CKCP Active Ambient Lighting Kit Installation Guide — Mercedes-Benz S-Class 223 (Branded Version)

This guide covers the kit shown for Mercedes-Benz S-Class 223, model years 2021–2024. It replaces the illustrated trim/light strips and adds active lighting effects. The source describes installation using adapters without programming; it does not establish compatibility with every vehicle equipment or kit revision. Confirm the vehicle configuration, matching kit and connector assignments before wiring. “Branded Version” is the source's designation and does not identify a particular manufacturer.

Kit contents

The source lists six active light strips, two front-door light-strip harness sets, two rear-door light-strip harness sets, two front-to-rear door connecting cables and two adapter cables for the light strips on either side of the instrument panel.

Wiring overview

The diagram shows adapters at the blue connector identified as No. 12 in each door, and a signal connection at cavity 6 of connector No. 4 in each front door. “No. 4” and “No. 12” identify connectors; “6” identifies a terminal cavity, not a six-pin connector. The left front and rear door harnesses connect along the left side, and the right front and rear harnesses along the right side. The dashboard strips use the original light connectors through the supplied adapters.

The diagram and photographs do not give a complete electrical pinout, power/ground specification or communication protocol. Use the matching kit's confirmed connection data; connector colour or a photo alone is not enough to identify a circuit.

Installation

1. Remove the front door panels

The pictures show removal of the interior door panels, not removal of the doors from the vehicle.

1. Locate the three retaining screws shown on the panel.
2. Release the armrest screw cover with a plastic trim tool.
3. Remove the T20 screw beneath the cover.
4. Slide the armrest out horizontally as illustrated.
5. Remove the two marked T30 retaining screws.
6. Pull the lower edge of the door panel outward to release its plastic clips.
7. Release the clips at the upper edge.
8. Move the panel outward horizontally to disengage the locating clips.
9. Release the interior door-handle cable from its retainer.
10. Disconnect the factory door-module connectors identified as No. 12 and No. 13.

2. Remove the rear door panels

1. Locate the three panel retaining screws shown.
2. Remove the T20 screw beneath the armrest cover.
3. Slide the armrest out horizontally.
4. Remove the two marked T30 retaining screws.
5. Release the plastic clips along the lower edge of the panel.
6. Release the clips at the upper edge.
7. Release the interior door-handle cable.
8. Disconnect the factory door-module connectors No. 12 and No. 13.
9. Disconnect the tweeter connector shown.

3. Remove the centre display and surrounding trim

1. Remove the front sill trim on both sides.
2. Remove the triangular trim covers at both ends of the dashboard.
3. Open the centre armrest storage compartment and lift out the switch trim shown at its front edge.
4. Remove the marked T20 screws securing the cupholder/centre-console trim.
5. Lift the trim and move it horizontally rearward to remove the climate-control panel shown.
6. Disconnect that panel's electrical connector.
7. Remove the six marked T20 retaining screws.
8. Lift out the centre-display surround/console trim shown in the photograph.
9. Disconnect the light connectors on the sides of that trim.
10. Disconnect the connectors behind the centre display.

4. Remove the instrument display

1. Remove the trim behind the instrument display.
2. Release the illustrated trim with a plastic trim tool.
3. Remove the marked T20 screws securing the instrument display.
4. Lift out the instrument display.
5. Disconnect its rear electrical connector.
6. Release the adjacent trim with a plastic trim tool.
7. Release the trim on both sides of the instrument-display opening as illustrated.
8. Remove the steering-column dust trim shown. This photograph does not show removal of the steering wheel or airbag.

5. Identify the supplied harnesses and adapters

The first four photographs identify the left/right dashboard-strip adapters, the A-pillar/B-pillar connecting harness, the rear-door strip adapter and the front-door strip adapter.

1. Identify the correct adapter for each location before making connections.
2. Disconnect the front-door module connector No. 4 shown for the signal adapter.
3. Release the side retaining tab and slide the terminal carrier out of its housing.
4. Release the existing terminal from cavity 6 and connect it through the front-door harness terminal adapter shown. The moulded cavity numbering in the close-up runs from 10 toward 6; the caption specifies cavity 6.
5. Use the blue connector identified as No. 12 for the strip adapters in all four doors, as shown in the last photograph.

The source does not name the signal protocol or provide the complete adapter terminal arrangement. Do not substitute a guessed CAN/LIN or power connection for the illustrated signal adapter.

6. Replace the left dashboard light strip

1. Release the vent trim cover with a plastic trim tool.
2. Remove the T20 screw beneath that cover.
3. Remove the other marked T20 screws inside the dashboard end.
4. Release the locating clips with the plastic trim tool.
5. Remove the left vent assembly.
6. Disconnect the vent-light connector and the other connectors shown.
7. Release the original decorative piece with the plastic trim tool.
8. Remove it and fit the corresponding replacement light strip.
9. Connect the left strip adapter to the light connector of the leftmost air vent shown.
10. Remove and replace the smaller original piece shown in the final photograph.

7. Replace the right dashboard light strip

1. Release the vent trim cover with a plastic trim tool.
2. Remove the T20 screw beneath that cover.
3. Remove the other marked T20 screws.
4. Release the locating clips.
5. Remove the decorative dashboard panel across the passenger side, as illustrated.
6. Disconnect the marked connectors behind it.
7. Release the metal locating clips retaining the original strip.
8. Slide the original strip horizontally to the left to disengage its locating tabs.
9. Remove the original strip and fit the replacement.
10. Connect the right strip adapter to the light connector of the rightmost air vent shown.

8. Route the front-door connecting harness: A-pillar, cabin side

The overview shows the front A-pillar connection continuing toward the rear B-pillar connection on the same side of the car.

1. Release the front door-to-body connector shown.
2. Extract the complete body-side connector at the A-pillar.
3. Press the terminal carrier out of its outer housing.
4. Remove the rubber grommet shown and pass the added wiring through the original harness passage.
5. Route the female-terminal leads alongside the factory harness as illustrated.
6. Release the side lock and remove the inner terminal carrier.
7. Identify the carrier circled in the photograph for the added female terminals.
8. Insert and retain the female terminals at the marked empty positions so that they mate with the corresponding door-side male terminals.

The close-up shows an end marking of 51 and two added leads, but the captions do not state both cavity numbers or a complete view-oriented pin map. Confirm both mating positions for the actual connector and kit before inserting terminals.

9. Route the front-door connecting harness: A-pillar, door side

1. Press the retaining tab inward to release the connector.
2. Remove the rubber grommet shown.
3. Release the marked retaining tabs around the connector housing.
4. Remove the terminal carrier from its housing.
5. Withdraw the purple secondary lock from the side as illustrated.
6. Route the added male-terminal leads alongside the original harness and through its rubber passage to the strip connector.
7. Insert and retain the male terminals in the marked empty positions, matching the cabin-side female terminals shown in the preceding section.

10. Route the rear-door connecting harness: B-pillar, cabin side

1. Follow the overview showing the same-side front A-pillar connection continuing to the rear B-pillar connection and rear light strip.
2. Release the rear door-to-body connector shown.
3. Extract the complete body-side connector at the B-pillar.
4. Pull the illustrated upper B-pillar trim outward horizontally to release its locating clips. The photograph shows trim beside the seat belt; vehicle-specific trim and restraint service instructions are needed for this operation.
5. Press the terminal carrier out of the connector housing.
6. Pass the added leads through the original rubber harness passage shown.
7. Route the female-terminal leads alongside the original harness.
8. Release the side lock and remove the inner carrier.
9. Identify the long carrier circled for the female terminals.
10. Insert and retain the female terminals in the marked empty positions, matching the rear door-side male terminals.

The close-up shows the end marking 23 and two added leads. It does not specify both added cavity numbers or a complete connector pin map. The front and rear connector photographs show different carriers; do not transfer the front connector positions to the rear connector.

11. Route the rear-door connecting harness: B-pillar, door side

1. Release the retaining tab shown.
2. Remove the rubber grommet.
3. Extract the complete door-side connector.
4. Release the marked retaining tabs around its outer housing.
5. Remove the terminal carrier.
6. Withdraw the secondary lock from the side as shown.
7. Route the added male-terminal leads alongside the factory harness and through its rubber passage to the light-strip connector.
8. Insert and retain the male terminals in the marked empty positions, matching the body-side female terminals shown in the preceding section.

12. Replace the front and rear door light strips

For the front door panel:

1. Remove the decorative piece shown to gain access.
2. Remove the row of T20 screws retaining the front-door decorative strip.
3. Remove the front-door foam pad.
4. Disconnect the driver's door multi-switch connector shown and remove the marked T20 trim screws.
5. Lift out the triangular decorative piece shown at the front of the panel.
6. Press the strip's locating tabs and remove the strip from the visible face of the panel.
7. Fit the replacement active light strip, engaging the locating point marked in the photograph first, and secure it as illustrated.

For the rear door panel:

1. Remove the row of T20 screws retaining the rear-door decorative strip.
2. Press its locating tabs and remove the strip from the visible face of the panel.
3. Fit the replacement rear active light strip, engaging the marked locating point first, and secure it as illustrated.

The source photographs show the replacement sequence but do not provide tightening torques, a complete reassembly sequence or vehicle diagnostic acceptance criteria.

Lighting functions

The photographs illustrate the ambient-light settings for colour, brightness and effects. The effect screen shows door-exit warning, climate, welcome and dynamic multicolour settings. These are descriptions from the source, with availability dependent on the vehicle configuration and the matching kit.

• Temperature animation: raising the climate temperature produces a red flowing effect; lowering it produces a blue flowing effect.
• Climate effect: enable the climate effect to display temperature-adjustment animations. Disabling it cancels those animations.
• Welcome effect: with this effect enabled, unlocking the vehicle after it has fully entered sleep mode produces a flowing ring of white light. Disabling it cancels that welcome animation. The source does not specify the sleep delay.
• Synchronized temperature animation: enable SYNC in the climate menu and adjust the driver's temperature control.
• Zoned temperature animation: disable SYNC in the climate menu, or adjust the temperature for another seating zone as described in the source. The source refers to the other three seating zones; this is not proof that every vehicle has the same climate equipment.
• Door-exit warning: the source describes a corresponding light indication when a door is opened while parked and a person or vehicle is moving behind the car.
• Lane-change indication: the source describes a light indication when the turn signal is used while driving and a vehicle is moving behind the car.
• Single colour: select the colour in the colour menu.
• Multicolour: select a theme for the lighting zones.
• Dynamic multicolour: choose a theme and enable the dynamic effect for flowing theme colours.

The screenshots do not demonstrate the detection or triggering of the door-exit and lane-change indications, or identify the required vehicle assistance equipment. Confirm those prerequisites and the actual function on the vehicle; the retrofit descriptions do not establish a new independent detection system.

Troubleshooting

1. A strip does not light: check the adapter connection and inspect the mating terminals for misalignment or deformation.
2. A lighting effect does not appear: check that the corresponding effect is enabled in the vehicle's settings.
3. A factory function behaves abnormally: check for a factory connector that has not been reconnected, an adapter connected to the wrong circuit, or wiring damaged/shorted during installation.

These are the source's initial checks. It provides no complete fault-code procedure, electrical test values or final acceptance test, so a cleared fault or a lit strip alone does not establish a completed installation.