Hello everyone - I'm installing a built in radar unit in my 1996 c220, and im wondering if anyone knows a convinient location to tap into ignition switched +12V. Preferably some wire in the passenger's side footwell, in the wiring channel. This unit draws a very small amount of current, so i dont think adding it to an existing circuit should be any sort of issue. I didnt want to randomly go into any harness and start testing wires, except as a last resort. So hopefully someone who has already done this, or has a wiring diagram can help me out.

Best wishes and thanks once again for your help,
George Androulakis

How about the cigarette lighter in the console? It's easy to get to and as an accessory, it requires a good deal of current to heat that up, so you know that it's well fused.

I in-lined my radar unit in my (former) Mazda MX-6 using the hot lead off the sunroof control...

Just as G-Benz said, the cigarette lighter.

My CD player (FM Modulation) is wired via the cigarette power wire. It should be fine! Good luck.

ok i'll go with the cig lighter as a valid source, but now to get to it? I was hoping not to have to take the center console apart. If there is an easy way to get the ashtray / lighter out, aka my old 190E, the whole ashtray + wood trim was held in by 2 screws behind the actual part used to put cigarettes in. It doesnt seem that way in the C220. So, does anyone know what is required to get the ashtray / lighter out?

Any help would be appreciated,
Best Wishes
George Androulakis

You can remove the radio to get to the wiring harness without having to dismantle the console. In mine, there are two horizontal slots on the head unit. A slim flathead screwdriver inserted into each slot will remove the head unit to gain access to the harness.

I've already had the radio out, as i replaced it with an aftermarket Sony Cd unit, and a 10 disc CD changer. I didnt want to add an additional load to that circuit, so I was hoping to use another source. The lighter would be a perfect choice, since for all intensive purposes it sits idle.
Is there any way to get to the lighter wiring harness from some other location, other than dismatling the entire console to get to the back of it? There have to be ignition switched wires running in the wire channel on the passenger side, I was hoping someone could point me to one, as i dont want to break the insulation on any wires testing to find one.

Best Wishes and take care,
George Androulakis

Taking the ashtray out is pretty easy.

First, remove the plastic trim around the shift gate (just pulls out, you might need a flathead, but be careful!).

Then pull the center of the wood console up from the front.

Next, pull (and wiggle a little) the little pocket below the ashtray. It should come out with relative ease.

Finally, you should see 2 screws for the ashtray, one on each end, down at the bottom, on the side. Unscrew those and pull the ashtray out! The power cord to the ashtray unplugs too.

For more room, you can take out the cassette holder/storage pocket (whichever applies) that's below the radio too. There are 2 screws holding that in, just look below the radio, they are on top of the sto pkt/cst holder.

Any other questions? Let me know! Good luck!

MBenz once built his radar detector into his dashboard, with the display where the row of switches (eg hazards, head rests &c) is. He has since moved it. You may wish to check out his site, I think his address is http://www.mbenz.nl but I'm not sure.

Also, you may wish to seek his advice before doing any further work. I reckon Mbenz has forgotten more about the C-Class than any of the rest of us have ever known.

Thanks for all of the advice guys. Radar is installed and working fine...

Best wishes and take care,
George Androulakis

Thank you for the compliment!! My face turned to read :o when I read this.

I know that your detector is working fine now, but I just wanted to let you know.
I have hooked my radar detector up to the dash lighting. Whenever I turned my ignition key before, the radar detector would perform his start-up check (lots of noise) and after the car started I got the same start up check from the detector again (lots of noise for the second time). That was the main reason why I hooked my radar detector up to the dash illumination (I always-24/7-drive with my lights on!). The second advantage is that the radar detector will not function properly as soon as I dim my dash lighting (which is very convenient when being stopped by the police in a country that does not allow anyone to have a radar detector). The detector is completely legal in the Netherlands but not in the other European countries.

greetingz,

Attn MBenz
 

Well living in the US, I really dont have a problem. I know it's illegal in Virgina, but I have been there once in my life passing through.
I have a cousin in Toronto, who picked up a detector on one of his visits to the US, this was supposedly one of the stealth units that was immune to VG-2. Well a 300 dollar (CDN) fine later, and confiscation of the detector, he learned not to believe all the manufacturers claims.
BTW - Mbenz - I know u are the man to ask this to. The 2nd speaker on the drivers side rear deck is for the built in telephone. Where would be the best place to find the wire, and do u know the colors? Im thinking in the rear wire channel under the rear seat on the driver's side. Also does the car have a microphone in it somewhere that would work with the phone? Seems as though my car is prewired for the phone.

Best wishes and take care.
George Androulakis

George,

The European C class set-up is different as the US set-up (on certain issues that is). The European W202 C classes have cell phones build in the car like this:

http://members.tripodnet.nl/mbenz/197e4fa0.jpg

We do not have an additional cell phone speaker in the rear and the microphones are just built in near the rear view mirror.
I am not sure about the wire color code...one speaker wire is blue with a yellow line, the other wire is not in my memory at this moment...but then again: I doubt whether the US color codes are the same for the cell phone parts.

greetingz,