Interior Roof lights

[AndrewHill]

Hi all, my Mercedes A160 W168 has a light in the front on the roof (dome lights?), switch it on and two bulbs illuminate, there's also another light that's more like a spot light on the driver's side and in the back, there's two over the rear passenger doors and one in the middle at the back.

The spot light works. No other roof lights do. I'm wondering if anyone knows what could be the cause? I doubt all of the bulbs will be gone?

If it helps, the glove box light also doesn't work. Not sure if they're connected? But the spot light working throws me off... I'd assume that was connected to the circuit the other roof lights run off...

Link to image: Mercedes A160 W168 internal roof lights

I don't particularly want to pay out for new bulbs if they're not needed. I think the glove box bulb has had it as I can pull the metal end of the bulb off quite easily...

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[GLK]

Hi Andrew and welcome

Nice colour

Have you checked the fuses? Do you have a fuse chart (inside the battery compartment under the driver's feet) and the owner's manual?
I can send you pdfs of both.

For a car that age, it's quite possible more than one bulb is gone, especially if no one bothered to replace them over the years.

The festoon and T10 bulbs are very cheap, whether filament or LED.

 

[AndrewHill]

Hi Andrew and welcome

Nice colour

Have you checked the fuses? Do you have a fuse chart (inside the battery compartment under the driver's feet) and the owner's manual?
I can send you pdfs of both.

For a car that age, it's quite possible more than one bulb is gone, especially if no one bothered to replace them over the years.

The festoon and T10 bulbs are very cheap, whether filament or LED.

That would be really helpful, I'm not sure if my email address will show on the forum though, are you able to upload it to one drive or similar and share the link? It'll probably help future members [emoji23]

The bulbs aren't expensive, you're right, I can replace all bulbs for £20 but I don't want to spend money unnecessarily, the resale value of the car done up isn't much more than I paid for it and I've already spent quite a bit on it [emoji23] more than I paid for it...

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[GLK]

No worries, I can upload to WeTransfer, but they only keep it for a week?

here: A-Class W168 Accessories.pdf and 7 more files

 

[AndrewHill]

No worries, I can upload to WeTransfer, but they only keep it for a week?

here: A-Class W168 Accessories.pdf and 7 more files

I've got them. Quite a little gold mine of stuff. Wish I found you a couple of weeks ago before I bought a new owners manual [emoji23]
Cheers
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[GLK]

A printed manual is still a very useful thing to have
There's also a Haynes Workshop Manual for W168 (unlike for W169, unfortunately) - mine went with the car, when I sold it, but you can still get one on eBay, if you want.

 

[AndrewHill]

A printed manual is still a very useful thing to have
There's also a Haynes Workshop Manual for W168 (unlike for W169, unfortunately) - mine went with the car, when I sold it, but you can still get one on eBay, if you want.

I have the Haynes manual, I find it to be very lacking to be honest... Or at least, lacking in novice detail for beginners like me [emoji23]

I've just bought one of those obd2 diagnostic things for reading and resetting fault codes, and another obd2 thing that connects to my jump start kit to keep the power running when I remove the battery. Going to replace the radio myself, thankfully the Haynes manual does have details on removing the facia to upgrade to a 2din from 1din but it reckons i have to take out a large part of the centre console to get to it? Not sure if that would be the case personally but we will see.

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[GLK]

Not a difficult task fitting a double-DIN head unit to W168 - I've done it twice - facelift is easier, the first one it was in 2000 A190, so a bit more involved:

The second time, for a facelift A160, I used a fascia for a C-class I think, some trimming and filing needed, but worked out okay in the end:

Just the front panel of the centre console has to come off.

 

[AndrewHill]

Not a difficult task fitting a double-DIN head unit to W168 - I've done it twice - facelift is easier, the first one it was in 2000 A190, so a bit more involved:

The second time, for a facelift A160, I used a fascia for a C-class I think, some trimming and filing needed, but worked out okay in the end:

Just the front panel of the centre console has to come off.

How do you get it off? [emoji23]

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[GLK]

You might need a plastic trim removal tool ... and these:

 

[AndrewHill]

You might need a plastic trim removal tool ... and these:

Will I need to use all of those just to change the radio? Or just the one for Removing and installing cover on center console? I'm assuming the answer will be the latter.

Cheers for that. I can tell they'll be very helpful. Where did you get them?

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[GLK]

Yeah, use the one for the centre console, but just in case I also printed a few more, for surrounding bits.
These are from Mercedes WIS (workshop info system).

 

[AndrewHill]

Yeah, use the one for the centre console, but just in case I also printed a few more, for surrounding bits.
These are from Mercedes WIS (workshop info system).

Expensive stuff that is, isn't it? I tried to sign up to it I think but it looked complicated [emoji23]. Anything to bear in mind when putting the new radio in? There isn't currently a radio in it, just the old CD thing... This is what I'm working with:
Fascia Panel & 2din panel (apparently from c class but ebay listing said a class) &
W168 fascia panel showing original iso connection. Requires adapter to upgrade to 2din.

Also, how would you go about installing a rear camera? For reversing... Its one of those that need to be drilled on..
I'm thinking above the license plate, but how would I store the wires (and transmitter, ordered a wireless transmitter so I haven't got cables trailing everywhere). Might use one of those adhesive patches they sometimes use to stick rear view mirrors on to avoid having to drill it on

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[GLK]

Expensive stuff that is, isn't it? I tried to sign up to it I think but it looked complicated

It comes free with official Mercedes Club membership, plus there are other ways to get it, which we can't discuss here however eBay search might help.

Anything to bear in mind when putting the new radio in? There isn't currently a radio in it, just the old CD thing... This is what I'm working with:
Fascia Panel & 2din panel (apparently from c class but ebay listing said a class) &
W168 fascia panel showing original iso connection. Requires adapter to upgrade to 2din.

It was nine years ago when I fitted it last time, so I don't remember in details - there was an adapter from quadlock to the new head unit connector - I believe it was an additional item from Xtrons. The first one I fitted to A190 a couple of years prior to that, back in Nassau, had the adapter for Pioneer unit included in the kit. The facia looks like the one I used.

Also, how would you go about installing a rear camera? For reversing... Its one of those that need to be drilled on..
I'm thinking above the license plate, but how would I store the wires (and transmitter, ordered a wireless transmitter so I haven't got cables trailing everywhere). Might use one of those adhesive patches they sometimes use to stick rear view mirrors on to avoid having to drill it on

I fitted one right in the middle of the rear bumper, so not to mess with routing wire out of the tailgate - worked out well, and hiding wires behind the trim was dead easy.
Not sure if I'd go for wireless - too many potential interference and delay causes. Again, it was a while ago, and even these pre-sale photos are five years old.

 

[AndrewHill]

It comes free with official Mercedes Club membership, plus there are other ways to get it, which we can't discuss here however eBay search might help.


It was nine years ago when I fitted it last time, so I don't remember in details - there was an adapter from quadlock to the new head unit connector - I believe it was an additional item from Xtrons. The first one I fitted to A190 a couple of years prior to that, back in Nassau, had the adapter for Pioneer unit included in the kit. The facia looks like the one I used.



I fitted one right in the middle of the rear bumper, so not to mess with routing wire out of the tailgate - worked out well, and hiding wires behind the trim was dead easy.
Not sure if I'd go for wireless - too many potential interference and delay causes. Again, it was a while ago, and even these pre-sale photos are five years old.

What did you use to make the hole for the camera?

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[GLK]

What did you use to make the hole for the camera?

There was a drill bit in the kit, but any standard arbor hole saw will do.
Plenty of space to work on it, didn't even have to take the bumper off

 

[AndrewHill]

There was a drill bit in the kit, but any standard arbor hole saw will do.
Plenty of space to work on it, didn't even have to take the bumper off

And are there holes in the car to feed the wires through? [emoji23] Can you tell I'm completely new to this? I fear my beginner status really shines through [emoji23]

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[GLK]

And are there holes in the car to feed the wires through?

From behind the bumper into the boot and then along the door sills and into the centre console - no more drilling required

 

[AndrewHill]

From behind the bumper into the boot and then along the door sills and into the centre console - no more drilling required

Ohh, through the spare wheel compartment?

How do you attach it so it doesn't come loose and get caught in the door as it closes? Just tape?

Also, after it's gone along the door sills, how do you bring it across to the centre console? I'm thinking around the glove box.

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[GLK]

The cable goes under the trim, or under the carpet - it's hidden and it won't come loose.