duke5041

hey guys still kinda new here so not sure if it has been answered yet. I tried to search, but didnt come up with what i needed.

i have the lighting package on my 05 c230 and the regular lights are HID's which i know but the ones to the right of those (parking lights i guess) look bad compared to the HID's. IM guessing they are not HID so i wanted to change them to look more white and not so much like dying *****.

So what size are they? and has anyone replaced them? is it pretty easy to get to or a tight fit?

thanks guys

Burnt Toast

http://www.performanceproducts.com/P...+Bulbs&type=10

if your talking about the citylights that are on when the lghts are on.

CarlsbadKmprssr

Thats the PIAA super white wedge bulb and the Stealth blinkers from Stealth Auto. Install is a snap.

DACHIGGA

Use LEDs if you want to match HIDs in my opinion.

mbny

i agree plus you won't get the ricey blue glow from colored bulbs. looks much cleaner

duke5041

thanks for the response guys. To clear it up, its the lights that stay on when you lock your car for like 15 seconds. They look so dull when driving compared to the HID's.

To the person that posted the pic, thanks.. its the light on the right side, i know its not the main headlight, but just didnt know what the other one was called.

And if thats the light i was talking about i will get them from the site, cause that seems like a pretty good deal.

Thanks guys

c class 279

Where are you guys getting LEDs these days? Are you using load equalizers too?

duke5041

here is a great site i found for LED's.. looks real cheap and has a ton of different options:

http://autolumination.com/194.htm

drexappeal

Just remember that you have to use a Load equalizer to use LED bulbs.

duke5041

sorry im not familiar with the load equalizer or what it does? can u try and help me out on what it is and how i got about installing one?

also would i need it if i just get the 194 bulbs because they are so small?

thanks

amdeutsch

A load equalizer is a marketing term for a resistor. This subject has been discussed numerous time. Using the search function you will find lots of valuable info to help you.

duke5041

ok im gonna search so i can get more familiar with it.. can you let me know in the mean time if i need this in order to run LED's or does it just help them to shine brighter?

drexappeal

It is required. I've already tried and several others have tried to run LED 194's in the sidemarkers and the parking/city lights and it's been discussed that the Benz lighting system cannot accomodate the load of the LED 194's.

Hence, the load equalizer/resistor. Normally, if the light is not a "blinking" light, it would not be required, however due to Benz's lighting set up, it is a must. The only reason I haven't done it yet is because I'm LAZY...LOL...and because that effort means time and time is money and I can't afford to lose that time.

mbbodytech

Has anyone used one of the brake light bulbs? I'm thinking that they might work well, because of the side mounted led's, I'm thinking that it should fill the entire brake light area.

I'm thinking of trying these out, just looking for any input.

duke5041

ok i searched and pretty much found out what the equailizer was and that i dont have any idea how to install it, or how it works. I guess i will just keep the ****ty dull white color bulb on the inside unless i find a bright white 194 non LED bulb. any suggestions?

also i dont need a equalizer if i just change the blinker lights with the stealthauto ones right because they are not LED, just really a different color?

drexappeal

In a simple way of explaining it, the equalizer/resistor is what you need to use ANY LED bulb on the w203 (regardless of which bulb it is). In order to install this, you will need to splice the equalizer/resistor into the wires. Since you are not familiar with what it is, go to ebay and do a search for "load equalizer". There are some stores that sell these on ebay for $8/9 each and have pictures. It's basically two wires w/ a resistor acting as a "middleman" and at the end of the wires are "wire taps" for you to splice into the OEM wiring for whichever bulbs you are making "LED". Not hard to do, but if you've never done wiring, gotta go the "blue bulb" route if you want a "whiter" light or find someone who is experienced doing wiring.

You don't need an equalizer/resistor to change ANY halogen bulb, UNLESS you are going to use a LED version of that bulb.

amdeutsch

The link he posted has them cheaper.

duke5041

Ya thanks for all the info guys. Im gonna pass on the LED stuff for now until i get more familiar with the car. I am just going to get some of the stealth auto types of bulbs and some hyper white 194 wedge bulbs. I figure those will atleast look better than the dull stock colors.

thanks for all the info. I really got a education

drexappeal

amdeutsch, you are correct sir. Didn't even see that post...LOL.

360_iti

imho, superwhite or platinum super white will match your stock 4300K HID.
But if you're using 6000K, use plasma blue.

While you're at it, change your sidemarkers too.. they use the same bulbs.
It'll give uniform look.

drexappeal

I have PIAA platinum white bulbs 194 in my parking lights and they are nowhere near what 194 (6 or 9 setting) LED lights will come out to.

My cousin just put in 194 LED's in his parking lights for his EVO VIII and they match his HID (projectors) SO much better than any blue halogen wedge bulb available.

I'll post pics when I get a chance. I'll show his lights and my lights. This way, you can see the difference.

360_iti

I agree with you. LEDs come out closer to HIDs than halogens do. But since most of us don't want to bother with installing load equalizer, looks like we're stuck with halogens. Thanks to Benz computer system.
I put plasma blue bulbs on my city lights and clear sidemarkers. They look more in harmony with my bi-xenons. Look a lot better than yelowish stock halogen.

drexappeal

That's a definite . The stock city light wedge bulbs look SO ugly with the bi-xenons. I changed the bulbs the next day from when I bought my car!...LOL.

360_iti

drex did u ever change your interior lights as well ?
something like this (click on the "interior xenon") http://www.bimmian.com/39

drexappeal

Been thinking 'bout it for a while. I was thinking of doing a color scheme to match the interior dash lights (orange), but I'm not sure 'bout that anymore. It all depends how much I decide to do with this car. Right now it's my "daily driver", so all the small mods I have time to do, I've been trying to do.

Just had to replace the foglights and it was a p.i.t.a. to get the driver side fog light bulb in...There are actually a few different "lighting" mods I'm thinking about.

Mostly trying to prioritize all my mods and right now, so I'm saving up for my rims, since my suspension should be covered shortly.

Interior lighting will probably be something I'll change when or if I decide to do my "custom" interior idea...

That's the problem. Lots of ideas, not enough cash flow and NO time!...LOL.