HOWTO: Retrofit facelift wheel/cluster to pre-facelift W210/W208

[tudu]

Great write up and pics - well done.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Great write up and pics - well done.

All credit has to go to Paul Darke for this one. I dont know if he is still an active member of the forum, but years ago he gave me this guide (and a few others) as a pdf file that he had made. It occasionally gets emailed around as it was quite large in size, hence the reason i thought someone should post it properly on the forum.

Its been followed by a few members aswell now, including myself on my previous pre-facelift CLK. I had a working Brabus facelift steering wheel and AMG instrument cluster interfacing with COMAND all due to his how-to.

:bannana:

 

[Shude]

All we need now is a list of the part numbers. I know another member has done this mod, we need to get the numbers together and posted!

 

[gbjeppm]

Do you know if you need to disconnect the battery, before fiddling with the airbag?

Great write up though, I am planning to do this when I source a nice wooden wheel.

Mods: Could this go in the How to section?

 

[SilverSaloon]

Do you know if you need to disconnect the battery, before fiddling with the airbag?

YES YOU DEFINATLY SHOULD.... 1st post editied ;-)

 

[unitfreebie]

Wow! Great Job... now I'm going to get me a large Ale and sit down!

 

[LTD]

I'm amazed at the ingenuity of some people.

Stunning conversion !!!!!!

 

[unitfreebie]

YES! They make it so much easier for the rest of us... many Thanks for showing us how to do it.. :bannana:

 

[navycooder]

Amazing

Im going to do this in my w202, have the AMG W208 cluster...looking for AMG airbag now...confused on how airbag buttons hooks up to cluster though

 

[SilverSaloon]

confused on how airbag buttons hooks up to cluster though

all to do with the new airbag ring which has the extra connections.

pic of my CLK with 208 AMG cluster and BRABUS steering wheel and airbag:

 

[ozique]

Stunning, amazing!! Speechless. So anything is possible, retrofitting new parts into old model is possible. Does it have to be reprogramming by STAR or what??

 

[navycooder]

WOW! Looks new! Ill def post pics when I finish-

So far Ive gotten ahold of the following-

-AMG Cluster-w210
-AMG airbag with buttons
-Comand 2.0
-wood trim for comand -matches current trim in car

Just need to get the SRS ring and wiring-

Im sending the cluster off to have the mileage corrected to that of my C43


Im still confused on the wiring, and the positions and such----everything else seems pretty straight forward

 

[andy27168]

WOW! Looks new! Ill def post pics when I finish-

So far Ive gotten ahold of the following-

-AMG Cluster-w210
-AMG airbag with buttons
-Comand 2.0
-wood trim for comand -matches current trim in car

Just need to get the SRS ring and wiring-

Im sending the cluster off to have the mileage corrected to that of my C43


Im still confused on the wiring, and the positions and such----everything else seems pretty straight forward

Hi,
Have been thinking of doing this mod myself on my C43, let us know how you get on.

 

[navycooder]

Wiring loom?

Does anyone know where I can get the wiring harness/loom that goes from steering column to the back of the cluster and from the back of the comand to the cluster? Its all Im missing!!!!

 

[SilverSaloon]

Does anyone know where I can get the wiring harness/loom that goes from steering column to the back of the cluster and from the back of the comand to the cluster? Its all Im missing!!!!

the cluster may need to be coded by STAR to get it set up for the correct engine, tank size etc of your car... but maybe not depending on its current settings. also need to adjust the mileage and enable nav etc if you have it.

the new wire i used to link to command and to the airbag was just standard cable from halfords. just connect that to the plugs bought from MB to plug into the rear of the cluster and airbag. if the comand is CANBUS enabled then you should already ahve the plug, just need the pins to connect the new wire in.

 

[navycooder]

The comand is CANBUS able, its from a 2001 E430 (W210) and I bought the newest 05 nav disk for it. Should of went with a comand from a w203, in the US it has the SAT button, Im just trying to get everything to work and Ill fine tune later

 

[mantan123]

This comes up on a regular basis, so I thought i would convert the pdf file that is knocking about everywhere into a how-to friendly thread.

All credit goes to Paul Darke who originally wrote the guide. I remember him telling me that he wanted this as a howto officially but i believe he has since left the forum, so i'm putting it up here. I have done this to my W208 CLK and can confirm the instructions are correct


Follow these instructions at your own risk, this worked on my 1998
E430. It has also been tested and verified on a W208 CLK.
However I am not sure if it is the same for all W210’s. I only decided
to write these Instructions after I had completed the upgrade, as a
result I don’t have all the part numbers.

This should cost no more than £800

Note: some of the photos refer to the removal of old parts, but show new parts being removed. This is because the photos were
only taken after the project was completed.

All buttons work, display shows nav. and audio
All buttons work, display shows nav. and audio

Contents


..Tools required
..MB part required
..Step One -remove airbag
..Step Two -remove steering wheel
..Step Three -remove SRS ring
..Step Four -Remove IC
..Step Five -Make wiring loom
..Step Six -Modify Blinker Assy.
..Step Seven -Install wiring
..Step Eight -Install new SRS ring
..Step Nine -Install new Steering wheel
..Step Ten -Install new Airbag
..Step Eleven -Install new IC
..Step Twelve – Programme new IC


Tools Required

• Torx (T30) driver to remove airbag
• Cluster removal tool ( MB Pt # W 140 589 02 33 00)
• Pliers ( for crimping connectors on)
• Large hex key ( for removing Steering wheel)

Cluster Removal Tool


MB Parts Used


• Steering wheel -A210 460 14 03 9C2G ( see pic 1)
• Airbag -A210 460 06 989C290X( see pic 2)
• SRS Ring – 210 460 0049 ( see pic 3)
• Cluster – A208 540 66 11 (AMG version)
– I would have been better off using the 210 equivalent as I have has some issues with the fuel gauge working properly
• Connectors(sorry no part numbers, MB should be able to give you these from these descriptions)
– Yellow SRS connector with five pins, attaches to back of SRS ring as above (see pic 4)
– Pin contacts A008 545 55 26 (suggest you get two packs)
– Connector for inserting into M & N on IC (see pic 5)
– Any 2 pin plug and socket connector ( for horn connector )

Pic of instrument cluster pulling tool


BEFORE YOU START - DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY - DO NOT TOUCH BATTERY OR IGNITION ONCE YOU HAVE TAKEN THE AIRBAG OUT UNTIL IT IS ALL SCREWED BACK ON AGAIN. THIS WILL AVOID DANGER AND ALSO HOPEFULLY PREVENT THE SRS LIGHT COMING ON!!

Thank you so much for posting such a nice information....i think really such a good trick shown here...it will really helpful to repair your car...!

 

[navycooder]

Im still slowly finding parts for this mod. I have a 1999 C43(w202) and havnet given up on this mod though Ive been working on it for months now....it is turning into a headache! Wish me luck

 

[navycooder]

Whew! Comand 2.0 in C43 AMG W202

The comand is finally in the car and powers up and all that jazz. Im needing canbus on my model (got a w210 comand unit) , so Im getting a refit harness from mbenzl. I ended up using a w210 trim piece and dremeling it down to fit the dash. Turned out great! Steve from MBENZL said he can make the wiring harness needed not only for the comand, but for the cluster (AMG W210) and the multifunction steering wheel (AMG W210). Steve says I need a new turn signal indicator switch....I ordered the SRS ring today as well...so hopefully by the end of he month all should be done! The HID lights go in tomorrow. The ipod integration kit (dension gateway lite) sounds great and works ok. The Argos system is working great for bluetooth, both through the new comand. What stinks is that I have no cd-text on the unit, is there anyway anyone found out that supports cd text in the D2B fiber optic system....be great to see in cluster!

 

[navycooder]

Talking to myself?

Oui! Ok so got a lot done on the car this weekend. The new cluster works and is awaiting a trip to the star machine, the steering wheel buttons work great between the cluster and the comand. The comand turns on with car and dims with dimmer switch. The cluster is showing a few faults...hopefully they get sorted out with the re-program. The steering wheel is now making a squeaking sound and the horn no longer works....any advice? Will post pics once everything is done.