LED/halogen lighting questions: Driving lights/fogs/ reverse lights + ambient

[samiam44]

OK,

I'm in a hunt for some better reverse lights. I'm stock and years a go- on a different car I got some halogen uprated ones from danielstern. Great improvement. I'm up for a modern suggestion for W124s and if someone can suggest one for the W211s. I know they did something silly and soldered in the light bulbs from the factory- but they can be removed I'm told.

I'd like to get something brighter for the driving lights too. I think they are H7's.

The one great improvement that I really like in my W211 vs my W214 is there is an adjustable low level ambient lighting. Anyone have any simple ideas on how I could possibly add-in this feature to our cars. Maybe a power source through an adjustable pot to a diode into the overhead and door lights. I'm assume that all are on one circuit, but I could be wrong.

 

[gsxr]

I'd like to get something brighter for the driving lights too. I think they are H7's.

Not sure which driving lights you are referring to... the front bumper fogs are H1, and the high beams are H3, both 55-watt from the factory. The H7 appeared on the W210, IIRC.

Sorry, can't help with the other questions.

 

[TerryA]

Michael,

Jlaa knows quite a lot about led lighting. He may be able to help. PM him.


Edit: I see Greg also tied in Jlaa’s thread for your convenience.

 

[Ntrepid]

Check out this thread: https://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11530

If you are looking for headlight bulb replacements using LED, check out GTRlighting.com


Robert

 

[Jlaa]

OK,
I'm in a hunt for some better reverse lights. I'm stock and years a go- on a different car I got some halogen uprated ones from danielstern. Great improvement. I'm up for a modern suggestion for W124s .....

If I remember correctly, the bulb out warning system does NOT monitor the reverse lights, correct? If so, you can put LED bulbs in the reverse lights.

EDIT - I just reread my old post. I think you can replace BOTH (not one) of the reverse lights w/ LEDs without tripping the Bulb Out Warning System. I think.

I put these in my Porsche https://www.bergvillfx.com/index.php/products/t-light-hid-and-led/led-bulb-ba15s-1156-white.html and they are very very bright for reversing. This company has a very enthusiastic following in P-car circles and this bulb is really really nice.


Alternatively, you can try to guess and find the "same" bulb on eBay, seeing as how this company in Norway probably buys from the same source (East Asian sources) The key thing is to look for quality CREE or samsung LED chips --- and this specific DESIGN. Usually one or two behind the lens firing rearward, and one-three chips firing radially from the "bulb" in four different directions - 0*/90*/180*/270*.

- Don't get a bulb with gazillions of little LED chips - those are crap because they put out less light and have a way higher MTBF.

You can see this is exactly how the bulb from Bergvill FX is built.

Here are some from eBay that look similar

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-For-Vol...h=item28544c8bc8:g:~YYAAOSwpNxapsqn:rk:7:pf:0

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-50W-C...799817?hash=item41f73c5249:g:mfgAAOSw5wNcJI14

OK,
I'd like to get something brighter for the driving lights too. I think they are H7's.

My two cents - for the headlights and driving lights, just get halogens / +130s. I tried various LEDs and although the light output is substantial, the beam pattern is all wrong (because our cars have a reflectors vs projector lenses) --- as the reflector optics require the light source (filament) to be in a specific location and size in space. I put my front bulbs back to halogen.

OK,
The one great improvement that I really like in my W211 vs my W214 is there is an adjustable low level ambient lighting. Anyone have any simple ideas on how I could possibly add-in this feature to our cars. Maybe a power source through an adjustable pot to a diode into the overhead and door lights. I'm assume that all are on one circuit, but I could be wrong.

Sounds like a cool project, albeit fiddly. Tap a wire from a door pin switch to a potentiometer --- nice idea! The challenge would be to make the potentiometer look "right".

Either

a) hide the potentiometer (like in the ashtray) or
b) convert fader switch (if no longer using the Becker 1432)?

 

[northNH]

Better to add adjustability of the current to the + side of the interior light circuit(s), because...

...the grounding wire for the interior lights from the door jamb switch also allows activation of seat/steering column motors, triggers seat belt presenters (coupe), tied into the alarm system, and who knows what else...