Anyone ever changed their ambient lighting on their 221?
#27
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Roseville, Ca
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
3 Posts
01 ML55 / 97 E320/01 CLK55/ 2010 S550
As of now there is not a kit available. It's custom cut and fitted in. I'm not sure what the demand for this is going to be. This type of installation requires some work and if you've never soldered small delicate parts, run wires through the doors, or used cutting tools such as a Dremel, it could be a challenge to do. It's not super hard, just have to be inclined to take on a job like this. It is an all day job minimum. I plan on doing another S550 with another member here that is local.
#29
As of now there is not a kit available. It's custom cut and fitted in. I'm not sure what the demand for this is going to be. This type of installation requires some work and if you've never soldered small delicate parts, run wires through the doors, or used cutting tools such as a Dremel, it could be a challenge to do. It's not super hard, just have to be inclined to take on a job like this. It is an all day job minimum. I plan on doing another S550 with another member here that is local.
#30
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Roseville, Ca
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
3 Posts
01 ML55 / 97 E320/01 CLK55/ 2010 S550
What year and model car you have? You are talking about the board with the transistor circuit to reverse the polarity so you can control a single color through the comand or three colors if it's a 2010 s550?
#36
MBWorld God!
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: on my way
Posts: 30,687
Received 3,419 Likes
on
2,857 Posts
2012 CLS63
nice work mbmoding, I have been after the shop I like for years to make some puddle lights for my CLS haha.....
have you ever done those?
I do like my side mirror mod a lot; before I got rid of that black E class I had the guys snip the wires so the dealer didn't get that coolness LOL
stay well and let the modding continue
have you ever done those?
I do like my side mirror mod a lot; before I got rid of that black E class I had the guys snip the wires so the dealer didn't get that coolness LOL
stay well and let the modding continue
#37
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Roseville, Ca
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
3 Posts
01 ML55 / 97 E320/01 CLK55/ 2010 S550
nice work mbmoding, I have been after the shop I like for years to make some puddle lights for my CLS haha.....
have you ever done those?
I do like my side mirror mod a lot; before I got rid of that black E class I had the guys snip the wires so the dealer didn't get that coolness LOL
stay well and let the modding continue
have you ever done those?
I do like my side mirror mod a lot; before I got rid of that black E class I had the guys snip the wires so the dealer didn't get that coolness LOL
stay well and let the modding continue
I did puddle lights on my former 07 CLS63. I posted pics of it on this site. Yes I can do it.
#38
Interested
How much do you charge to install the ambient lighting? I'll pay you top dollar. I have a 2008 S65 AMD with just yellow ambient lighting. I would prefer purple or blue as my 1 color. Let me know!!!
I drew a diagram of how to wire the factory lights to the controller. Now this is for the single ambient light. For the three color you have to use the dual transistor setup. If you plan on using the factory command for the stock ambient light color then you don't need to use this diagram. If you are planning to use the the factory command but use one of the RGB colors then this diagram is a must. This will allow you to use one color of your choice and control it by the factory command and have the option to turn off the lights from the comand center and use the RGB controller for choice of color. Personally I do not like the factory ambient color of light. Once you dial in the RGB color to your liking, you will not want to go back to the stock dim amber lighting. All the females just love the colors, it hypnotizes them everytime. It is a bit of task to do this job and for any first timer, you have to be good at soldering, dremelling, and running wires. It's somewhat a delicate job. It's easy to break contact on the RGB strip if you tug it the wrong way. Once done you will realize it was worth every minute you have put into it.
#40
MBWorld Fanatic!
Cool. This is something I thought of doing for years now...Cool to see one who did. Is it 12V Power on the factory leds? Why didnt you use a bendible led stripe? There are several types out there.
#41
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Roseville, Ca
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
3 Posts
01 ML55 / 97 E320/01 CLK55/ 2010 S550
I used RGB led strips but they won't take the bend on the middle part of the control panel like you would think and you have to cut and solder pieces of the RGB strip to basically make links to fit properly. It isn't simple as sticking an led strip onto it. If you take the wood trim parts out, you'll see why it looks almost impossible to do. There is a ton of trimming and attaching to do. It's no wonder why no one has yet to tackle it. Imagine any one shop installer making one mistake = $$$$ It took me two of these similar jobs to figure out how to do it as perfect as can be. With experience, 8 hours. No experience, days if you don't break anything.
The factory leds take 12vdc positive trigger BUT the RGB uses 12vdc neg. trigger to activate the colors. This is where I had to build a circuit to reverse the polarity. You cannot use relays to do this because you won't be able to fade properly on the colors. It's a very tedious job and honestly it's one of those type of jobs you will work every second of that 8 hours to the fullest and it will make you say "I'll never do it again" The results are just absolutely awesome. It's much more attractive than the ones that come on the new S class. More colors, more features, and much brighter.
#42
Former Vendor of MBWorld
I installed LED throughout my entire car. The second I turned it on they shut off. I BLEW A FUSE! Replaced the fuse and it's been working strong for a little over a year now with no issues.
#43
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
w221 Sclass 320 cdi
Hi,
Can I ask how do you remove the wood dash parts and the door wood trim parts ? do you have any pics of how to remove them ? I have an 06 plate w221 and only one colour which I would love to change to just a different colour not really bothered about changing it to 3. Mine are not very bright either.
Thanks.
Can I ask how do you remove the wood dash parts and the door wood trim parts ? do you have any pics of how to remove them ? I have an 06 plate w221 and only one colour which I would love to change to just a different colour not really bothered about changing it to 3. Mine are not very bright either.
Thanks.
#44
MBWorld Fanatic!
Doors you have to remove the hole door card. Front you only losen the screws on the sides and under the vent cover by the comand screen. Then just slowly and carefully pull it out. Here is mine with LEDs intead of the week original light:
You see the difference clearly on the front doors witch are not replaced here.
You see the difference clearly on the front doors witch are not replaced here.
The following users liked this post:
Marius Daniel (09-24-2020)
The following users liked this post:
Marius Daniel (09-24-2020)
#47
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
w221 Sclass 320 cdi
Wow they look great i defo want to do mine now. What size are the original lamp or leds that are in dash and doors? Could i just replace them with a different brighter led? I really like this mod.
#48
Senior Member
#49
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Roseville, Ca
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
3 Posts
01 ML55 / 97 E320/01 CLK55/ 2010 S550
They use really tiny leds on the end, would not be an easy option and would not be bright enough for most peoples taste to do it. Depending on your year of car, pre 2010 uses single light, 2010 and up uses two led lights. If you plan to do RGB like I did and still want to use the factory command to do the three colors and or multi colors with a remote as well, you need to build a circuit to reverse the polarity of the output of the light going to the ambient light. I had to build a circuit to make this happen but worth the time it took to do it. You can do strips but it can look cheesy if not done right. I had to difuse the light to not make it look spotty. After doing two cars like this, I now know what it takes to do this correctly but it's a lot of work and will take you at least a couple days if you're doing this for the first time. It can be done in a day if you know what you're doing. If you're doing it for the first time, you'll be thinking how the heck you do the center part below the clock without having the strips bend in a direction making the light reflect different or how to make the circuit or run the wires. I used molex connectors in case I need to remove the door panels or the dash so it's a quick disconnect.