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Parts required for retrofitting rear TV + refrigerator in a 2003 S500L

Raikou15

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Joined
Oct 12, 2024
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10
Location
United Kingdom
Car
W220, w221, w240
Hi all.

Newbie here.

I'm looking at retrofitting a few (a lot 😁) of parts/options to my newly acquired 2003 S500L.

For now, I want:

Factory rear TV screen

Refrigerator

Factory telephone system, which my car did not have (don't worry, I know the likely difficulty in getting this to actually work, and for that reason I'm not fussy if I can or not, I just want the actual factory/period correct handset/unit to sit in the car for aesthetic purposes)

However I DO want the rear TV and fridge to actually work.

I have looked up this stuff for a number of years on and off before even purchasing the car, but now that I FINALLY have one, I'm looking for the exact part numbers, etc, required for the conversion.

The telephone system seems to have it's own separate tray panel in the front centre armrest (possibly dependant upon the Tele aid systems tray), I know there was also a pre- and post-facelift centre armrest design.

I know the fridge requires replacing the 88L fuel tank with the 78L, etc etc, and the fridge itself I have seen retail on eBay for around £600 used.

The rear TV screen I realised requires a different center console unit up front (which has the "arms" to which the screen itself holds onto) which will of course have a separate part number.

I know it will also require some additional wiring harnesses/work as my car did not come with option code 862 - provision for installation of television.

The screen I can get off eBay for £150.
But the console, not so easy (for some reason the sellers/breakers don't include the necessary center console along with the screen. Dumb, right? 😔)

But I'm clueless as to the actual parts/numbers I need to ask the breakers yards etc for.

So basically if anyone out there who has done this before can give me a list of the actual parts/numbers I need to make this project happen, I will be so grateful and promptly set about spending my money. 🙏

Thanks in advance.
 
Careful with the tv. At that age I would guess it will have an analog tuner, and all transmissions now are digital.
 
And the additional plumbing for the kitchen sink, B&Q are the main dealers for these parts 😇
 
Careful with the tv. At that age I would guess it will have an analog tuner, and all transmissions now are digital.
True, but the system has the ability to be reconfigured to work with modern digital transmissions.

I distinctly remember a post or two on these forums detailing how someone had done this with their S-Class.

Also, if you go to autotrader/any car site you sometimes see these older cars with their TV screens working in the listing pictures these days.
 
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True, but the system has the ability to be reconfigured to work with modern digital transmissions.

I distinctly remember a post or two on these forums detailing how someone had done this with their S-Class.

Also, if you go to autotrader/any car site you sometimes see these older cars with their TV screens working in the listing pictures these days.

The analogue TV receiver has external inputs that can be used for and external digital TC tuner. Since you are purchasing parts, I think there should be a compatible analogue/digital tuner which would be better as you can control it from the Comand screen.
 
With regard to the fridge I would go onto one of the generic parts sites which is what I did when installing the fridge in our 216. Also be careful when buying the fridge itself. Often you see these advertised as working and lit up in the pictures but when pressed advertisers can't guarantee that they actually get cold!
 
Hard to understand why anyone would do this.

A brand new removable fridge can be bought for very little money for the rare occasions that you'd actually want to use it.
As anyone who has had a built in fridge knows: they take up an inordinate amount of boot space which can be a real pain in the neck for a big trip.

As for TV: a high definition iPad Pro knocks the socks off any kind of built in TV for image and streaming quality and ease of use.
Check out the Chauffeurs at any big event, or their punters looking at screens in the back of limousines: they're all using the latest tech which they carry with them every day.

Car tech moves on.

Image 28.jpeg
 
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A brand new removable fridge can be bought for very little money for the rare occasions that you'd actually want to use it.
As anyone who has had a built in fridge knows: they take up an inordinate amount of boot space which can be a real pain in the neck for a big trip.
The Mercedes fridge can be removed too when the boot space is needed, and makes for a neater option - accessible from the back seat without taking up cabin space.

One of the previous owners of my S600 did the retrofit, and I love it. Never use it for anything other than a bottle of water, but I still love it!
 
Hard to understand why anyone would do this.

A brand new removable fridge can be bought for very little money for the rare occasions that you'd actually want to use it.
As anyone who has had a built in fridge knows: they take up an inordinate amount of boot space which can be a real pain in the neck for a big trip.

Would you ask the driver to stop for a while, ask your wife to go out to the rain to pick up a bottle of champagne from the boot to raise a glass?

Actually I pretty much agree with you, still had the OEM fridge on my two previous cars...
 
Would you ask the driver to stop for a while, ask your wife to go out to the rain to pick up a bottle of champagne from the boot to raise a glass?

Actually I pretty much agree with you, still had the OEM fridge on my two previous cars...
Amen, but how often does the chauffeur of a 20 year old Limo get the champagne out on the move?

My chums, Debs, Bookies, Polo, Rugby and Classic car show fans etc, need the chilled hooch when they get there…

It’s all about establishing Requirements before prescribing solution.
 
Hard to understand why anyone would do this.

A brand new removable fridge can be bought for very little money for the rare occasions that you'd actually want to use it.
As anyone who has had a built in fridge knows: they take up an inordinate amount of boot space which can be a real pain in the neck for a big trip.

As for TV: a high definition iPad Pro knocks the socks off any kind of built in TV for image and streaming quality and ease of use.
Check out the Chauffeurs at any big event, or their punters looking at screens in the back of limousines: they're all using the latest tech which they carry with them every day.

Car tech moves on.

View attachment 165325
I only did the fridge bit on mine to complete the full list of options available on the 216 at the time. Original owner ticked every box except fridge and cup holders and P30 - I haven't bothered to retrofit the latter.
 
I only did the fridge bit on mine to complete the full list of options available on the 216 at the time. Original owner ticked every box except fridge and cup holders and P30 - I haven't bothered to retrofit the latter.
A restoration of a Spitfire using a Lycoming, or the Flying Scotsman using a Deltic Diesel engine wouldn’t look right to me, and would ruin the original design. Isn’t any different for a decades old Mercedes?
 
I only did the fridge bit on mine to complete the full list of options available on the 216 at the time. Original owner ticked every box except fridge and cup holders and P30 - I haven't bothered to retrofit the latter.

But the 216 is easy, no need to change the fuel tank or anything like that. If it has the "ski bag", it only needs the wiring harness. If no ski bag, then a few parts and panels to add the door between the cabin and trunk.
 
Hard to understand why anyone would do this.

A brand new removable fridge can be bought for very little money for the rare occasions that you'd actually want to use it.
As anyone who has had a built in fridge knows: they take up an inordinate amount of boot space which can be a real pain in the neck for a big trip.

As for TV: a high definition iPad Pro knocks the socks off any kind of built in TV for image and streaming quality and ease of use.
Check out the Chauffeurs at any big event, or their punters looking at screens in the back of limousines: they're all using the latest tech which they carry with them every day.

Car tech moves on.

View attachment 165325
Takes me back, my cousin had a record player in her Triumph Vitesse.
 
But the 216 is easy, no need to change the fuel tank or anything like that. If it has the "ski bag", it only needs the wiring harness. If no ski bag, then a few parts and panels to add the door between the cabin and trunk.
Yep easy bolt in affair. If it doesn't have the ski bag ( most 216 65's didn't seem to come with that accessory and mine didn't) you have to remove the rear seats and console to gain access to get at the screws retaining the cubby box to replace with the open ended one, or simply cut off the end of the existing one. Seats and console are a 10 minute job. If you have the ski bag thingy the car will also have the correct steel support with the 4 additional tabs to retain the bag door and the fridge. Wiring loom is nla but easy to make one up and there is a specific spot in the rear sam to fit the connection and fuse. Still a few hundred quid excluding the fridge to buy the bits.
 

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