US car modifications for EU and how to do them
06-23-2008, 07:32 PM
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ML320 CDi (US)
US car modifications for EU and how to do them
Hi all,
as some of us will one day move to Europe and will take a W164 with, I listed some useful or even mandatory modifications here:
- digital cluster units from US to metric
- analog speedo from MPH to km/h (max speed 160 km/h)
- radio tuning to even tenth (like 89.4 MHz)
- side marker lights at the front lamp clusters should be turned off; only turn signal alloved - or they are allowed to only show white light as park light (no turn signal at all)
- US Comand Navi (MCS II) won't work in Europe (no maps available) - it needs to be replaced by a European Comand unit
Do you know any other useful or needed modifications when moving from US to Europe? How they and the modifications above should be done? Are they possible to implement just by reprogramming the car computer with Star Diagnose (how? should dealers be able to do them?) or is there some major electric alterations needed?
as some of us will one day move to Europe and will take a W164 with, I listed some useful or even mandatory modifications here:
- digital cluster units from US to metric
- analog speedo from MPH to km/h (max speed 160 km/h)
- radio tuning to even tenth (like 89.4 MHz)
- side marker lights at the front lamp clusters should be turned off; only turn signal alloved - or they are allowed to only show white light as park light (no turn signal at all)
- US Comand Navi (MCS II) won't work in Europe (no maps available) - it needs to be replaced by a European Comand unit
Do you know any other useful or needed modifications when moving from US to Europe? How they and the modifications above should be done? Are they possible to implement just by reprogramming the car computer with Star Diagnose (how? should dealers be able to do them?) or is there some major electric alterations needed?
07-15-2008, 03:43 PM
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ML 350 -06
Hi !
Here are my thoughts. I moved to Europe a year ago took my w164 ML with me.
Haven't done anything to speedometer, I'm using the digital one that shows
km/h. But, analog speedo should be possible to recode it so show km/h.
Haven't done anything for the radio either, I'm using the odd channels only.
According to sales rep. the navigation should work, haven't tested that because I should buy the disk (need to order it) if it works that's almost 400€, I don't need navi here so I don't want to pay that.
But, someone I know brought w164 ML to Europe and he said that you should unmount the Comand Navi and send it to Germany (forgot the company name) to run a new SW into it.
Side marker lights at front bumper, I just changed the bulb to white.
Here are my thoughts. I moved to Europe a year ago took my w164 ML with me.
Haven't done anything to speedometer, I'm using the digital one that shows
km/h. But, analog speedo should be possible to recode it so show km/h.
Haven't done anything for the radio either, I'm using the odd channels only.
According to sales rep. the navigation should work, haven't tested that because I should buy the disk (need to order it) if it works that's almost 400€, I don't need navi here so I don't want to pay that.
But, someone I know brought w164 ML to Europe and he said that you should unmount the Comand Navi and send it to Germany (forgot the company name) to run a new SW into it.
Side marker lights at front bumper, I just changed the bulb to white.
08-18-2008, 11:06 AM
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ML 350 -06
Went to dealer for re-coding my car today.
They changed it to Euro mode, temperature is in celcius and speedometer and ODO shows kilometers now, analog speedo is showing up to 160 km/h now.
They changed it to Euro mode, temperature is in celcius and speedometer and ODO shows kilometers now, analog speedo is showing up to 160 km/h now.
08-18-2008, 03:55 PM
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ML350 Bluetech
Is there a way to change the analog speedo without a dealer reprogram? I drive to Canada quite a bit and I would love to be able to just change it instead of relying on the digital one.
08-21-2008, 05:45 PM
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ML 350 US
No, I am afraid there isnt. It changed ONLY through the star diagnosis.
Myself, I bought a W164 from the US
As mentioned, I changed everything that could be changed with the star, but
1) The yellow flash on the front lamp unit cannot be changed. You have to change all the front light unit
2) I am changing the US navi unit for the european one tomorrow. I am planning to take to ebay in order to sell it, since it is NO use here... It is NOT compatible with the European navi dvd...
3) All in all, it is a great car and I didnt have to undergo many changes..
zisis
Myself, I bought a W164 from the US
As mentioned, I changed everything that could be changed with the star, but
1) The yellow flash on the front lamp unit cannot be changed. You have to change all the front light unit
2) I am changing the US navi unit for the european one tomorrow. I am planning to take to ebay in order to sell it, since it is NO use here... It is NOT compatible with the European navi dvd...
3) All in all, it is a great car and I didnt have to undergo many changes..
zisis
08-21-2008, 10:10 PM
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ML350 Bluetech
I read somewhere else that the Canadian programmed ML actually has a menu option to change units of the mechanical speedometer. So when you cross the boarder you can change it on the fly. US version lacks that ability. What does the EU programmed ML do since obviously you could drive it in the UK which would require miles again.
08-21-2008, 10:14 PM
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W203 slightly modified
MCS II is not sold in Europe so I have no idea how a map will work in that unit. It's certain that a European unit will work better.
The other settings are software based and the radio problem is solved with a new Navigation unit.
The instrument cluster can be fixed by taking a broken KMH cluster and transfering the KMH scale. DO NOT plug in a used cluster to your car.
The other settings are software based and the radio problem is solved with a new Navigation unit.
The instrument cluster can be fixed by taking a broken KMH cluster and transfering the KMH scale. DO NOT plug in a used cluster to your car.
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08-21-2008, 10:15 PM
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W203 slightly modified
I read somewhere else that the Canadian programmed ML actually has a menu option to change units of the mechanical speedometer. So when you cross the boarder you can change it on the fly. US version lacks that ability. What does the EU programmed ML do since obviously you could drive it in the UK which would require miles again.
08-23-2008, 04:56 PM
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08-24-2008, 09:39 PM
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W203 slightly modified
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