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

[Bastor]

Hi there,

iam Sebastian from the German Mercedes Board. The Vid above shows my switched AI/Cluster from the W203 Facelift ... all the things that not working are planned and can be easily handled if you know what it causes.

The most People switch the AI/Cluster from a W209 pre-Facelift because the AI/Cluster from it communicate with the Old Headunits etc. - even the Fuel guage... only the coding and Kilometers have to be set.

The "Problem" with the W203 facelift AI/Cluster is, that u have to change the Headunit and all other controls in the Middle to make it work properly. Around 10/2001 (year) the Fuel Sensors are changed ... u have to switch to MAPPS Sensors, but mostly the old rear SAM can be stay .. there need only a additional Wire and the new sensors.

etc. etc.

You have read the big thread in the german Board... nothing to add.


I read this thread later that day and try to answer ... the problem with CODING and change the Kilometers is some special problem... the most people, even in germany, doenst have a Star Diag with developer Mode ... and the ones which have one cant handle with it


(Excuse my bad gramma and english .. long time ago i have to write some longer textpages in english )


Greets from Germany
Sebastian

[cyberflex]

Sebastian HI!!!!

Thank you so much for getting involved!

You have done a lot of very impressive stuff to your W203, you should start a thread on here to show people what you have achieved, it really is incredible in my honest opinion, many people talk(normally rubbish) about doing various upgrades,you have done the opposite and actually COMPLETED them, I have seen it with my own eyes!

The greatest thing you have done is educate people with your experiences, something that is seldom on forums in my opinion, too many people like to keep information to themselves, which is why I am glad to be part of Kaos where it seems most people help each other.

I'm glad you are with us on this thread and look forward to your input when you have time.

Great news, having Sebastian on the thread is a MASSIVE lift for me! Good news!

[hkirov]

Hi guys , sorry that I haven't been active for a long time but i totally got disappointed of some forum members in some other forums and i decided to stop sharing any info on my work but thinks may change

[hkirov]

Also cyberj could you send me the pass for the photo album you send me so i could take a look.

And i will try to help you with what i can

[cyberflex]

hkirov, I just want to thank you publicly for being around, I totally know where you are coming from when you speak of other forums, which is why I am here now, I never posted elsewhere very much, but in an attempt to gain help with adding a facelift cluster into a pre-facelift car I read many hours on certain forums.

People really do not want to help much when it comes to face lifting/retrofitting in the W203, I do understand it is some peoples living, but then what is the point of forums??

Anyway I am very glad you are around, you are another person who has gone well beyond many peoples opinions on the limitations of retrofitting and in the process proved many people wrong!

Respect.

[Officer305]

Hi Chaps, Spent a bit of time with a guy who recalibrates dashed for a living. He says the reason it doesn't work is that the chips in the Dash heads are different. (I think we all new that) The newer and later EZS/EIS may have different versions of software running? May also be different Chips in them? As we know newer type dashes and EZS can be programmed for mileage without taking the dash out where as with the older dash, unless you have Enigma then it comes out to be done.

Now my questions are: Is the guy on the right track? If so. Is it possible to reprogram the old EZS with the newer software or would newer EZS (with the newer software/firmware) be adapted to work in the older vehicle? The first option being the preferred one? The fuel sensor isn't a problem as in my early attempts I put the mapps sensors in the tanks and rewired the rear sam. Only one extra wire for a Diesel anyway.

What chip is in the 209? If its the older type as in the 203 or just compatible with the older EZS? Software or other wise?



Thanks.

[smayer]

Hi Chaps, Spent a bit of time with a guy who recalibrates dashed for a living. He says the reason it doesn't work is that the chips in the Dash heads are different. (I think we all new that) The newer and later EZS/EIS may have different versions of software running? May also be different Chips in them? As we know newer type dashes and EZS can be programmed for mileage without taking the dash out where as with the older dash, unless you have Enigma then it comes out to be done.

Now my questions are: Is the guy on the right track? If so. Is it possible to reprogram the old EZS with the newer software or would newer EZS (with the newer software/firmware) be adapted to work in the older vehicle? The first option being the preferred one? The fuel sensor isn't a problem as in my early attempts I put the mapps sensors in the tanks and rewired the rear sam. Only one extra wire for a Diesel anyway.

What chip is in the 209? If its the older type as in the 203 or just compatible with the older EZS? Software or other wise?



Thanks.

Are many versions of EZS, w211_hc12,w211_st12, w204, etc. You must respect the software version. Can not upgrade software. If you know the number of EZS A 203.......... , It's easy to find the chip inside.

[tapio89]

Hello!

I updated my -01 W203 mercedes -08 W209 IC and everyting is working right. Like plug&play

Before that i tryed to install facelift gauge, but it cant be coded with star. Car must have central gateway module to get correct connection with star.

Btw. If you cant pair gauge to car (it do not show kilometers) dont drive it. It update EZS about 1 000 000 miles.

I drived, and now my IC shows 999999km and EZS 1 599 900.
Now i have problem to get correct km to IC+EZS.

[cyberflex]

Tapio Hi,

Thanks for coming in on this. Really appreciate it

Some questions...

Did you use a new or second hand W209 cluster?

Did all the menus in your old cluster appear immediately or did they need coding with star?

Infact the biggest question is did DAS recognise the W209 cluster or did you have to use developer mode to access it?
I guess if it was a used one then the above is not as important because some coding would have existed in the W209 cluster already..

I really believe to get the mileage correct you need to use a pre-facelift W209 cluster (The one that would have come on a CLK with the older style center console/AC/Upper control panel. A cluster that was used with D2B audio, YES, I understand that the D2B or MOST does not come into play BUT I believe the CAN protocols are different in the D2B based/prefacelift CLK W209 clusters and this is the ONLY type that can be made to fully work.

In order to make the facelift W203 or facelift W209 clusters work in a prefacelift W203 a central gateway needs to be introduced as there is a heavy reliance on the gateway, the mileage will never be corrected according to everything I have read and been told.

In order to make a facelift W203 cluster or a facelift W209 cluster work completely it is my belief that a central Gateway from a Vito has to be introduced as well as having the correct steering column, I have been in touch with a guy called Miro and another guy called Steve, both are awesome retrofit specialists and BOTH say the same thing and to be honest I believe them.

SO guys....

I am going to look on EPC and find myself the part number for a prefacelift D2B based W209 CLK cluster and work from there, this is the easiest option or make a trip to the Netherlands and get a facelift Cluster as well as all the other stuff to make a facelift cluster work 'Perfectly' installed.

I am considering both options, it is very difficult for me to go down the facelift W203 route as nobody has really made the knowledge of adding a Vito central gateway to a prefacelift W203 common knowledge.

Very sad, really wanted to pursue this, all is not lost let's see, I will keep everyone informed.

I believe Sebastian in Germany is the only independant person working on putting a facelift W203 cluster in prefacelift W203 at this time, he is trying with developer mode, I really want him to succeed and am always following his posts on DB forum using google translate.

[3mexVK]

Hi guys!

It's amazing to see people talking like this

Just to confirm, CAN communication protocols ARE, and I repeat, ARE different in preMOPF and MOPF versions of IC's. So, it's unlikely to see that kind of integration because of protocol/circuit functionality.

(MOPF = modellpflege = Facelift)

To clear something, the cluster value is refreshed every 500km, as I recall, in a way that the DAS-X system checks all relevant values, meaning the ones in IC and EZS, and compares them. After that, the higher value is stored in IC.

Naturally, that applies to compatible IC, so there is no way that old CAN can work with new CAN.

3 years ago, I have tried to fit a IC to a MOPF CLK, and ran into problems. The solution was a MOPF IC instead the preMOPF that was given to me. I remember that I saw the coding for a CAN version while I was trying to do that.

So, in my opinion, the older CAN IC from W209 should work on W203 with or without ZGW.

Best of luck!

greetz!

I forgot to mention, the MOPF IC that was used, but was refurbished and came virginized, so I did the initial coding and set the odometer value. Everything worked like a charm.

[tapio89]

Hello!

I buyed reseted second-hand cauge. At ebay.

I have new gen audio20-radio (which includes internal bluetooth&mp3 player) so that is why i use 2008 IC.
It shows audio&phone correctly.

You can configure all same menus than orig. IC. By star.

And i repeat, all functions all working right, and you can test&config star. (you have select w209-model)
When you go in the unit adaptions, it ask which model year car is. That will fit newer 209 IC to older 203.
(rear SAM you can change what is fueltank-sensor type, MOPF or no)

Now i have changed used EZS+ESL to my car. CDI-ECU is cars own and that is reseted and fitted new VIN. This is my way get EZS miles changed.
New is problem is to get 209 IC reseted/ changed mileage lower than 1000km to fit new VIN to gauge.
Tacho Pro wont talk to this new type IC, so will go prommer shop.


Regards Tapio

[cyberflex]

WOW!!!

Tapio, thanks, it looks like you are almost there, just need to get the IC virginalized and I think then you need to drive until the IC shows 999999 or similar, then you will be able to adopt the mileage from EZS with Star.

Not sure about this, as google translate is not great, but it is what I think it says..

Good luck and report back with a success story for us buddy!!!

[yriy66]

maybe it will help you BMWTOOLS.INFO • ???????? ???? - Mercedes Kombi Protocol Converter

[HannuS]

Hi

What is the German forum name? I'm looking and studying same things as you guys here. I'm old Dreambox hobbyist so German language had come familiar.