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Hello,
I was able to install an illuminated star in my 2012 GL450. I will explain as best as I can how I did it. I took pictures that I will attach. I don't know if this will apply to other years or models. Remove Old Star
-I was able to remove the old star without removing the grill.
-I removed the chrome emblem with a small flat head screwdriver.
-Then with a small flat head screw driver I push the tabs holding the housing in place one by one and pull the housing out.
-After moving the first tabs it was pretty easy to wiggle the housing out pull it towards me.
Replacement Star
There’s an Old and New style of replacement stars that fits this truck.
The New has a black gloss backing (W205)
-Place the black backing into the frame of the grill.
-Then twist until it’s flushed and locked in the grill.
-It took me a few attempts to get it to line up correctly.
-The emblem snaps into the grill.
-However I found that there was one tab that couldn't snap in place because it was blocked by the frame of the grill.
-I just snaped the tab off and the emblem snapped in the grill.
-It was the bottom tab on my truck
Modification and Install of Old style
The Old style star modification is more labor intensive.
-There are sections of the frame of the star that must be removed to allow for it to fit and lock into the grill using a box cutter or electric heated knife.
-I went with an electric knife and removed about 2 cm for the frame and tab of the star.
-There are 3 tabs on the frame that need to trimmed.
-The 3 pictures show the same cut with a before/after and from different angles.
Wiring the Star
Star
Both styles of star are wired the same.
-The fuse extension provided with the star looked cheap. It was also for a mini-fuse.
-Picked one up from the auto part store.
-The star can be linked to the follow locations:
Headlight fuse (lights up at night)
Brake fuse (lights up with brake lights)
Door unlock fuse (lights up when doors unlock) etc.
-The 2 pictures show how the light can be wired with or without the fuse extension
-I linked the star to the headlights.
-I ran my wires through the side of the fuse box. So that they would be inside the box and not clamped in the lid of the fuse box.
UPDATE!!!!
The 2012 GL450 doesn't have head, tail or parking light fuses. So if you tap into the fuse box the star will run as long as the truck is running. I decided to hardwire the star to the headlight plug. So it only runs at night when the headlights are on.
I decided to go with a New style star in Black on Black star instead of the original Old style in Chrome on Black star.
The seller on amazon offers the New style in both color schemes. Old style is offered in Chrome on Black only. Attached is a PDF of this information and the 2012 GL450 Fuse Chart.
I hope this is helpful to someone.
Please feel free to ask any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.
Thanks
Tonya After
05-23-2023, 04:38 PM
2012 GL450 Illuminated Star/Emblem Install
