W204 Cruise Retrofit

[Toki88]

Thats excellent - yes, we did not know about the ECU replacement- but at least we weren't the only ones.

This is actually the weird part for me. How can the guy from Hilden know and everybody else can't? mbworld.org had the same problem, nobody could help on this one. On a German forum I found several topics and they all pointed the Hilden guy. Magician?

It is quite interesting that the ECU needs replacing, since they are all software updatable, and there is no hardware connection between the cruise control lever and the ECU (i.e its all over the car's network)

Nothing I can say here, I'm not the specialist Axel said that not every ECU can be programmed with everything and that's what it's all about. Even when you get it to work with Star the car will tell you "Lim inoperative". Not my words though

- do you know which ECU he actually replaced - I assume the engine management system (any part numbers on the invoice?)

He replaced the black box just next to the washing fluid filler cap. He also did something with my brakes, I believe it was about getting the air out of the system. I'm not a mechanic so sorry for no pro language . I didn't ask about the part numbers, there is non on the invoice. He did check my VIN and immediately after 10 seconds over the phone told me it needs ECU replacement. I have the part number of the leaver which was A204 900 03 04 and color code 8LC3 (not sure, the beige one).

It is really nice and refreshing to hear that there is an Mercedes dealer somewhere in the world that will do the retrofits that Mercedes headquarters say are not possible. After all, they are the ones with the access to all the Mercedes headquarters technical support...

Yeah, that's what I think too. He told me that there is no problem with any retrofit. It's just about the money you're willing to spend and he can do everything, even Distronic. I don't really understand what's going on with MB dealers. When I asked in Poland the first problem was ordering the leaver with cruise stick since I had the one without it in my car so they "can't order a part not included in my car by the factory." Axel was very precise on this one: "Not true."

Richard, the only thing he told me after he finished was that "the knowledge is all there, in MB. You just need to think and dig a little bit." And the job was done. Took him 2 hours and 10 minutes. I'm not the specialist here, just a happy man who finally managed to get cruise even though almost everybody told me it was impossible to do. And I was so desperate about getting one that I was considering a trip from Cracow to Surrey even though they couldn't guarantee that it will work. I didin'y ask him about the know-how because of which he was able to determine if the ECU change was needed, I guess that's his advantage and I'm not that surprised he's not willing to share it

He also said that every W204 is retrofitable with cruise, it's just the matter of the ECU because it raises the price from 399euro to 1589euro due to the cost of the new ECU unit. I honestly wish I could provide some more specific info but I just don't know how he can determine that...

Cheers

Maciek

 

[Stratman]

I may have got the wrong end of the stick, but do I recall reading that MB keep a database of which options are fitted or enabled in newer cars, and can delete unauthorised retrofits when the car is serviced at a main dealer? Something to do with STAR reporting to Mothership when connected to the vehicle?

 

[mr. shr]

I think the company that did the work coded it up with SCN so as far as the mother ship is concerned that car left the factory with cruise control fitted.

That's my understanding, anyway.

 

[Toki88]

I think the company that did the work coded it up with SCN so as far as the mother ship is concerned that car left the factory with cruise control fitted.

That's my understanding, anyway.

That is how I understand it as well and what Axel told me he did.