I am wiring my oem driving lights and find that the switch doesn't fit into the knock-out in the parcel shelf. It looks as if I need to take the filler that comes with the parcel shelf and cut out the center to just slightly bigger than the switch body, which will leave about 1/8" on each side. On the top and bottom, it looks like there will barely be room for the spring clips on the switch to hold the switch in. If it doesn't fit right, I've ruined the knock-out plug.


I guess what I'm getting at is "how can this be right?" Isn't there an easier way? Maybe I have the wrong switch - it came with the lights and harness (purchased from a NAM member) - looks right, so I thought it was. I'd include a pic, but it's stuffed behind the parcel shelf now.

 

That's what I did for both of our shelves - just cut a hole in the knock-out plug to hold the switch. If you go slow and only remove a little material at a time, you should have no problems, and the switch actually fits pretty securely in the knock-out plug.

I think the european driving lights come with a slightly larger switch that actually replaces the knockout plug, rather than having to be mounted inside the plug.

 

Yes, the hole is designed for a headlight levelling control, bigger than the driving light switch.

 

Thanks, Ian - I was pretty sure the reason for the different switch was for the headlight-leveling, but I thought I might be getting it confused with my old Mercedes (some of the European Mercedes models also have a different light switch that allows you to manually level the headlights).

 

My OEM switch is in the left knee bolster, and the switch is a perfect fit to the hole. In fact, to buy the switch I had to buy a new panel. This is the one just to the left of the steering wheel, below the panel that fits across behind the tach.

Are you guys talking about some where else a switch can be mounted on the R56, or not about the R56 at all?

 

I just noticed this was in the 2nd-generation forum. From the original poster's sig, it looks like he has a convertible, so this should probably be in the 1st-gen forum.

 

DOH! Mods, can you move it PLEEEZ? And thanks, SR. You are right, it can fit beautifully. I rough-sawed the hole with a dremel , got it close to right with a wood file, and finished up, checking often, with a 6" mill file. It took about 30 minutes. Thanks again.

 

This is exactly how I mounted my switch, except I used a card paper template to mark out the outline and used a hobby knife to remove the soft vinyl cover. Then used the dremel tool and small square file to finish. Works good, saves having to disassemble the dash.