This guide describes replacement hourglass tweeter assemblies with 3-color or 12-color ambient lighting. The source lists a 2010–2019 range for the 166 / 292 vehicle families. Its cover selection is A166 for ML, GL, GLE and GLS, and A292 for GLE Coupe. Confirm the actual vehicle, existing cover and lighting configuration before selecting the assembly; the source does not break down the stated years by individual model or equipment version.
The source calls these A-pillar hourglass tweeters. The installation photographs show the upper front-door corner trim beside the A-pillar, where the original tweeter cover is replaced.
For a vehicle already equipped with factory 3-color or 12-color ambient lighting, the source describes connecting the matching lighting harness to synchronize color changes, without additional vehicle coding. For a vehicle with no factory ambient lighting, 12-color operation requires a separate ambient-light driver module and vehicle programming/coding. The source does not provide the module part number or coding procedure; those must be confirmed for the actual configuration.
1. Parts reference
Figure 1 shows the two hourglass tweeter cover assemblies. It is a product photograph rather than a complete harness or module inventory.
2. Installation sequence
Figure 2 reading notes: The original photographs and their Chinese annotations are retained. Read the accompanying English descriptions; the source does not provide the complete door-control connector terminal map or coding procedure.
- Source: front-door screws at the marked locations. Screw sizes and tightening torques are not supplied.
- Source close-up: door screw behind the handle trim. Confirm the actual fastener and refitting procedure.
- Source: remove the concealed door-panel retainer. The circled opening and original retainer are retained.
- Source: lift the cover edge with the left hand, then remove the original tweeter cover along the arrows. This is the upper front-door corner cover.
- Source: check the marked assembly connectors are fully seated. No terminal-level map is provided.
- Source: check the ambient-light connector and the separate speaker connector. These connections serve different lighting and audio functions.
- Source factory 12-color example: connect to the door ambient-light connection. Without factory lighting, a separate 12-color driver module is required. The source identifies door-control connector 3#, not pin 3. The exact terminal and coding map is absent.
Read Figure 2 from top to bottom:
- Remove the front-door screws at the circled locations. The next close-up shows the screw locations behind the door-handle trim.
- Remove the concealed door-panel retainer shown in the close-up.
- Support and lift the edge of the original tweeter cover with your left hand, then remove the cover assembly in the direction of the arrows. This is the tweeter cover at the front-door corner.
- Check that the connectors on the replacement assembly are fully seated at the marked locations.
- Check the ambient-light connector and the separate speaker connector. These serve different functions; check each connection individually.
- In the factory 12-color lighting example, connect the hourglass tweeter lighting to the door's existing 12-color ambient-light connection.
- Where the vehicle has no factory ambient lighting, a separate 12-color ambient-light driver module is required. The final source caption identifies the door ambient-light module adapter connection at door-control unit connector 3#. Here, 3# identifies a connector position, not terminal or pin 3. The photograph circles a white connector; it does not supply a terminal-level wiring diagram.
The source does not specify screw sizes, tightening torques, the complete door-panel refitting sequence or a final harness-routing diagram.
3. Troubleshooting
- Tweeter has no sound: check that the speaker connector is fully seated and has not come loose.
- Hourglass tweeter ambient light does not work: check that the lighting connector is fully seated and has not come loose.
- Speaker and ambient light both fail: check that the main harness connector is fully seated and has not come loose.
- Speaker and light both fail on one side: the source proposes comparing the left and right ambient-light modules by exchanging them, and, if necessary, comparing the two plug-in adapter harnesses. Confirm that the module and harness versions are suitable for this comparison. This comparison concerns the modules and harnesses, rather than swapping the left and right cover assemblies.
- Ambient lights on both tweeters fail: check whether the required vehicle coding has been completed for the installed lighting configuration and whether the modules are fully connected. This source fault concerns lighting on both sides; it does not state that both speakers also have no sound. The no-factory-lighting branch above requires coding, while the source describes matching factory-lighting installations as requiring no additional coding.
- Tweeter cover does not fit: check the product version against the vehicle. Compare the A166 and A292 cover assemblies below before continuing.
Figure 3 reading notes: The original photographs and Chinese annotations are retained.
- Left assembly: A166 BO tweeter cover.
- Right assembly: A292 BO tweeter cover.
- Red dashed markings show differences in mounting structure and identification labels.
- Source model labels: A166 for ML / GL / GLE / GLS; A292 for GLE Coupe.
- Confirm the actual cover, vehicle and kit. These source labels do not establish fitment by model year.
Figure 3 compares A166 hourglass tweeter cover assemblies for ML / GL / GLE / GLS with A292 assemblies for GLE Coupe. The red dashed markings identify differences in the mounting structure and identification labels. The source does not instruct trimming a mismatched cover to make it fit.
4. Wire-color comparison in the source example
The source gives the following comparison for the lighting harness variant illustrated below. It distinguishes the lighting-channel function from the insulation color on the corresponding harness lead.
| Product lighting lead in the source table | Function stated in the source | Corresponding lead color in the example |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Positive supply | Yellow |
| Red | Red lighting channel | Green |
| Green | Green lighting channel | White |
| Blue | Blue lighting channel | Red |
Figure 4 labels one harness “Ours” and the other “Others.” The photograph does not label terminal numbers or voltage. The table is this source's specific wire-color example, rather than an OEM connector pinout or a universal color standard. If the actual harness differs, obtain its connector and terminal diagram before changing any wiring; do not infer a terminal function from its color alone.