2001 ML 320 Fog Lights??

[baurat88]

Hi everyone,
I have a 2001 ML 320. I didnt buy the factory foglights but i noticed that the auxiliary switch in the console that controls the rear foglamp and front lamps is there and the fuses for them are there. I also checked the headlight housing and the socket and wires are there to hook right up to H3 bulbs for the factory foglights. Does anyone know how i can just buy a pair of H3 bulbs and activate the foglamps without having to goto the dealer?.
It seems as easy as plugging in a cd changer but I'm not an electrical expert persay. If anyone could help that would be excellent!. Thanks

Brian

[G-Benz]

Replies posted on same thread in "Tech" forum...

[Gilly]

Brian:
There are a couple threads already on this. I'm a "car" person, not a "computer" person. I can just as easily explain it again rather that tell you how to find it.
The rear fogs are operational from the factory. They work with the headlights on only, it's all in the owners manual. Only the lower section of the switch is for the rear fog, one touch on, one touch off, and the rear fog is what the amber LED in the switch is for, only indicates for the rear foglight "on".
Yes, the bulbs can be added by you, although I recommend the bulbs MB sells. I recommend (and practice) removing the whole headlight assembly to install the bulbs, it's easy to remove the headlights on these. The real sticking point is that the ML has a body computer called the AAM (All Activity module). It needs to have it's version code changed to activate the switch. The dealer will need to do this. Another option is to have the version code changed in the instrument cluster so that when the front fogs are turned on, a green lamp will light up in the cluster to let you know they are on. I find the light in the cluster to be a little annoying. If you are sensitive to this at night, you may want to skip that part.
On a 2001, the front fogs will ONLY work with low beam headlights(not high beam, not parking lights, only low beam headlights). Also turning off the headlights will make the foglights deactivate, you need to turn the foglights on every time, they don't "remember" to come back on.

[Kuan]

In California, the legal height for fog lights is no more than 30 inches. You will have trouble trying to get them activated. Sometimes it's better to refer to them as DRIVING lights.

Kuan

[G-Benz]

I was at the dealership this morning with my ML and my service advisor told me the same thing about the height of the foglamps...actually it's a DOT restriction, not just California. The Euro MLs already have the bulbs in and are activated.

That is why you see MLs with the big lamps mounted on the brush guard instead of the bulbs in the headlight housings. At least the later models put the projector-type lamps in the bumper.

Anyway, my service advisor will see if they can activate them without the lamps being installed. I purchased a set that has the factory harness connection, and will fit nicely in the large slots under the front air dam. Nice and subtle.

Since my ML is a "street queen" and not an off-road warrior, I am not interested in putting those stadium lights on my brush guards...

[Gilly]

Gentlemen:
The M-Class has the possibility of having the foglamps enabled. However, due to the height above ground, they are NOT LEGAL in most states. A list of these states is below.

In the states listed below, the vehicle cannot technically be registered by the owner, and how this is checked (or if it is checked) varies from state to state. In those states where it is illegal, dealers/MBNA should not enable the foglamps.

In the remaining states, it is allowed, but at present no work instructions or parts list exist. In brief, you install the foglamp bulbs, make sure relay F1k30 and F1f47 (both in the fusebox) are installed, and enable the foglamps with the HHT (AAM version coding menu). If the vehicle is subsequently to be registered in a stae where the foglamps not allowed, they can be disabled by the customer by removing the relay k30.

Foglamps are not specified for the USA market, and are standard equipment in Canada.

Further information will be released in the future, but this should help get you going for now.

States where the M-Class foglamps are ILLEGAL:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
South Carolina
Texas
Washington
West Virginia
Washington DC (not a state)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This was all directly copied from a memo received at ML intro training, date on the document is 9/21/97.
Also written on the document from that class was that in these states, the law is 30" from the ground to the center of the bulb. The ML height is 31.5".
Gilly

[G-Benz]

Picked up my ML today and they enabled mine at NO charge!!

When my aftermarket Hellas come in, my service tech told me if I have problems getting them to work, to come back and he will re-enable them...again at no charge!!!


Wotta guy!!

[Kuan]

Here's the scoop on foglights, or driving lights, and how to get them activated. Like I said, do NOT refer to them as foglights. This generates a lot of confusion. The following applies in Minnesota.

Subd. 2. Fog light. Any motor vehicle may be
equipped with not to exceed two fog lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than 12 inches nor more than 30 inches above the level surface.

Our Aux lights are at about 32", hence the reluctance by MB to activate them - description in the manual says "Fog Lights."

The following describes auxilary lights.

Subd. 3. Auxiliary low beam light. Except as
provided in subdivision 5, any motor vehicle may be equipped
with not to exceed two auxiliary low beam lamps mounted on the front at a height of not less than 24 inches nor more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands. The provisions of section 169.60 shall apply to any combination of headlamps and auxiliary low beam lamps.

Subd. 4. Auxiliary driving light. Except as provided
in subdivision 5, any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands. The provisions of section 169.60 shall apply to any combination of headlamps and auxiliary driving lamps.

From Minnesota Rules:

7425.2100 LIGHTING DEVICES; INCORPORATIONS BY REFERENCE.

Subpart 1. Incorporations by reference. Each of the
following standards, recommended practices, and regulations are incorporated by reference for the lighting device indicated:

A. auxiliary driving lamp: SAE standard J581a,
"Auxiliary Driving Lamps - SAE J581a," revised 1980, 1983 SAE Handbook, published by Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. (Warrendale, PA, 1983);

B. auxiliary low-beam lamp: SAE standard J582 SEP81,
"Auxiliary Low Beam Lamp - SAE J582 SEP81," 1983 SAE Handbook, published by Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. (Warrendale, PA, 1983);

C. auxiliary passing lamp: SAE standard J582,
"Electric Supplementary Passing Lamp - SAE J582," SAE Handbook 1973, published by Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. (New York, NY, 1973);

O. fog lamp: SAE standard J583 MAY81, "Front Fog
Lamps - SAE J583 MAY81," 1983 SAE Handbook, published by Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. (Warrendale, PA, 1983);

Subp. 2. Availability of SAE standards. The SAE standards and recommended practices incorporated by reference in subpart 1 are available for inspection and copying at the Hill Reference Library, 80 W. Fourth Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102.

OKAY! The lights in question on the M-Class are SAE standard J582. They are NOT J583, or foglamps, as deemed by MB. Subd. 2 does not apply in this case. J582 is legal up to 42" as stated in Subd. 4. Furthermore, you can have UP TO TWO! It's bold in case you need to find it quick.

We haven't had any trouble here since we pointed these out to the dealers. They will not be breaking any laws.

Kuan

It's a snap ... Buy the bulbs at the dealer and install them ... Unless there is a change since I did this with my '98, it will take you about a half hour ... The indicator on the dash will not light when activated, but aside from that, I really find them to be useful.

Dan,

Have you done/seen any MLs that have had the US-DOT issue head lamps replaced with the euro version? I've heard it's a simple switch for the MLs. My guess is that these would offer much better lighting than the standard US issue. Although the lights in the new 2002 MLs look pretty nice... Thanks.

Bill

[Gilly]

Bill:
Nope, as a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever had to replace a ML headlight assembly at all, although as I stated before, I usually remove the headlight assemblies to install the FOGlamp bulbs. I would be a little concerned about the wiring being the same, hard to tell what a Euro headlight would come with. Many Euro cars I've seen have the dim "city" light feature, plus the daytime running lights, etc., I'm sure it could be made to work.
I like the '02 headlamps also. There is the standard halogen version, plus the new "bi-xenon" headlamp option. The bi-xenon uses the xenon bulbs for low and high beam, a small electric solenoid removes a shield from in front of the xenon bulb to allow full bulb light beam for the high beam. This is similar to the CL class headlamp, I believe even the S class still uses standard xenon low beam, halogen high beam, but maybe not. Bi-xenon is standard on the ML55 in 2002, optional on all other ML's.
Also in 2002 the dealer can program daytime running lights.
Gilly

[G-Benz]

BTW my Hella foglight kit came in this weekend, and I installed them today. Great kit (though they sent me 2 right-side mounting brackets, so I had to bend one of them 90 degrees), and fits like a glove on the ML, as the wiring harness supplied plugs right in (accessory connection resides behind left headlight, in front of the washer tank). Would have taken 30 minutes to install, but I was being picky about how and where to thread the wiring harness (ample length, though).

Fog lights came right on (had AAM code turned on a couple of weeks ago at the dealer for N/C). Works with headlight and parking light settings on the stalk, but not with the light system off.

I wanted the annoying green indicator light, but I guess they forgot...oh well, the tech told me to bring it back if there was a problem...

[G-Benz]

Well, I guess I spoke too soon...

...road tested the lights tonight, and everything was fine...for the first ten minutes...then POOF, they went out!

Blew the 15 amp fog light AUX fuse. I replaced it only to have it blow again. Tried one of my "circuit breaker" fuses to see if I could witness the failure...the fog lights would be very dim, and you could hear the amp load taxing the alternator, then it went out...this all in a fraction of a second.

What gives? Bad harness, short circuit somewhere, bad bulb?

[Gilly]

The only couple problems that come to mind are :
Bad bulbs: I had 1 truck that came in that the owner installed his own bulbs and wanted them activated. I did this and the truck behaved in the same manner you mentioned. The bulbs he bought had to be "cobbled" in, the connectors were incorrect. I installed the factory "HELLA" bulbs and it then worked fine.
Multiple bulbs in place: The AAM won't survive "unlimited" current draw, neither of course will the fuse. I recommend only 1 set of aux light/foglamps. If you also have installed integrated foglamps, I think I know what's wrong.
Pinched foglight wiring in one of the headlamps: If you don't have integrated foglamp bulbs installed, and the first time you turned on the aux lamp switch is after installing the HELLA foglamp kit, then it's possible that the power connector inside one of the headlamps is shorting to ground.
I would proceed by disconnecting the HELLA foglamps and try turning on the aux lamp switch. If the fuse holds, great. Then connect the foglamps one at a time, or actually one, then disconnect it, then the other, to try to find the source. If the fuse only blows when BOTH of the lamps are connected, then probably the amperage demand of both is too high, possibly the bulbs are too high of a wattage for the fuse to handle. I believe they should be 55 watt bulbs.
Gilly

[G-Benz]

Quick check revealed that one of the fog light units is bad...should have suspected something when I saw the touch-up paint on the housing of the bad unit. Maybe it was a repaired unit.

Anyway, I don't want to have to tear everything out and then ship it back, but I will call the company and see if they can just send me one of the lights.