MBW211

Does anyone know if 2010 LED tail light would fit on 2009 gl550?

I am really looking to swap out my if the installation is as simple as Plug and Play!

I really do not want to mess around with the wiring if it would be a custom job!

StevethePilot

While I don't have a complete answer, I'd suspect with all you've got to go through with LEDs on a trailer instead of incandescent bulbs, it'd be a bigger deal than swap & play - unless they include whatever necessary conversions there are at the plug point itself, of course.

lkchris

I'm thinking about this, too, and do know that on a W211 (E-class) it's all plug and play. (although the only difference is LED brake lights.)

I'd think the economical way for Mercedes to do it would be all in the taillight units rather than requiring a new wire harness and/or SAM, etc.

In any event, the part numbers appear to be

164 820 35 64
164 820 36 64

which are each $271.50 here:

http://www.getmercedesparts.com

MBW211

I have been searching around as was not able to get a definite answer! I think I'll try to contact local dealer to see if I can look at the diagram on the connector?

Hopely it woud be as easy as plug and play

Thanks

stickygreen

Any word on this? Would like to get some factory LED tails on the gl...

lkchris

Parts man--who I'd never seen before so can't vouch for his experience--says "it's an all new harness." He also said a taillight counts as a nonreturnable electrical part, so I'm holding off just experimenting. I'm not completely convinced yet that it isn't just a light unit swap but am awaiting further information.

jandmtv

In order to do a LED light swap, you need to take your car to the dealer, pay them 1 hour labor so they can get into your cars ECU with the STAR diagnostics computer and change the control module from NON-LED, to LED-LIGHTING, or els the leds wont work.

I know because I had them do it. I also had them enable Xenon lighting (so I could install aftermarket HID's) and he also changed the alarm settings from USA, to USA w/Xenon lights.

LED lights will not work unless enables with the STAR diagnostcs computer.

Hope this helps.

lkchris

One wonders how LED lighting could have been anticipated in 2007 and the choice therefore in the STAR programming. I bet there's a production cutoff date where this solution does/does not work.

jandmtv

Not sure if there is a date cutoff or not, but in case you guys are wondering why they need to turn on led lighting in Star, I can explain.

for some strange reason, both mercedes and bmw cars are set up to pluse the electic signal to all light bulbs, the pulse is so fast that regular bulbs do not notice it and stay on. But if you try to hook up HID Xenon or LED lights to a source that pulses the power, it will blink on and off really fast.

one way you can tell if your car falls into this catagory is to hotwire a bosch horn relay to one of the light bult +/- wires, if the relay just clicks once and stays on, you are good to go and do not need to have anything done in the ECU. But if it starts to click really fast over and over, you need to have your car hooked up to STAR diag. and have led lighting turned on.

Also, if you want to install aftermarket HID Xenon lights on the foglights, you will need to have the LED lighting turned on in STAR, because the second the dealer tech switches the lighting module from regular to LED, it stops pulsing the power to all of the bulbs (except the headlights, for the headlights, there is another section in Star that he needs to goto and switch Xenon lighting from NOT PRESENT, to PRESENT, and he also needs to change the alarm module settings from USA to USA w/Xenon lighting) and sends a steady non stop stream of power to it.

Why the hell do they even pulse the power to the bulbs? only god knows.

hope this answers some of your questions.

jandmtv.

stickygreen

Other than changing setting using STAR, are the taillights plug & play?

jandmtv

They should be. Unless they use a different lighting module. But I doubt it.

dal35

keep me updated on this. I would like to do this as well.

Danno4x4

Hmmf. Over 650 bucks for parts and labor seems like a lot of money to spend for a slightly different looking set of tail lights.

scottybdiving

+1

axchung

i was disappointed when i saw the new tail lights. Only two short strips on each side, not enough for me to justify price/trouble/time.

eurodok

I found a pair of nicely priced salvaged 2010 OEM GL LED tail lights on EBay. I plan to install them in my 2009 GL 320 BT.... I've already swapped my front foglights to 2010 OEM LED Daytime Running Lights.
Wish me luck on this project!

robalo220

Have you posted any pics and info on your foglight switch? I am interested and would like more information if you have any.
Thanks.

justthebest

Did your front LED install require anything beyond plug & play + STAR modification?

And pics from both please!!!

eurodok

My local dealership was unable use the the STAR diagnostics to convert to LED mode; the installation of a "50 watt/ 6 ohm load resistor" resolved any error coding:

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/50W-Load-Re...d_resistor.htm

However, to facilitate the install I also had to purchase a 2010 OEM LED wiring harness to swap out the end plugs with a little splicing to insert into the back of the DRL LEDs because the original foglight plugs are a completely different configuration and wouldn't fit.

The other key is to have a friendly and patient parts contact at a Mercedes dealership who can pull up the schematic diagram of the 2010 DRL LEDs and order all the proper parts (LEDs, chrome pieces, black
inserts). There are two different sets of OEM DRLs; the shorter ones fit the GL 550 and GL 320/350, and the longer ones fit the GL 450.

I will try to provide pictures; I have never submitted photos on the internet (to my chagrin), so the photos may be a little amateurish until I get the hang of it.

ksdprasad

eurodok,

is the rear LED tail lights requires any other resistors/harness? or they just plug and play? do you any install pictures you want to share with.

eurodok

The seller has shipped the lights from California and I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the package. I wil keep you updated.

ksdprasad

any update? pictures

eurodok

I am still waiting to install the lights.

Kate0506

Did you install the lights? Just wondering what they'd look like on an '09...

eurodok

Not yet. I went to the dealership two days ago and the electronics manager agreed to help me install the lights and convert the LED program with the STAR on a Saturday when I'm off and he's working at the dealership; that's when their least busy, according to him and he'll have extra time to mess with the STAR system and locate the proper program; he's eager to see the outcome just as much as I am.

I'll update you ASAP... with pictures!