W123 New Lights - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

guyonabuffalo · #1 02-15-2018, 04:24 AM

Just got some new light bulbs recently.

Yellow fog light bulbs

and

LED brake light bulbs

also

some LED license plate light bulbs.

PS. i am obviously a dingdong. I covered my license plate in one photo and did not in the other. Sigh.

Have any of you tried the LED bulbs? Anyone try an LED headlight conversion with a full kit?

Also, any battery drainage and/other electrical gremlins show up after changing to LED bulbs?

I still have some for the dash that I have yet to try. I tried the trunk light (it was amazing for a few hours) but it caused a battery drain - leaving me stranded outside a restaurant. Took it out, charged the battery and battery was fine....has been a week, no battery problems. I m suspecting something weird is going on. The switch that turns the trunk light off works perfectly, I even got in the trunk and had a friend close it to make sure.

Bengoshi2000 · #2 02-15-2018, 07:42 AM

I don't know of a single LED drop-in for headlights that would improve on the Euro's w/ halogen that you are running now. If you had the US Spec 7" rounds, there are LED or HID headlight assemblies that replace the old sealed beam. Some of those are superior (some are Chinese crapola).

I put some LEDs in for the main gauge illumination of my former w123. Superior in all aspects (and no electrical gremlins).

guyonabuffalo · #3 02-15-2018, 04:18 PM

@Bengoshi2000 Thanks for the advice. I was considering one of those kits but after checking the connectors and making sure the pins are seated well, I se to have made my lights brighter.

There is a chance that vibration and shaking just loosened the pins out enough to cause dimmer lights. After some testing last night, I seem to be back to normal. Didnt really need to replace the bulbs either....oh well.

BirthdayBenz · #4 02-15-2018, 05:19 PM

I put a LED bulb in my dome light and regretted it. It would work intermittently. I've since switched back to the old warm yellow.

mhin1956 · #5 02-15-2018, 05:33 PM

bought some off of internet some time ago for bulbs in dash '87 300sdl. My sight is suffering as are the old bulbs. I got out on web and found "temp range" for color of standard bulbs, along with output and matched closely. Installed in minutes and wondered why I didn't do it sooner. I can now actually see the instruments at night (yes the dimmer switch was rebuilt) No gremlins and now can see when I'm going too fast....
cheap, effective upgrade!

maceo1973 · #6 02-16-2018, 09:33 AM

I'm not sure what you guys may think of this, but I found a pair of 7" LED headlamps locally from a Jeep owner who was selling his Jeep and wanted it back to stock.

With a little modification to the wiring and the metal backing I was able to get them installed. I do have a pair of complete light units to bring it to stock again if I wish to.

The main reason I tried the LEDs was because I changed jobs and now do a lot of night driving and found the original 'yellowy' sealed beams totally inadequate at night.

These LEDs have 'halo' setting when turning the switch to the first position, no photo, but could post one if anyone is interested, and turn signal flashers built in. The second position provides very good crisp white light output and the hi-beams are just insanely bright.

t walgamuth · #7 02-16-2018, 09:40 AM

That sounds great!

Bengoshi2000 · #8 02-16-2018, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maceo1973

The main reason I tried the LEDs was because I changed jobs and now do a lot of night driving and found the original 'yellowy' sealed beams totally inadequate at night.

How about a pic from the driver's seat showing us how these look at night to the driver?

vwnate1 · #9 02-16-2018, 10:23 AM

Firstly, we need BRANDS and PART NUMBERS ! .

I've been changing my entire vehicle fleet over to LED's, I love them and so does my alternator !

.

The trunk lamp is terrific and never had any battery drain .

Just recently I discovered 'Festoon' (dome and trunk typ) LEDs that have 12 segments so they throw out far more light than the usual 4 segment ones do and they're cheap too @ $6 each .

As soon as I get the store to stock more I'll post the info and a pic. of the package too .

I'm sad to see that beautiful coupe in the snow as the salt will eat it up ere long .

Same color as my battered and beloved Coupe .

maceo1973 · #10 02-16-2018, 10:47 AM

Necessity requires I drive it in the snow - makes me sad too!!

Once darkness descends I’ll get some pics from the driver’s seat.

vwnate1 · #11 02-16-2018, 11:26 AM

Thanx ~ I've been unable to find LED dashboard bulbs and am keen to buy some .

maceo1973 · #12 02-21-2018, 03:09 PM

I managed to snap a couple of pics of my led headlights on a foggy night.

Difficult to find anywhere dark enough when you live in a city plus the snow reflects a lot of light.

The photos seem to rotate correctly when you click on them. First is low beam, second is high beam.

mtnaggie · #13 02-21-2018, 05:35 PM

I would love to know what make and model of Jeep those are. My dad is 88 and complaining about brightness with the 7" H4s I put in his 123.

As for the instrument cluster bulbs, I bought some recently from SuperBrightLEDs, but the bulb burned up the conducting strip in the circuit board forcing a hasty soldering job to fix the problem. I couldn't find any directions regarding polarity for these, so I obviously got them in wrong.

Jorn · #14 02-21-2018, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

Thanx ~ I've been unable to find LED dashboard bulbs and am keen to buy some .

I've found the ones I'm using in the dash of my 300SE on Amazon. The only place they don't work was in the spider that lights up the panel with the AC/heater knobs.

For the trunk, just as in all my closets and bathrooms (the longer versions) I use these, light up immediately when I open the trunk and will never drain the batery:

https://www.amazon.com/OxyLED-Anywhere-Wireless-Magnetic-Wardrobe/dp/B0722HPZGH/ref=pd_ybh_a_160?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7Y00A2EJ6HXQK0X9XMMS

Photo taken in a pitch black garage.

vwnate1 · #15 02-21-2018, 11:06 PM

Festoon typ LED bulbs are cheap and easy to find, I was in an older electronics store and noticed an LED display that had 12 segment cool white festoon typ LED's and bought the two the had, installed them in my '82 240D's front & rear dome lights, WOW what an improvement plus as mentioned : they'll never run the battery dead .

I have to see if I can talk them into ordering more, they said it was 'D' stock : sell until gone and don't re order

.

I have two more W123's I want these in .

I need a link to the LED dashbulbs.....