Retrofitting Illuminated Door Sills - questions

[GLK]

I just bought a new pair of illuminated door sills for my A200 coupé - wasn't easy to find, particularly at about a ¼ of MB listed price. So far so good ...

Went on WIS, found and printed retrofit instructions (AZ82.20-P-0001AK), and it is frightening to say the least - half the car needs to be taken apart, it seems: seats out (okay); battery out?; fuse box out?; rubber door seals out?; A-pillar paneling out; footwell carpet out.

I understand the need to get to the SAM unit in the passenger footwell, but it feels like most of the other work can be done without ripping the car into pieces?

Has anyone actually done this on a W169, or better still - C169?

 

[GLK]

Took a bit of research, and going over the SAM's wiring diagrams, but it's done now.

It was a bit more complicated than I'd hoped for, as the OE sills are not 12V, and are actuated by their own power blocks, which are part of the wiring harness.

However, I managed to avoid tearing the car apart, removing the battery and the fuse block, re-pinning one of the SAM connectors, seats and carpets removal, and the rest of the madness as per WIS.

Nevertheless, I now have the full factory functionality for the illuminated door sills, including the cut-off after 5min of a door been open :bannana:

 

[Alps]

well done mate, it was similar on the w211 , had to wire up to the rear sam!