w126 tail/brake light mod

[JamesDean]

Hello everyone,

I've decided to do the tail/brake light mod on my w126-300SD.

I did something a little different than what i've read about in the past. The new sockets that I've added are now running lights and I have re-wired the old running light (under the brake light) to function as a brake light. So the old brake/tail light column is all brake and the new column is for running light. It looks pretty cool IMO.

Here a little FYI for you:

the 6-pins on the assembly are--stock--as follows

1- Running Light (side)
2- not entirely sure (could be for licence plate lights)
3- turn signal light
4- reverse light
5- brake light
6- running light underneath brake light.

-----

Thought that might be worth something to some one.



Thanks

Kris

[rg2098]

photos?

[JamesDean]

i found my usb cable!

New Running Lamps (and the messy garage):


Running + Brake:



Running + brake + reverse:





Thoughts?

Those of you who've done this--what did you do?

Thanks

Kris

[Hit Man X]

Anything to increase stop light output is good. I need to figure out the wiring in an '86+ so I can drop in the rear fill from one with the 3rd brake light in my SD.

[JamesDean]

I suspect you just run a wire down to brake light in one of the harness...the other wire..a ground? Im only speculating..ive never actually seen the wires...

[pawoSD]

I think people are going to confuse your "running lights" for brake lights. Those are way too bright in my opinion to be running lights. The best method is to wire those two + the original brake lights to all come on with the brakes. The regular running lights are sufficient for 99% of driving, you've got one beneath each original brake light, one on each side of the car, and two lights shining on the liscense plate, plenty for running lights. Having a bunch of bright lights come on when hitting the brakes is way more important. Bright running lights like that will "desensitize" drivers behind you to thinking your just riding your brakes or have the lights stuck on, then when you actually use the brakes, and the wimpy original lights come on too, they'll not even register that they did, and rearend you. Thats what I predict anyways.

If your in a situation where you need tons of rear running lights, its likely bad weather, just flip on the o'l hazard switch, two bright orange flashers in back to let people know your there. Thats what I do.....

Desensitizing people to your brake lights is not a good thing......ye be warned.

[JamesDean]

just as i took those pictures i thought the same exact thing. The runners are extremelty bright compared to the brake lights. I think experienced what u refered to earlier today while going to the bank. I was infront of a 18-wheeler truck and i turned (had my blinker on) i dont know if he saw my brake lights....rather than tear apart my lamps and resolder wires to thing..i think ill just reverse the roles. Seeing as the "new" runners are much brighter than the brake lights (even combined with the old runners) I think ill just put the runners as brake lights and the brakes as runners--follow me?

Thanks for the heads up


Kris

Yeah this was my thoughts too...its nice to have sorta dimish tail lights and then BAM bright as hell when you hit the brakes.

You can always drop smaller bulbs in the sockets..

I like the way they had the car setup with just adding an extra brake light in the center fog positions.

I am still mixed on a 3rd brake light...I like the idea of it...

[JamesDean]

i'd rather have the 3rd brake light in the tail light assembly rather than the actual 3rd tail light found in 2nd gen 126s. I never liked that thing.


I will re-wire today and take more pics...


thanks

kris

[JamesDean]

I switched the two lights around. Now the new fog lights are my brake light and the old brake/runners are runners. I think the non-reflective fog lights are easier to notice than the reflective old ones, because If im driving behind a MB and my headlights are being reflected by the brake/runners I wont notice, as easily, the brakes--but if the brakes came from an area that wasnt reflective and was dark i would notice it faster. Dont you think?

so first pic is brake
second is brake + running
3rd is b+running+reverse

thoughts on this configuration?

Thanks

Kris

[pawoSD]

Thats a lot better, but its still more runners than you need, I did the original brake lights+fogs as the ones that come on when braking, and left the original runners as-is. It doesn't matter though, the fogs are indeed brighter and you should be fine with your setup.