vintagefefe

FINALLY!

I got the taillights to work. It's actually quite simple. You just have to crosswire the top led to the bottom led and then get your dealer to remove the lights out error. This last part may or may not be true for everyone, but that's how it must be done for my car.

Strangely, the coded 2010 module doesn't work on my car when it works on 2 other cars. Even using a brand new sam module from a brand new car and put in my car doesn't work either.

So my only option was to jump the cables. Now it works fine and no error and STILL using my old 2009 module.

Anyone wants a coded 2010 sam module? Disclaimer: it may or may not work for your car, but it's tested to work on 2 other prefacelift s-class here. I'll sell it cheap just to recoup my losses a bit....

Ahmedito

jtanoyo1: can you explain more about the rewiring? or if you can show some pictures it will be helpfull for most of us here

thanks

vintagefefe

Ahmed, just look at the back of the taillight. There's a wiring that goes from the top row of the LED into the clip. Just cross that wire with the wire from the bottom LED and you are good to go.

jta001 had a problem with the lights-out error. Since I had mine done at the merc dealer, they told me that just reflashed the car after they did the wiring.

They felt so bad for taking my car 3 weeks to finish when it was something so simple they didn't charge me a single cent for it!

Ahmedito

I will try to do it this week and post some pictures. But if you press the brakes it will light up he 4 rows right?


Thanks

Ahmedito

where did u get it at this price?

jagata

So was the #1 pin jumped to the other #1 pin or was the #1 jumped to the #3 pin. I know#2 is ground?

vintagefefe

Jta, just follow the top wire and cross it to the bottom wire. It should be quite clear as there are very few wires at the back of the taillights.

A test pen would also help in this case. Turn on the lights to find the wire from your car that lights up the pen. That would be your bottom led power source. Just find the collaborating connection on the taillight and have it cross to the top wire.

Hope it helps.

KUNMB

Did mine today at kartoyz, San Jose, they spent 3 hrs, perfect job, just like stock one, I'm very happy.

vintagefefe

Funny....Now that I am looking at my lights....it seems like the top half is dimmer than the bottom half....wth....

jagata

Here's a few pics of mine right after install, again I got the rear side marker error. I'm going to try to do what jtanoyo1 did and have the dealer remove the error message later. Sorry for the bad cell phone pictures.

vintagefefe

So am I right? Is the top half dimmer than the bottom half?

jta00r1, yours seem to be like mine, top dimmer.

Can others who did the conversion confirm the same? Or better yet, any "real" 2010 owner here can chime in?

Ahmedito

What happened if you press on the brakes? can you post pictures?

vintagefefe

Both lit up brighter, but the top still a wee bit dimmer than the bottom...strange..

KUNMB

Mine are the same for top and bottom.

jagata

The top is slightly dimmer than the bottom, but I kind of like it. Maybe because the jump from the lower row to the upper row really has no dedicated power source makes it dimmer?

Ahmedito

For 2010, the bottom part only lighting with break

vintagefefe

Crap....I hate this half dim half bright thing....I gotta find a solution...but for now I am happy to get the car back.

Matt_MB

My dealer advised me to connect the power-supply from the license plate light to the wire of the second (middle) row of LEDs of the tail light. This way the lights would behave the same as on the original refresh models.

It would avoid both rows lighting up (brighter) when pressing the brake. This happens when one connects row 1 and 2 together.

jagata

That sounds like a good alternative, if it's not too much trouble but can you ask the dealer if he has a solution for rear side marker error?

LILRAJA

watching this thead closely.

Matt_MB

Note that, I have moved my S600 (2007) from the USA to the Netherlands (my home country) about 2 years ago. Upon arrival, the sidelights were disabled, as these are not required in Europe.

So when the new tail lights (bought via ebay) were installed and the power from the license plate was connected I did not get this error message. Nor did the lights cut out after about 20 minutes or so, as noted by one of the other members on his car. Even though my car is one of the earlier models which must have an "old" SAM.

Ok, will check with the dealer; Not an official Mercedes-Benz Dealer but one of the many smaller companies in Germany, in possession of the STAR diagnostics unit, that do these type of adjustments for a small fee. Brilliant!

jagata

Just tried the license plate light as a source for the top row and now the top row is slightly brighter than the bottom row, I think maybe if I use a resisitor in the line it will dim the top a little though. Although the bottom row now works independently when brake light is on and is still brighter than the top row when brakeing. Still have that pesky rear side error message.

Wantmy1stbenz

Has anyone properly added the 2010 lights or what?!?!

Matt_MB

Ok, I checked the lights (eyes). I do not see a difference between the 2 rows during daylight or darkness. Not just me, asked 3 others as well.

I guess the best solution for all those who want to make this happen with no issues is to exchange the SAM as well, which is now readily available in Europe for around euro 350.

I will leave it as is and will now move on to the headlights which require no less than 6 modules!

Will keep you posted.

jagata

I don't know why but all the methods I've tried that others had success with I did not, here are some camera phone pics of the top row brighter than the bottom using the license plate lights as the source.