HOW TO Change / Replace or Upgrade 2005-2011 Mercedes CLS Tail lights using OEM tail lamps!!!
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- I created this video as a REAL step-by-step tutorial for changing / replacing OR upgrading the rear tail lamps on a first generation Mercedes-Benz CLS. In this video I personally upgraded my tail lamps from the pre-facelift lamps to OEM LED tail lamps from Mercedes. This requires the purchase of CLS tail lamp modules, which I discuss in the video.
IF you do NOT want to upgrade and only want to replace your current tail lights, regardless if you have the older style or newer style lights already in your car, all of these steps will be the same for you! You can just ignore the 1 step of adding plug-and-play tail lamp modules!
There are shorter videos on youtube showing the same thing, but this is the only one that shows you every single step from start to finish without cutting out any important bits for beginners and those with little experience like myself. I included everything I did down to screwing in every single bolt!!! You will NOT find a more comprehensive video or post anywhere!
If this helped you, please help me by hitting that thumbs up button! :)
Disclaimer: Some amazon links on videos are used to support this channel.
Mercedes LED tail lamp part numbers:
Left: 2198200964
Right: 2198201064
Tail Lamp Modules: Purchase from Frenchy on MBWorld forum.
Update: I talked to Frenchy on Facebook. He does not want to give out his personal email for module requests. He is still active on the MBWorld site. He prefers you message him through there or join the "Mercedes CLS W219" Facebook group and make a post asking to purchase modules. He is on there as well. Hope this helps all of you!!
Tail Lamp Assemblies from Amazon:
www.amazon.com...
TOOLS NEEDED FOR REPAIR:
Plastic Trim Remover:
www.amazon.com...
Needle Nose Plier:
www.amazon.com...
Mini Ratchet Set: www.amazon.com...
Screw Driver Set:
www.amazon.com...
Featured Vehicle: 2007 W219 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG
Featured Music:
Havana - Apple Final Cut Pro Jingles
Swish 2 - Apple Finale Cut Pro Sound Effects
Infinite - Valence (NCS release)
Peach Cobbler - Apple Final Cut Pro Jingles
Gelato - Apple Final Cut Pro Jingles
Headspin Medium - Apple Final Cut Pro Jingles
Wild Card - Apple Final Cut Pro Jingles
Hello friend. I'm writing to tell you that yesterday thanks to your tutorial and Frenchie for making me the modules, I was able to install the LED headlights on my CLS 320. The result is amazing !!!! Thank you very much from Spain !!
I’m so glad everything worked out well for you!! Congratulations on completing the install and upgrading your CLS!! I wish you and your CLS the best! 🙏🏾🙌🏾
@@SaraiGaragehey! I have a black cls55 I need new taillights and want to upgrade, how can I get in touch with the frenchy to order the converter boxes? Or is there another way?
Thanks for this great video got in touch with the man from France very good family man and got the resistors delivered very reliable just have to find time to do the project
Thank you. Wish you Goodluck on your future upgrade 🙌🏾
Fantastic tutorial! 👍❤
The facelift taillights are cool, but one thing that doesn't make sense is that Mercedes replaced the LED parts of the pre-facelift taillights with halogen bulbs for the facelifted models.
Thank you! I hope you found it helpful!
I didn’t notice any parts of the new light were halogen. Maybe the reverse light but I always thought it was a soft 5000k-ish white shade led. I don’t know. Never looked into it.
I didn’t like how the top of the new tail lights have no lights in them at all. The pre-facelift used the top half of the light during braking along with the bottom half. The whole thing lit up if I remember right.
New ones only use a thin strip at the bottom.
Either way I thought it was a crazy upgrade. Huge difference from before!
Just subscribed! Very nicely done !
Well done, very informative 👍
If you dont have airmatic its a very easy job.
Thank you brother 🙏🏾
And yes I agree! Even with airmatic though, it is not that difficult of a job! Just takes time.
NICE VIDEO !!!!! Thanks so much from Spain 🇪🇦😎🤟
Thank you!! Glad to help a fellow CLS owner!
I have this Problem That 3 LEDS on one side Are Not working when the engine isn’t running.
When I start the car up there is no problem. Actually in the mornings my CLS is in low battery mode.
Do you guys think that the LEDs are that sensitive to voltage ? Even if they require so much less power
Did you find a solution?
@@Tommygunn1 no, as the temperatures increased now every LED works with no running engine too. In winter i charged the battery but it didn’t change anything.
Did they not work at all or were they not as bright as the other ones ? Are both rows lighting up when you press the brake or only one row ?
@@Tommygunn1 yeah it was like this. When the engine was running there was no problem. As I turned the engine off, you could watch the three LED on the left side slowly getting darker and darker.
Both rows are lighting up when pressing the brakes, even with no engine running.
And as I said, as the temperature outside increased now, it seems to work better now…
Judging by the different outfits this job took u like 4 days! If ill get the older cls one day ill do this too. I just sold my cls 350 2012 w218. I wonder if you are planing on changing the headunit to an oem looking android one?
Yeah total repair time is not bad but I get called out to work randomly all the time so I had to spread the work out over multiple days.
The android screens are no good. They start lagging after a year or two from what I see on forums. This car is just a toy for me so I’m just going to keep it Classic OEM. If I want all the newest tech I’ll just buy a daily driver with it.
I think a CT5 Sport Platinum or V Platinum is the best bang for the buck on the market right now. Might get one sometime soon to match my little brother. We’ll see
This can be done without the modules, you must reprogram the rear sam module or replace it with rear sam from facelift with led lights wich cost not more than 100 bucks, just to give you better and oem solution ;)
Yes!! I heard of this option but was worried replacing rear SAM would be more complicated and also could not find any guides online.
If anything ever happens with these modules, I will most likely try that method next.
Thank you for leaving this comment and sharing this option with others! 🙏🏾
@@SaraiGarage everyone wiht star diagnosis and little knowledge can do it bro , good luck
@@Chostera I want to replace my taillights with led and l just want to make sure that my 2005 W219 cls Sam could be reprogramed with a star diagnosis before spending money on led taillights
Hey buddy,
I’d just replacing the LED Sam, it’ll be a direct plug and play correct ?
@chostera so if just getting the LED Sam and installing in my car, it’ll work without any coding correct ? Thank you
Dammmm thats a nice Benz heard the value increase $19000 more
Thank you my bro, I try my best 🙏🏾 And yeah all the older big engine BMW M cars and Mercedes AMG cars have seen a nice uptick.
It’s nothing compared to that GTR sitting next to it in the garage. That GTR’s value has spiked up about $35,000 since we bought it 😂
The car market rn is wild!
Hello, I want to do the upgrade too, I already have the taillights, I need modules, do you sell any or can you tell me who you bought it from, I'm from Germany, it would be very nice of you if you could help me
How much are the modules and can you upload link to purchase them. Thank you 🎬🎬🎬
I paid 200 Euros for the modules and an extra 50 Euros for him to install heatsinks (This includes shipping from France to USA).
There is no link to purchase. There is just 1 man from France who custom builds these in his spare time.
His name is “Frenchy” on MBWorld Mercedes forums (which I explained in the video and description).
Google search something like “Upgrade W219 CLS tail lamps MBWorld” and you should find the thread.
I’ll ask him on Facebook if I can give his email to people, if so, I’ll comment again and also add it to the description.
For now tho, the only way to contact is thru MBWorld
@@SaraiGarage any update brother on email need a set please 🥹
That's dope!
Thank you my bro 🙏🏾
Hey! I have a 2006 cls55, I can’t figure out a diy page to do it yourself, or how to contact “the frenchy” does anyone have his contact? Thanks
Le hablo desde España,me gustaría adquirir los módulos para los pilotos.Donde podria comprarlos?
where can you buy the adapter?
Why replace the taillights tho? You’re gonna have to pull the bumper off and replace that and probably the left taillight too. My car also got rear ended back in March at 40mph and I had to replace my right taillight, as well as the bumper because the bumper had about the same amount of damage as yours as well. And had to replace the rear seatbelts in my car because they locked up during the accident causing my SRS light to be on
I upgraded them to the facelift tail lights that are full LED. Pre-facelift cars have halogen tail lights.
You don’t need to pull the rear bumper to change the lights!
hey i know i’m late , but i can buy this whole tail lights assembly and plug n play it in ?
No. You need the modules from Frenchy to make the updated tail lights work and be “plug-and-play”.
Please read description to see how to contact Frenchy and purchase modules.
Interesting 2 say the least.
Where i can buy this lights?
Mercedes Dealership or Online.
The part numbers are in the description. Google the part numbers and it will pop up.
Hello my friend, do you know of another alternative to the light modules. when i saw your video i went ahead an purchased the led tail lights for my cls 2006. Now i tried contacting the guy that sells the modules . The Frenchy, i email him and he does not answer. If you can explain an alternative or somebody else that sells the modules that would be of great help . thank youy and your video very helpful that it made me want to proceed with the change on my car. thank you!
He is the only person that makes the modules.
The only way to contact him is to keep messaging on the CLS Tail Lamp Upgrade thread on MBWORLD.
Make a account for that website and keep leaving messages. He will respond in a week or two.
Also try joining “Mercedes CLS W219” Facebook group. The Frenchy is active there. The banner for the Facebook group is 2 CLS’s. 1 is blue and 1 is silver.
Honestly I have had many people complain to me that frenchy is very hard to contact.
Give me some time and I will start bulk ordering from him and list them on eBay. That way people can just buy immediately trouble free. I will update the description once I get more modules to sell on eBay myself.
For now, MBWorld and the Facebook group are the only way to reach him. Keep trying! He was hard to reach for myself but eventually he will respond!
I wish you the best my friend 🙏🏾🙌🏾
Thank you so much for your Quick response. It would be really nice if you can resell them. Let me know i would order inmediately. I already purchased the tailights but they are no good without the modules. I already joined the forum i will try to message him again. And thank you again!
Hello Sarai, i finally got in touch with TheFrenchy. He is a very nice guy, he explained to me that my email messages probably go to his spam. I got in touch with him throug facebook like you said. Once i message him in FB he answered inmediately. I purchased the modules and he shipped them right away. Now im very happy with my LED tailights. Thank you !
That’s awesome to hear! I’m very happy it turned out great for you! Enjoy the tail lights my friend! One of the coolest aesthetic upgrades for our cars! 🙂
@@SaraiGarage Yes they look awsome. what a difference. Im very happy thanks to your video and thanks to TheFrenchy for making them work. Take care my friend!
hey friend how can i buy that module so i can upgrade my cls or do you have his email so i can contact him
Please where did you bought the modules
Instructions are in description
hi how are you can i know from where i can buy it and howmuch thankyou
Please read the description. All info is there. Thank you
Hi bro beautiful car love the job looks fantastic I have a cls and want to do this upgrade any help how I can get the module I need for it do you have a email thanks god bless
Hey!
All the information to contact frenchy is in the description of this video.
He has asked me not to share his email or social media accounts. He only wants to contact through the MBWorld forum.
Find the thread and send him a message. He’ll help you out no problem!
@@SaraiGaragewould I be able to buy from you I’ll pay extra is there a way I can contact u on fb or insta ?
Great video on install. You need to bone up on your OHMs Law though. Your car does not send power anywhere. IT sends Voltage .Power is a function of voltage times Current. P= I x E. If either voltage or current goes up or down, you can see the effect on power. LED individual cells operate on lower voltage but require very precise current control. You get the brightness out of the led bulbs by combining many in series and parallel. Frencie's box is what is called an LED driver. This box converts your cars 12 volts to the appropriate voltage for the LED's and regulates the current to them. This is why it gets hot. Resistor and transistor networks inside the box are regulating the current. Excess current is given off as heat through the heatsink. All LED bulbs have a driver. Even the little ones you replace your bulbs in the car with. They are just built in. The ones with the built in heat sinks are the best. You were wise to add the heat sinks.
You are 100% correct. That’s my mistake for saying power 😂 Thank you for the detailed explanation. I’m sure other viewers will appreciate it as well!
24:00
Awesome video I am now a subscriber you look like one of those actors from TV like a CSI tech on a crying drama show you're skinny no offense got a nerdy sounding voice no offense I find it rather informative and you know what you're talking about when you're talking about something that you know in about 3-4 years of shows two side bits in the movie then you're the next James Bond villain super genius want to kill everybody on the planet just to take over type no offense
LMAO 😂😂
I always like Villians in movies more so I’ll take it 😂
Thanks for the hilarious comment! Hope this video helped you out! I wish you and your car the best! And thanks for supporting the channel my man! WELCOME ABOARD! 🥳
Relax
Nissan gtr??? Wtf
YEAH YOU SEE IT 😤 lmao jk but seriously tho yes! We love it! It’s my little brother’s