Taking the brake light mod a step further... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pawoSD · #1 05-07-2007, 10:41 PM

Upon viewing like 4 forum members cars being rear ended, as well as my dad's, in the past few months. I have concluded that the reason for this is (elevated) by the fact that our cars (the pre-86 people) have no third brake light in back. Sure we can do the mod with the extra light in the lightbar where the fogs would have been, and its a good improvement, but it still leaves all the light down on the bottom, at the height level of honda civics and other "normal" cars. This leaves the SUV crowd not seeing our lights so readily, as they sit so much higher, and are looking higher. I know when I am driving on most cars with them I see the 3rd light first when they slow down. So, we bought a couple 16-super high intensity LED brake light "bars" for $15 each on ebay. They are MEGA bright, just like an OEM third LED light on a typical SUV or car, they stick to the window at the top and then you just solder/splice them into the brake wiring, and thats it. We installed them on both of our SD's tonight, and they look incredible, especially in the dark. SUPER bright and very attention getting. Especially with the other mod, we now have 5 separate sources of brake lighting on the cars.

84 watts of incandescent, and a ton of LED output. I'll try to get some day/night pics on here in a day or two, but they are totally worth it. I stood back about 30 feet and looked when they came on, if you can't see that, then you're probably asleep. So I am very satisfied with the results. Anyone else considered this before? I am sure it will lower the percent of risk of general rear-endings for those of us without the 3rd light in back. Its also high up, meaning it will be seen by those pesty SUV/Hummer and pickup drivers....

jap · #2 05-07-2007, 10:43 PM

i've definetely considered it. i'd like to see pictures if youc an

pawoSD · #3 05-07-2007, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jap

i've definetely considered it. i'd like to see pictures if youc an

I'll try to put some up tomorrow evening, so I can get both day and night pics.

vstech · #4 05-07-2007, 11:02 PM

I wanna do it, but I want it to be very tastefull. I gotta see what it looks like from inside, and from the rear with the lights off. also of course how good the lights look on...
John

Mustang_man298 · #5 05-07-2007, 11:30 PM

This gets me to thinkin', I have somewhere in my stash, a set of '40 Ford seargeant stripe chevron taillights. I wonder how those would look frenched into the ends at the rear ledge of the trunk lid?...lol

ImBroke · #6 05-08-2007, 04:51 PM

I wonder if we can add the 5 flashes to the brake lights on ours? Where it pulses a few times when you step on the brakes, then goes solid.

arew264 · #7 05-08-2007, 06:09 PM

Reminds me of a friend's idea for stopping tailgaters:
put a neon light (of "the finger") in your back window and wire it so it you tap the brakes three times it toggles on or off.
What would be funny would be if a cop saw it... Oops, officer, it must've been those pranksters that broke into my car...

Cephallus · #8 05-08-2007, 06:37 PM

i don't mean to come off as a curmudgeon, but it seems to me that we're in a lighting arms-race that's making the road less safe. some people's brake lights are so bright now, especially the new civic led lights (GAH), that they burn into my retinas and i can't see anything for 4 or 5 seconds after they're gone.

the mod that i've done to restore my brake lights to their original spec is to re-chrome the reflectors in the housing (one pair using reflective plumber's tape, worked very well) and to polish the housings to remove the fog/haze from age. also cleaning the interior of the lens can make an amazing difference.

i'm with you on the safety issue, though...and i'd sure like to see pics of how your installation looks.

85chedeng300D · #9 05-08-2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cephallus

i don't mean to come off as a curmudgeon, but it seems to me that we're in a lighting arms-race that's making the road less safe. some people's brake lights are so bright now, especially the new civic led lights (GAH), that they burn into my retinas and i can't see anything for 4 or 5 seconds after they're gone.

the mod that i've done to restore my brake lights to their original spec is to re-chrome the reflectors in the housing (one pair using reflective plumber's tape, worked very well) and to polish the housings to remove the fog/haze from age. also cleaning the interior of the lens can make an amazing difference.

i'm with you on the safety issue, though...and i'd sure like to see pics of how your installation looks.

That's the idea, IMHO, that's good!

Therefore the initial reaction of the driver behind you is to step on his or her brake and keep a safe distance and back off from your car.

pawoSD · #10 05-08-2007, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85chedeng300D

That's the idea, IMHO, that's good!

Therefore the initial reaction of the driver behind you is to step on his or her brake and keep a safe distance and back off from your car.

Exactly!

arew264 · #11 05-08-2007, 07:17 PM

I think Cephallus's point is not to say that we shouldn't try to get people to see us, just that at some point you DO have to draw a line between safety and insanity.

I can see a third brake light, that is pretty standard on many cars like ours, but at some point, you have to say this is good and not keep adding lights (

).

Personally, when I get the opporitunity, I will probably install a third LED light at the top of the rearview window and say it's good. It doesn't have to be blindingly bright, just visible.

85chedeng300D · #12 05-08-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arew264

I think Cephallus's point is not to say that we shouldn't try to get people to see us, just that at some point you DO have to draw a line between safety and insanity.

I can see a third brake light, that is pretty standard on many cars like ours, but at some point, you have to say this is good and not keep adding lights (

).

Personally, when I get the opporitunity, I will probably install a third LED light at the top of the rearview window and say it's good. It doesn't have to be blindingly bright, just visible.

I agree, but who is insane enough to install a Xenon or HID third brake light to go beyond safety.

My point is, since these older MB car did not came with a third brake light, if we have the resources and a creative imagination to upgrade our 20+ year old car, why half-a$$ it, if we can install something that is bright enough to call the attention of the driver behind us no matter what the road and weather condition is, whether the car behind you has an eyesight problem or what.

Personally, if the car in fron of me has a bright brake light that is glaring me evertime he or she steps on their brake, it's either I back off 4 to 5 cars behind or change my lane and pass 'em.

pawoSD · #13 05-08-2007, 09:55 PM

Here finally are some pics in the dark....this is on the '83...mine looks the same.

and this is the 3rd light up close....you can see the radio screen in the car too....

1985 300SD Sady · #14 05-08-2007, 10:05 PM

Looks good.

Looks to me like the brightness of the LEDs matches that of the incandescent bulbs.

I will be doing the break light mod soon, as well as adding a factory 3rd brake light (from a later w126) that I got at the yard.

babymog · #15 05-08-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85chedeng300D

That's the idea, IMHO, that's good!

Therefore the initial reaction of the driver behind you is to step on his or her brake and keep a safe distance and back off from your car.

I don't agree. My reaction would be to get in front of you, regardless of what it takes. I'm not alone.

When I am distracted/blinded by illegal headlamps or taillamps, it makes me want to get away from them, not follow. Better make sure they have DOT approval also, or a ticket might be in your future.

I take my cues from encountering many high-beam drivers in the past few years. If you're in front of them, you can flash your lights, tap your brakes, signal to them in any way possible, and likely they'll never notice. You can't fix stupid and the people who tailgate or drive with squirrel-spotter headlamps are completely unaware of thier surroundings and the possible result of their driving style.

So, install a CHMSL if you want, but keep it within reasonable and legal light output, someone has to sit behind you at a stoplight. Don't be like the many Infinity and Oldsmobile drivers out there who can't find the off switch to their really cool rear fog lamps.