Parktronic retrofit W203

[Nibbo]

Sorry if this has already been posted somewhere but I have searched and read all of the threads I could find.

I have just removed the rear bumper rub strip because someone ran into it and it needs to be replaced. However when I took it off I saw the locations for the parktronic sensors and started to think would'nt that be a nice upgrade.

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to do this with the bumper in place or does it need to be removed?
As I said I can see where the sensors would go but can't see anyway of feeding the wiring loom through to the boot area.

This is C-Class 203 Estate BTW.

Thanks in advance.

 

[richard]

MB bumpers, particularly rear, come off really easily 2-4 bolts (visible from in boot behind carpets) and they slide off- Parktronic loom goes in on one side at front of rear bumper on most models i've looked at - maybe not all - theres a grommet in the body ready and waiting.

You need loom, set of sensors, control module, switches and the front and rear displays and new bumper rub strips. The parktronic sensors need spraying, but they come in boxes that make them easy to spray

R

 

[miro]

Sorry if this has already been posted somewhere but I have searched and read all of the threads I could find.

I have just removed the rear bumper rub strip because someone ran into it and it needs to be replaced. However when I took it off I saw the locations for the parktronic sensors and started to think would'nt that be a nice upgrade.

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to do this with the bumper in place or does it need to be removed?
As I said I can see where the sensors would go but can't see anyway of feeding the wiring loom through to the boot area.

This is C-Class 203 Estate BTW.

Thanks in advance.

If you are installing the "rear only" kit then you do not have to remove the bumper. The wire does run in a channel but it can also flop around in the space you observed.

The wires will last much longer if they are pressed into the channel that stops vibration.

 

[tubby]

Parktronic retrofit

Hi Nibbo,
Sorry about the inconsiderate git who bashed your bumper.

Was the rubstrip on the rear of your w203 estate difficult to remove?

I have a third party parking sensor to fit, which uses a strip of foil the length of the bumper as a sensor. Fitting it to the rear of the rubstrip would seem to be a nice option. (Taurus T123)

Thanks

Tubby

 

[Nibbo]

Hi Tubby

It was not too hard to get off but it is easy to damage the paintwork if you are not very careful.
Best to use a plastic 'wedge' if you have one (You can use a flat bladed screw driver but this would increase the risk of damage).
Starting from about an inch and a half from the tip of the strip insert the wedge and lift it upwards. This should release the first clip. Once the first one is out using a light pressure pull the strip towards you which will reveal the next clip and repeat until is out.
Be gentle when pulling on the strip as it may cause it to stress at some of the weaker points (did not matter with mine as its to be replaced with a new one).

Let us know how you get on wuith the Taurus kit. I considered this one as it does affect the look of the car.

Cheers

 

[tubby]

Rub Strip

Thanks Nibbo,

The Taurus is easy to fit Ok but being a lazy sod I placed the foil strip on the inside bottom of the bumper from underneath the car. This is far to low and reduces the effectiveness of the sensor. It still works though but detection distance is shortened.

I'll get hold of one of those plastic wedges and see what I can do.

Thanks again.

Tubby

04 W203 Estate

 

[Nibbo]

Thanks Nibbo,

The Taurus is easy to fit Ok but being a lazy sod I placed the foil strip on the inside bottom of the bumper from underneath the car. This is far to low and reduces the effectiveness of the sensor. It still works though but detection distance is shortened.

I'll get hold of one of those plastic wedges and see what I can do.

Thanks again.

Tubby

04 W203 Estate

Tubby,
How did you feed the wires back into the boot area?
I can't see any holes anywhere.
Cheers

 

[tubby]

Parking sensor retrofit

Hi again,
I found a very convenient hole through the floor via the drivers side tail lamp area. If I have time when I get home this evening I'll take a pic of same and post it here.

T

 

[tubby]

Pics of grommet

Here are two pics one showing the grommet which allows wire to be threaded through to outside world the other shows where I fitted the Taurus T123.

Hope they are of use.

T

 

[Nibbo]

Here are two pics one showing the grommet which allows wire to be threaded through to outside world the other shows where I fitted the Taurus T123.

Hope they are of use.

T

Tubby

Thanks for the excellent pics.
Have just finished pricing up parktronic (thanks to richard for the parts list) and its looking a bit expensive at around £1,000ish.
Perhaps I will try the Taurus route; I did look at these about 18 months ago and though it would be nice to have parking sensors without the holes in the trim.

Thanks again.

 

[wrong]

I'm also looking around for a Parktronic retrofit (for a W169) - do you mind passing me Richard's parts list (or publish it?)
£1000 sounds very high - vaguely off the top of my head I'd cost parts at around £500ish (e.g.Internal LED displays 2 x £75, Electronics £150, Parking Sensors front+back £30 ea.) Is the other £500 for installation ?
BTW the only thing I don't like about the Taurus is this business about it only working whilst the car is moving. So if you're parking and you briefly stop it'll stop registering/working until you inch forward/backward again ?

 

[Nibbo]

I'm also looking around for a Parktronic retrofit (for a W169) - do you mind passing me Richard's parts list (or publish it?)
£1000 sounds very high - vaguely off the top of my head I'd cost parts at around £500ish (e.g.Internal LED displays 2 x £75, Electronics £150, Parking Sensors front+back £30 ea.) Is the other £500 for installation ?
BTW the only thing I don't like about the Taurus is this business about it only working whilst the car is moving. So if you're parking and you briefly stop it'll stop registering/working until you inch forward/backward again ?

Wrong,

Here is the list. Note that to do this mod on a W203 C Class includes replacing the bumper rub strips so that adds to the expense. Also, this is for front and rear sensors, rear only would be around £600 but I cannot say which parts can be omitted from this list.

If you intend to do this mod then PM richard as he has 10 of the sensors for sale.

REAR
bumper rubbing strips rear A203 885 34 21 xxxx (xxxx needs to be replaced by colour code, ask dealer)
- please have dealer check that part number , as it changes based on avantarde/elegance/etc
4 * sensors A001 542 74 18 or A004 542 87 18
4 * housing A168 885 00 67
4 * spacer ring A000 542 05 51
bumper wiring loom A203 540 01 06

FRONT
bumber rubbing strips front
left - pls check part number with dealer as these are different based on the options on your car
right - ditto
6 * sensors (same part as rear loom)
6 * housing (ditto)
6 * spacer ring (ditto)
bumper wiring loom A203 540 00 06

OTHER bits
body wiring loom A203 540 64 09
pts module A203 540 01 32 replaced by A209 545 00 32
2 * screw for that A130 990 06 36
front display - I cant find ths part in the pictures. i'm sure Mb dealer parts dept will know where to look ..
rear display/interior lam A210 820 43 01
switch mechanism on dash (this one has anti-theft, interoir motion. heated seats. parktronic
A203 821 20 51 7167 (7167 is colour for your car) or A203 821 94 58 7167

 

[richard]

Hi

The sensors and switches are different on new A class to W203 C class - I imagine individual parts are roughtly same price though.

If I was retrofitting i'd get the interior parts and the control unit from a breakers, I'd put new (i.e not ex scrappy) sensors and new wiring looms and bumper plastics on the car though

Or if you really wanted new parts, i'd order from a german dealer - see my buying tips doc at www.mercupgrades.com

R



R

 

[fuzzer]

I'm also looking around for a Parktronic retrofit (for a W169) - do you mind passing me Richard's parts list (or publish it?)
£1000 sounds very high - vaguely off the top of my head I'd cost parts at around £500ish (e.g.Internal LED displays 2 x £75, Electronics £150, Parking Sensors front+back £30 ea.) Is the other £500 for installation ?
BTW the only thing I don't like about the Taurus is this business about it only working whilst the car is moving. So if you're parking and you briefly stop it'll stop registering/working until you inch forward/backward again ?

couldnt you wire it up to the reversing lights?

 

[wrong]

Nibbo - Many thanks for the list. I'm now left weighing the effort of dismantling my car and drilling holes in the shiny unscathed bumpers against the cost of new bumpers should the other half's parking come a cropper...

Richard -> just wanted to say thanks for the obvious effort you've gone to to put your website together - an absolutely invaluable trove !!! Can't imagine there's many A or B class models with Parktronic in the breakers yet, but if you know of any...

Fuzer - couldnt you wire it up to the reversing lights?
That's what most (all?) aftermarket kits appear to do.

 

[miro]

Wrong,

Here is the list. Note that to do this mod on a W203 C Class includes replacing the bumper rub strips so that adds to the expense. Also, this is for front and rear sensors, rear only would be around £600 but I cannot say which parts can be omitted from this list.

If you intend to do this mod then PM richard as he has 10 of the sensors for sale.

REAR
bumper rubbing strips rear A203 885 34 21 xxxx (xxxx needs to be replaced by colour code, ask dealer)
- please have dealer check that part number , as it changes based on avantarde/elegance/etc
4 * sensors A001 542 74 18 or A004 542 87 18
4 * housing A168 885 00 67
4 * spacer ring A000 542 05 51
bumper wiring loom A203 540 01 06

FRONT
bumber rubbing strips front
left - pls check part number with dealer as these are different based on the options on your car
right - ditto
6 * sensors (same part as rear loom)
6 * housing (ditto)
6 * spacer ring (ditto)
bumper wiring loom A203 540 00 06

OTHER bits
body wiring loom A203 540 64 09
pts module A203 540 01 32 replaced by A209 545 00 32
2 * screw for that A130 990 06 36
front display - I cant find ths part in the pictures. i'm sure Mb dealer parts dept will know where to look ..
rear display/interior lam A210 820 43 01
switch mechanism on dash (this one has anti-theft, interoir motion. heated seats. parktronic
A203 821 20 51 7167 (7167 is colour for your car) or A203 821 94 58 7167

I think you left out the front and rear display harness. The "rear only" kit is for more useful in terms of being complete. Just add a factory bumper strip and it's done.

 

[miro]

Hi

The sensors and switches are different on new A class to W203 C class - I imagine individual parts are roughtly same price though.

If I was retrofitting i'd get the interior parts and the control unit from a breakers, I'd put new (i.e not ex scrappy) sensors and new wiring looms and bumper plastics on the car though

Or if you really wanted new parts, i'd order from a german dealer - see my buying tips doc at www.mercupgrades.com

R



R

Most people find it that the front is much more expensive than the rear. Given the number of extra parts then I find it that most people find it .

 

[richard]

I think you left out the front and rear display harness. The "rear only" kit is for more useful in terms of being complete. Just add a factory bumper strip and it's done.

Miro, I think thats covered in the 'body wiring loom' - i.e that connects the displays, control modules and the bumper looms

I may well be wrong.

Do you know if you can partially install the standard PTS system - i.e. not bother with the front-end and use Star to configure the PTS system so understand there is no front sensors/display ? That would be a nice compromise that can be added to later ..

R

 

[ckember]

When I bought my w203 estate from MB direct they fitted front rear sensors from steelmate, they work quite well but the front as not very resistant to stone chipping. I asked my local steeler about new front bumber inserts and they want £99+vat each, this is without the parktronic holes, but already to fit in my colour

 

[miro]

Miro, I think thats covered in the 'body wiring loom' - i.e that connects the displays, control modules and the bumper looms

I may well be wrong.

Do you know if you can partially install the standard PTS system - i.e. not bother with the front-end and use Star to configure the PTS system so understand there is no front sensors/display ? That would be a nice compromise that can be added to later ..

R

The two short display power leads are not part of the body harness. Wiring the front hump is a PITA.