Wow, I almost want to drive up and see that thing. There is no way 1000 were imported into the US. There were only 1800 w116 6.9s imported total IIRC. I'm really intrigued by this, gonna throw a post up in the tech section, maybe someone has some answers.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

True, they will last that long, but have you ever looked at the light output graph of a white LED? Still work for 50,000 hours perhaps, but at a few hundred, the light output has significantly decreased.

We produced a binary (and patented) LED PRNDL light for the Corvette C-5, was a yellow and blue LED array that produced white light without the phosphor burn-out problems so that we could meet the output specs over time, none of the white LEDs at the time came close. LEDs also decrease light output as the junction heats up during use.

If someone is producing a drop-in 2-color LED array that puts out white light, I'm buying, but I haven't found one yet. I won't rely on the light output of phosphor.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Whats a "We produced a binary (and patented) LED PRNDL " binary led. Aren't all LED's binary?

Very interesting reading http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/printable_versions/life_measuring.html

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For everything I've ever done there has always been a first time.

66 MB 200d
65 VW T2 Deluxe
76 VW T2 Westfalia

LED's of 2010 are eons improved from even 2007.

I can sure understand the old ones degrading (>2006) if you were running
20ma LED's at 75ma but under normal current of 20ma or less I
have not found degrading at all. Some of my tests have run different
LED's for 60/90 days, 24 hours a day at RATED current or less.

Current was controlled with an LM317 circuit at 19ma on 20ma units.
A pair of those controlling V and A in the automotive world is quite
feasible.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Never over-current / over driven.

What test method are you using and what are the numbers that you're getting? We had a fully instrumented lab, engineers and scientists, actually designed LEDs from the junction up. The packaging and heat transfer has changed, but the basic technology and materials available are the same.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I have not read all the other posts but If you put an LED in the No Charging Light I am thinking your Alternator might not charge correctly.
Is the fact of fiction?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Fact, depending on the year.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I've been replacing the bulbs inside my W123 300TD. I replaced the two illumination bulbs in the cluster (also foil-taped the bulb chamber). Wow. Big difference. Then I started changing out the smaller bulbs in the cluster for the indicator lights. This was trickier as the bulbs are soldered into a little plastic socket that twists on to the circuit board and locks into place. I hand soldered LEDs from ledlights.com into these holders. I did not do the battery indicator light yet; it was a different size.

All the indicators are a little brighter now. The turn signal indicators are almost too bright! BLINK. BLINK. BLINK.

I also replaced the climate control lights with LEDs. Those bulb holders were cracked up from the heat. Next up, I want to retrofit an LED into the spider optic cable for the buttons above the climate control. I tried an LED but it was not side firing and so put very little light into the cables. After that, I'll look at the shifter and window buttons. Then they should all match. I don't like the mismatch of LED and incandescent.

As it is, the LEDs look great, especially with blue interior. I've got LEDs in the dome lights as well. I've started on exterior lights. It's an entertaining project. But the dash improvement is fantastic.

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83 300TD, 260,000 miles, aka "Dusty"
6 vehicles, 2 cup holders (both in the dump truck)

babymog... Just basic test gear as I dont make LED's. Dual trace, spectrum meter, digital light meter ect.

marfa300td .. I do hope you added a resistor along with your new Led's.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

This is an awesome thread. Thanks guys.

I had wondered about the use of LEDs in our older benz and this is great to read. I will update when I get a chance to do this.

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85 300D 3 pedal. Current project.
83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

Anyone had any luck with a red LED in the gauge cluster... i have bought a few different ones locally and nothing seems to be bright enough.

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1987 300D 180k
1985 300SD 330k Helga
1992 300D Lola 269k- Sold
1986 325 coupe Bessie >300k Original engine(ODO Broke) sold
2006 2500HD Druamax Linda- Tows boat and looks pretty in garage thats about it

And now we know the true story behind the Marfa lights !!!



.

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Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes

I just added LED's to my dash... I didn't buy bulbs that drop in though... I replaced the "fiber optic" pieces with PCB and soldered LED's on the end.... I have some pics online... crappy from my phone but you get the idea... The picture makes them look darker than they really are... Not bad for $5.50 + tax and an hour of my time to "prototype" this...



More of a write-up on supeturbodiese in this thread http://superturbodiesel.com/std/led-instrument-panel-lights-installed-t-1293.html

Please explain this!

THanks,

Glenn

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 102K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 238K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 211K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 246K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 384K (diesel commuter)

My idea leans on the side of non-traditional...so please take that in mind.

I was curious if anyone tried using the UV-light bulbs over at Super Bright LED's. I was thinking of painting the numbers and lines in UV paint that way it will glow the color I was shooting for. Might add a few colors, such as red for empty tank and/or red for the tach. Blue for everything else. I have seen people use blue LEDs for the instrument lights. I think it looks good but the issue is that it kind of makes everything blue. I just want the numbers and lines to glow not my whole instrument cluster.

Anyone try something like this or think it might work? I figured I would try it out on a piece of translucent overhead projector sheet to sea