Only the star is needed. I don't know why there is a control ballast on the second gen harness. It would be closer to $400 dollars with the harness. It might be because mb wanted it to run on the daytime running lights or in conjunction with the auto lighting option. Some of the pictures posted show that the star is bluish in color but it matches perfectly with the drl and led lights, and is not blue.

I keep thinking it will be tacky, but then I saw this:


It looks pretty nice.

Really look sharp I am going to have mine put in on Tuesday along with the Illuminated sills.

I want to get the sills, how much you paid for it?

Ph350's post is a little bit off, it comes with the star and two different wires,it DOES NOT come with a ballast. The second generation lights up all the time when the engine is on ( Which is the one I have just installed on my car) , it DOES NOT light up when you just unlock the door. ONLY when the engine is on. The brightness of the star is pretty good at night buy far dimmer than the DLR lights, basically,you can't see it at all under daylight.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261447933097...84.m1497.l2649

Above is the ebay store I bought mine, the seller is a NJ Mercedes dealer, but the parts I received were directly sent from MBUSA , not from the dealer, so I guess the dealer sent the order directly to MBUSA.

I have instructions for both the 1st gen star which only lights up when you unlock the door and shuts down when you start the engine. ( But the brightness is same as the DLR LED)
AND the second gen when it lights up all the time when engine is on ( BUT the brightness is far less than the DLR LED, you can only see it at night)


If anyone need these, just send me the email and I'll be happy to send you the instructions.

I am intrested I have the original kit that only works when locking and unlocking doors. I have yet to install because I figure I just sale it to someone that wouldn't mind. But I'll give it a shot to the 12 volt and grounding can you guild me please.

Cut the plug that came with the star and extend out the wires so they are long enough to connect to the fusebox. Test out the star by plugging the white wire to positive and the black wire to negative on the battery post. If it is lighting correctly, it should just have a subtle glow to it.

You should be able to follow the directions I gave previously to wire it up and have it light up when unlocking/locking as well as full time illumination when the engine is on.

Note: The white wire is the positive and the black wire is the ground. Not like in a house where the white is negative. Don't worry tho the unit has a protector in it in case you reverse the wires. The fuse directions and layout is under the bar for taking off the lug nuts. It will show you where fuse #23 is. The old star you need to push in a little and then turn to the left and it comes off. It is held in by a locking mechanism. I was supprised on how easy it was to take off.

The plug is there for a reason, the full kit comes with another 2 wires designed to go into the fuse box with seals, thus it is waterproof. THere is an additional fuse on the wire it comes with for safety. Hope you guys don't get a short circuit with the way you did it.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...8b8901acab.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...c7b510fd34.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...c79673641f.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...6a5423cb0a.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...6a6c27c96e.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...9271ff5090.jpg


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...7aa28e0f65.jpg


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4904f5c3ee.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...613b301196.jpg


This is the mercedes instruction , and the parts you need for the legit way mercedes designed. I will say if the way you guys wired it works, go ahead, I just want to do it the way it is designed , seems safer for me

Those instructions are for the 2nd gen but I wonder why it was designed to only come on when the ignition is on and not for locking/unlocking the car? The instructions are way more complicated to perform than what I did and mine also lights up whenever I press the keyfob.

If you have a vehicle covered by warranty it is important to do things the way the manufacturer specifies.

hear is the problem. MB does not offer, (the way we want it to work) the constant on Illuminated star as an option on a 2014 W212 E350 4matic. So in that case you have to go with the way you have to go. If everyone was scared to void the warranty you would have no modifications. It is not our fault that MB does not make things the way we want. IF they did I am sure people would buy it directly when they order the vehicle. MB does not make the K40RL 360 Built in radar system with laser diffuser. Does that void the warranty when it is put in. I think not. The way people do things to the car is a cheaper way that works just a well as what the MFG installs only it works the way the owner wants them to work. I know I am not worried about voiding my warranty.

I never said it would void the warranty. When a vehicle is covered by a warranty and there is a procedure and parts available to install an option the way the manufacturer intended I would do so.

It was an opinion, not an order.

Everyone is free to modify their car anyway they want.

Can you send the instructions for the 2nd gen to my email : s.alferaih@gmail.com
im living outside the US and i order the star from Ebay.sadley they didint send me the instructions .and i want to do it by myself.thanks in advance

My star did not come with instructions also. I brought the star to a car audio shop. They installed the star and put a cut off switch under the dash for $100.00. Fantastic job. It goes on when car lights go on and stays on when the ignition is turned on. I can switch it off when ever I want with the cutoff switch.

What a great idea.that will be a good option when the driver decide to drive without having the star ON all the time.ill try to do that after installing the star first.

Looks to saudi arabian to me ,just needs the neon lights and gold chrome wrapping,

Idk but to me it looks ricerish

The factory instruction is just above , already posted on this thread. I would do it the factory way

can you send to me the instructions to install illuminated strar ? !,,i will be happy to see if i can do it !,,thanks

maestro42@mac.com

Can you ask the shop where they tapped into? I want to compare to where I have mine connected.

fuse 23 under the hood.
 

shop taped into the fuse panel under the hood on the drivers side. I also had them put a switch under the dash on drivers side in case I do not want the star on. I like the star on and I do not think I will ever turn it off.

Hi can you email the instruction for gen 2 to nub813@gmail.com please. i seem to unable to find the right instructions for the harnesses I have for the 2nd gen.

Normally stereo shops grab the actual 12VDC to the headlight. They just test the pins on the back of your lamp connector to find the one switching on/off with your lights and make note of that wire color/stripe.

Trace that harness back a bit and strip back the black loom exposing the wire harness.

Pick that wire out of the harness... carefully strip a 1/4" insulation off that wire (leaving the copper). Wrap a new 18AWG THHN wire (stripped back about 1/2") around the light wire and SOLDER the connection. Wrap tightly with 3M super 90 electrical tape to seal this connection.

Re wrap the connection with 2-3" on either side of the soldered connection putting another layer on top of where you soldered. For your ground wire they normally scratch off a 1/2" circle of paint (top of shock tower) and use a self tapping flat head sheet metal screw with a 18AWG black THHN round eyelet crimped on the end. Seal this screw with clear RTV.

Now run both wires back in the loom over to the front end of the car and over to your light. Ensure you follow any factory wire routes so it looks factory and your wire stays out of the way of moving parts.

Solder these connections together, double wrap these connections.

Buy some 1/4" wire loom and put your new wires into loom so it looks factory.

If you dont know how to strip insulation w/out messing up the stranded copper you can use posi-taps (not recommended for engine compartment as these are NOT waterproof). Here is a video showing how they install a car alarm this should give you an idea of connecting.