the exact instructions from that link, I could probably test it out tomorrow and let you know what happens.

N_Jay

Is there a way to check for any other changes that might be better/worse?

ShinyHypnotoad

Could you, Lemon? Also what are you using to be able to do this? I'd like to get whatever it is so I can do this to my wife's car.


Thanks!!

LemonSqueezy

What kind of changes?


I just tried it out, it seems fogs + high beam only work with Rest Of World setting. Side marker lights are disabled. Switching it to Canada does not enable high beams with fog lights and keeps side light on. So I guess this works great if you use the Euro style e63 bumpers from Gary@Suvneer since they don't have side markers.

I am using DAS Xentry / SDS (star diagnostics system), whichever one you want to call it. Some Chinese vendors will sell it but I recommend getting it from forum member "Shardul" for a little extra $$ because of all the support he can give you.

N_Jay

Well, since it does not provide the fog light function, it does not matter, but in general any changes.


What are the choices for region?


Seems like there must be a "feature map" that these macro settings are adjusting.
Maybe it is hidden.

Ichabod

If you put a lot of bright light down on the road right in front of your car (if the foglights are properly aimed), then your pupils will close up a bit and you will not be able to see as far down the road with the high beams. To use foglights when there is no fog is what is stupid. If your foglights help your distance vision, then they are not properly aimed.

LemonSqueezy

Choices are USA, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, I think Mexico plus 1 more, and ROW.

I think changing to ROW for those with 03-05 cars can possibly unlock SBC-S and SBC-H which I am jealous of. Not 100% sure though.

N_Jay

Fog lights with main beams work very well in rural areas.


The light to the side lights up the eyes of critters just off the road that are missed with main beams (high beams), and the dipped beams (are too low for the speed you are usually going.

N_Jay

What does "Mexico" do?


Is it only lights that are affected?

LemonSqueezy

I don't have a clue. It's raining down pretty hard here so I only spent some 20 minutes fiddling around with it. A couple of features are probably hidden and it'll probably take some driving time to find and figure out but nothing seems too interesting to me so I left it back to USA. I remember if you set the unlock/locking beep to some other location, you can change the beeping sound to 3 long beeps instead of 3 short.

N_Jay

I would think, that if anywhere in NA main breams and fogs are allowed on together it would be Mexico.

LemonSqueezy

Yea but without knowing what other settings will be changed, I'd rather leave it in USA. It's more fun spending time on known SDS mods such as enabling tank capacity to show gallons. I love that one.

N_Jay

Does someone have a list?


Might even get me to buy a system.

LemonSqueezy

Not sure if it's worth getting a system solely for that, but with it you can do like -10 degree cooling, lowering airmatic, tank info, seat belt reminder off, remove speed limiter, flashing on hard brakes, maybe a few more

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-diy-mods.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...ts-o-pics.html
This one is like 30 pages long, mostly full of talking and little DIY info.

N_Jay

I figure I may need it to service the E and GL, and if I can "fix" a few things it might kick it over the line.


I like the auto close sunroof,
adjustable defrost fan speed,
showing fan speed,
fog lights with bights (if we figure that one out)
and maybe a few others for either or both the E and GL.