DFWdude

Still on a quest to install a warning system for pulling into parking spots to avoid those hungry concrete wheel stops. I've decided to experiment with a supplementary sensor system mounted below the front bumper in the front scoops (where flood lamps typically go), using this parking sensor product...





I will install just two sensors, one in each scoop area. Customers have questioned if this is possible, and the seller's answer is yes. Black sensors to match the false grilles in the scoops.

My question is where in the firewall will I find access to the passenger compartment, on the driver's side? I will need to pass several wire connectors through the firewall. As many as the connectors for the sensors, power for the controller, and maybe a spliced-in wire for a switch, so I can turn the system on/off only when needed. (This is designed as a back-up sensor set, spliced into the backup light for power, but since I will use it in front instead, I will need to be able to turn it on/off somehow.)

I would like to install the controller inside the cabin (out of the engine bay heat), but may just mount it near the forward fuse box, (temporarily or course). Also, I plan to route the display wiring up the A-pillar to install above the sun visor. I will install this set on the wife's car first, to play with it a few days before getting another set for the E350.

Meanwhile, where can I pull wires and their attached connectors through the W212 firewall?

And another question, please... Do the black scoops below the bumper snap into place from the ourside, or will I have to remove the bumper to remove them? TIA.

armysoldier1073

I installed my radar detector behind the grill. The control box is under the passenger floor board. There is a hole behind the battery that leads into where the cabin filter is, but doesn't effect it in any way. It just that area. I can't answer about the ducts.

DFWdude

Thanks. This might work, provided the kit has wiring long enough to install from the passenger side to the driver side and up the A-pillar.

However, I'd prefer a driver side firewall pass through. Does anyone know if there is a wiring harness pass through on the firewall behind the driver side fuse box?

CaliBenzDriver

I would not be surprised with flakey radar interactions in the same GHz band (Distronic etc)

FYI: personally I get erratic "frontal collision" (beep-beep) warnings at least once a month with unaltered Benz wiring. 🙂

DFWdude

You make a point about radar interactions between my full set of existing parking sensors and anything else added.

The product arrived Wednesday, but did not include the power wire and its special connector. So I've already sent it back. I may have to pick another Amazon seller to get a complete kit.

Meantime, I did have time to read the instructions. Given the 45° viewing angle of ALL these sensors, I may not have interference if I mount the new kit below the bumper where the existing sensors can't see it (& vice versa) The bumper blocks both, the way the current sensors can't see parking blocks once they pass out of view). Also the display unit has an on/off switch, which is a bonus, since I assume I can turn the whole system off when not using it to park.

The wife's car has no sensors (and the same bumper fish-hooking problem). So I think I will get this to experiment with her car regardless.

CaliBenzDriver

While this sounds like a really nice custom feature any alteration may become a PERFECT excuse not to cover unrelated warranty issues you may face later... right?

Testing 1-2 testing... 2cents:
If I were you I'd first consider "integration testing" by duct-taping everything in place then driving around.
Validate that all your stock MB radars appear mostly functional before considering complete Kit installation.
Check for evidence of interactions with an OBDII scanner in all your radar modules.

(in my '14 ride all the stock radar based features have been pretty unstable as they are: Pre-Safe, BlindSpot... and Collision BeepBeeps out of thin air)

DFWdude

At this point I just need to know where to push wires through the firewall on the driver's side.

I'm certain I'm not the first to ask this question.

DFWdude

I know I'm not the first to fish-hook my front bumper splitter on a concrete parking stop.

I really would like some advice from others who think about this problem. My parking sensors are great at beeping for obstacles at bumper height, but they are beyond stupid < 6" off the ground.

DFWdude

Thanks to our administrator, this thread has been renamed to better describe the goal... To install some system to assist in avoiding those nasty concrete parking stops. Perhaps this will spark interest and some ideas?

The radar based system is simple, or more simple than a camera based system.

There are lots of cameras available, from a wireless FPV video cam for flying drones, to a hardwired aftermarket backup camera csytem adapted for front bumper use. Each solution has its benefits and drawbacks.

The small price of any system far outweighs the cost of repairing a bumper pulled off its mounts. Do you agree?

retna7

There's a space under your fuse box (rear drivers side of engine bay). Remove your fuse box and you can see it. Its how I wired illuminated door sills.

DFWdude

Good to know. I'll look for that. And Thanks.

retna7

No worries. There are 4 screws with break away tabs. I managed to break a few yet no impact on stability when re-installed.

Skip to 1:48 in the video.

Be careful. You should not have to force anything.

4 screws and the fuse box assembly pulls right out revealing the pathway through the firewall.

DFWdude

Even better. Thanks, again

DFWdude

Has anyone used a digital borescope for work under the hood? I wonder if this could work as an under bumper camera. Amazon has both standalone types with it's own display, and other types using a cellphone screen ...

This Banggood standalone system looks intriguing

https://www.banggood.com/F200-4_3inc...r_warehouse=CN

This one from Amazon.

jonUF02

Easy but maybe not so clean way to route the wire would be up over the top corner of the fender, but inside of the body then in through the door.

Arrie

I have the Airmatic and these concrete stoppers have been an issue a couple of times. Problem for me is I drive the front over the thing and the car lowers down after I turn it off and leave the car. Then when I return the underside of the front bumper scrapes against it.

The fix is not to worry about it. If it scapes so be it. It is cheaper to have it painted later than installing some sort of detection system

just my thought...

DFWdude

Then again, it's been discussed that a bad "fish hook" on a protruding REBAR stake holding the concrete in place can pull off the bumper cover... https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...g-how-fix.html

Makes my little problem seem insignificant compared with pulling the bumper off completely. I guarantee this repair will cost me more than a $50 camera system.

armysoldier1073

Have you thought about aftermarket back up cameras that feed into the rear view mirror? I have a friend that owns a RHD rx7. He used one of these and fabbed it into the back side of the driver's side (LHD) mirror so he could see around cars when passing. I never thought to get a picture of it..

DFWdude

Yes, a backup camera was probably my first choice. Only thing holding me back is to research if these can be turned on only when needed. In backup mode as intended, the camera is powered when the backup lights are lit. For front bumper use, I can power it up front, but it will be on all the time. I need to figure out how to turn it off along with the monitor, which I will velcro to the underside of the driver side visor.

I'm concerned about feeding anything into the rear view mirror. The MB mirror does so many things, I'd prefer to have this camera monitor completely separate from other MB features.

Example...

TeeEl

This happened to my mom several years ago. She got the store or property management company or whoever to pay for the repairs to her car. Tenacious old woman.

A thought about the bore camera, since it's used to view very close things you might not be able to get the AF to work more than a few inches out. Have never tried, but that's something that occurs to me. You could go get a colonoscopy and ask the doc to borrow it and see. (I advise borrowing *before* the procedure...)

DFWdude

I went to the gym today, and my usual angle-in parking spot was effectively blocked by its concrete wheel stop. It was dragged to a 45° angle, well into the parking space, the other end anchored correctly by its rebar post.

I got out of the car and muscled the offending end back to its intended position. But I wonder who won the previous encounter that moved it so askew.

DFWdude

Yes, I imagine the range of focus for a borescope is a limiting factor. It seems that every possible solution has a limitation to go with its benefits.

TeeEl

If I had to hazard a guess, some guy in a truck purposely moved it so people with "normal cars" couldn't park there.

ygmn

mount a whisker switch ---- ugly maybe but would work.

switch with little wire that sticks out and would hit curb and move backwards to clsoe circuit where you could have a light turn on..

THink CURB FEELERS - but way smaller....



yeah it would be ugly....

DFWdude

I'm thinking about ways to mount these small cameras behind the lower grille so they can peek through, and not been readily seen.

So yea, thanks for the idea, but the whisker switch would not be ugly... it would be TOO ugly.