Jim Banville

I want to make the 3rd brake light (LED array) blink/flash approx. 2 times/sec. Will this do the trick? Any other recommendations?
I thought about doing this a while back, then I read an article somewhere where MB was thinking about doing this on future cars.

thanks!

Jim Banville

I found the article... http://www.germancarfans.com/news.cf...ercedes/1.html

raymond g-

EU may endorse this, but I don't recall DOT having done so yet. So you
takes your chances. Bikers would do this occasionally on both front as
well as rear lights. Some have rec'd citations, some warnings, some have
nothing.

mleskovar

I wonder if it will give you an error? Should work though but I'm not an electronics/electrical expert. If you just pull the third brake light does it give an error? Finally, a mod I like

amdeutsch

As long as you make sure that the current draw is at least what the basic LED setup is it should work.

Now how the onboard control 'puter will react to an an/off current draw scenario only JB can tell us once he gets done installing it. :p

Jim Banville

I may get this one, since it will only flash a few times before going to a steady glow.

Capt Nemo o2

That ones not too bad... where are you going to install it? right after the pedal switch so all the lights will flash? If you did that, would it have any issues with the brakes, like ABS and brake assist? I dont know if they use that switch or not.

Jim Banville

No, I'll probably install it in the trunk lid, behind the carpeted trim. It will only be for the 3rd brake light.

Capt Nemo o2

Oh ok! then I wouldnt foresee any problems other than maybe an error for a burnt bulb or something. Crazy Germans and their uber complicated electronics!!!

Jim Banville

I think it is solid state (intergrated circuit) rather than a relay, so it may present a steady load.

jedcred

I think that's a really good idea. They should really use it on all cars, so people would know how much someone is really braking (more rapid flashing, then solid depending upon how much brake pedal is depressed). The number of times I see people accelerate up a hill with their brake lights on is, well, innumerable. However, I wonder if this would have an adverse effect on epileptic people (sensitive to repeating flashing lights, imagine an entire highway during rush hour lit up like that). That would be slightly bad.

Capt Nemo o2

LOL!!! Thats just wrong!!! I like it!

vadim

Those are not LED, but regular incandescent bulbs, BTW. Replacing them with LED has been on my mod list for a long time. I will post all the steps and parts needed when I find time to do it.

Jim Banville

Okay. Thanks

ffejalink

Many of the new Nissan's have this feature (blink a few times, then go solid). I've noticed it on several Maximas and Quests. It's rather distracting. Personally, it gets irritating in traffic when you move 5 feet, then hit the branks again and watch it flash. It's always the little things...

Jim Banville

Great! It's grabbing your attention, just like it is supposed to

MB-BOB

Many of the F-150 Ford pick-em-ups around here have this feature too. Doesn't make me want to run to the auto parts store to imitate it, really...

Well, the centered, high mounted stoplight (CHMSL) did get alot of attention when it was new. So did Daytime Running Lamps. But now that all vehicles in the US have them, they are extremely easy to ignore now. Perhaps they have a subliminal effect, but I find these gimicks largely ineffective now. The flashing CHMSL is (or will be) the same, imo.

Justinius7

The flashy lights.. Very annoying, but they do catch your attention (which is the entire reason to have brake lights).

The other day i followed a car that had that feature of blinking diff # of times, per braking cycle. I must say, i was paying more attention to how it decided how many times to flash then anything else. I would opt for a blinking light of like 3 or 4 times only.

Although, i would put that set up on for safety reason. Let us know if it sends any faults to you display.

Capt Nemo o2

Thats exactly how I feel about Stop Signs and Red Lights!!!

Gregs210

This sounds interesting; I've got one on my ST2, but it will be interesting to see if it sets off the "lamp malfunction" warning on the MBZ. If it weren't such booger to get out of the bike, I'd try it on the Benz and see.

Post back up whoever tries it first. I can already picture a sea of flashing MBZ 3rd brake lights...

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

Justinius7

Post back up whoever tries it first. I can already picture a sea of flashing MBZ 3rd brake lights...

Okay... now i am curious... So where does one get one of these little gizzmo's without buying off the internet? Pepboys/kragen/circuit city/frys...?

Jim Banville

My manual says my car's "high mount brake light" is LED

amdeutsch

So does my 03 manual in regards to the mirror blinkers. And we all know that was wrong.

Proof!

Jim Banville

I went out and pulled down the carpet trim on the bottom of the trunk lid to see what I could see. The light bar is in there in such a way I don't want to try to get it out unless I HAD to! I saw the "bulbs" were mounted directly to a long, thin PCB board, but I guess that could be incandescent or LED. I was sort of surprised to see a pair of antenna leads for the sat radio up in there. I also saw a little module on top of the rear fuse box with "Delphi" on it. I guess that is what the antenna leads are connected to. Part # was A 201 820 91 26. BTW, I left the carpet trim off of the trunk lid in case I decide to try mounting the brake light blinker I took pics, but the battery in my camera died

vadim

Jim--

It may well be for your car, actually - just like the mirror blinkers. On C Class MY 2002 it was not. So, I take my previous comment back.

Now, this brings about a question: is the 3-rd stop light P/N the same between the sedan and the coupe? If it is, then it should be easy to retrofit the LED light on cars of previous MY's.

If unsure, it is very easy to tell if the light is LED: those light up and extinguish very quickly - noticeably quicker than incandescent bulbs; a human eye can detect the speed difference. Have someone hit the brake pedal while you watch from behind. If all 3 lights come up simultaneously - they are all incandescent. If the 3-rd light is visibly ahead of the two side signals - it is LED.