V350 Viano, cruise control retrofit and coding?

[V6nut]

It's the standard Mercedes kit, bloomin' expensive.

As I said before, is your vehicle a Jap import, because if not it's straightforward and anyone with Star can do it.

Yes 3.5 V6 petrol from Japan. So you say you had to buy the full kit from Mercedes? What does it comprise of? I thought you’d just need the stalk and some coding. What else is missing compared to European spec ones?

 

[kim954]

Yes 3.5 V6 petrol from Japan. So you say you had to buy the full kit from Mercedes? What does it comprise of? I thought you’d just need the stalk and some coding. What else is missing compared to European spec ones?

AFAIK nothing is missing except the cowl and stalk.
I don't know if your van was converted in the UK by an 'official' converter? Mine was, and the stalk and cowl was supplied as part of the kit.
I didn't think that the converter would wear "I've fitted my own stalk and cowl, please just code it for me".
Maybe you could let me know who your UK converter was. It's not hard to Google UK Viano camper converters, but I'm reluctant to name them here for various reasons, sorry to be so coy but I have my reasons.

I have a stalk and cowl for sale if you want a cheap one?

 

[V6nut]

AFAIK nothing is missing except the cowl and stalk.
I don't know if your van was converted in the UK by an 'official' converter? Mine was, and the stalk and cowl was supplied as part of the kit.
I didn't think that the converter would wear "I've fitted my own stalk and cowl, please just code it for me".
Maybe you could let me know who your UK converter was. It's not hard to Google UK Viano camper converters, but I'm reluctant to name them here for various reasons, sorry to be so coy but I have my reasons.

I have a stalk and cowl for sale if you want a cheap one?

 

[V6nut]

Yes 3.5 V6 petrol from Japan. So you say you had to buy the full kit from Mercedes? What does it comprise of? I thought you’d just need the stalk and some coding. What else is missing compared to European spec ones?

Well this is a bit like pulling teeth . But at least it’s getting our message count up so we’ll soon be able to PM . I’m no clearer on how to progress at this point so let me summarise. Oh and I already have a stalk and would probably just cut a slot in my existing cowl, but thanks for the offer.
So; 1. Your unnamed converter, or you, bought the ‘full cruise control kit’ from Mercedes - but we don’t know exactly what that comprised of - I’d imagine just a cowl and stalk.
2. The converter fitted the items and did the coding. Assume he used Star if it’s a Merc item?
3. It cost an unspecified (large) amount.

Please correct anything I’ve got wrong or add any for info that might be useful.

I’m not using a converter but did visit one based on South Coast, Chichester I think. The cost seemed pretty high so I imported mine myself, it’s a 2012 with 46k miles on the clock and with fees and taxes cost me £7.5k, I’m getting the pop top done by Altitude roofs which will be circa £4k. I’m just putting in a rear kitchen as I like a full width bed. I reckon £15k max all up cost.
So far I’ve spent £12.50 on the stalk, it’s from an E350, there are loads available on eBay, so if I have to give up with CC at this point I’m not that bothered but I would really like it as I have a dodgy right knee which doesn’t like being stuck in one place for hours.

Thanks for all your messages so far.

 

[kim954]

Well this is a bit like pulling teeth . But at least it’s getting our message count up so we’ll soon be able to PM . I’m no clearer on how to progress at this point so let me summarise. Oh and I already have a stalk and would probably just cut a slot in my existing cowl, but thanks for the offer.
So; 1. Your unnamed converter, or you, bought the ‘full cruise control kit’ from Mercedes - but we don’t know exactly what that comprised of - I’d imagine just a cowl and stalk.
2. The converter fitted the items and did the coding. Assume he used Star if it’s a Merc item?
3. It cost an unspecified (large) amount.

Please correct anything I’ve got wrong or add any for info that might be useful.

I’m not using a converter but did visit one based on South Coast, Chichester I think. The cost seemed pretty high so I imported mine myself, it’s a 2012 with 46k miles on the clock and with fees and taxes cost me £7.5k, I’m getting the pop top done by Altitude roofs which will be circa £4k. I’m just putting in a rear kitchen as I like a full width bed. I reckon £15k max all up cost.
So far I’ve spent £12.50 on the stalk, it’s from an E350, there are loads available on eBay, so if I have to give up with CC at this point I’m not that bothered but I would really like it as I have a dodgy right knee which doesn’t like being stuck in one place for hours.

Thanks for all your messages so far.

Excellent piece of deduction there mate.

I think that the CC kit was around £375 from Merc, but probably had some added for the converters' profit as well.

I did, at one point, speak to Mertrux (in Derby IIRC), a good bloke who was willing to chat on the phone at length and then "have a go" with the UK eStar 'data card' for CC, but warned me that he wouldn't be responsible if anything went wrong.
I can see the potential here for a solution: I'd be happy to let him look at the data from my van, to see whether it's the same as the UK coding and, if so, then there's a good chance that you can save a lot of money.
In my book, if that results in a clear path for the CC upgrade, then it's a win for the community.

 

[V6nut]

Excellent piece of deduction there mate.

I think that the CC kit was around £375 from Merc, but probably had some added for the converters' profit as well.

I did, at one point, speak to Mertrux (in Derby IIRC), a good bloke who was willing to chat on the phone at length and then "have a go" with the UK eStar 'data card' for CC, but warned me that he wouldn't be responsible if anything went wrong.
I can see the potential here for a solution: I'd be happy to let him look at the data from my van, to see whether it's the same as the UK coding and, if so, then there's a good chance that you can save a lot of money.
In my book, if that results in a clear path for the CC upgrade, then it's a win for the community.

Thanks, that’s super helpful! So just to be clear, as far as you know the converter did the coding and prior to that no one had actually tried it with a star machine?

 

[kim954]

Thanks, that’s super helpful! So just to be clear, as far as you know the converter did the coding and prior to that no one had actually tried it with a star machine?

1. The converter told me that he had someone that he 'uses' for things like this (which is good for me if I ever have a major electrical/firmware issue).

2. Nobody had messed with it prior to this.

3. I fitted a S/H stalk and cut the cowl, but removed both so that there was no argument with the converter.

 

[V6nut]

1. The converter told me that he had someone that he 'uses' for things like this (which is good for me if I ever have a major electrical/firmware issue).

2. Nobody had messed with it prior to this.

3. I fitted a S/H stalk and cut the cowl, but removed both so that there was no argument with the converter.

Brilliant - basically I just need that guy he ‘uses’ then. . Does your new stalk look any different to the S/H one!?

 

[kim954]

Brilliant - basically I just need that guy he ‘uses’ then. . Does your new stalk look any different to the S/H one!?

I thought it looked a bit shorter than the one I bought from fleabay which was from a W203 C Class.
The official one doesn't snag my fingers as I'm going for the indicator stalk like the fleabay one did.

Who knows whether he'd be happy to give up his tech and reduce his own revenue stream?

If you want to go the Mertrux route let me know.

 

[V6nut]

Interesting re: the stalk, I’ll try my local Merc Indy in Nottingham first but if no joy I’m willing to give Mertrux a go.
I just got a quote back for an aftermarket set up but it’s very nearly £600! But they want to fit it. There’s also a place in Castle Donnington that does a self install kit for £199 +vat but they only guarantee compatibility with European spec diesel models.

 

[kim954]

Interesting re: the stalk, I’ll try my local Merc Indy in Nottingham first but if no joy I’m willing to give Mertrux a go.
I just got a quote back for an aftermarket set up but it’s very nearly £600! But they want to fit it. There’s also a place in Castle Donnington that does a self install kit for £199 +vat but they only guarantee compatibility with European spec diesel models.

I just checked, the W203 stalk and the official one for the van are identical shape/length/angle etc.
The only difference is the actual lettering on the functions, though the functions themselves are also identical. HTH