xenon and bulb warning message

[jonnyboy]

hi all

we are in the process of fitting 2002 prefacelift xenons in our 2000 s430. its being done properly with the levelling etc (when i can get the wiring diagram), we have done a trial fit, and they powered up no problem.

weird problem which i have narrowed down:-

if i run the engine and leave it 10 seconds or so then switch the headlamps (dipped) on, no problem, however if i switch them on earlier, or theyre on automatic, i either get a single "check low beam " for either left or right, or 2 malfunctions for both. I'd like to solve this problem before i go any further with the loom for the levelling so have initially taken them back out.

any ideas? i had asked my local mobile "Star Laptop" guy as I read somewhere you need to "tell" the car xenons are present, he said as they lit up there is no need.......

cheers

 

[whitenemesis]

You definately need to code them to the car. Otherwise the bulb monitor system will flag them as faulty. They will light up ok but you will notice them start to flash rapidly if you leave them switched on without coding.

 

[Howard]

Yep , mobile Star guy needs to select ' XENONS=PRESENT ' in the Star menu ...

Or find someone who knows what they are doing

 

[jonnyboy]

he couldnt find it, had seen where it was last week but cant remember where to look + bloody freezing outside etc.......

he is not solo MB, so I guess remembering where everything is is an issue, and my network (for him to look online) wouldnt let him connect since i moved the router

still at square one,....although he managed to get the cd player to power off and on and i managed to eject the magazine as he was doing it, removed what i think is a scratched cd, all is bck to normal

 

[Howard]

Have you spoken to Olly or Alfie ?

Either one of them can do it and are fairly local to you ...

 

[paul m]

I had the same problem as you, changed from Halogen to Bi Zenon on my S 320 year 2000, my indie took ages to find it but he did, clicked Zenons Present and they work great now.

 

[jonnyboy]

I had the same problem as you, changed from Halogen to Bi Zenon on my S 320 year 2000, my indie took ages to find it but he did, clicked Zenons Present and they work great now.

Wonder if thats the same for single (ie not bi ) xenons then?

 

[Howard]

If you have changed from halogens to xenons you need to have the cluster coded , bi xenons or not.

I thought i said that in post #3 ?

 

[14Ben]

Hi Howard,

Hope you're well mate, did you have anything changed via STAR when you put your xenons in ? Manage to solve the warning signal in the end ?

Cheers

 

[Howard]

No , you don't need to update the cluster with the retrofit non-OEM xenons because the car sees them as halogens .

No warning message solution yet , just my normal one ( get the key out of the ignition with 2 seconds of turning the lights off ) ....

How are yours ?

 

[andy27168]

My understanding would be once you have installed the headlight levelling loom c/w the ECU and suspension sensors that when you plug the STAR machine in it will see that zenons are now fitted (as the levelling loom puts a new cable into the diagnostic socket) and activates the appropriate settings.
At the same time the levelling system will need to be calibrated as well

 

[Howard]

An older thread , but confirms what we have been saying ...

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=43170&highlight=xenons+present

The STAR machine won't automatically see that it now has xenons , and change everything itself , you need to activate them manually via the menu.

 

[andy27168]

When my AMG was plugged into STAR it searched my car for the equipment fitted and being as the diagnostic socket is the only input STAR has to the car when it finds the new input cable installed in the diagnostic socket it gives the operator access to the appropriate menu's.

 

[Howard]

Ok

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22591&page=3&highlight=w202+xenons

Looking at the thread above , it seems the 202 doesn't need coding . Probably because it is so old , i can't remember if the 208 needs it ( same sort of age ) but more modern cars do.

 

[jonnyboy]

Thanks so far guys, this is good......does it therefore follow that once the loom for the levelling is fitted, one of the cables for this goes to the diagnostic socket and star will pick this up ie its a waste of time my guy (or anyone else) looking for it until we complete the loom?

Howard, I hadnt realised that by coding to the car, did you mean its in the "instrument cluster" section of Star?

 

[14Ben]

Hey Howard,

The lights are beyond fantastic ! Cant believe how i survived without them for so long. You should have seen what they were like in all the snow . . . Unreal !

Have yet to pop one of the 12k bulbs in to see what they are like, might give it a blast this weekend and see what the result is like.

Thanks again with all your help . . . Lifesaver !

 

[andy27168]

I think 202's, 208's and 210's are all the same regarding this as like you quite rightly said there all of similar age.
There is a retro fit guide for installing zenons to the 210 eg loom and sensor installation etc. if you would like this jonnyboy drop me a pm with the first six digits of your vin number.