Instrument Cluster Lighting - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tobybul · #16 12-12-2010, 10:44 PM

thanks, that source was pretty cheap if I read it right. Less than $3 per lite. The link i posted fron superbright had them at $15 minimum with a T10 base.

BTW, I can attest that the rheostat works with the LEDs. The rheostat on my 85D is in good shape and the LEDs dimmed and brightened when I turned it.

tbomachines · #17 12-13-2010, 01:24 AM

Yeah they mark up those things a lot, when you look at prices for the components themselves they are pretty cheap...even those $3 units are sealed and ready to solder in and are extremely bright. The red units actually have warnings of blindness on them if you look directly into it. I'm not sure I would use the rheostat with LEDs, as they are very sensitive to voltage changes. Automotive LEDs are usually built to withstand 12-16V but no more and no less. Overall mine turned out well but I am not sure if the same space is there in the w123 cluster. I'm sure you could find a spot for it. I also considered getting individual LED bulbs and resistors and putting them up through the bottom where the warning light bays are but considering driving position you'd want to shield the forward face of them. Pictures of my setup to come tomorrow, I am finally getting my SD on the road for its maiden voyage so the blinkers have to work...but for now it is bedtime for me!

280EZRider · #18 12-13-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tobybul

I'm still playing with my dash lights. I got the LED I ordered but I think its the wrong lite pattern. The 194 dash light LED bulb needs to have a narrow pattern in order to project forward rather than the wide pattern I ordered. So I'm returning those and get the narrow pattern ones.

In the mean time I put back the original lites and I did some tweeking on trying to brighten the "path" of the 2 lights. See pics below. I popped out the black plastic cover of where the lite travels and put a white piece of paper so it would reflect. Notice I also slit and curled one end. Then I snapped the cover back.

This helped intensify the dash lite so its a bit brighter.

The only problem I have with w123 dash lighting is a dim speedo although the accompanying gauges could be a bit brighter. Did your white-paper trick give you enough light to see the speedo?

I'm also wondering if the dimmer were completely bypassed - even though it works perfectly fine - would there be a little more light available?