Retrofitting cruise control

[Kingpin!]

Hi!

I think I've asked this before (and didn't get any replies if I recall) but I thought I'd have a go once again.

I have a W168 petrol car which is one of the last manufactured of the old design (2004). From reading other threads here on the forum I've come to understand that probably the hardware/electronics and software for cruise control is already built-in from factory and that you just need the handle which goes behind the steering wheel and STAR programming at the dealership.

Can anybody confirm that it is this easy and possibly which part number is required (the handle) and price?

How "advanced" is it for the dealer to install and what kind of cost is "reasonable"?

TIA!

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

I asked this for my Brother who has a 2004 A class A170Cdi Manual.

Apparently its not a easy fix and could be pricey (£400)

I did see an A class stalk for sale on flea bay for about £35 but don't think its as easy as just fitting that and coding it?


Let me know how you get on as so far we have done nothing about it.

 

[jeffwebb]

Drop this guy a line. LINK
He did mine, admittedly a 169, but if anyone knows, he does.
Regards, Jeff.

 

[miro]

IT is a very small and affordable kit. A plastic cover and stalk for the steering column.

Coding is done to the instrument cluster and engine controller.

 

[kwakdonut]

Wow, MB's without cruise!

How quaint......

 

[miro]

Wow, MB's without cruise!

How quaint......

Happens all the time in Australia in that series.

 

[kwakdonut]

It's funny but there are just some things you get used to and a 'newer' MB without cruise just seems weird!

 

[rubbergrape]

w168 cruise control retrofit - help needed please!!

Hi All - my first post!

I'm in the middle of a cruise control retrofit - W168 - pre face lift - year 2000. As u all prob know its "not a standard retrofit"...

All the hardware is in, and electrically checks out will post photies soon...

Went to my local dealer, they hooked DAS up with the console and enabled the speed limit option

Then they hooked DAS to the ECM, but could not find an option to enable Cruise (option 440)

Sooo ... I did some resarch in WIS & EPC and found out I need to enter new "variant coding" in the ECM.

Does anyone know if its possible to variant code a W168 prefacelift ?
Has anyone done it or know how to do it please?

Thanks for reading

 

[rubbergrape]

Shoulda said ...

I'm willing and able to pay for someone with a Star / HHT / autologic / whatever-gets-it-done machine ...

.. and who has the necessary know-how to try and enable cruise in my ECU...

Also willing to travel ...

Please help!!

 

[rubbergrape]

W168 Cruise Retrofit story part #1

Well, I said I would post some photies, but first...

After a decade wearing a grove in the M5, my foot is getting tired and i decided I *must* have cruise. I looked at an aftermarket fit, but £500 is toooo rich for my pocket, so I looked towards OEM instead.

Here is my retrofit story.... still looking for a happy ending ...

I did my research...

• Looks like other have had sucess retrofitting cruise, notably Graham - see this post http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/8644-w202-cruise-control-retro-fit-5.html- see no #63 - mentions 168!
• Looks like mbSteveNL managed to fit CC, he doesn't list it, but you can see the stalk in his A168 project car video.
• I checked with MB - not a standard retrofit sir...
• Looks like miro has done it too - see this post #4 above
• I checked with StarTec in Poole, they had done it 4-5 years back.
• I checked with AES in bristol - not done one of those sir - bit risky - might work/might not, which was honest

... but I coudn't find anyone on any forum saying "yay 168 CC - done it" ...

I did find out is was just (hah) fitting the stalk, kickdown switch, coding the console and coding the ECM - simple eh? So i decided to give it a go...

BTW I got a print out of the wiring diagram - both switches directly wired to ECM, with the odd ground and +12 thrown in:

My first shock was no matter how hard I looked, the wiring just wasn't there - seems crazy that MB appear to make looms specially for each car but there you go. AES warned me & they were right.

 

[rubbergrape]

W168 Cruise Retrofit story part #2

The second exciting episode ... bet u can’t wait!

So no wiring for CC was present. I took the steering wheel off and poked around, but no plug for the stalk. I took the interior 1/4 panel off & poked around for the kickdown switch wire, but no... Then I took the top plug of the ECM – the CC wires were missing - wish I’d looked there first - woulda saved me taking the car to bits – oh well !!

AES said I might have to wire it in, and (later) StarTec said they had to make looms to fit CC. So the job list now goes:

A. Buy the bits
B. Make & fit a CC loom
C. Fit CC stalk & kickdown switches
D. Code the console
E. Code the ECM
​

No problem for a DIY mechanic with a background in electronics (ha!) so here goes:

A. Buy the bits:


So here’s what I bought/collected:

1. Kickdown switch & connector and the CC stalk; Dronsfield £30 all in;
2. 2*4 0.1” pitch connector from my PC junk draw (MB couldn’t get the correct connector)
3. 0.75mm (black & red), 0.5mm (various colours) cable; Maplin
4. 10 off MQS type pins for the ECM (MB 008 545 63 26 @90p ea)
5. 10 off grommets (MB 000 545 69 80 @65p ea) - for ECM connector waterproofing
6. 1 off 6mm lug (for earth stud - not in the pic)
7. 1 off quick block connector (for +12v tap - not in the pic)

Here's the stuff (with MQS pin close up and pin numbers on CC switch):


and the loom design:

 

[rubbergrape]

W168 Cruise Retrofit story part #3 - real work

B. Make & fit the CC loom

The Third thrilling installment

Despite the fact it was a sunny but freezing winters day I actually quite enjoyed this bit, it went pretty well ….

I planned for the wires to kinda follow the existing loom, going from the ECM top plug into the equipment box, which comes out behind the glove box, and then thread it across to the steering column / pedals - I couldn’t have done it without a wire coat hanger.

I measured up for the loom, and made it on the living room floor, binding the wires together with tape, carefully numbering both ends of each wire.

Safety first – disconnect the battery. I threaded the loom into place. I made the MQS crimps one by one (see pic) and hit my first snag. I popped out the white blanks from the ECU plug (with a paperclip), but my crimp just wouldn’t go in. Turns out I had to slide the white tabs on the connector (see pic), and then the crimps click in.

That done I connected to the earth stud under the water bottle (see pic) and moved (to the warmer) inside to fit the stalk and kickdown switch....

 

[rubbergrape]

W168 Cruise Retrofit story part #4 - inside the car

C. Fit CC stalk & kickdown switches

I'll let the picture do the talking on this one ...

Is anyone reading this stuff?



Just coding to go...

 

[BlackC55]

Is it worth it!?

LOL

 

[rubbergrape]

hahaha - A fair point!!!! When I started this all seemed easy ... now a pain in the A***

anyhow - Mr BlackC55 - thanks for looking and I see you have a DAS unit ...

Can you code up my ECM please?

Is your DAS on-line? ... or do you have developer mode capability?
like i said in post #9 im willing to pay and willing to travel...

Thanks

 

[BlackC55]

I have Star.

I will loook monday to see if I can do it.

 

[Shude]

Some proper modding going on here, love it!

 

[andy27168]

Man after my own heart nice to see someone else who won,t be fobbed of by the dealer saying no sir it can,t be done,
Well done fellah i hope Olly can sort your coding, though i,m positive he will.

 

[rubbergrape]

W168 CC retrofit - thanks for the encouragement

Thanks for the positive comments!! Been doubting my sanity lately...

I've picked up some info about coding ... will share what little I know when time allows...

Cheers

 

[rubbergrape]

W168 CC Retrofit - ID numbers and things

I have Star.

I will loook monday to see if I can do it.

Hi Mr BlackC55, was gonna PM you this, but couldn't see how....

Some details:

• My VIN:WBD 168 031 2J 542 914
• My ECU is a N3/5, A166-150-01-79, labelled MSM1.3, WM03.99
• My Engine is a 166-940-....

I think it needs coding via Hand Held Tester (i.e. NOT SCN coding) due to 'age' (i.e MSM1.3, 03.99 NOT MSM2) ... i think the Star machine has a HHT built into it - HHTWin...

Cheers