jjsaustin

I just got a 2004 and one thing it would be nice to have is a 12v outlet in the glove box. Maybe other years have this already. Ideally I would like to tap into a 12 v source that is always on (ie. the battery).

Has anyone done this?

Thanks in advance.

-Jim

alan6770

I did. Well kind of. I have a '03 SL500 & a '01 CLK430. I deceided to try the CLK first. I ran a 14 guage wire to the fuse box and used a fuse tap to attach it to a hot fuse.... one that would not shut off when the car was switched off. I put a 12v outlet in the dash glove box with a cell phone charger to a bluetooth phone. (I previously added an aftermarket bluetooth device that integrated with the built in controls of the MB (www.eiskits.com)).

Now the problem. It appears that the constant bluetooth connection with the integrated bluetooth device caused some of the electronics in the MB to stay energised. This caused the huge trunk battery (only 1 battery in the CLK) to go bad after only 1 year, twice! I unplugged the charger and keep it in the glove box if I need to charge the phone AND take the bluetooth phone with me when I get out. Now the huge trunk battery has lasted 5 years and is still going strong.

I added the same Argos aftermarket bluetooth kit to the SL but I carry the phone on my belt, no 12v outlet added, I use the ashtray outlet if necessary.

I hope this is not too far off track or too much info. Be kind, this is my first reply ever.

jjsaustin

Thanks for the post. This is what I was thinking, but just didn't know about how best to get the wires from the fuse block to the glove box and if any panels need to be removed.