today i wired auto lights on/off with central locking in my W163 ML

[Shude]

Both mods are great, especially if the mirror one is possible on a Y2000ish MB

I would like to try the headlamp mod first (I might use the foglamps instead of the sidelights at the front as it lights the ground up in front of the car - handy for puddles!). Personally I will try to avoid "tapping" any wires and will go for OEM connectors and junctions for a factory-style install and easy, damage-free removal if required.

It would be great if you could take some pics of the wiring, post a clearer circuit diagram and detail a shopping list of parts and tools required. I would move the thread into the HOWTO section if these conditions were met. We should also break up the thread so only one mod is discussed in each to avoid confusion!

Thanks for all your help so far!

 

[Shude]

OP: I take it your hand-drawn diagram for the sidelights is front only? Are the rear lamps the same diagram? Could any components be shared?

EDIT: forgot to add, logically does this circuit also turn the sidelights on when the car door is opened with the ignition off? Also I suppose if you are sitting in the car with the ignition off and then turn on the interior lights with the button on the dome light!

 

[dpbayly]

OP: I take it your hand-drawn diagram for the sidelights is front only? Are the rear lamps the same diagram? Could any components be shared?

EDIT: forgot to add, logically does this circuit also turn the sidelights on when the car door is opened with the ignition off? Also I suppose if you are sitting in the car with the ignition off and then turn on the interior lights with the button on the dome light!

when you scotch lock into the side light circuit the 2 wires are lift front and rear and right front and rear lights.

Sharing components can cause feed back issues as your connecting circuits together that normally are not.

But funny you should ask this question as yesterday a friend asked if it could wire this up in his E46 M3 and with that all 4 corners (sidelights) are wire separately so doing it how i wired the ML i would have needed 4 of the 5 pin relays i didnt need a 4 pin relay as like most cars (NOT AN ML...) the interior light is switched power not switch earth (like on the ML) so i had a think about it and instead i did the whole install with just one 5 pin relay and all i did to stop feed back issues is fit 1Amp diodes in the 4 wires that feed the side light circuits (FL,FR,RL,RR) so if i was to do an ML again i would do this the same way you would still need the 4 pin relay that send a switched power fromt the interior light but the 2 5 pin relays can be replaced with 1 and just cut and fit the 2 diodes in the 2 wires that you scotch lock into the side light circuit, the diodes have to be wired in one direction as they will only let the power flow in one direction this is how you stop the back feed problem (far simpler)

Here are the diodes i used:

1A Glass Passivated Rectifiers : Diodes : Maplin Electronics


As for when the lights are activated yes when you open the doors and if the ignition is off and you turn the dome light on it will turn the sidelights on you can get round this by using the lights on the bottom of the mirror if you wanted to sit in the car and read without all the lights on.

I think i will re-wire mine and use diodes as it makes for a cleaner install so i will take pics then and do a good write up with wiring diagram

 

[dpbayly]

Forgot to say you can wire this to your fog lights instead or as well as to the side light circuit but with the way ive wired it because ive wired it to the side lights even with the stock bulbs (im running LED so even lower) they only run a total of 20w when combined so using the power from the interior light circuit to power them is not a problem but if you want to activate the fogs they have a combined 110w so the power draw will be to much (i should Think) and probable blow the interior light fuse so you would need to use another 4 pin relay with a fused (10a) power supply from the battery and wire this between the interior light 4 pin relay and the 5 pin relay this way it has it own power feed to power the fog lights and doesn't use the power from the interior light circuit to power them.

Hope thats not to confusing if it helps ill also do a wiring diagram for this way too if wanted.

 

[Shude]

Hope thats not to confusing if it helps ill also do a wiring diagram for this way too if wanted.

It's blown my mind mate.

It makes sense to use a separate power feed for the lights anyway rather than running it off the interior lamp circuit, that circuit should be used as a switch only IMHO.

 

[dpbayly]

It's blown my mind mate.

It makes sense to use a separate power feed for the lights anyway rather than running it off the interior lamp circuit, that circuit should be used as a switch only IMHO.

Your completely right and all the previous times ive done this mod ive done i using a separate power feed but with mine it was fas simpler to do it this way because ive replaced all 10 (14 including boot light glove box and rear view mirror lights) interior lights over to LED's so the interior light circuit has next to no load on it so plenty of room for me to do it this way.

 

[gav430]

Interesting and usefull posts,thanks