Blinking/flashing LED 3rd brake light
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Blinking/flashing LED 3rd brake light
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!
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!
Thread Starter
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
I found the article... http://www.germancarfans.com/news.cf...ercedes/1.html
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
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.
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.
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Will it work?
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 
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From: www.Traben-Trarbach.de
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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
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
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
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.
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
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!!!
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From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
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. 
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by Jim Banville
I want to make the 3rd brake light (LED array)...
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Originally Posted by 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.
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From: San Diego, CA
'14 A6 3.0 TFSI
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...
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Originally Posted by ffejalink
It's rather distracting. Personally, it gets irritating in traffic when you move 5 feet, then hit the branks again and watch it flash. ...
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Originally Posted by 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...
Originally Posted by Jim Banville
Great! It's grabbing your attention, just like it is supposed to
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From: Edmonds... good bye SD
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.
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.
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
Originally Posted by MB-BOB
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.
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From: By the City by the Bay, CA
2001 E320 (210.065), Brilliant Silver; 2002 Ducati ST-2, Arrest-me Red
So who's the guinea pig?
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
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
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From: Edmonds... good bye SD
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...?
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...?
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Originally Posted by 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.
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Originally Posted by Jim Banville
My manual says my car's "high mount brake light" is LED
Proof!
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Originally Posted by amdeutsch
So does my 03 manual in regards to the mirror blinkers. And we all know that was wrong.
Proof!
Proof!
I took pics, but the battery in my camera died 
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by Jim Banville
My manual says my car's "high mount brake light" is LED
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.
Last edited by vadim; May 29, 2005 at 11:56 PM.
