NEED: Illuminated door sill installer - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lynns · #1 03-09-2007, 01:16 AM

All Southern California R129 owners.

I need the name of someone who can install "illuminated door sills".

I know that most radio and alarm guys can do this but it would be great if you could point me to someone that you know has installed these on an R129 or does custom install work on high end cars.

I have searched the M-B Forums and have a pretty good understanding of what needs to be done but I would prefer to pay rather than DIY.

Thanks for your help in advance.

LCN · #2 03-09-2007, 02:58 AM

Hey,

I know you don't want to DIY but this install is very easy. All you need is a test light and some wire taps really.

stats007 · #3 03-09-2007, 08:25 AM

Illuminated sills are nothing but a pain on R129s - they are in a direct drain point and the EL panels and/or ballast fail frequently.

lynns · #4 03-09-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stats007

Illuminated sills are nothing but a pain on R129s - they are in a direct drain point and the EL panels and/or ballast fail frequently.

Not to be ungreatful, but what sources do you have to substantiate your claims?
I would be very interested before install.

suginami · #5 03-09-2007, 11:21 AM

I had MB Stars in Walnut, CA install mine. There are a few miles north of the 60 freeway off of Nogales.

Where are you located?

lynns · #6 03-09-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

I had MB Stars in Walnut, CA install mine. There are a few miles north of the 60 freeway off of Nogales.

Where are you located?

I'm located in Irvine.

Can I ask how much the labor cost was?
How long ago did you have your four door done?
Have you had any problems with the lighted panels, inverters, or door sill drainage?

seatonone2 · #7 03-10-2007, 03:11 PM

I put the illuminated door sills in my 300e, the job was easy, and they look great. I have had no power drain problems, and they have been in about 1 year, i did however tear one of the wires to one sill, so it does not function, but other than that ive had no trouble. I tapped into the wire that connects to the bulb for the light in the door this worked fine. I get a lot of comments on how nice they look (especially at night)
steve

suginami · #8 03-10-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynns

I'm located in Irvine.

Can I ask how much the labor cost was?
How long ago did you have your four door done?
Have you had any problems with the lighted panels, inverters, or door sill drainage?

It was about four years ago, but I think he only charged me for one hour labor, even though it took him longer.

I didn't have any problems with any of the components.

lynns · #9 03-10-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

It was about four years ago, but I think he only charged me for one hour labor, even though it took him longer.

I didn't have any problems with any of the components.

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the INDY lead and your reply. I have had a local Radio & Alarm shop quote me two hours at $45/hour=$90 total. An an INDY (M B Stars) who has done these quoted me two hours at $75/hour=$150 total.

Quite honestly I feel more comfortable with the INDY and the extra drive time to his location because I believe he understands the R129 door sill removal probably better than the Radio and Alarm guy.

I have worked on cars and motorcycles in the past but as I get older I find less of a tolerance for all the little issues that arise so I would prefer to pay a credible technician at a reasonable price but not a Stealer that quoted me $600.00 labor.

M-B Stealer lists the two p/n's needed for $921.00 less labor and on new car purchases they show it as a $500 option, less labor. For a parts & labor total of $1,100.00-$1,592.00 US vs. an aftermarket parts & labor price of $250-$330 US.

Thanks again for your reply, Lynn

suginami · #10 03-10-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynns

Hi Suginami,

Thank you for the INDY lead and your reply. I have had a local Radio & Alarm shop quote me two hours at $45/hour=$90 total. An an INDY (M B Stars) who has done these quoted me two hours at $75/hour=$150 total.

Quite honestly I feel more comfortable with the INDY and the extra drive time to his location because I believe he understands the R129 door sill removal probably better than the Radio and Alarm guy.

I want my 2000 SL500 Sport to be put back together properly. There is a fair amount of work just to get the sills out of my car. How can i remove the door sills??? (R129) This post show a car with standard molding and my car has the AMG molding.

I have worked on cars and motorcycles in the past but as I get older I find less of a tolerance for all the little issues that arise so I would prefer to pay a credible technician at a reasonable price but not a Stealer that quoted me $600.00 labor.

M-B shows it as a $500 option, less labor, on new car purchases. For a parts & labor total of $1,100 US vs. an aftermarket parts & labor price of $250-$310 US.

Thanks again for your reply, Lynn

It's well worth it to take it to MB Stars. They actually post here under the username MB Stars. The owners are twin brothers who used to work at Penske Mercedes in Covina, CA. They both earned Master Guild technician status, which is quite rare.

Tell them Suginami sent you. They know who I am.

lynns · #11 03-11-2007, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stats007

Illuminated sills are nothing but a pain on R129s - they are in a direct drain point and the EL panels and/or ballast fail frequently.

The above quote comes from a Silver Arrow owner. SA's come with illuminated door sills as a part of the upgrade package. Note: The SA electrical display panels are expensive if you can find them.

After the above feedback I sent out an e-mail to several Forum users that have Illuminated Door Sills. Here's the feedback.

"I just got back from MB Stars. Michael and Chris did a great job on my SL500. Because I drove from Irvine I waited for my car and was able to watch the work.

Mike had quoted me two hours but it took three. It required some extra work because my sills had to be shaped to fit. I'm glad I didn't DIY. It would have taken me six hours and I really didn't have all the tools that they had to make it work."

"I got the door sills about 4 years ago. They were ok. I just removed them last weekend because the double sticky tape was wearing off. I was also having some electrical problems and wanted to be sure it wasn't them causing it. I think they cost me about $175 from ebay. I think they came from the Philippines. The shop who put them in did an OK job, but now I'm finding they did some pretty messy electrical connections.

If I were putting them on an SL500, I might stick with something made a little better than the ones I bought. The stainless steel will get scratched pretty easily."

"I had them installed on a 202 chassis (94 - 00 c class). I did buy aftermarket, and believe they were under $150. They did not look like the mercedes sills exactly, but definitely satisfactory. They simply stuck on the existing door sills and the wiring was something relatively simple, however I had my independent mechanic install them for a nominal fee. I had them for 3 ish years until I sold the car. They worked and looked beautiful. Everyone loved them!"

"Actually, I did them myself in about 2 hours using a step by step that someone posted on mbworld. It wasn't too hard. I did them a couple of months ago and they've been fine so far. They look OEM and the quality is top notch."

"As far as labor it should only take about an hour to do. Any local stereo shop should be able to do the install, if you're not able to do it yourself. But if you're located in the San Francisco Bay Area I have a couple of Mercedes Master Mechanics that can do the install as well as do other work/modifications. I'm guessing the install would cost from $75-150, but no more then that.

Also, I've had the door sills installed now for about a year. I haven't had any problems with them, except I do have a small dent from my gf's heel, but that happened to my stock sills as well.

Good luck....it's a great mod and I get lots of compliments at night."

"I paid $1000 installed, so i do not know what the break down is between install and parts. Mine are the MB components and not the knock-offs, so it took a great deal of time to install. If I remember correctly, it was a good 3 hour job. The connection into the fiber optic system is in the trunk, so the back set, and trunk liner must be removed to do it properly. There have been absolutely no issues."

"It was under $100. Mine was installed about 2yrs ago. Driver's side panel was bad once. Got replacement under warranty. No other problems."

"I did them myself, it was a 3-4 hour job.There is a thread with instructions how to do it(on an E class). After about 6 months, I've had no problems at all with them and they look awsome, like factory ones. I get complements all the time. Its one of the best mods, highly recommended."

"I installed the illuminated door sills myself. It took a little bit of time because I was unfamiliar on how to remove panels, etc. But it came out find and I haven't had a single problem with it."

lynns · #12 03-14-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

I had MB Stars in Walnut, CA install mine. There are a few miles north of the 60 freeway off of Nogales.

Where are you located?

Sug,

I just got back from MB Stars. Michael and Chris did a great job on my SL500. Because I drove from Irvine I waited for my car and was able to watch the work.

Like you Mike had quoted me two hours but it took three. It required some extra work because my sills had to be shaped to fit. I'm glad I didn't DIY. It would have taken me six hours and I really didn't have all the tools that they had to make it work.

But they look great. Thanks for the lead

suginami · #13 03-14-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynns

Sug,

I just got back from MB Stars. Michael and Chris did a great job on my SL500. Because I drove from Irvine I waited for my car and was able to watch the work.

Like you Mike had quoted me two hours but it took three. Total labor was $150.00. It required some extra work because my sills had to be shaped to fit. I'm glad I didn't DIY. It would have taken me six hours and I really didn't have all the tools that they had to make it work.

But they look great. Thanks for the lead

You betcha. Glad I was able to be of help.

These guys really know their stuff, and I don't think there is anything they can't do with these cars.

lynns · #14 03-14-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

You betcha. Glad I was able to be of help.

These guys really know their stuff, and I don't think there is anything they can't do with these cars.

Paul,

Mike told me that he worked at a Stealership for 10 years and has had this INDY shop for 14 years.
That's 24 years of M-B experience.

Thanks again. It's a great mod.

lynns · #15 03-14-2007, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRM

Hey,

I know you don't want to DIY but this install is very easy. All you need is a test light and some wire taps really.

Thanks for your confidence but the aftermarket sills required some modification, etc. and it took two experienced Indy mechanics three hours. But the job was very professional. After the fact I know I would not have had the tools to get the job done in anything less than 4-6 hours.