W123 3rd brake light install -- pictures
 

I've looked through a lot of threads mentioning the 3rd brake lights that people have been adding to their early Benzes. Lots of good advice but I can't find any mention of how to route the wire from the light to the best place for an electrical connection in my 1985 300DT.

It looks like I can punch a tiny hole through the parcel shelf near the window and thread the wire down through the gas tank area to one of the taillights, there to tap into the brake light circuit. However, I'd prefer to hear from someone who has already done the job, so I don't puncture something that I shouldn't. :eek:

My order from Daniel Stern Lighting will arrive soon and I'd like to be ready.

Jeremy in Santa Rosa, California

[Edit -- see later post with pictures]

Just curious, but are you going to use a third brake light from another MB like a W124 or 126?

LED 3rd Brake Light
 

The light is one of the LED creations that Daniel Stern sells. See http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/products.html.

Jeremy

Jeremy, I just installed my 3rd brake light from D. Stern. I drilled a hole from inside the trunk - out to the rear shelf. The secret is to just miss the vacuum tank - you'll see it from inside the trunk. The hole will come out very close to the brake light so you can route the wire into the trunk.

I have not wired it up yet, as I have to determine which wire is the brake light wire. It splices into that. I have a schematic, I think it is red! Good luck!

roncor

Here's what I did.
 

Roncor, here's what I did. I didn't want to drill a hole, in part because I don't like doing irreversible things unless I have to and also because I was afraid of puncturing the vacuum reservoir. I discovered that I could lift up the fabric-covered hardboard with a wooden wedge between it and the metal underneath, and snake the wire through the crack at the edge of the rear window.

Then I routed the wire through the opening for the first aid kit and down into the trunk. From there, the connection to the brake light wire (under the plastic panel, on the driver's side) was easy.

Whoever did mime did it the same thing, it seems preferable to drilling new holes.

And the pic of it lighted up would be????????????????????

Picture
 

Good idea. Later today.

Pictures
 

Here they are. I took them with the car still in the garage, so the contrast would be better. Nighttime would be even better but I know you don't want to wait.

1. No lights

2. Brake lights

3. Tail lights (I used the European "fog light" position for a second taillight bulb instead of a second brake light bulb, since I felt the "third" brake light was sufficient)

4. Tail lights plus brake lights.

I have on order from an eBay supplier a gadget that is supposed to blink the third brake light three times before turning it on steadily. This is supposed to grab the attention of the driver behind me. We'll see.

Jeremy

Very nice set up, that's what I'll do should I go about installing the 3rd brake light. I'm curious if anybody has done a similar set up on a 123 wagon, since the tailgate tends to get opened once in a while I would presume that the constant slamming of the tailgate shut will cause the adhesive to rip off after a while, should I install it on the rear glass.

Even more curious as how you'll install the flasher relay/device on the third brake light. Seen these in some newer models, very effective. It did catch my attention and I had to glance twice to double check that it was flashing!

See the fourth photo is my post #110 above (#5 in this thread). The connector in the wiring harness is where I tapped the third brake light into the Mercedes brake circuit. According to the eBay seller's description, you break the connection to the third brake light and wire the flasher into that wire, plus one wire to ground. There's a ground terminal just below the connector that I installed so it should be an easy install. I should be able to attach the flasher device to the wheel well with some double-sticky tape. I'll post another photo to this thread when the job is done, plus a movie, if the forum will allow it.

Jeremy

Pics look good. I know a place called webelectronics.com sells the flashers. Don't know if they are model specific or not, can't see that they would be.

Our goal with our additional lighting was to blast as much brake light onto the road as possible with the existing circuitry. :D Gotta get those SUV driving people's attention! :eek:

Here's a ready made product:-

(Sorry Dutch website)

http://auto-onderdelen.marktplaats.nl/oldtimer-onderdelen/391981125-mercedes-w123-3e-remlicht.html?return=eJwljMsKgzAQRf9F0KXmQbtIkGL%2FJGhKQl6DE7G09N87wc3ccw%2BXMYqrr1dMo%2BI3qTq0Zl%2B ddrWCmqZQwOYxmT1UiMZUHHOcrskIDh7vOPNhw7mWXi68l89IZxF3xog3T9xcpfx4IMTXhpeEJtsqkV%2FykezuV6rhpHpyIYkLt g9iADhm1unfH13uNIQ%3D&df=1&fta=eNotkF1uwyAQhO%2FCQ575NbAoV%2BgVosVAatVprOAkVqPcvXjJ2ydmd5gdBAuvCg7Y% 2FTafHjhXFipYBWybj%2BKQ6nG9ggizADlwHtIEYV7hb1pCLalCWFbg4bLA7%2F2Sb9MYfp7wFFKFa51AHpblfuS7oQa24DmzMDW zCs1%2BSvST4k3yKmvPh00YZ1VxZhNDUl7E1CCXbK3bhDUlO5t3yC7l0kEYTzDoNBIYJRSBVlz0mVEZAhtjX1da6x1SkQN2ybqhg zZDl7iNBNFzSYBx7FuIORGYMdLw2MJaetF8JMOxBaOESWZBPrF4%2FwElRJecNn2YS7oiGlQkRYE9WCxc0V1YEDkN2%2BzdXpxoH a7XBVM9zfn3vH7v3eomeGAX3E573a3hBNK3RwkMnyx8ffDBAgKH1%2Fv9D0FPlgI%3D&fta_ind=28&fs=1

Nice job on the that Jeremy!! That is a huge difference. I think I may wind up doing that myself!


That is a weird set up? It looks like it would "light up" the inside of the car up at night. Then you would have a glare issue because the lights are not sealed to the glass. Odd...