Hello folks,

Need your help to guide me towards the right path.

Trying to hard wire a radar detector, V1 onto my C280. I am think of find and run power from under the dash area for the remote power connector and run another wire form their along the A-pillar to the right of the r/v mirror.

Does the whole under steering column panel, including the knee bolster, has to come off? And how about the parking brake release ? I am at a lost here.

As of the rear view mirror + doom light assembly, is it just a pry-off job? I tried with a flat head screw driver on the two slots but it did not want to move. So I stopped being afraid I was into breaking it.

Your advice is very much appreciated.

C.F. in Los Angeles.

The panel under the driver's side column does come off with relative ease. There are a number of screws to undo. Also, there is a screw under the parking brake release (have to pull release to reveal) too. Getting the panel out of the hood latch release is the only pain in the @ss. You might not need to though because you can still access all of the wires and such from there. I am sure there must be a positive constant power under there, but not sure which one or where it would be.
As for running the wire... I don't know exactly how this would be done. I do have the mic to a speakerphone mounted up there, and it looks like it runs under the ceiling panel to the A-pillar, but don't know how that would work.
Good luck and I'm sure others will be along and provide their expertise.

Dear David,

Thank you for your advice.

Let me give it a shot hopefully this weekend and I shall post my finding.

Have a nice weekend.

C.F.

To remove the lower dash panel, you need to:
1) remove a couple of screws (5 or 6),
2) remove the grating in front of the lower ventilation duct (90 degree counter clockwise turn of the plastic bolt before taking out; the rear part is just hooked in the heater housing)
3) remove a plastic clamp near the accelerator pedal
4) unscrew the hood release, pull it out of the lower dash panel a little, pull the outer cable out of the release to be able to rotate and pull the inner cable out of the release (not an actual pain though)
5) remove the panel while watching out for the parking brake release (the side of the panel is hooked in the side of the dash; push panel downwards to release)

The A pillar panel is clamped to the A pillar with three steel clamps. After removing the door entrance velvet-like trim along the A pillar, you can see the clamps. Push the A pillar panel towards the inner side of the car starting at the lowest clamp (you can use a screwdriver to push gently at the back of the actual clamp). Work your way up and hook the top of the A pillar panel out of the ceiling headliner (push the pillar down, twisting it over the dash).

After you have removed the A pillar panel you will see some wires that are hooked up the A pillar and you can add the detector wire along these.

The rear view mirror has to be pulled off before you can take out the courtesy light. The mirror is clamped in a bracket and has to be pulled down (this can be quiet a hassle). If you have a rear view mirror with the remote control receiver or auto dimming function, you have to beware not to break the mirror housing or wires when pulling the mirror off (always pull the foot of the mirror and not the mirror itself).
After the mirror is removed, you can easily remove the courtesy light.

good luck & greetingz,

Your advice on disassembling knee panel etc.
 

Thank you MBenz for you excellent info.

BTW, was it you who recently post about the steel underbelly pan for C class? Could not find it with the dealer here in L.A. Would you happen to have the psrt no.?

Once again, thank you and have a nice weekend.

C.F.

CF,

It was I indeed. I posted about the steel "underbelly pan".
I have the part#s on my website and after entering MBenz you will see the contents page with the steel carter protection page somewhere in there.

This was the steel-plated-protection-thread:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=17322

greetingz,

steel under belly pan
 

MBenz,

Thanks for the again very clearer pointer.

Let me see what the dealer could come up with .:)

BTW, the removal of the knee panel was successful. I have yet to try the pulling off the rear view mirror - feeling a littel chicken........


Regards form sunny Los Angeles.

C.F.