W203 Thermotronic upgrade

[merc07]

Do you have to actually code it as a 581-thermotronic instead of a 580-thermatic on the EZS unit - even though it's just the control panel thats changed? I'm going to have to try a local indy as I'm not ready to visit Command yet - still searching for cheaper heated seat parts.

Well I'll answer it my self now I know - no you don't. It just wants to know if you have air con present or not.

Cheers
Adam

 

[miro]

Just for fun I asked my dealer the price to retro-fit Thermotronic. First he said it couldn't be done (suprise!) then the techs went into a huddle over WIS and came back to say they could do it! Another conflab and came back with the price £8500
When I pointed out all I wanted was the head unit swapped thay said it wouldn't work...

So, no they didn't set it up for me. That was done by Comand.co.uk

I did the upgrade from 580 to 581. What an idiot I was.

The main reason for doing it is that Sydney has a lot of smelly long tunnel with 50m visibility (well it did back then) and the carbon filter deals with that nicely.

Once I had done the conversion I mailed a summary to Richard so they could evaluate the results.

This is what the shopping list is like.
===========================
- remove dashboard completely
(now is the time to remove the cat piss smelling heater element and get a new coated version)

- remove the intake housing with blower and replace with carbon filter version and add new stepper motor

- add 4 new stepper motors to the main housing and replace every gear and cog or install as needed.

- remove front fuse box
- remove wipers
- remove wiper motor

- install new harness for sun sensor + pollution sensor
- install pollution sensor and sun sensor
- disconnect dew-point sensor

- install stepper motor harness
- install carbon filters

Put everything else back where it came from.

- install new control panel
- coding

Then for some reason it all works.

To be honest .... without the external sensors it all works fine and the pure air is a real bonus.


Then slap yourself on the forehead because you forgot to install the prewire for parktronic and sound system.

 

[miro]

The big difference between Thermatic and Thermotoronic is that Thermotornic has sun sensor. The Thermatic dont have this!! The thermatic only goes after how warm/cold the outside temp is.

I wish someone had told me that before I went ahead and installed the stepper motors and pollution sensor.

 

[merc07]

I think my 581 would work much better with the sun sensors fitted as you have done Miro as the inside temp and blower speed are regulated from the sun sensor. Also left and right temps are adjusted according to the which side the sun is from.

At the moment I just have the control unit fitted with the standard housing.

Would it be just a case of fitting the new sensor and wiring to the grille ? In the WIS is states 'The C-AAC sun sensor - (4in total) (B32/2) records the intensity'.... Is there just one sensor housing containing 4 separate sensors ? ie as Whitenemisis was calling it the 'Quad sensor'. I was thinking they were all in a separate area on the car !

You also mention 'disconnect the dew point sensor' ? what is that ?

Cheers
Adam

 

[whitenemesis]

Yep, just the one module containing the four "sections" sensors.

I think Richard said that if you have heated washer nozzles you should have the wiring already for the sensor. A purple wire to the rear of the a/c control unit. So just the B32/2 module to install.

When I had my system read it showed sensor values of 255 for each of the sensors, i.e. because they weren't there!

I never got round to investigating the instal of the sensor.

I beleive the dew point sensor resides just inside the air intake for the aircon and determine if the flaps should direct air to the footwells on initial start-up, so the windows don't steam up I think.

 

[merc07]

Thanks,

The part number for the sun sensor wiring on my chassis which says heated washers / 580 sun sensor is the same as the part number for heated washers / 581 sun sensor.
A2034409806 - £18

Maybe I have heated washers as well - Wouldn't have known if I did. ?

The 581 sun sensor itself is £57 on Mercedes Parts
A2118701310 - £57

Can't seem to find the 580 sensor, it comes up as being a sun sensor cover ?

If its just a case of fitting the different sensor, I might go for that.

Adam

 

[racall]

QUOTE

now is the time to remove the cat piss smelling heater element and get a new coated version QUOTE

Whats this about as mine sometimes of cats pee for a few seconds??

 

[whitenemesis]

Thanks,

The part number for the sun sensor wiring on my chassis which says heated washers / 580 sun sensor is the same as the part number for heated washers / 581 sun sensor.
A2034409806 - £18

Maybe I have heated washers as well - Wouldn't have known if I did. ?

The 581 sun sensor itself is £57 on Mercedes Parts
A2118701310 - £57

Can't seem to find the 580 sensor, it comes up as being a sun sensor cover ?

If its just a case of fitting the different sensor, I might go for that.

Adam

For £57 it's worth a crack

Probably need a bit of coding to calibrate or adapt the sensor.

It would be good to have some sort of system response due to the sun intensity....

 

[miro]

QUOTE

now is the time to remove the cat piss smelling heater element and get a new coated version QUOTE

Whats this about as mine sometimes of cats pee for a few seconds??

Revision 1 heat exchangers were prone to contamination by bacteria and fungi on the surface. That is where the smell develops.

 

[miro]

For £57 it's worth a crack

Probably need a bit of coding to calibrate or adapt the sensor.

It would be good to have some sort of system response due to the sun intensity....

THe pollution sensor is in the same wiring. It goes on the underside of the splash cover of the wipers. Just outside the intake. I think you need that too.

You should also check the cost of the stepper motors. All up I think I used 6 for the upgrade and they cost quite a bit.

 

[merc07]

Well I failed at the 1st hurdle...Wanted to check my wiring under the grille but couln't get it off. It is supposed to be held with 3 screws and 4 clamps but the thing is solid ! Any ideas ?

I think the 580 system doesn't have any sun sensor - just a cover but I can't get at it to see...

As for the pollution sensor - the part number comes up on Merc as a Temp Sensor - £211 - What does it do?

Cheers
Adam

 

[whitenemesis]

Yup, 580 has only a cover for where the sun sensor should fit.

Pollution sensor detects the level of Nitrogen monoxide (from traffic pollution) entering the car. When it goes above a set level the 581 system would bring in the carbon filter to reduce levels. Especially useful in long tunnels

I guess the grill has been baked in place!

 

[miro]

Yup, 580 has only a cover for where the sun sensor should fit.

Pollution sensor detects the level of Nitrogen monoxide (from traffic pollution) entering the car. When it goes above a set level the 581 system would bring in the carbon filter to reduce levels. Especially useful in long tunnels

I guess the grill has been baked in place!

I do in fact recommend the upgrade. Not only do you get 2 zones but also a new set of cogs, a pollen filter / carbon filter and hours of pulling things apart.

There is one stepper motor which controls the top flap and you have to snap that control rod and take it out. Then move that stepper motor to the front where it can be replaced later if it fails. Then install a new motor on both sides of the top vent.

Generally the idea is to new stepper motors in the hard to reach places and move the old ones in behind the radio. Putting the cogs in is a lot of fun (the kind of fun that turns people into serial killers).

Just be sure to prewire the short lead in for aux audio, parktronic and sound system. Those cost almost nothing.

 

[miro]

Yup, 580 has only a cover for where the sun sensor should fit.

Pollution sensor detects the level of Nitrogen monoxide (from traffic pollution) entering the car. When it goes above a set level the 581 system would bring in the carbon filter to reduce levels. Especially useful in long tunnels

I guess the grill has been baked in place!

If that plastic cover under the wipers is old and has never been removed it will also turn a nice shade of white where you pull up on it. I decided to buy a new one and have that fresh plastic look.

The pollution sensor is held on with one screw.

 

[merc07]

Putting the cogs in is a lot of fun (the kind of fun that turns people into serial killers)

I guess they based that film Wolf Creek on you then, it was a true storey afterall. - I had better stop now !
I was just going to change what I thought was easy parts and see how it works. The car is only 16 months old so the grill should be fine.
How do you release the 4 clips ?
Cheers, Adam

 

[miro]

I guess they based that film Wolf Creek on you then, it was a true storey afterall. - I had better stop now !
I was just going to change what I thought was easy parts and see how it works. The car is only 16 months old so the grill should be fine.
How do you release the 4 clips ?
Cheers, Adam

It takes a lot of force and careful application of pressure points. Pull in the wrong place and you will crack the plastic.

Make sure you took out all of the screws first.