I installed these in about 4 hours, took my sweet little time. Some of you may be able to do it much quicker.

I didn't want to open up the door panels, so I removed the rear overhead handle and got access to the light in the headliner. Removed the bulb, wired a (+) (soldered) positive side of the bulb (use a multimeter to determine which side of bulb is positive). I then removed the weather stripping and ran the wire all the way down to the door sill area. A wire harness is included (1 per side of car) I connected the positive of the wire harness to the wire I ran from the head liner, and a ground to the metal clip to which the door sill attaches to. (soldered once again).. Do the same for the other side of vehicle.

The wire harness included will connect both door sills (front and rear of one side)

After you wire the door sills, you can start to remove the old metal sills off of the plastic mount, which you will reuse. After you take the old sill off, use double sided tape from new sills, and stick on to the plastic mount which secures the sill to vehicle.

Don't worry that they use double sided tape, these babies aren't going ANYWHERE. They are TIGHT to the plastic. One thing I noticed is that the old door sills have a dull aluminum finish, these have a shiny chrome finish.. like the old w220 s-class, so it doesn't match the remaining sill that stays on the car, but its hard to notice. My w220 sill is shiny chrome from factory, and it did not scratch in 170k miles.. but these factory brushed aluminum w221 sills scratched to hell in 90k!

The way I did it, when someone opens 1 door, all 4 door sills light up. Its not a big deal to me that each individual sill light up to corresponding door, this is a much simpler way to wire IMO.

Also, I heard the 2010+ w221 when ordered with illuminated door sill option will receive WHITE LIT door sills, not blue, so I went with white. (could be wrong, but white looks awesome and bright)

Over all VERY satisfied for price and ease of install of these aftermarkets... factory illuminated door sills need a lot of wiring from trunk area, computer controllers, etc, a PAIN..

Here are some pics (sorry for the crappy quality, had a hard time capturing it, it looks a lot better in person)

 

Great job , I do like and prefer polished shiny pieces over brushed ones as well

Thanks for the pics

 

My 2012 has blue illuminated sill from the factory.

 

I also preefer shiny but not when it dont match the other outside list.

 

Great write-up and pics ,thanks !

 

Hey Nimiski i removed the rear overhead handle and light cover, how did you solder the + wire.
Also is it possible to buy the outer sills anywhere with the brushed finish so it will all match.
Thanks

 

Hi, I just removed the light, put the wire from behind into the light socket, and wired the + wire to the + side of the bulb, just put the wire there and dab a bit of solder there. Make sure the bulb can fit back in after you're done!

 

Thanks, i think i'm gonna take my outer sills off and see if they can be polished or something as they are all scratched up too.

 

The W221 sills are in stock now, in white or blue, MB or new ///AMG text. The factory sills metal isn't really brushed so the chrome finish I sell seems to be the best over all look.