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So the trunk box is kind of cool even though I never use it. IEvery time I need to put something in or take something out of the trunk at night I am completely bewildered by two things. One, discussions on the boot box in all the forums don’t seem to even mention it, and two, how a German design could have possibly overlooked the fact that the boot box completely blocks the light from reaching the trunk? You’d think they would’ve made some sort of cut out. Anyway, i’m wondering if and how anyone has remediated the problem. as you can see from the photo it’s not just that it blocks the light, but it also creates such a bright reflection that your eyes have no chance of even leveraging the ambient light to look into the trunk.
I was thinking of a motion, sensing magnetic mount light, one that you could charge periodically by simply pulling it off the frame charging it and putting it back on. That said anything that moves in the trunk would likely trigger the motion sensor. Not the biggest deal but looking for ideas. I obviously would love to wire in a permanent solution, but that would involve tapping the light wire, adding two runs, and mounting lights on either side. I think if I was going to go to that trouble, I would trace the wire back to a junction, install an 12v LED driver and the drill holes and mount LEDs in various places to fully illuminate the trunk. I would leave the existing light as it’s needed to see stuff when the boot box is expanded. Crazy idea i know. I am resisting the urge to disassemble the molding about the truck and go for it. I have done it successfully in the past, to do things like install a power inverter, attach cargo hooks to the frame, replace speakers, but really don’t want to start tearing apart my Mercedes. Worried about the German engineering and having a handful of $60 clip break, resulting in something flapping around in the trunk that I can’t just put in the expando-retracto boot box to keep it from moving around. :-)
I digress. Any pointers would be appreciated. Crazy, huh? With the drawer pulled out.
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Originally Posted by MrNobody
So the trunk box is kind of cool even though I never use it. IEvery time I need to put something in or take something out of the trunk at night I am completely bewildered by two things. One, discussions on the boot box in all the forums don’t seem to even mention it, and two, how a German design could have possibly overlooked the fact that the boot box completely blocks the light from reaching the trunk? You’d think they would’ve made some sort of cut out. Anyway, i’m wondering if and how anyone has remediated the problem. as you can see from the photo it’s not just that it blocks the light, but it also creates such a bright reflection that your eyes have no chance of even leveraging the ambient light to look into the trunk.
I was thinking of a motion, sensing magnetic mount light, one that you could charge periodically by simply pulling it off the frame charging it and putting it back on. That said anything that moves in the trunk would likely trigger the motion sensor. Not the biggest deal but looking for ideas. I obviously would love to wire in a permanent solution, but that would involve tapping the light wire, adding two runs, and mounting lights on either side. I think if I was going to go to that trouble, I would trace the wire back to a junction, install an 12v LED driver and the drill holes and mount LEDs in various places to fully illuminate the trunk. I would leave the existing light as it’s needed to see stuff when the boot box is expanded. Crazy idea i know. I am resisting the urge to disassemble the molding about the truck and go for it. I have done it successfully in the past, to do things like install a power inverter, attach cargo hooks to the frame, replace speakers, but really don’t want to start tearing apart my Mercedes. Worried about the German engineering and having a handful of $60 clip break, resulting in something flapping around in the trunk that I can’t just put in the expando-retracto boot box to keep it from moving around. :-)
I digress. Any pointers would be appreciated. Crazy, huh? With the drawer pulled out.
Before I ordered my car I saw the box on a dealer car in the showroom: Made absolutely no sense to me: I doubt I would ever use it and more important cut down on usable space in the trunk.
You have confirmed my thoughts: "So the trunk box is kind of cool even though I never use it"
If this were my car I would remove it and try to sell it - Facebook Marketplace.
So the trunk box is kind of cool even though I never use it. IEvery time I need to put something in or take something out of the trunk at night I am completely bewildered by two things. One, discussions on the boot box in all the forums don’t seem to even mention it, and two, how a German design could have possibly overlooked the fact that the boot box completely blocks the light from reaching the trunk? You’d think they would’ve made some sort of cut out. Anyway, i’m wondering if and how anyone has remediated the problem. as you can see from the photo it’s not just that it blocks the light, but it also creates such a bright reflection that your eyes have no chance of even leveraging the ambient light to look into the trunk.
I was thinking of a motion, sensing magnetic mount light, one that you could charge periodically by simply pulling it off the frame charging it and putting it back on. That said anything that moves in the trunk would likely trigger the motion sensor. Not the biggest deal but looking for ideas. I obviously would love to wire in a permanent solution, but that would involve tapping the light wire, adding two runs, and mounting lights on either side. I think if I was going to go to that trouble, I would trace the wire back to a junction, install an 12v LED driver and the drill holes and mount LEDs in various places to fully illuminate the trunk. I would leave the existing light as it’s needed to see stuff when the boot box is expanded. Crazy idea i know. I am resisting the urge to disassemble the molding about the truck and go for it. I have done it successfully in the past, to do things like install a power inverter, attach cargo hooks to the frame, replace speakers, but really don’t want to start tearing apart my Mercedes. Worried about the German engineering and having a handful of $60 clip break, resulting in something flapping around in the trunk that I can’t just put in the expando-retracto boot box to keep it from moving around. :-)
I digress. Any pointers would be appreciated. Crazy, huh? With the drawer pulled out.
Totally agree. I really like the box and do use it, but MB really screwed up on the light. I'm not sure if it would be any good without the box either. My old E350 had a light on each side of the trunk and they worked fine. MB should have stayed with that arrangement. Guess the left and right hands don't communicate with each other. Very bad for MB.
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