Current info regarding FOG LIGHTS retrofit

[meaux61]

Indy told me that they could do nothing when I picked my car up in March Jeepster. Sure, give them a call.

Meaux

[dsoukup]

I was told that smart is aware of the degree of interest shown by all its customers, that they are working on a solution, and that would be releasing it in the near future. This bit of info came from a very knowledgeable and reliable guy. Let's hope smart doesn't change it's mind. Stay tuned but keep applying judicious pressure! It seems to be working!

[jwight]

Maybe they could use the solution already in place on their Canadian 451s.

[LexThor]

Can anyone answer: how do you remove the panels that cover where the factory foglights would be installed? Do you just pop them out with a flat head screwdriver or do you have to remove the whole front panel to undo some clips from behind? #2 ** once removed, are there holes or mounting brackets back there to simply screw on the factory lights or do you then have to custom design something to mount them?

Aside from the above discussed wiring/"software code issues", was told by one dealer that he could only order factory fog lights as a replacement if mine fell off/damaged and needed my VIN # to place the order. Since my orphan came without, could not order them. BUT did get another dealer to sell me the lights as a favor but he can't answer the above questions b/c as everyone's discussed, they've never added factory lights b/c Smart doesn't support that retrofit. Thanks for your help.

[Evilution]

The panels just push out, there are a bunch of plastic clips around the inside edge.
Removing the front panel would make the job easier.
The replacement panel has the mounting points for the new fogs.

[rollingtones]

Here comes the future:
Any mods (factory alarm, fog lights) have to be activated by a smart dealer using the car's VIN through the dealer's satellite link to Hambach and smart USA. Right now smart USA is not letting these mods come online, if you will, if not installed in Hambach. The dealer tech who told me this seems to think it is a profit motive. The switch panel on the dash (and the factory alarm) goes through the car's CAN bus (databus) so these functions can be blocked out unless authorized by the factory.

The solution is to install a purely aftermarket system, with your own switch, etc.

[Evilution]

It has always been like that on the smart, more so on the 700cc than the 600cc engine though. However, the foglights cannot be activated at any smart center yet, no matter what country you are in.

[24-42]

Originally Posted by rollingtones

Here comes the future:
Any mods (factory alarm, fog lights) have to be activated by a smart dealer using the car's VIN through the dealer's satellite link to Hambach and smart USA. Right now smart USA is not letting these mods come on line, if you will, if not installed in Hambach. The dealer tech who told me this seems to think it is a profit motive. The switch panel on the dash (and the factory alarm) goes through the car's CAN bus (data bus) so these functions can be blocked out unless authorized by the factory.

"The solution is to install a purely aftermarket system, with your own switch, etc."
********************************************
After a title has been issued in your name (without a lien holder), You are the SOLE owner and are the responsible party for said automobile. Neither Mercedes, Smart, nor anyone else owns the car you paid for anymore.

Your warranty is a contractual agreement, and does not include a fractured degree of ownership.

Think for a moment..... If you purchased a used car from me and you could not put on fog lights unless I authorized it.

Did you sign a contractual agreement to only add pieces that the manufacturer authorized ?

Cars have been produced for many more years without a 'data bus' than with one. The answer is like "rollingstones" states, IGNORE the bus.

YOUR WARRANTY CANNOT BE VOIDED, unless your install is the 'source' of the malfunction for which you make a warranty claim.

If you do not intend to do your own work be prepared to go somewhere other than a dealer however. The manufacturer-Distributor, does have control over the franchised dealer in this instance.

I HAVE appeared as an expert witness, more than once, in superior court, on matters closely associated with this subject.

Donald LaFavor

[Fredvon4]

As have I ( witness that is)....

I really think all that is needed is some serious negotiating from Roger Penske, the importer, to Mercedes Benz to have Fog light activation codes provided to smart centers...it is all in the SAM unit and I refuse to believe that have different SAMs with different "personalities" in a world of mass marketing that demands fewer and fewer different parts inventories

I think the same logic can be applied to turning on the DLR feature that is supplied in several other countries...it is all in proper programming of the SAM

Failing all that..... adding aftermarket DLRs and Fog lights can be done by crafty jobbers or owners ...to work exactly as if the factory had done it... and unless you hack the harness and short out a signal or open a power line there is zero warranty implication...

[Evilution]

You can negotiate until you are blue in the face, if smart don't know why the fogs aren't activating there isn't much you can do apart from wait and see if they can sort it out.