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Modifications W245 W169

1.1K views 38 replies 5 participants last post by  pablo_can  
#1 ·
Hi everyone.

Trying to bring some life back into my B. I am a fan of the 'stock' kind of look, but I will say some of the modifications I have seen in some of the discussions are pretty intriguing. That being said, they are all from several years ago and contain a lot of no-longer valid links :(... To those who still own their B, what modifications have you done to your car and which ones really made a huge difference for you? I have already fitted my car with an android radio (off amazon) + backup camera. I just ALSO ordered mud flaps... I know they can look a bit funky (especially in the rear) but I think they look pretty nice. We'll see.. I ordered mine off aliexpress because finding them in a scrap yard (in good condition and ALL there) is almost impossible.

Note: I do have access to XENTRY if I wanted to make some modifications to the display on the dash... I saw a few people mention in some older discussions that they were able to display the date, show speed in mph, show direction (north,east)...etc...

Let me know what you guys have done up to date and what you think is WORTH doing.

I will send a picture one of these next few days of my android radio installation + backup camera which I got off aliexpress... It's pretty neat and comes with carplay which I use pretty often.
 
#34 ·
I've driven with them for some time now.. No complaints from anyone on the road so that's good... Will leave them as is for now, if I get a complaint or if I REALLY think they are too bright, I will go ahead and swap em.

I have yet to do a proper test for the pattern, but plan on doing that soon.
 
#35 · (Edited)
I have already fitted my car with an android radio (off amazon) + backup camera.
……….
I will send a picture one of these next few days of my android radio installation + backup camera which I got off aliexpress... It's pretty neat and comes with carplay which I use pretty often.
done the same. With backup camera I did not connect to back up lights. Only connected back up camera at the back to ground and front cable that comes from back up camera to reverse wire on radio. (still working but this way is not the proper way need to add relay for image stabilisation as recommended by professionals because some flickering for first second exists otherwise the 2 following methods are recommended)
Solution 2: I adding a fuse tap adapter to cigarette lighter fuse (in fuse compartment) for continuous switched power supply to camera (camera has no led lights so should be ok)
Solution 3: the other case would be to tap on back up lights wiring (the recommended android method)

For solution 2 I believe I have to untap the reverse trigger I believe from radio (not 100 sure if it will give signal but will try without the reverse connection)

Yes android display came with canbus box so should recognise when reversing. How did you connect your back up camera? Solution 3?? Back-up lights power as most installers do?

2. I have purchased a kit with blue led interior lights to replace stock.(temu)

3. Also upgraded the shift level from facelift which is very elegant.

4. Iridium spark plugs (NGKs)

Nothing on my fog lights. on prefacelift there are no DRLs available and the fog lights trim size is very small compared to facelift. Would be nice to upgrade front bumper and fog lights trim (probably grill too) to facelift. Not sure if front lights housing is compatible though. If light housings are not compatible not worth it because of their high price. Only option for prefacelift is just the bulp which can be changed to led but choose only 4300k colour. All rest brighter colours are not street road legal.

Not sure what else maybe led for front mercedes emblem which is on the grill exists….. as an accessory .
 
#36 ·
done the same. With backup camera I did not connect to back up lights. Only connected back up camera at the back to ground and front cable that comes from back up camera to reverse wire on radio. (still working but this way is not the proper way need to add relay for image stabilisation as recommended by professionals because some flickering for first second exists otherwise the 2 following methods are recommended)
Solution 2: I adding a fuse tap adapter to cigarette lighter fuse (in fuse compartment) for continuous switched power supply to camera (camera has no led lights so should be ok)
Solution 3: the other case would be to tap on back up lights wiring (the recommended android method)

For solution 2 I believe I have to untap the reverse trigger I believe from radio (not 100 sure if it will give signal but will try without the reverse connection)

Yes android display came with canbus box so should recognise when reversing. How did you connect your back up camera? Solution 3?? Back-up lights power as most installers do?

2. I have purchased a kit with blue led interior lights to replace stock.(temu)

3. Also upgraded the shift level from facelift which is very elegant.

4. Iridium spark plugs (NGKs)

Nothing on my fog lights. on prefacelift there are no DRLs available and the fog lights trim size is very small compared to facelift. Would be nice to upgrade front bumper and fog lights trim (probably grill too) to facelift. Not sure if front lights housing is compatible though. If light housings are not compatible not worth it because of their high price. Only option for prefacelift is just the bulp which can be changed to led but choose only 4300k colour. All rest brighter colours are not street road legal.

Not sure what else maybe led for front mercedes emblem which is on the grill exists….. as an accessory .
I connected the backup camera the same way you did. My radio harness has a CAN box, so that solves the problem of having to hook the backup camera to the reverse lights. Here's how I have it setup:

I have a cable that goes into my android radio that allows me to connect the signal reverse wire all the way to the rear, and also another wire that I can connect to the red (switched) wire for my radio... This reverse signal wire runs through my A pillar, through the headliner all the way to the back, where it finally goes into that rubber hose at the top left... then into the tailgate behind the plastic (where the rear wiper motor is located). Here I connect it to the camera, but also to a ground near by in the tailgate compartment... I believe it is the same ground that is used for the license plate lamps, the tailgate release, and the rear wiper.. I have an image attached above of the camera I have. It replaces the original license plate lamp cover.

I was thinking of getting some interior LED lamps, but for now will leave it as is.
What do you mean by 3. ? the 'shift' level.

I was thinking of getting new H11 fog lights bulbs.. I am really liking my LED low beams...
 
#38 · (Edited)
I only have one cable, the video back up camera cable, that comes wiith power and ground wires both front (android side) and rear (back up camera side).
Red power
black ground

Near the camera I connected the black cable to chassis ground and red wire connected to back up camera.
At front I connected the red wire to reverse signal only. So power comes from reverse signal of radio back to back up camera when reversing only.

You said you have 2 wires that come from front??? one video and one for power??? I used the red wire from video cable to pass power to camera only using one cable.

Installation was done same as you did using headliner. Drilling the license plate light housing to pass camera wire video connector was a pain (had to put video connector round metal part back to shape before connecting to android unit)