Needles used Testors Tangerine Orange and Testors Paint thinner 3:1 ratio. The paint thinner helps avoid brush marks caused by the thick paint.


From left to right:
1)Blue- High Beam
2)Red - Battery
3)Amber - Brake pad wear sensors
4)Red - Parking Brake

Not shown:
5) Amber - Seat belt
6) Amber - Glow Plugs

The prism / fiber optics are both Amber. Also replaced the turn signals, Octopus, and Hazard light switch with Leds.

The cluster small bulb 74's are a ***** because the original bulbs are soldered onto the plastic twist off cap. Had to solder my own wire to the new LED's and solder them to the metal connections that hold the plastic cap to the cluster board.





If anyone has a spare cluster plastic lens/cover, and or the indicator icons...shoot me a PM.

Looks great.

One thing though. You will have to keep the 3 W incandescent bulb in the battery light. It needs this for the alternator to charge properly. The electrical characteristics of LEDs are incompatible with the voltage regulator.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Thanks,

Could you elaborate for sake of my own ignorance? How does a 3w bulb allow the alternator to charge? (My car is a 1983 300D turbo , if that changes anything)

I will look into this. Thank you for the warning

Jaybob, could not a regulator of sorts fix this?

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

Can anyone tell me what the benefit to putting LEDs in idiot lights is?

No.

__________________
Watch him go!!! link

#dontdealwithkahlil

Pardon me, my electrical engineering know-how is next to nothing.

I meant, couldn't we add a resistor post LED to create the same effect?

Edit: love the safety hat orange too OP!

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

FOund this on a different car forum, Not a merc, but looks like it might be a solution... The wiring colors are incorrect so dont go by them.

"
Start with the "normal" warning lamp configuration where a white wire goes from the ignition switch, to the lamp, out the lamp via a brown/yellow wire and finally off to the alternator. Replace the warning lamp with a 40 Ohm power resistor (something rated for at least 1 Watt). NOW get your LED lamp assembly. A plain LED will need a "dropping resistor", typically 1000 Ohms. A pre-configured LED warning lamp will already have this resistor inside. Take your LED lamp (or LED with dropping resistor) and wire it in PARALLEL with the 40 Ohm power resistor. Pay attention to the polarity or the LED will not light. With the LED wired in parallel to the 40 Watt resistor... the LED will turn on and off just like a normal incandescent light. However, the current required to power the alternator field coils on startup will pass through the 40 Watt resistor."

Anyways, I'm attempting this myself, I'll report if I have any luck.

I am not sure if LED bulbs give off more or less heat. If more heat, there may be a concern with distorting the indicator icon films.

Has anyone been able to find out which is the best product among those listed here?
https://11must.com/best-clamp-meters/

The 3w bulb provides resistance which is needed to allow the alternator to charge. Mercedes automobiles are very sensitive concerning the wattage of bulbs used in the tail and stop lights also. Not using the correct wattage bulb will disable the cruise control.

Your gauge needles look great ! .

When asking for parts, always give your location, you'll be pleased by the response from folks you didn't even know lived near you that have parts.....

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Thank you and for the tip

__________________
Tulare County, CA

WTB list: (1983 300d)
-Exterior rocker panels below doors
-Gauge Custer plastic window/indicator icons

(1983 300D Turbo)

Not doubting you as the German engineers are not all that adept in regards to how electricity works in fact, they treat it as though it has some "mystical" properties beyond mere human comprehension, but I am questioning whether the use of a front/rear/tail light marker LED bulb would have any effect on the cruise control.

I can see the stop/brake light bulb having an effect but the marker/tail?

I don't think the lighting circuit is involved with the cruise since it can be engaged without the lights but I've been wrong many times before.

__________________
“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Only LED brake lights will affect the cruise control, I found this out the hard way and with help from the forum here. The tail lights, reverse lights and blinkers will not affect it (although the blinkers need resistors to blink correctly).


To the OP - I would take a night drive to see how bright the new LED bright light indicator is. I had to put the original incandescent bulb back in because it lit up half my car.

@JayBob

Is the recharging ability of the alternator affected because of LED polarity or something else?

The LED on my Battery light is non-polar, just like the 74 bulbs.

Only able to find 3-4 threads from him. Non bulb related.

EDIT: The correct username is JamesDean , no space.

__________________
Tulare County, CA

WTB list: (1983 300d)
-Exterior rocker panels below doors
-Gauge Custer plastic window/indicator icons

(1983 300D Turbo)