Quadcammer

Hey gang,
I found a deal on a STAR setup with developer mode that is already pieced together and ready to use.

obviously its gonna be great for diagnosis, but I'm wondering if anybody has done any fun things on the 220 like speed limiter removal, lowering, fan temp turn on, lock siren, etc etc.

I don't mind playing around looking for stuff but if someone has done it already, it would be easier. I speak and read german so language is no problem.

We can make this a long running thread as more people get these systems and figure them out.

Thanks.

tusabes

The best tip I've seen is to use logmein program and use an iPad or iPhone as you use the program , as its handier than using the old laptop

The logmein app basically replicates the laptop screen and you can control it that way

Quadcammer

all i can say is this thing is AWESOME.

imho a must buy for any modern mb owner.

so far I've changed the alarm chirp to netherlands, activated flashing brake lights under heavy braking, and lowered the temp the fan comes on 10 degrees.

GO BUY ONE

tower

quadcammer:

What unit are you talking about? I'm in the market for one.

tower

Quadcammer

tower,
to be honest I'm not sure what mine is since i bought it used. If you do a search around this site you should be able to find a respected vendor. Contact Member Shardul, he knows a lot about it.

I got the whole thing, plug and play with an IBM t-30 laptop for under $500.

Quadcammer

ok, some things:

Flash rear brake lights under panic braking:

Control units> Body> rear SAM> Control Unit Adaptations> Flashing Brake> Active

Chirp on lock/unlock

Control Units for multiple items>Body> Control Unit Adaptations> Security/Alarm> National ATA> Select Netherlands

Fan-on temp lower

Control Units> Drive> Engine> Control Unit Adaptations> Correction Programming> Suction Fan> Temp increase to max of 10 degrees C.

Lowering airmatic (ABC is more tricky from what I hear)

Control Units for Multiple items>Chassis>Suspension> Initial Start Up>Manual settings> use +/- to get the car to the height you want (keeping the voltage numbers in the specified range).

Hit F2 to get to the romess screen. Enter romess angles either from the tool or within the specified values on the previous page. If all ok, this should result in the car set at the right level.

Still working on tank level.

Changing the vmax requires developer mode. I have a tune so I don't need to do this.

tusabes

Great info , you're making me want to get one!!

fxdeebee

Heres one that MAY have a positive performance impact, or may not.


Control Units > Drive > Motor Electronics > F3 ( to clear the nag warning ) > Control unit adaptations > Correction Programming > Ignition


You get 4 choice of minimum octane rating ( probably get more if you can get Variant Coding to change from USA to Rest Of World or Euro )
Baseline ( 87?)
89
91
93


I suspect setting a higher octane rating will allow a bit more initial ignition advance.

x2nervisx

subscribed for future reference. Thanks!

Meyek66

What type of cable interface are you using? I have been using a HEX-CAN with VCDS software on my Audi and it is super easy but this is the first mention, that I have found, of anyone doing programming on a Mercedes. I would love to work on mine as well.

fxdeebee

Whats being used is SDS ( STAR Diagnostic System )


Consists of a set of 5 cables, the 2 most used are the standard OBD II or the 38 pin "Mushroom head". These plug into car and lead to a multiplexor box. There are 3-4 types of these with the 2 most prevalent being the C3 (RS232 connection to laptop serial port ) or the C4 ( Ethernet or wireless connection to laptop). Just now seeing what I suppose could be called a C5, a multiplexor with the diagnostic software embedded in it rather than a separate laptop. That would feed about any device you care to name. Details are sketchy at this time.


The software is MB proprietary and comes in 2 flavors, DAS ( forget the acronym meaning ) or Xentry Diagnostics ( can be thought of as DAS v 2.0). The choice between either of those is year and model dependent. Generally 2010'ish or newer models will use Xentry Diagnostics while DAS is about 1998'ish to 2010'ish. Again, exact years will vary by class.


The actual "programming" is altering factory set values or conditions specific to that chassis, market designation, installed options or country of delivery. The values that can be changed are generally offered on pull down menus from within DAS/Xentry. And even this has become much harder to do in the last few years as MB has gone to a central authorization system for altering operating parameters that requires a connection/password and use of a factory authorized SDS.


What Mr. Average CANT do is alter the ECU/TCU mapping. I don't think anyway.


That help any ?

Meyek66

Thanks for the great reply! I have an 11 C63 AMG and had my ECU/Tune done by Kleeman in the Springs and love the work BUT I like to tinker with the small stuff, mainly like video in motion, lighting, lowering and small things. So Xentry Diag would work for me? I will have to do some more research. Also if I use my own laptop is there some software I would need to use or would that come with the STAR system. Thanks in advance.

fxdeebee

I wasn't very clear was I on the software. The software, referred to as STAR and more recently as XENTRY, will contain a "wrapper" called XENTRY. When its installed and executed Xentry will load and act as a "front end" to the both DAS and Xentry Diagnostics (XD for short). You would select the chassis, the year and engine/transmission and Xentry would then decide whether to start DAS or XD. For example, If I put in my car, a 2006 S500 I get DAS, if I put in a 2014 S550 I would get XD.


You can also select from Xentry, WIS ( Workshop Information System ) and EPC ( Electronics Parts Catalog ). EPC and WIS can also be accessed thru Internet Explorer.


There will also be an Xentry -SIM in STAR. Where you can simulate being hooked up to any Mercedes supported by STAR/XD. a GREAT sandbox to lay around in without chances of turning your vehicle into a smoking crater.


There may also be STARFINDER. A pretty decent GUI for locating specific parts and WIS documents for 2008 and older models.


All this is part of STAR and should be included in the package.


If you use your own laptop and it has a native serial port, my suggestion would be a C3 ( aka Part D MUX ). Direct connect via RS-232 to laptop. Bit easier to set up and generally cheaper.


If your laptop is new enough to NOT have a serial port then I would go with the C4. Connects to laptop via Ethernet -or- wireless. Bit more complicated to set up, somewhat prone to wireless issues and a tad more expensive.


When you order STAR/Xentry all the above will be on a hard drive. They generally come in either an IDE type ( for the old old IBM T-30 type laptops ) or a SATA type. SATA being preferred as its faster/newer. Some of the last laptops manufactured with a native serial port and SATA HD bus are the Dell Latitude D620/630/820/830 line. A further suggestion is to have a dedicated hard drive for STAR/Xentry. It was written/compiled to run under WIN XP SP3. If your laptop is used daily for work or has WIN 7 or 8 installed you can swap the HD out for the Xentry HD and work on your car. If the laptop is not used for much of anything else you can just leave the Xentry HD in place and have a dedicated STAR/Xentry machine.


There is a third option, but I don't recommend it. And that would be for STAR/Xentry to be run in a Virtual Machine environment. That is, WIN XP being emulated under Win 7 or 8. Vendors will be advertising " works on any machine " or "external hard drive" or both. That introduces a whole new batch of possible error points to the equation and should be avoided if possible.


That should either help you a lot or totally blitz your brain

Meyek66

Sooooo you don't know what type of S/W I need? Great response!!!!! This gives me a lot to think about moving forward but I need to do some more research for the W204 because I don't see a lot of information on programing for this guy. Thanks again!

fxdeebee

Is this what you are looking for ?


In STAR go to MAIN GROUPS page
select "control Units"
then "Information and Communication"
then "ICM- Instrument cluster with maint interval display"
then "Control Unit Adaptations"
then "Variant Coding"
then "Codings specific for the instrument cluster"
look for " Trip computer fuel tank level display"
Select that. set to ACTIVE
F3
F5
F3


Despite the notes, I set this on my 06 S500 and it works well.

Quadcammer

very odd as I don't believe I've seen that on mine.

will have to look.

thanks so much.

Quadcammer

right on dude, worked perfect. I was looking at development data coding, hence i couldn't find it.

Thanks!

pic attached

fxdeebee

Schweeeet !

SGTzAMG

i stumbled across this page, will this work on the R230 SL55? i have the netherlands mode turned on on my C32 for the audible lock/unlock, but will this work for the SL55 to turn on audible lock/unlock?

fxdeebee

Logic says it is a country specific setting, i.e. for any MB sold in Netherlands. However, logic is a way to be wrong with 100% certainty


My gut says it should work, you have it on your C class, I have it on my S class, there is no reason to suppose it wont work on an SL. Try it and see.

Quadcammer

Your car, if its a US spec, should have audible lock/unlock already. My dads 07 Sl55 does.

jerryt

Can someone with the Star tool tell me if there are any settings regarding the charging / alternator?

BACKGROUND
I have a 2012 SLK250 with a LIN controlled alternator. When I drive the 3 miles to work the alternator never goes over battery voltage of 12.6, the same when coming home. After a week of this the battery is down to 12.3 If I drive farther then the three miles it starts charging when the car coasts to a stop.

Also if the car is placed in Reverse and when the A/C blower is turned to high I get 14.3 solid.

theo3000

http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...loper-edition?

_rodeo_

Anybody knows how to deactivate the parktronic sensors on a 2003 r230. I'm aware of that button on console but I'm looking for a permanent solution.

96_C280

Bumping up to see if anyone has more tips and tricks for the W220 but on Port Thru devices.. I'm currently running Xentry Port Thru 2022.3 with a Tactrix device and only read about 18 modules in quick test. Works much better in individual manual tests. I'm considering getting a VAS reader, anyone using this on a W220? Thanks and Happy Easter!