AVB-AMG

I am considering purchasing from my Mercedes-Benz Dealer a pair of new LED rear tail lights that are now available on the 2010 model year ML63 AMG and have them installed on my 2007 ML63 AMG, replacing the original incandescent tail lights. I am assuming that there should not be any incompatibility issues here, (please correct me if I am mistaken). So here are several questions:

- Has anyone in this forum done that already?

- If so, how much did you pay for the new LED tail lights?

- How much did you pay for installation?

Any help will be most appreciated... Thanks

AVB-AMG

jafores

I was told it is not possible so I am looking at the aftermarket options. I think a search on the forum should give you more info. good luck

AVB-AMG

This past weekend (3/13/10). I stopped by the Parts Dept. of my MB Dealer and discussed what I was thinking of doing regarding replacing my current two original incandescent rear tail lights with the current (2010 model year) optional LED tail lights and to explore what would be involved and the corresponding cost to accomplish this. I was told that one of their Technical Service Mechanics had considered doing the same thing to his 2007 ML350 and discovered that the rear fuse box has to have the latest software upgrade to make the switch possible. The expense of all this convinced him not to move forward with doing the switch. If the existing rear fuse box cannot accommodate the latest software update then the entire rear fuse box will have to be replaced at an added cost of almost $400.
They offered to check my fuse box to see if they could just update the software to he latest version that accepts and configures LED lights, to save me that added cost of replacement of my current rear fuse box. Unfortunately, my fuse box would not accept that update and would therefore need to be replaced in order to successfully make the switch to the newer style LED tail lights. The estimated cost to me for this project would not be cheap and is itemized as follows:

- New rear circuit breaker box (MSRP - $399)
- Two (2) new LED Tail Lights ($385 / each x 2 = $770)
Apply my Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA) 15% discount on parts
($1,169 - $175 = $994)
Assume 1.5 hours labor by a Service Technician to install all components, with a corresponding cost of approx. $175
Add 7% state sales tax to the total of parts and labor ($994 for parts = $175 for labor = $1,169 + $82 = $1,251)
Estimated total cost for this project = $1,251

While I really do like the aesthetic appearance of the new LED tail lights, I have a hard time justifying (rationalizing), spending that much money for this project on solely cosmetic reasoning.
Well..... at least for now.

Hope this helps anyone else here who may be considering doing the same thing....

AVB-AMB

jafores

I am considering this option : http://www.partstrain.com/store/deta...Passenger_Side

I was told its a plug-in.

AVB-AMG

jafores:

If you decide to go forward with that product let us know how it turned out and please post some photos. Thanks...

AVB-AMG

jafores

will do Ive ordered the lights I hope it gets shipped to my friend who is on the way back home in a few days will post pix for sure. wish me luck

kenmakara

I went with the aftermarket lights on eBay and they turned out great. I too, love the look of the 09-10 LED tails, but not worth that much money. Sorry the picture is sideways.

jafores

Rats, my supplier had no stock, would you mind posting a profile, diagonal, and front view picture of the tailights when on at night? TIA

markboni_ml63

i've just bought an ML63 AMG 2007 (Black) as well and was considering exactly the same thing. Thanks for the info, AVB-AMG, sounds like the official parts route is very expensive. Does anyone know if there is a stockist of Anzo tail lights in the UK? I too would like to see pictures of them, as i want them to look just like a 2010 63 AMG, i like the current lights, but i'd like them to match with the LED taillights of my 2009 CLS (Black).

Kenmakara, where did you get yours from on eBay? These are the ones on Partstrain (US site): http://www.partstrain.com/store/deta...Passenger_Side

Thanks for the info.

Brisk335

Bump anymore info on this?

so basically if you have the updated fuse box, the new LED '10 tailights are plug and play?

AVB-AMG

Ok.... Fast forward to winter 2010/2011..... I decided to do the rear LED tail light upgrade, since I really do like the aesthetic appearance of the new LED tail lights and I was finally able to rationalize spending that much money for this project on solely cosmetic reasoning. (I know, I know...., I'm nuts.)

Everything seemed to work fine until we discovered that the new rear fuse box also controls the fuel guage and for some unknown reason, the fuel guage no longer worked and read "Empty" even though I had a full tank of gas.... Nothing seemed to work to correct this issue.

To make a long story longer... We ended up putting the original rear fuse box back in so my fuel guage would work and we "jury-rigged" the rear tail light wires with individual fuses in order to "trick" that fuse box so it would not indicate a "burned out light warning" for regular tail lights, break lights, backup lights and turn signals. A bit of a production but it works and I now have the newer style LED tail lights and the work and look great...

DeutscheM

SO KINDLY PLEASE

Please elaborate more on this method you have done!
this means it would save me around 400 USD by not replacing the rear SAM... i have heard about similar methods used for retrofitting the S class w221 LED tails and CLS w219 LED tail too to older models


I am about to purchase the rear SAM for my car....but if you are telling me you made it work wihout...Sir, help me out!

AVB-AMG

DeutscheM:

I wish I could tell you.... I entered into this project with a clear understanding with the Service Manager of my MB Dealer of a "not-to-exceed" cost for this project, realizing that it would involve some trial and error investigation. I have been a very good customer for them so they were willing to do this with me. Once it was determined that the new rear fuse box (SAM) would render the fuel gauge non-functional, we jettisoned it, with a full parts cost credit to me and started the "Plan B" approach. To be clear, the MB Dealer Service Dept. Foreman did all of the work and communicated back and forth with Mercedes-Benz USA to try various options until he found one that finally worked. I do not know the details of the various new in-line fuse links and small incandescent "Christmas Tree" lights he used and concealed in the rear side compartment, but the combination of all this resulted in the new M-B rear LED tail lights working properly. The total cost and aggravation of this project probably would make it a "NO GO" for more sane owners, (but I am not in that category....).

AVB-AMG

amgv

go get a 2011 then

DeutscheM

Ummm... I am thinking that they didn't code the new sam properly ... that's why u had a problem with the gas gauge