MBCLS550

Hey would anyone be able to provide a part number (or link) for the factory LED license plate lights. After doing some research I've read that the 2012 W212's do in fact have LED license plate lights (as opposed to my 2011). Aftermarket seems to be a little to bright for my liking, and I love the look on our S550.
Thanks

K-A

100% with you! The aftermarket ones are SO bright (I don't get why some aftermarket vendors can't embrace the art of subtlety), so I've passed as well, as they can look kind of cheesy when soooo bright. If the OEM ones are cheap enough (it's not such a big deal to me to have LED license plate lights, but I certainly wouldn't mind them) I'd snap them up. Also, no codes will be thrown I'd assume.

MBCLS550

Amen. I had them on my Audi A4, although they were VERY bright, it looked pretty nice on a white car and went with the obnoxiously bright HID fogs I had up front. The E class is a completely different car though, needs more toned down luxurious lights out back. I'm heading to the Benz dealer this weekend hopefully I can get some info from the parts dept. if no one comes up with it here.

hyperion667

I thought my MY 11 would have led plate lights but it didn't.....
I am however having some put in tomorrow at an indy, along with
new side marker bulbs in led......
also would like to led the side mirror lights.....
I even like the alien lights...or puddle lights as some of you know them...

MBTAZ

I've only come up with:
# A221-820-08-56 Quantity 2 204-221 I would say this one..
# A172-906-11-00 Quantity 2 166-172
But Since 2012 W212 is not Produced for US yet - EPC does not have new Info.
VIN for our 2012-2013 Test Cars do not come up in EPC but Lense looks same as on 204..

MBCLS550

Did you get everything installed? How's it look? If you can post some pics that'd be great because I'm deciding on wether not to use aftermarket bulbs or not I want to see how they look and there's not to many pics of LED license plate lights available on our car.

MBTAZ, thanks for the info I appreciate it. I haven't gotten a chance to get to the parts department at my dealer to check with them they were closed when I went on Sunday.

hyperion667

lights are much, much brighter.......don't have a before pic though....
if you want a really bright plate, get them, if not, reconsider.....
thanx

MBCLS550

Looks great actually, which brand did you go with if you don't mind me asking. Link?
Thanks for the pic!

hyperion667

sorry MBCLS, I have to say I got the place that put them in to buy them....and
am not certain of the brand name, I know they're non error though....

glad the pic could help

K-A

Damn, those are bright, if you pay attention to them in conjunction to the red tails, they're a lot brighter.

hyperion667

oh yes, conjunction........

Gsc

Look great. Has any installed the one's the forum sponsors sell here?

MBCLS550

Ok so I called my dealer quickly, I didn't get the chance to go up there yet. I asked them about the 2012 LED plate lights and I was told that the swap (to the OEM 2012 lights) can't be done because the wiring is setup differently (?). Is this true or am I just being misled?

YYZ-E55

It is most likely true - the aftermarket LEDs have resistor packs installed to simulate a filament bulb. If the computer senses no resistance, it assumes the bulb is burnt out and throws an error light.

The OEM LEDs will not have resistors included (this would defeat the energy savings of the LEDs), thus you'll likely get an error code on the gauge cluster.

MBCLS550

I should have figured that, I thought maybe they had resistors built in as well. Thanks for the help! So does anyone have a suggestion in regards to which LED license plate lights to get? I want a nice white, nothing with a blue tint to it.

MBTAZ

I'm not sure.. I'm going to see if I can get a set of new OEM Lights but it won't be until next week..

MBCLS550

Hyperion did you do the side mirror lights as planned?

hyperion667

not yet....but I am planning on it...
the owner of the shop rigged his mirrors in a very cool way....
they glow led (on the flasher part) and stay on.....and still flash amber when the turn signal is applied.....it's very cool.....
yes, they stay on....but pointed outward.....I'll have to get some pictures, or better yet a video clip of it the next time I go.....
I'll also email him to get the source of the plate led's if that would help any

MBCLS550

That sounds like it looks pretty nice, he might have installed a small LED into the same housing in addition to the amber one? Unless it's something like our S class LED running lights that blink amber but illuminate white when the blinker is off. I love small lighting mods; I haven't gotten around to it on my w212 yet like I did on my Audi. Video/pics would be awesome!
And thanks I'd appreciate it if you could, no biggie though don't go out of your way to find out.

MBTAZ

We just checked 1 hour ago & No more License Plate Lights LED instock in the USA unless your local Dealer already has them in stock..