Follow Up for bstreep or Anyone Regarding Keyless Entry

[BocaFerris]

Hello board© Here's one for bstreep or anyone who has done the keyless entry©

As a reference, I have studied bstreep's awesome thread on the keyless entry ¥http://www©mercedesshop©com/shopforum/showthread©php3?threadid=11777¤ and the previous picture-by-picture instructions ¥http://www©mercedesshop©com/keyless/keyless_install©htm¤©

Some background© We have a 1995 E320 Wagon that we purchased Starmarked in 1999© We love the wagon but we are slightly miffed at Mercedes because they finally figured out that today's driver wants keyless entry, a glove compartment and drinkholders but did so in models AFTER 1995© At least we have solved the drinkholder problem©

OK, I'm reading this board and come across the keyless entry thing© Damn, what a post© So at this time, my wife is taking our new "other" car into the tinting place to get the front windows tinted ¥living in South Florida, tinting is a prerequisite to existing in the Summer¤© This place also does car alarms, and she said that she would ask them if they could do this install© Why would she do this? Because this is her car and while I am capable of stuff around the house ¥installing and wiring ceiling fans, high hats, outlets, etc©¤, the only work on a car that I have done is change a speaker or two©

I make her bring in the two posts and they sort of laugh at her cautiousness ¥strike 1¤© The say that it could be done "no problem" and that it would have the engine kill and other things that bstreep said his install didn't do, for a cost of about $125© Adding the Crutchfield price of $87©87, figuring in the extra things that the alarm guy said that he could do and the time, effort and aggravation that I might save myself, I figure that it's worth it© So we set a time for yesterday morning©

I drop the car off and again it's "no problem©" They seem like capable guys so I'm not worried© Three hours later, no call so I figure everything went OK© I go to pick up the car and they shake their heads and say that it can't be done because this model uses a "vacuum©" I'm like, "DUH" - this is what my wife told them from the outset© I told them again that I had step-by-step instructions for how to do it© Anyway, they are going on vacation and they said to call them ¥not that they would call me, mind you¤ in a few weeks©

So naturally, those guys are off the list ¥anyone who's seen "The Quiet Man" would know that I wrote their name in my little book and struck a line through it¤© So now I ask you guys:

Do I find someone else to do this or is it really simple enough that I should give it a try next Saturday? I found the directions a little complicated but only in terms of making connections - soldering is easy, but I'm not familiar with some of the types of connections that seem to be required© Really, any advice would be appreciated and I can provide additional information if you need it ¥estate planning lawyer by day, Marlins fan by night, so, as you can see, I have absolutely no life whatsoever¤©

Thanx,

"BocaFerris"
George Karibjanian
Boca Raton, Florida

[BocaFerris]

Apologies for the wierd characters in my post© Have no idea how that happened©

GDK

[hgupta]

Circuit City put keyless entry and an alarm system into my '79 300CD a couple years ago. It was really easy for them. I haven't read bill streep's writeup of it, but all it takes is one small actuator that pushes the rod attached to one inside door lock. The rest of the locks work by the vacuum system. When my vaccum system blew out (due to age, not the install) I added the actuator to the passenger side door so that both doors still had power locks. Maybe a twenty minute job. I would recommend buying an actuator and install it yourself, and then run the wires under the dash, and let the alarm system people connect it to their security system.

[bstreep]

Sorry, Boca, been out of town. Two different perspectives on this. 1) the guys at Mercedesshop quit selling this solution because of the support calls they took made it not worthwhile. 2) It's really a pretty easy install. I think I could do it in less than an hour.

Jim Villers did his E320, I think it was a '94. He used the scotch connectors that the Mercedesshop folks recommend, which is easier than soldering. He and I have both found that the connection to the convenience system as the Mercedesshop folks recommend, isn't necessary for the factory alarm to work.

As for the folks at the window tint and alarm... I've had a dozen similar emails from folks who have encountered EXACTLY the same thing. The Crutchfield solution works fine with the vacuum...

Bill

[Michael]

I had an Avital remote starter/keyless entry unit put in my '88 300TE, and it needed an extra Mercedes-specific module so as to interface with the vacuum locks.

It now works like a charm.

[Steve190E 2.3]

It definitely can be done with two simple relays. I did it on my 1988 300e. The lock wire is in the driver's or passenger's side kick panel. It is either blue or green depending what side. At least this was the case with my 1988 300e and on my old 1985 190E. Hope this helps you or whoever does your alarm. It's too bad that most stereo shops don't know what they are doing, so the customer has to babysit them.

[bstreep]

Crutchfields supplies 2 relays as part of the DSLV package that you MUST include with the module. It takes care of any relay wiring you might have to do. As I recall, this turns this into a 3 or 4 wire job. With those slick Scotch connectors, it's a snap!

[Steve190E 2.3]

I probably would go that route, but the fact that I live in Canada it can be a pain oredering anything. I used just the relays as they were just sitting around my garage. I love this forum. There are always new ideas and better ways of doing things.

[BocaFerris]

Many thanx to those who responded. For anyone who has done the install or has some thoughts about it, here's another question.

In bstreep's initial post, he mentioned that this only gives you remote entry and not the other functions of the system. With that in mind, has anyone furthered this by installing any of the other features of the system, notably, the auto locking door function? I have this in my other car and it's a great feature with a 3 year old in the back, and I was wondering if the vacuum system prohibits that or is it possible to follow the directions with the system and install some of the other features?

Thanx again and what a great board!

"BocaFerris"
George Karibjanian
Boca Raton, Florida
gdk33486@bellsouth.net

[Steve190E 2.3]

Once your doorlocks are hooked up properly. The other features you are talking about are done in programming on the alarm itself if it is capable of these functions.

[bstreep]

Others have reported that they easily hooked up additional functions (lights, interior lights, audible horn, etc.). I'll see if I can pull the email and post the how to's. As noted above, the auto locking feature can be programmed. Personally, I HATE that "feature". Mamma sure doesn't miss it from her old car... To each his own! For those with w126s, I have additional instructions for those cars. I guess I should drop it out on a website somewhere...