Easy LED Tail light mod
03-29-2006, 09:08 PM
#1
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: OC
Posts: 18,677
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
9 Posts
a quarter mile at a time
Easy LED Tail light mod
So I got the modding bug after I bought my C350 and I was looking to wet my appetite with something easy. I decided to go for LED's in the rear. I've seen the LED housings posted on ebay but I was worried about quality and I really want my car to look stock. Add to that I have a 2006 with the 7pin connector and I decided against it. My only alternative was to replace the existing bulbs with LED bulbs.
Against my better judgement I decided to go ahead and order some bulbs to test, and try them without the load resistors. The first set of bulbs were these from www.ledtronics.com
I plugged them in and sure enough, I recieved the bulb out error. So I ordered a set of load resistors. Hooked everything up and didn't feel like they were bright enough. I then read this review and agreed.
Now I was a bit bummed. Kept searching and I came across THIS THREAD! If you watch the video you can tell the LED's are just as bright as the normal bulbs. Perfect!!! I ordered 2 Amber and 2 Red from autolumination.com
I can tell you right now both the amber blinker and red brake lights are a perfect replacement. The brake lights match perfectly with the trunk LED's. The bulbs are a direct replacement (part numbers at the bottom) and easy to install. You'll still need the load resistors.
So now I wanted to find a good way to install the load resistors without any splicing or changing of wiring harnesses. I noticed the light housing is a plastic piece that holds a metallic cutout that carries the current to each bulb.
I then noticed there were little notches below each bulb with a little space between the plastic. Following the shape of the metallic piece I could tell that the notches were positive and the outside larger metal area was ground. I then hooked up my load resistors by wrapping the wire around the notch on one side
For ground, there was a triangle shaped hole that had a slender piece of the ground metal running along side it. I gently pried it up with a knife and wrapped the other end of the load resistor to it. I repeated this with both the brake and blinker.
Here are the parts you'll need to do the Brake and Blinkers, I bought everything from Autolumination:
Brakes: RED 1156 (x2)
Blinker: AMBER 7507 (x2)
Load resistors: 6 Ohm (x4)
PS - they also have some "Xenon Super White" festoon bulbs for your license plate - they look awsome too. If it dosen't blink, why go to LED? I am not affiliated with Autolumination in any way other than being a happy customer.
Mod away folks!!
Against my better judgement I decided to go ahead and order some bulbs to test, and try them without the load resistors. The first set of bulbs were these from www.ledtronics.com
I plugged them in and sure enough, I recieved the bulb out error. So I ordered a set of load resistors. Hooked everything up and didn't feel like they were bright enough. I then read this review and agreed.
Now I was a bit bummed. Kept searching and I came across THIS THREAD! If you watch the video you can tell the LED's are just as bright as the normal bulbs. Perfect!!! I ordered 2 Amber and 2 Red from autolumination.com
I can tell you right now both the amber blinker and red brake lights are a perfect replacement. The brake lights match perfectly with the trunk LED's. The bulbs are a direct replacement (part numbers at the bottom) and easy to install. You'll still need the load resistors.
So now I wanted to find a good way to install the load resistors without any splicing or changing of wiring harnesses. I noticed the light housing is a plastic piece that holds a metallic cutout that carries the current to each bulb.
I then noticed there were little notches below each bulb with a little space between the plastic. Following the shape of the metallic piece I could tell that the notches were positive and the outside larger metal area was ground. I then hooked up my load resistors by wrapping the wire around the notch on one side
For ground, there was a triangle shaped hole that had a slender piece of the ground metal running along side it. I gently pried it up with a knife and wrapped the other end of the load resistor to it. I repeated this with both the brake and blinker.
Here are the parts you'll need to do the Brake and Blinkers, I bought everything from Autolumination:
Brakes: RED 1156 (x2)
Blinker: AMBER 7507 (x2)
Load resistors: 6 Ohm (x4)
PS - they also have some "Xenon Super White" festoon bulbs for your license plate - they look awsome too. If it dosen't blink, why go to LED? I am not affiliated with Autolumination in any way other than being a happy customer.
Mod away folks!!
03-29-2006, 09:50 PM
#5
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: OC
Posts: 18,677
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
9 Posts
a quarter mile at a time
I'll try to take a video of the lights tomorrow compared to the stock bulbs. If you follow the links to the review, they did the exact same thing!
I used double sided tape to attach the load resistor to the backside of the access panel to the housing.
I used double sided tape to attach the load resistor to the backside of the access panel to the housing.
03-29-2006, 10:25 PM
#6
Super Moderator Alumni
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: West Los Angeles
Posts: 7,684
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
5 Posts
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
The videos that are posted are just the blinking. I'm more curious about the brake lights.
Trending Topics
03-29-2006, 11:08 PM
#10
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: OC
Posts: 18,677
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
9 Posts
a quarter mile at a time
I bought the 36 but I think the 39's are the right size. They look fine with good color, not annoyingly blue. I don't know where I got 36mm from...
03-29-2006, 11:31 PM
#11
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by e1000
I bought the 36 but I think the 39's are the right size. They look fine with good color, not annoyingly blue. I don't know where I got 36mm from...
03-29-2006, 11:40 PM
#12
Super Moderator Alumni
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: West Los Angeles
Posts: 7,684
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
5 Posts
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Brake lights look really good. I might do this when I order the non-LED S Class lights. Low priority right now, but really appreciate the 411, e1000. Looks tight!
03-29-2006, 11:46 PM
#14
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
C200K (w204)
Damn that's bright, i might consider this, since my 3rd brake light lit up whenever it wants to 
.
can u take a photo of the load resistor placement
?? I'm still picturing the idea on my head.
.can u take a photo of the load resistor placement
?? I'm still picturing the idea on my head.
Last edited by W0n6_3d4n; 03-29-2006 at 11:54 PM.
03-30-2006, 12:56 PM
#16
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by e1000
I'll try to take some daytime shots today.
03-30-2006, 01:12 PM
#17
Super Moderator Alumni
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: West Los Angeles
Posts: 7,684
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
5 Posts
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by nlpamg
awesome, thanks man! btw, could you please take pics of the blinkers too?
There are 4 videos at the bottom of the webpage.
03-30-2006, 01:28 PM
#18
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by drexappeal
Yo, Phil. The videos are really clear on this site: LINK: VIDEO OF BLINKERS
There are 4 videos at the bottom of the webpage.
There are 4 videos at the bottom of the webpage.
wanna help me wire this sucker? haha
03-30-2006, 01:32 PM
#19
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: OC
Posts: 18,677
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
9 Posts
a quarter mile at a time
the Amber looks great. Fills the whole reflector and the light is very even. I swear the wiring takes 5 mins once you figure it out. Plus there's no soldering or cutting so it's always reversible
03-30-2006, 01:37 PM
#20
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by e1000
the Amber looks great. Fills the whole reflector and the light is very even. I swear the wiring takes 5 mins once you figure it out. Plus there's no soldering or cutting so it's always reversible
Last edited by nlpamg; 03-30-2006 at 01:39 PM.
03-30-2006, 01:42 PM
#21
Super Moderator
I just realized that this would be an amazing mod for people with smoked tails... this way their visibility wouldn't be so much compromised.
thanks again e1000!
thanks again e1000!
03-30-2006, 01:43 PM
#22
Out Of Control!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: OC
Posts: 18,677
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
9 Posts
a quarter mile at a time
the plastic/metal plate the bulbs fit into is designed to come off. In the middle, there's a plastic piece that turns to keep the whole thing in. Just go through the trunk, pull back the panel and you'll see what I mean. It's in the manual too
BTW - you don't take the whole tail light housing off, nor do you take it apart
BTW - you don't take the whole tail light housing off, nor do you take it apart
Last edited by e1000; 03-30-2006 at 01:46 PM.
03-30-2006, 01:48 PM
#23
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by e1000
the plastic/metal plate the bulbs fit into is designed to come off. In the middle, there's a plastic piece that turns to keep the whole thing in. Just go through the trunk, pull back the panel and you'll see what I mean. It's in the manual too
BTW - you don't take the whole tail light housing off, nor do you take it apart
BTW - you don't take the whole tail light housing off, nor do you take it apart
03-30-2006, 02:20 PM
#24
Super Moderator Alumni
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: West Los Angeles
Posts: 7,684
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
5 Posts
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by nlpamg
thanks man! I was looking at em and kinda wanted to see how the amber would look on the clear portion of our blinkers...
wanna help me wire this sucker? haha
wanna help me wire this sucker? haha
