Hi to everyone, my Mercedes W203 Project and Star Developer Mode..

[cyberflex]

Hello everybody,

I am so happy to have found you all.

I am currently studying again, later in life, want to go into the medical field. Need to revisit A levels, I did them when I was a very different person in my younger days, (am 34 now) just did not study enough, in later life you realise many things and for me it is time to stop regretting and be proactive, get back and do something about it

I am really into cars, as a hobby and have a W203 Mercedes C320, 2001, it has been in the family from new, it was totally standard up until June last year, when it was fully facelifted externally, by this I mean, Xenons to Bixenons, facelift tail-lights, mirror indicators, front bumper, grill e.t.c.
At the same time I got the car resprayed in Obsidian Black, it was Jasper blue.

It came out really well, but now I have caught the modding bug...

I want to do the W203 facelift centre console, with updated climate control, UCP e.t.c.
The above has been done many times before around the world and is almost plug and play.

The bit that I need advice on is the instrument cluster, I have the older 1/2 moon type and want to go to a W203 facelift type, I have searched high and low, it is not straight forward, for some reason people tend to go with a W209 cluster, I guess the version coding may be more straight forward.

My car being a 2001 will need the newer tank senders called MAPPS, I have looked into this and it will be done.

If not, anybody on here willing to give coding/mileage transfer to newer cluster e.t.c. a shot?
From everything I have read, you need a good grasp of technical German in order to get things done in Developer Mode, I think there may be people on here who have that, I have read the sticky that is on here with various developer mode tutorials in order to enable things.

Just confused, do I buy Star or do I get someone to code for me?

I have looked/talked to so many people who are unwilling to take on such a coding task in the UK. Coding a facelift cluster into a prefacelift car is very difficult, mileage will be an issue as the EIS on the facelift cars have a CGW, my car does not and may need a new EIS/wiring changes from a W209 or someone with a mileage programmer after an initial adaptation process, again, from what I have read using Google translate on a German forum.

Also, it will need custom SCN coding from what I understand, not having Star, I really can't say with any confidence what it involves coding wise and even module wise (may have to update modules)

I plan to do things slowly over a period, the car is not a daily driver anymore, so down time is acceptable.

There is a person in the Netherlands, who is a genius, I guess people know him and his work, also another one in Australia.

But would like to do this locally in the UK.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Johnathan

(copied and pasted from ''Introduce yourself'')

[chakahafed]

U dont need to buy t30 or delll to make star work !
U need only mux + labtop with rs232 port !
For developer : just make the diag work then will help u to get the dev mode !
Regards

[yriy66]

how do you see the budget of the event? change will have all the power and cable.

[cyberflex]

how do you see the budget of the event? change will have all the power and cable.

Hi Yriy,

I want to buy the best MUX e.t.c. that I can, I want to have a star diagnosis kit that I can trust, can you recommend any seller that will sell me a good MUX/Cables?

If you mean the cluster swap, I will spend what I need to, I have already bought a brand new virgin cluster from a Mercedes parts specialist, all I need now is 2 MAPPS fuel senders, add 1 wire to a specific plug on the rear SAM and some specific coding with developer. The old fuel senders are 4 pin, the new MAPPS senders are 5 pin from my understanding.

There is a German forum that has all the information, I am using Google translate...

Also from all the reading I have done on the forums, it depends on the part number of my rear SAM, if it will take the coding to change FUEL SENDERS=OLD SENDERS into FUEL SENDERS=MAPPS, with star.

If the rear SAM is too old/early it will not take the coding,then I will need to update the rear SAM for a more recent part number.

Here is a link to a youtube video, it shows a guy from a German forum who has a W203 2001, it is showing some moments soon after he removed his old cluster (1/2 moon ugly orange thing) and installed the new W203 facelift cluster, everything works except fuel guage and original KM travelled.

His cluster was used before I think, so the car shows the donor car Km, I need to hack the odo to get this right I think, EIS in my older 2001 car will not communicate mileage to facelift cluster I think.... Not without maybe some special developer commands with DAS.

Mercedes introduced MAPPS fuel senders in 2002, my car was built August 2001, so I think I will need the newer MAPPS senders.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G57EwQCWDVs]W203 MOPF Tacho in vorMOPF Funktionstest - YouTube[/ame]

His fuel guage does not work, also coding does not look optimal from this video. He does not have Star, he just plugged in and that is it, not a bad result..

Yriy, I am not an expert, just interested to do this, can you/anyone tell me where to buy a decent Star diagnosis kit with good quality MUX and cables, even a dedicated laptop with all software installed already????

Any ideas, please help...

How about the Chinese stuff, some must be good???

Yriy, I think you know Star diagnosis and Mercedes very well, any advice would be appreciated.

Have you done this conversion on a W203?

Thanks.

[yriy66]

this is the first thing to establish and join ZGW.second to replace the front and connect the SAM.third set on the computer WIS-see wiring.I bought the C4 in China. if you want I can give a link to the seller.

[chakahafed]

Hi Yriy,

I want to buy the best MUX e.t.c. that I can, I want to have a star diagnosis kit that I can trust, can you recommend any seller that will sell me a good MUX/Cables?

If you mean the cluster swap, I will spend what I need to, I have already bought a brand new virgin cluster from a Mercedes parts specialist, all I need now is 2 MAPPS fuel senders, add 1 wire to a specific plug on the rear SAM and some specific coding with developer. The old fuel senders are 4 pin, the new MAPPS senders are 5 pin from my understanding.

There is a German forum that has all the information, I am using Google translate...

Also from all the reading I have done on the forums, it depends on the part number of my rear SAM, if it will take the coding to change FUEL SENDERS=OLD SENDERS into FUEL SENDERS=MAPPS, with star.

If the rear SAM is too old/early it will not take the coding,then I will need to update the rear SAM for a more recent part number.

Here is a link to a youtube video, it shows a guy from a German forum who has a W203 2001, it is showing some moments soon after he removed his old cluster (1/2 moon ugly orange thing) and installed the new W203 facelift cluster, everything works except fuel guage and original KM travelled.

His cluster was used before I think, so the car shows the donor car Km, I need to hack the odo to get this right I think, EIS in my older 2001 car will not communicate mileage to facelift cluster I think.... Not without maybe some special developer commands with DAS.

Mercedes introduced MAPPS fuel senders in 2002, my car was built August 2001, so I think I will need the newer MAPPS senders.

W203 MOPF Tacho in vorMOPF Funktionstest - YouTube

His fuel guage does not work, also coding does not look optimal from this video. He does not have Star, he just plugged in and that is it, not a bad result..

Yriy, I am not an expert, just interested to do this, can you/anyone tell me where to buy a decent Star diagnosis kit with good quality MUX and cables, even a dedicated laptop with all software installed already????

Any ideas, please help...

How about the Chinese stuff, some must be good???

Yriy, I think you know Star diagnosis and Mercedes very well, any advice would be appreciated.

Have you done this conversion on a W203?

Thanks.

Developer will not help u to correct millenage if u swap th cluster with other one
U need eeprom programmer to do this work !
And i dont think the w203 have a getway ! Mienage is stored in ezs + cluster
Regards

[cyberflex]

Developer will not help u to correct millenage if u swap th cluster with other one
U need eeprom programmer to do this work !
And i dont think the w203 have a getway ! Mienage is stored in ezs + cluster
Regards

Chaka Hi,

If cluster is new, why can't DAS correct mileage?



Thanks for the input regarding eeprom programmer for mileage correction, do we need to programme new cluster or new cluster + EZS at the same time?
I will need your advice when I reach this stage for sure

OK. This is what confuses me, in some of the forums I have done some reading on, people seem to say the 'facelift' W203 cars have a gateway built into the EZS.

The W203 ran from 2000 -2007, I believe the facelift was approximately model year 2005.

I have also read in a forum that the earliest facelift cars had a separate ZGW ( from 4-2004 to 11-2004 )

Then after this the ZGW was built into the EZS...

In a W203, I have read the ZGW is not so important, as it is used only for coding one option, which is TELEAID, it also serves a purpose for MOST ring configuration.

My earlier car had D2B audio components, I have an aftermarket Alpine unit now, with Alpine W203 CAN adaptor, so I have removed all Mercedes D2B components (Radio/CD Changer)

Unless I want to fit the new NTG2.5 HDD Comand from CLC model later, I will not need any configuration of MOST ring.

Again, I will repeat, I am not an expert, I have just spent many hours recently, reading in Mercedes forums so that I can make this cluster modification without problems.

I need help for sure from you guys. I have never used DAS/Star before....

In fact, you have already helped me, so thanks guys.

[chakahafed]

If the cluster was never used befor it will get automaticly milenage from ezs
Or myebe u will need star to adapt it .but its not hard

[Officer305]

Hi, This is my experience: Car I tried with was a W203 2001 270 cdi. My son now has it. I obtained a new type ( Round Clock )
The dash was brand new. Had not been coded in anyway. I also got the two mapps fuel sensors for the fuel tank. You are correct about the wiring. You need to run an extra wire to the rear sam. I have a C3 Mux and IBM 30 laptop running 05/2010 Xentry/ Das software in with developer mode activated. I put the new dash in the car and wired up the tank sensors. After changing coding in rear sam with star the fuel gauge worked ok. The only thing that didnt work was the total miles travelled. Just the usual -------- in the display. I tried to program it with Star but it wouldnt take up the readings of the ECU. Mileage/Vin etc. My friend is a Mercedes mechanic who has his own garage and all the genuine Merc kit.

It wouldnt work with that either. Spent hours on it. The only thing we noticed is that when you switched the ignition off the mileage on the speedo would show for a few seconds till it went off. He also checked out the dash and confirmed it was virginal.

I have spoke to a few garages that do recalibration of the merc clocks and so far nobody has been able to tell me how to do it or what it takes to do it. Spent months on it. There is a entry on Kaos here that a guy took a cgw from another car wired it into the can/ the loom/ nearside passenger side on a w203 2002 and said he was able to program a newer type dash. He doesnt how ever reply to any questions put to him.

He said he then took the cgw out and it all worked ok?

I put the old dash back in. Its working fine. I would love to be able to update to the newer dash. I bought a newer low mileage C class that had the newer dash. 270 cdi. Have put the digital heater controls and recirc pump in it. Fitted heated pads in the front seat and put the proper merc switches/loom for same in the switch area. Fitted stainless steel sport exhaust system with AMG exhaust finnishers and chipped it. KN air filter.It has the sport package on it so the brakes are Brembo. I have done a few things to it as well. Pioneer Sat Nav system. Digital TV,Dab radio, reversing camera etc etc. Monitors in the headrests. Carbon fibre round all the metal silver work on the dash and the doors. Going to tint the windows next. A work in progress.
Goes like a rocket.

If you find out how to do it I would be obliged if you tell me how?

If there is any other way I can help let me know.
Thanks.

[chakahafed]

Hi, This is my experience: Car I tried with was a W203 2001 270 cdi. My son now has it. I obtained a new type ( Round Clock )
The dash was brand new. Had not been coded in anyway. I also got the two mapps fuel sensors for the fuel tank. You are correct about the wiring. You need to run an extra wire to the rear sam. I have a C3 Mux and IBM 30 laptop running 05/2010 Xentry/ Das software in with developer mode activated. I put the new dash in the car and wired up the tank sensors. After changing coding in rear sam with star the fuel gauge worked ok. The only thing that didnt work was the total miles travelled. Just the usual -------- in the display. I tried to program it with Star but it wouldnt take up the readings of the ECU. Mileage/Vin etc. My friend is a Mercedes mechanic who has his own garage and all the genuine Merc kit.

It wouldnt work with that either. Spent hours on it. The only thing we noticed is that when you switched the ignition off the mileage on the speedo would show for a few seconds till it went off. He also checked out the dash and confirmed it was virginal.

I have spoke to a few garages that do recalibration of the merc clocks and so far nobody has been able to tell me how to do it or what it takes to do it. Spent months on it. There is a entry on Kaos here that a guy took a cgw from another car wired it into the can/ the loom/ nearside passenger side on a w203 2002 and said he was able to program a newer type dash. He doesnt how ever reply to any questions put to him.

He said he then took the cgw out and it all worked ok?

I put the old dash back in. Its working fine. I would love to be able to update to the newer dash. I bought a newer low mileage C class that had the newer dash. 270 cdi. Have put the digital heater controls and recirc pump in it. Fitted heated pads in the front seat and put the proper merc switches/loom for same in the switch area. Fitted stainless steel sport exhaust system with AMG exhaust finnishers and chipped it. KN air filter.It has the sport package on it so the brakes are Brembo. I have done a few things to it as well. Pioneer Sat Nav system. Digital TV,Dab radio, reversing camera etc etc. Monitors in the headrests. Carbon fibre round all the metal silver work on the dash and the doors. Going to tint the windows next. A work in progress.
Goes like a rocket.

If you find out how to do it I would be obliged if you tell me how?

If there is any other way I can help let me know.
Thanks.

As i sead millenage is in ezs + dash
U have to open the new dash and read the eeprom inside and post it here . But u need eeprom programmer like upa or xprog ......
If u dont have programmer , then forget aboit the ------- in dash

[Officer305]

Hi, As stated I have a brand new Virgin Dash. (Clock type). Are you saying that if I get the Xprog. Then open the new dash read the coding and send it to you, you will be able to give me a dump. That will allow my star to communicate with the newer type dash and able to adapt it so it works after replacing the half moon shape?

Do you know why it wont adapt as they usually do. I had to replace the original dash as the leds ect etc packed in. It was a virgin half moon shape dash. It was straight forward to adapt it.

I think this would be interesting to Jonathan as well as we have discussed it. Thanks.

[MarkPRP]

CyberJ.. Hey

What took you so long to find us?



Mark

[cyberflex]

Mark Hi,

Yep, took ages, but so glad i'm here, feel like I will get somewhere now.

You know your stuff, what is your input on the cluster upgrade?

Cheers buddy.

EDIT: BEING THICK!!!! Did not realise it was you. Cheers for the conversation yesterday.

[cyberflex]

This seems to cover everything, need to do a fair bit to get it perfect in a pre-facelift W203.

DIY 2009 CLC ICM ( Cluster ) into older CL203 or w203 - MBWorld.org Forums

May just try the cluster....

[cyberflex]

Just did a search for hkirov, it turns out he is on here...

http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...hlight=cluster

http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...hlight=cluster

RESULT!!

Also communicated with Sebastian in Germany, he made the youtube video above, things are looking better for all those struggling with this mod... )