In part of my project to customize my car, I decided to make my instrument lights red. To start, made a "prototype" for my speedo housing. I went to the junk yard and got an extra, and wired it with some spare LEDs I had sitting around. They are WAY too bright right now, even with the dimmer all the way down. I also think the next set of LEDs I get are going to have a wider pattern and blacken the side of them so they are not shining. I didn't think these were going to be the best for the job, I just wanted to see how they would look.

One issue I did find (however I don't know if it's related) is that when I powered up the housing for testing the fuel gauge pegged. I powered down, then when I came to take a test drive after dark and the gauge was dead. I was too lazy to test the unit before modifying it so I don't know if it was messed up before.

I'll keep you guys up on what's happening. It might be a while though until I get to ordering new LEDs.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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My Primary Driver - '85 300CD - 4-speed conversion, 2.47 rear, lowered, euro headlights, rebuilding (not restoring so much)

Wife's - '08 Saab Sportcombi Aero

Riding a '03 Yamaha Warrior

well at least you can see the gauges. I've got 4 cars and all have the worst dash lights I've ever seen. You would think that Mercedes with their great engineering would be able to make dash lights that work as long as the engine. And another thing. What about the upholstery on the benz's? The company's been in business for about 100 years and they still can't figure out how to make a seat that won't self destruct! That's about it for my negatives.
Nice job on the LEDs. Can you post a pic of the single LED units that you're working with? I'd love to be able to see my climate control,window switches, etc at nite.

Nice job. If this is your prototype, you may want to consider using these:
http://www.ledlight.com/t10-wedge-5-ultra-bright-smt-led-light.aspx

I put them in my wagon and they are very bright, completely dimmable and fit in the stock bulb location with no modifications. They are also available in colors. Their design works very well with the light tubes and lenses in our clusters.

You could then get these:
http://www.ledlight.com/t5-74-wedge-round-led-light.aspx
for the CCU and fiber optic spider so your console lights will be a matching color LED.

You'd have to solder in single LEDs for the window switches and I forget the bulb size for the shifter light.


EDIT: Here's what they look like in white:

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Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

So this is LEDs in the stock bulb locations? I've got a bag of bright white LEDs, I may try this. I've got Xenon bulbs now, the advice I'd give on those is don't bother. They've melted the plastic where they sit. Of course they've been there 4 years...

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Sadly Benz-less

Yes, but they are SMT Super Flux 5 LED Lights. 1 forward firing and 4 side firing which is what makes them work well in the stock location. They stick into the light tunnel pretty far which helps too. They are polarized, so they only work if they are oriented in the socket correctly (if they don't work, pull it out and rotate 180˚)

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Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

minimike1 - I just used standard 5mm through mounted LEDs. I stripped the optic lens and soldered in the resistor and LED then filled it in with hot glue. If you still want pics, I am going to be taking it out of the car tomorrow, I can tear it apart and get them for you.

Chad300tdt - I was looking at those before and was going to ask if anybody had tried them. I guess you answered my question before I got the chance to ask it. I just put this setup together because I was bored and it's what I had sitting around. I am still going to consider the type of setup I have only because I don't like the angle where the bulk of light is displayed with the stock lens.

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My Primary Driver - '85 300CD - 4-speed conversion, 2.47 rear, lowered, euro headlights, rebuilding (not restoring so much)

Wife's - '08 Saab Sportcombi Aero

Riding a '03 Yamaha Warrior

I understand that. What I would REALLY like would be rear lit glowing gauge faces with glowing needles.

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Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

Thanks for posting and keep us informed of your progress.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Has anyone looked into LEDs to replace the tail lamp bulbs?

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1985 Euro 300TD Turbo

I am eventually going to get these:
http://www.ledlight.com/s25-27-ultra-bright-smt-led-light.aspx

I know they will fit under the lens for a wagon, but I haven't checked on the sedan or coupe.

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Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

I think the rest of us would too, but until somebody finds a set that will work I am going to keep on this.

There are plenty of replacement bulbs out there, or if you are looking for something more custom, you could always solder up a board. I did that for my motorcycle tail light and it is great!

With most vehicles, you have to either install an additional resistor or replace the relay with a solid state for the blinkers. When signal bulbs go out, the change in resistance makes the blinker work double time. I am not sure if our benz's do that, I haven't had a bulb burn out yet.

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My Primary Driver - '85 300CD - 4-speed conversion, 2.47 rear, lowered, euro headlights, rebuilding (not restoring so much)

Wife's - '08 Saab Sportcombi Aero

Riding a '03 Yamaha Warrior

I run 6 5mm LEDs for the dash lights(Orange) and I am loving it!
As for tail lights, get Luxeon 3 red/orange LEDs-they put out around 150-180 lumens in a 180* pattern

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Yep they do go twice as fast with a bulb out. Happened twice to me already . Your a lucky one.

I really like your project, I've been poking around gathering stuff to completely redo my 240D with LEDs, or at least something a little less.. well yellow .

This is a little off topic, but im also working on hooking up some servos to my headlights and a controller to know the position of the steering wheel and do a DIY "self steering headlights" project. I always wanted a car that steers the light into the turn, who woulnd't .

Nice progress on the project, I have my eye on this thread.

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http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...73378_30-1.jpg

Chad, you're doing all the hard work for me
I've planned on eventually replacing my gauge lights with LED's but haven't looked into it enough yet to see if they have plun-in replacements...turns out they do.

And my next thought was the LED tail lights because the wagon tail lights are so puny. So thanks, I will be saving this thread

Now, I'll do a little of my own legwork to find some LED dome light replacements.

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1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

I'd like led taillights but at $52 plus shipping for two bulbs I gotta pass.