Star mods on a 2004 facelifted W203

[Theothers]

I took my car to my local independent and he hooked it up to the star system, I wanted folding mirrow on lock and also passenger mirror turning down when reversing.

We managed to get a "Convenience" menu to show up which has the fold on lock option selected, but it still won't fold the mirrors (it does have folding mirrors), we tried both door modules and activated the folding option and what we thought was the dipping passenger mirror, but nothing happens.

We did get the no seat belt alarm to come on!

Just out of interest the Star system didn't know what engine the car had now that folding mirrows were included, but they have been on the car since new and have worked.

Does anyone know what menu's to look at and set to activate fold on lock etc and what other mods can be done on this car. Its a W203 facelift C270 CDi with sport pack.

Thanks for your help.

 

[richard]

Where are you ?

If you are anywhere near (or can get to) Surrey/Berkshire borders, then talk to alfie on this forum

You can get tyre pressure loss warner, cornering lights, UK mode off, remaining gallons in fuel tank shown in fuel computer, auto folding mirrors if you have folding mirrors, if you have ambient lights you can get more control of them (i.e to set the level the footwell lights stay on) - although of course some of this depends on exactly what software was in the control units that were built into the car.

There is a tiny chance, but v.unlikely that you have old control units preventing the auto-folding - but as I said, its very unlikely.

R

 

[Theothers]

Had to go out so sorry for the delay. good point about location. I am in Kent.

Kind regards.

 

[miro]

In 2004 models the facelift front SAM (fuse box) is unable to fold the mirrors on locking the car.

You will need to replace the fuse box at the front and try again.

 

[richard]

OK, looks like you car is in the 'tiny chance' that I mentioned - I'd follow Miro's advice on that i'm afraid

R

 

[Theothers]

Thanks I guess i need to get a new front SAM.

Thanks for all your help

 

[Rory]

I have an Oct 04 W203 and was told I should be able to have the autofolding mirrors - but I'm up in the North West and haven't been able to locate anyone to do it.

Forum member R2D2 knows a guy called Steve who I think is in Kent who can do this - maybe you could PM him for Steve's contact details? I tried to hook up with him when I was in the central South but hadn't realised how long it would take to get into Kent!

 

[merc07]

I also wanted some mods done on a 2007 W203. Namely the tyre pressure, Uk mode off, gallons left.

I emailed command.co.uk which I believe are connected with Alfie (Correct me if I'm wrong).

They quoted me £150 flat rate for an hour of Star programming !!

How much were you charged at the independent ?

Cheers
Adam

 

[Rory]

They quoted me £150 flat rate for an hour of Star programming !!

I think Steve was charging £20 per mod when he attended one of the get togethers with his Star kit a while ago. And bear in mind he was doing quite a few in one place and this was mates rates.

It would be nice to get this sort of thing done for a tenner in someone's back pocket, but I guess the Star kit is expensive, and I gather that the programming (and checking nothing else has been messed up) process is time consuming.


By the way: does anyone know if auto wipers can be enabled on the facelift (late 2004) W203? I gather a combined sensor might be fitted on these cars, so is it just a matter of enabling it in Star?

 

[merc07]

I understand it's all expensive gear but it's more than I wanted to pay. I don't need the mods, just wanted them. For that price I would just not bother at all.

£20 or so per mod and I would have done it, maybe another get together if there was enough interest ?

Cheers
Adam

 

[Aletank]

I have an Oct 04 W203 and was told I should be able to have the autofolding mirrors - but I'm up in the North West and haven't been able to locate anyone to do it.

Have you tried phoning all the local indies , S&R Formby, Mercedes Tech Warrington , Mercedes Frenz Liverpool etc I would of thought one of these would of it done it for a hours labour or for a price at least

 

[merc07]

I'm actually in Bristol, I have to go to Reading at some point so I was hoping to get the Star mods done then. Command seem to know what their talking about.

Anyone know of a reliable indie local to Bristol who could do the job ?

Cheers
Adam

 

[tin2080]

star mods

hi,
I have a 2007 w203 320cdi ********** with sport pack it too has folding mirrors unfortunately the mirrors donot auto fold when ignition is turned off.
I would love to sort this out as it is becoming a bit of a pain have you managed to get yours to auto fold ?
I am new to this but is seems that i would need someone with a star to carryout this.
is there anybody in the north east - sunderland newcastle etc who could do the star treatment on my car.
can star also give me extra mods - tyre pressure etc

cheers

 

[Rory]

Have you tried phoning all the local indies , S&R Formby, Mercedes Tech Warrington , Mercedes Frenz Liverpool etc I would of thought one of these would of it done it for a hours labour or for a price at least

I haven't, because I'm not *that* bothered about to hunt around - you know how it is, you call and they 'sure we can do that', then you turn up and they look at you as if you're from another planet! Also, now the car is covered by ServicePlus (so will be serviced by an MB dealer) I didn't want to deviate from the standard setup. I also wondered if it might go in for service and come back with everything reset to standard!

The non auto-folding mirrors are ridiculous though - they just seem pointless without that feature. The time when they need to be folded is when you're parked kerb side but you need the mirrors unfolded as you get out of the car. As they're elec, you can't even manually push them in after exiting. Apparently MB has removed the auto-fold from later E Class cars as owners complained it was too noisy!

 

[whitenemesis]

Had my mirrors coded to auto fold. I can enable and disable the function via the cluster (so I'm sure E-Class owners would be able to). I have them enabled to fold on locking (a great sign to show the car is locked!). They then unfold when a front door is opened, not when the car is unlocked (cool 'cos if a door isn't opened within ~20sec of unlocking the car auto-locks again )

 

[Howard]

As has been seen countless times on this forum , to really get the STAR system to perform , you need to have a tech who knows what they are doing ...

Alfie is one of them .... as is Steve, MBenzNL and Miro .... Richard knows his onions too ...

People pop up all the time on the forum asking how to do this or that , or 'i've bought this thing and tried it myself and now it's messed my car up' ....

A genuine STAR system costs thousands and needs to earn its money , and on top of that , people who can make it do the little things that the main dealers or whatever say can't be done , are thin on the ground and in demand .

When Steve was doing the mods everyone was in one place and he could do it easily. It would be nice to be able to say 'Here's £20 , do this' but sometimes it's just not like that ...

You have to remember that comand.co.uk is a buisness , not a sideline ....

H

 

[whitenemesis]

Howard...Hear! Hear!

 

[miro]

The worlds greatest Mercedes forum has spoken.

I think we all agree that

a) Auto-folding only works on 2005 Front SAM and later

b) Auto-folding DOES NOT work on the 2004 front SAM or earlier

c) Coding is only possible by someone who is a mod specialist or reads this forum and has the equipment

d) The equipment costs a bundle

e) The enhancements are largely undocumented hence why dealers shrug

f) only the most advanced coding can actuate some features, no chance with a dealer

g) Whatever the cost, the supply of labour is very limited and it is exclusive. No dealer can match it.

 

[ccp]

auto folding mirrors on 2004 c270 estate

Whilst I was in my local dealer (huddersfield) recently, I asked them to enable auto folding mirrors on my 2004 (04) C270 CDI estate - they plugged in and duly made the relevant part of the convenience menu appear.

Now my mirrors fold in when I lock the car and unfold when I open a front door, better still the spiders that seem to love living in car mirrors have given up making webs 'cos the mirrors are no longer a convenient "perch" for their webs!!

All done for free as well!

 

[Rory]

Whilst I was in my local dealer (huddersfield) recently, I asked them to enable auto folding mirrors on my 2004 (04) C270 CDI estate - they plugged in and duly made the relevant part of the convenience menu appear.

Thanks for that - I actually find that very annoying, as my dealer insisted that it couldn't be done on my Oct 04 car and it's bugged me all the time I've owned the car!