BGTHEMOGUL

If I was to put the 2010 S550 tail lights on a 2007 model does that void the factory warranty? Is it plug and play or does the wiring have to be re-done, etc?

emilner

It would only void the warranty for a particular issue if the problem can be proven to have come from the new tail lights. There is no new wiring involved, but as your research has shown there is a new SAM module needed...

CL55_Serge

I would say it depends on the shop foreman and your service advisor. I can see it not being an issue if you used 2010 rear SAM... However, if you went down the path of hardwiring the rear lights to the original SAM like some folks are doing and there is an electrical problem in a related area, MB might push back.

It's one of those things where you ask for forgiveness, not permission - but don't hack up the car as visible aftermarket mods will void the warranty...

BGTHEMOGUL

Ok well I'm not the one who would be doing it. The car I'm looking at buying already has the 2010 tail lights put on. How can I tell if they used a 2010 SAM module or went the route of hardwiring the lights? I'm going to see the car in the morning.

BGTHEMOGUL

I went and looked at the car today. They used the Rear SAM module because they showed me the original one that they replaced. My concern is that there is a light bulb at the top of the tail light that does not light up. All of the LED's work but whatever the very top bulb is did not illuminate. Does anyone know how to fix this?

CL55_Serge

turn on your fog lap circuit on the headlight switch - dedicated position for the rear left foglamp. right side is empty.

BGTHEMOGUL

Confused by what you said. Why would Mercedes make it only work on one side of the vehicle? When is the "rear fog lamp" even supposed to be used?

emilner

New to cars?

BGTHEMOGUL

To Mercedes

CL55_Serge

i don't know the answer to that, i wondered why it's always has been on the left side myself... did you try it out and see it turn on?

MBNUT1

It is pretty standard to have only one taillight illuminate brightly when the fogs are on. It is not a Mercedes thing. My Audi is the same way. It's purpose is to provide the ability of a car approaching from the rear to see your car in the fog. The one light distinguishes it from brake lights.

CL55_Serge

got it, it's not a MB thing - it must be a Kraut thing ;-)

BGTHEMOGUL

CL55_Serge, please reference my other post in the other tail light thread. I believe you had the same problem and got it resolved somehow.

CL55_Serge

Yep - same exact problem as mine, posted the two possible reason why it might be happening in the other thread. Try to find out from a local tech at the dealership if you have the new rear SAM, they should be able to tell using the Star Diagnostics System (STS). If you have one, it will need to be taken out and coded in a 2010 S-Class with the new lights and then placed in your car after that was done. If you can't get the local dealer to do it for you, the guy that did mine can do it for you - I think it's something like $200-250...

If you find out that you don't have the rear SAM, you can order one - going rate is about $350 for the SAM + $200 for the coding by a tech or there is another option where the lights can be hardwired to your existing older SAM.

Let me know if it works out for you, I'll try to help you out if I can...

JonMBZ

Any modification can void the warranty for the parts that have been modified. The difference between hard wiring and the rear sam mod is as soon as the tech talks to the car via star it will alert him that the incorrect module is installed and at that point any repairs to anything that is controlled by the rear sam will be declined simply because the tech will not be able to diagnose the vehicle. Hard-wiring does not interfere with the vehicles operation/diagnosis abilities, so that's the route I would suggest. Alternatively you can remove the rear sam and replace with the original every time you take it in for repairs (not an easy task).

CL55_Serge

Jon,

We didn't see any issues w/ my new rear SAM on the STS as far as alerts that incorrect module is inserted... Did you guys follow the procedure of coding the SAM in a 2010 first? That might be the issue.

-Serge

JonMBZ

Yes they did, they could not get the top row to illuminate without the 2010 SCN coding and new sam first. Had there been no issues they wouldn't have spent the extra days re-wiring it because of the issues communicating with the rear sam. The details I could not give you as to how they did it, but that was I would told by our technician. I would have much rather gone that route if it had worked that without any issues. If you do not have any errors then maybe they did it another way possibly, but I don't think there are any different ways to do it

BGTHEMOGUL

CL55_Serge, so yours doesn't prompt any errors at all when plugged into the star diagnostics system? I'd hate to have it bring up an error code anytime the vehicle is brought into the dealership for warranty work and they can always try to find that as an excuse to blame things on, especially since it is electrical component.

I'm a bit nervous that Jon says his prompted errors when done with the Rear SAM and you say yours doesn't. Cany anyone else chime in who has done this mod?

CL55_Serge

Let me double check this before I tell your for certain, don't want to steer you the wrong way... I'll reach out to the tech that did it and confirm.

JonMBZ

Sounds good this is also why I have declined to sell the SAM from now on since I didn't want to do the same

BGTHEMOGUL

Please let us know Serge. Thanks!