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

All the sedans have contained fog lights since the late seventies. I'm surprised this is not the case with the ML.

You might try posting this on the ML forum in an effort to find more specific ML familiarity.

Good luck,

Unfortunately, you have to do to the dealership to have them enable the circuit via the computer. I have had it done, and I have heard others mention that they don't automatically enable the indicator light at the same time. Happened to me before I was aware of it. So, when you get it done, be specific about enabling the indicator light as well.

Just a note that some find the green illuminated "fog light" indicator to be a bit distracting, which is why the fog lights and the dash indicator are enabled seperately.

My ML is getting some servicing tommorrow, and I will get both enabled, as I have foglights on order...

I see. How much are they charging you to enable the factory foglights?. If its only a matter of a few bucks then i guess its worth it. If not then i would probably add some to my grill bars. At least adding a cd changer doesnt require going to the dealer.
I know that when pushing the rear foglight button, the orange light comes on, but the green doesnt come on for the fronts AUX lights. Thanks all for your help.

Brian

Don't know how much it costs, but one of the service techs just told me over the phone that they can't enable the foglight system unless the foglights are already installed...so I may have to do that after I get the foglights in...

I had to pay 1/2 hour of labor. I wasn't thrilled.

All that is necessary is to install the bulbs (at least on the 99 ML430 I did last month). The light fixture is there as I understand it. The bulbs were installed by another shop and we just did the enabling.

And I definitely charged a half hour labor. Maybe if I'd sold the car I would have subsidized my tech. But since I only fix cars I suppose people should pay me, silly me.

So then all i have to do is just buy the h3 bulbs and install them? HOw does the computer know that they are installed. What else can i do besides installing the bulbs. Putting in the bulbs is easy, but i guess enabling it requires you to go into the computer? I know that dealer will charge a grip. I have H3 bulbs..but havent installed them yet.

I am not knocking paying for service on automobiles. What my beef is about is the fact that the socket/circuit/switch is already in the car. I had to buy bulbs and pay $38 to use something that I had already paid for. To me, that is like going to the grocery store and paying for the plastic bags and renting the cart.

I guess I will just goto the dealer and have them enable it. Too bad i cant do it myself. I'll see how much they charge first. If its too much..forget it. I really wanted to find a way to do it myself but apparently MB is such a proprietary company that its hard to be a "do it yourselfer" unless you are a pro. Thanks for all your help.
Brian

The truck's AAM must be variant coded to activate the lights.

I would suspect that this might not cost much if done at an "A" or "B" service. During either of those services, one is already paying for the scanner to be hooked to the car. Its MUCH less work to just change menus.

FYI, mine was done at an "A" service and the 1/2 hour was added.

Brought my ML in today for its annual inspection, repairing the sound deadener panels (under warranty) and to have the AAM codes turned on for the fog lights and indicator.

Total cost: $25.50...for the annual inspection! :D

Tech told me that if the lights I install didn't work, to bring it back in to get it reactivated...at NO charge!!! :eek:

Boy! These guys surprise me now and then...:)

I'm trying to put fog lamps in my '01 ML320 and I'm getting mixed messages. All H3's I've seen have a pig tail on them. Is that the bulb those of you who have done this "upgrade" have used? I took a look at the wiring and it didn't, in my limited experience, look like it was set up to accomodate the pigtail. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

I had a 99 for a short time, and determined the fog lights did not work. It seems that the lights did not meet certain state codes and the bulbs were either removed or not installed. They also deactivated the circuit via the AAM (body computer). My dealer would not activate them in FL but my dealer in IL said no problem. I finally told them I was going to install the auxilliary lamps, so the body shop activated them. There are two steps, one is to activate the circuit, and the other to illuminate the indicator on the cluster (in addition to the switch). The later MLs changed the fog lamps to be compliant.

You must use a 55 Watt H3 Bulb. Take the headlight out of the car. Its much easier that way, as on some cars the existing wiring is tucked in the headlight and its tough to get to. The car has all the required wires already built in.
Just plug the H3 Bulb in. Once that is done.....
Then you have 2 choices.
a) Take it to the dealer and have them activate the AUX Light button. They will also be able to activate the Green light in the dash, which will then come on when the AUX light switch is pressed. The Bulb for the green light in the dash is also already in the instrument cluster. Once activated, you will see the fog lights and the rear fog light illuminate. They will operate correctly with the AUX switch.
b) Don't take it to the dealer and omit the programming. Just install the bulbs. Then turn on your headlights, not bright not standing, just normal low beam. Then press the Lower section of the AUX switch, this will illuminate the rear fog light. Then Press the upper section of the AUX switch 3 times in a row (count a steady 1,2,3 not fast and not slow). You will see that the front fog lights now are illuminated.
The green light in the instrument cluster will not work indicating that the fog lights are on. You also will not be able to turn the front fog lights back off with the AUX switch. They will only turn off with the headlight switch. So once they are on, they will remain on, till you turn the headlights off.

Basically by pressing the upper section of the switch 3 times in a row, a pulse signal is sent to the computer with this switch, waking that port up and faking it to stay on. Its crude, cheap and it works, when you actually need it. I use the fog lights rarely, and don't mind them being on.
Try it. It works on mine.