konigstiger: I activated PM and email, looking forward to any info. Thanks.

 

All four footwells are lit as advertised.

 

Char03, DaveFr, DWP, etenn, jim256, jprescott, plocjim, Hart_113, and Oslo

Apparently there was a production change in January 2003 enabling ambient lighting to the foot well areas for all USA vehicles built thereafter. For USA 03 owners, all vehicles built previous to January 03 should not have ambient lighting to the foot wells. The good news is it can be corrected by swapping out the original control unit for an updated one. I believe the part number is 2115454001. I’m told that since this is, in fact, a revised part there will be no adverse electronic effects upon retrofit. For non-USA owners you can try referencing the same info, but I offer no guarantees.

Note this part number was given to me prematurely, by phone, in that the retrofit has not been completed yet and I do not have a printed invoice in hand. I’m scheduled to bring my car in next week sometime and my dealer’s shop foreman promised that he will handle the retrofit personally.

Subject concluded. Please disregard my requests for additional info. And best of luck with your retrofits.

 

Thanks for doing all the leg work on this issue. I assume there is no charge for the retrofit since it is only turning on a promised feature in cars built prior to 2003. Is there a TSB on this issue? Thanks again.

 

No TSB. It’s more or less handled on a one to one basis between those in the know and their respective dealers at this time.

 

What an excellent source of information this forum is

and also the members for being able to carry out the necessary footwork

and then share the information on a global basis.

Three cheers for Konigstiger

Thanks
John
Getting rougher here in Torquay

 

konigstiger: Thanks for doing all the leg work.

 

Another thanks for the great info!

I finally tested it out last night in a pitch black parking lot and was so bummed to realize that I don't have the foot well lighting - then this monring I checked this thread again and saw that it could be activated - it made my morning!! I'll certainly bring this up on the next visit. So far the folks at Mercedes Benz of Westwood have been great - hopefully it keeps up!

 

konigstiger:

After further review I find that I DO NOT have ambient foot well lighting "While driving"

The foot well lighting only comes on at all foot wells when the any door is open and extinguishes when that door is closed.

When you have yours updated please post the correct appropriate part number or corrective action.

Thanks for your help.

 

So where's your vote?

I have just learned that part #211 545 4001 (previously recommended) has been updated yet again. Either can be used to enable ambient lighting to all four foot wells however you should request that your dealer swap your existing SAM for the following:

LEFT FRONT SIGNAL ACQUISITION MODULE (SAM)
PART NUMBER 211 545 4101

(1) The 2003 E-Class brochure specifically states: 03 E-Class Equipment, standard: “Automatic environmental comfort lighting provides gentle ambient light while driving in darkness to the center console, door handles, all four footwells, and the front and rear seating areas. Front-cabin lighting offers six levels of intensity, while rear-cabin lighting offers variable intensity. Highest-intensity setting is automatically activated when a door is opened, to facilitate entry and exit.”

(2) There was a production change January 2003 whereby the SAM was updated to enable ambient lighting to the foot wells. In vehicles built before this the SAM did not provide the full ambient lighting feature and as such a retrofit is needed to have the features paid for as per the brochure.

If refused by the dealer, request the assistance of your area MBUSA Service & Parts Operations Manager (SPOM).

FYI: I’m scheduled for retrofit next Tuesday, October 19th. Actually I could have had it done immediately but I’m too busy to get down to the dealer.

 

konigstiger

Thanks so much for the information and for doing the leg work. Have printed the relevant information to take back the dealership in Sydney. Will have to see if i can get myself some ambient lighting.

Sorry about the slow response to your PM. Rarely check it that was why.

 

"So where's your vote"?

It's in the VIEW POLL RESULTS....can't you see it?

Thanks for the info...will post what my dealor says about it.

 

Sadly, the ambient lighting is not available on the Classic model. But I guess the advantage is that one is spared the angst of worrying whether individual places are ambiently light or not.

 

Oh, I see you mistakenly voted YES. At any rate, the Poll percentages still read correct because onpaws originally voted NO and then later found that he does all ambient lighting (post #30).

 

Yes, that is correct. Also, can you please post when YOUR dealor corrects this on your 2003??

Thanks

 

Don't you guys try to copy one US senator, who voted YES before he voted NO.

 

Segue…

NO matter what your party affiliation, everyone needs to read the following information and the closing statement before casting their vote in the upcoming election.

HEINZ JAPAN LTD - Tokyo, Japan HEINZ-UFE LTD.
Guangzhou, People's Republic of China HEINZ COSCO
Qingdao, People's Republic of China HEINZ KOREA LTD.
Inchon, South Korea HEINZ WIN CHANCE LTD.
Bangkok, Thailand HEINZ INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
Mumbai, India PT HEINZ ABC INDONESIA
Jakarta, Indonesia PT HEINZ SUPRAMA
Surabaya, Indonesia HEINZ UFC PHILIPPINES
Manila, the Philippines HEINZ HONG KONG LIMITED
Wanchai, Hong Kong H. J. HEINZ (Botswana) (Proprietary) LTD.
Gaborone, Botswana KGALAGADI SOAP INDUSTRIES (Pty) LTD
Gaborone, Botswana REFINED OIL PRODUCTS (Pty) LTD.
Gaborone, Botswana OLIVINE INDUSTRIES (Private) LIMITED
Harare, Zimbabwe CHEGUTU CANNERS (Pvt) LTD
Chegutu, Zimbabwe HEINZ SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD.
Johannesburg, South Africa HEINZ WELLINGTON'S (PTY) LTD.
Wellington, South Africa HEINZ EUROPE
Hayes, Middlesex, England H. J. HEINZ COMPANY LIMITED
Hayes Park, Hayes, Middlesex, England H. J. HEINZ COMPANY LIMITED
Rovereto, Italy H. J. HEINZ COMPANY LIMITED
Telford, England JOHN WEST FOODS LIMITED
Liverpool, England H. J. HEINZ FROZEN & CHILLED FOODS LIMITED
Hayes, Middlesex, England H. J. HEINZ COMPANY (IRELAND) LIMITED
Dublin, Ireland H.J. HEINZ COMPANY OF CANADA LTD
North York, Ontario, Canada OMSTEAD FOODS LIMITED
Wheatley, Ontario, Canada ALIMENTOS HEINZ C.A.
Caracas, Venezuela DISTRIBUIDORA BANQUETE, S.A.
San Jose, Costa Rica HEINZ ITALIA S.r.l.
Milan, Italy FATTORIA SCALDASOLE, S.p.a.
Monguzzo, Italy COPAIS FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANY, S.A.
Athens, Greece HEINZ POLSKA Sp. Z.O.O.
Warsaw, Poland PUDLISZKI S.A.
Pudliszki, Poland WODZISLAW, S.A.
Wodzislaw, Poland ETS. PAULET S.A.
Douarnenez, France H. J. HEINZ FROZEN S.A.R.L.
Paris, France HEINZ IBERICA S.A.
Madrid, Spain IDAL (Industrias de Alimentacã, Lda.)
Lisbon, Portugal MIEDZYCHOD S.A.
Miedzychod, Poland HEINZ C.I.S.
Moscow, Russia HEINZ GEORGIEVSK
Georgievsk, Russia CAIRO FOOD INDUSTRIES SAE
Cairo, Egypt HEINZ REMEDIA LIMITED
Tel Aviv, Israel STAR-KIST FOOD DÃ,'OR LIMITED
Haifa, Israel H. J. HEINZ GMBH
DÃÂ" ÃÂ"Â¥ldorf, Germany SONNEN BASSERMANN
Seesen, Germany KONINKLIJKE DE RUIJTER BV
The Netherlands HAK BV
The Netherlands FOODMARK
The Netherlands HONIG MERKARTIKELEN BV
The Netherlands DRUKKERIJ DE GROENBOER
The Netherlands H. J. HEINZ B.V.
Elst, The Netherlands H. J. HEINZ BELGIUM S.A.
Brussels, Belgium SERV-A-PORTION
Turnhout, Belgium Arimpex Industrie Alimentari S.R.L.
Rovereto, Italy Comexo S.A.
Chateaurenard, France HEINZ EUROPE
UK and IRELAND Factories: Chorley, Fakenham, Grimsby, Kendal, Kitt Green, Leaminton,Luton, Okehampton, Telford, Westwick

Think of the conflict of interest a President would carry into the oval office if his wife owns business interests in all of these countries.

 

Why don't you guys keep your politics out of this forum. If you want to express your political views, do it in the Off Topic forum. Most people here rather just talk about their W211 and not be confronted with someone's political ideology.

 

I'll second that.

 

Calm down! I received what I posted in a general emailing and thought it would follow with the paulhu post. Guess I didn’t think it through. So calm down and stop reading into things. Hence the after paulhu's post!

 

Success! One day retrofit, in by 11 AM out by 4PM. All ambient lighting works perfectly. For anyone who does not have ambient lighting to their footwells here is the NO COST fix as per dealership invoice:

------------------------------
Customer requests check the ambient foot lighting operation.

541011 Perform short test (N/C)
542461 SAM Control Module – left side engine compartment, replace (N/C)
211-545-41-01 Relay Box (N/C)

Perform electrical system diagnose. Test voltage from each footwell to front SAM, no voltage. Removed SAM & test, found internal fault. Replaced front SAM & version code. Function test, OK.
------------------------------

FYI: SAM = Signal Acquisition Module.

 

I just love a story with a happy ending. Well done on the groundwork.

Congratulations,
John

 

Well done!

 

Is this only available on E500's? I've got an E55 and I sure haven't got ambient lighting at my feet...

 

This is a standard W211 feature and all should have it.

FIRST: Settings menu – Lighting submenu – Ambient light level - Adjust the brightness of the ambient lighting to 5 (brightest setting).
SECOND: Start your car (darkest condition available) with doors closed. Place a piece a paper up close to the lower portion of your dash (both driver and passenger) and below both front seats from behind.

If you do not see gentle lighting you need to visit your dealership for a retrofit. See post #71.