W203/CL203 City Light Thread (LED, HID, bulbs) - All you want to know
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
G, the halogen high beam bulbs (h7) shouldn't be dual filament and since you're running HID high beams, that I'm assuming are running fine, I don't think that's the problem.
Strange that the city lights have 2 ground wires. Did you test to make sure that they're both ground wires w/ a multi-meter or voltmeter?
What did you use to tap into the parking lights? T-tap or barrell connector?Only thing I can think of is the connector is lost connection with the wires, so it's not identifying the resistor.
Strange that the city lights have 2 ground wires. Did you test to make sure that they're both ground wires w/ a multi-meter or voltmeter?
What did you use to tap into the parking lights? T-tap or barrell connector?Only thing I can think of is the connector is lost connection with the wires, so it's not identifying the resistor.
I tap them in with splicers. I tried putting a standard 168/194 bulb into it, and its fine.
I think I'm sick of dealing with LEDs and resistors, I think I'm gonna find an alternate source for bi-x matching city lights!
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Either way, I never bothered with the LED city lights because there's so little room to work back there and too much of a PITA to take the headlights out just to do it. My city lights lasted 3 1/2 years (PIAA Extreme whites) before I finally had to replace one of them last year. I ended up switching both of them with Raybrigs, which aren't as "white" looking, but close enough.
With the yellow fogs, it doesn't look as unmatching, so I've been happy.
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
Get some Rosco Colorine #80 blue bulb dye and dip your W5W or 168 (194 is too dim) lamps in it. The bulbs will look blue, but burn near the color of HID lamps.
http://www.rosco.com/us/scenic/colorine_color_chips.asp
In Manhattan, step into Bulbtronics at 9th & 49th to pick some Rosco Colorine up. Cool store if you want some unusual light bulbs.
http://www.rosco.com/us/scenic/colorine_color_chips.asp
In Manhattan, step into Bulbtronics at 9th & 49th to pick some Rosco Colorine up. Cool store if you want some unusual light bulbs.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,424
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From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
Get some Rosco Colorine #80 blue bulb dye and dip your W5W or 168 (194 is too dim) lamps in it. The bulbs will look blue, but burn near the color of HID lamps.
http://www.rosco.com/us/scenic/colorine_color_chips.asp
In Manhattan, step into Bulbtronics at 9th & 49th to pick some Rosco Colorine up. Cool store if you want some unusual light bulbs.
http://www.rosco.com/us/scenic/colorine_color_chips.asp
In Manhattan, step into Bulbtronics at 9th & 49th to pick some Rosco Colorine up. Cool store if you want some unusual light bulbs.
I think I might remove my city lights. lol I actually dont like em on.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
The parking lamps (sometimes called city lights) are the same wedge based lamps in either type of car, incandescent or HID. The lamps are W5W, which means "Wedge, 5 Watts." American spec lamp 168 is very close to this, but rated just a little less wattage than European spec bulb. The lamp is controlled by the front SAM in the same manner. A transistor turns the lamp on and off. There is a small resistor in the SAM that allows the controller in the SAM to read the lamp current. If the value read is very far from 5 watts, you get an error message because the front SAM thinks the bulb has a defect.
German cars generally use brown wires as ground. They are most often connected to terminal 31 on relays. I'll look at my wiring diagram (unrolling now) ahhh, The side light/Parking light E1e3 (left) and E2e3 (right) have two brown wires to one lamp terminal. These connect to ground W9 on the left, and W16/4 on the right.
The front SAM feeds +12 volts to the left lamp on a gray/black wire. The right lamp is fed with a gray/red wire.
The brown wires must all be connected to ground. The reason there are two brown wires is it the lamp socket is being used as a tie point to allow just one wire to be connected to ground.
German cars generally use brown wires as ground. They are most often connected to terminal 31 on relays. I'll look at my wiring diagram (unrolling now) ahhh, The side light/Parking light E1e3 (left) and E2e3 (right) have two brown wires to one lamp terminal. These connect to ground W9 on the left, and W16/4 on the right.
The front SAM feeds +12 volts to the left lamp on a gray/black wire. The right lamp is fed with a gray/red wire.
The brown wires must all be connected to ground. The reason there are two brown wires is it the lamp socket is being used as a tie point to allow just one wire to be connected to ground.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,424
Likes: 3
From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
The parking lamps (sometimes called city lights) are the same wedge based lamps in either type of car, incandescent or HID. The lamps are W5W, which means "Wedge, 5 Watts." American spec lamp 168 is very close to this, but rated just a little less wattage than European spec bulb. The lamp is controlled by the front SAM in the same manner. A transistor turns the lamp on and off. There is a small resistor in the SAM that allows the controller in the SAM to read the lamp current. If the value read is very far from 5 watts, you get an error message because the front SAM thinks the bulb has a defect.
German cars generally use brown wires as ground. They are most often connected to terminal 31 on relays. I'll look at my wiring diagram (unrolling now) ahhh, The side light/Parking light E1e3 (left) and E2e3 (right) have two brown wires to one lamp terminal. These connect to ground W9 on the left, and W16/4 on the right.
The front SAM feeds +12 volts to the left lamp on a gray/black wire. The right lamp is fed with a gray/red wire.
The brown wires must all be connected to ground. The reason there are two brown wires is it the lamp socket is being used as a tie point to allow just one wire to be connected to ground.
German cars generally use brown wires as ground. They are most often connected to terminal 31 on relays. I'll look at my wiring diagram (unrolling now) ahhh, The side light/Parking light E1e3 (left) and E2e3 (right) have two brown wires to one lamp terminal. These connect to ground W9 on the left, and W16/4 on the right.
The front SAM feeds +12 volts to the left lamp on a gray/black wire. The right lamp is fed with a gray/red wire.
The brown wires must all be connected to ground. The reason there are two brown wires is it the lamp socket is being used as a tie point to allow just one wire to be connected to ground.
wow! thanks for the info dude.
I think I know what the issue is. first I need to remove the HID kit. more space to work with.
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From: Sacramento/San Gabriel/Riverside
01' C32o
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento/San Gabriel/Riverside
01' C32o
thanks, yours is looking great also!
diew, don't jinx me pok gai!
come to sac over the summer, cuz i ain't gonna be back up north till summertime 
thanks frank, i was going to get it done at speedway, but i was short on time.. can't miss class because the prof marks me down for no attendance.. biznitch!
haha, i know right? but i had a shoebox in the car for the second video you never did tell me; do you live in elk grove? and if so, where?
NorCal represent...
diew, don't jinx me pok gai!
come to sac over the summer, cuz i ain't gonna be back up north till summertime you never did tell me; do you live in elk grove? and if so, where? NorCal represent...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,560
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From: Sacramento/San Gabriel/Riverside
01' C32o
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento/San Gabriel/Riverside
01' C32o
updated 5/13/08
okay, so some of you guys know i got the LED C Tails, and i couldn't been happier. the LED's are still working fine, i'll update as time goes by.
i got my inspiration from Beaver's Benz, and i also did my tails like him. i liked how it looked on his car, and i like it on mine also! didn't turn out as bad as i thought. w221-kinda ftw!
also met up with spydapig [tien] and we just chilled for a bit at Monterey Trails HS in Elk Grove. haha
+Depo LED Tails
+custom painted [thanks Beaver's Benz for the idea ]
+silver brabus centercaps
+hyperwhite reverse and turn signals [thanks jonathon]
+nexen n3000/n7000 225/40/18 255/35/18 [thanks frank] no more rubbin!
- in the works:
- 05+ side blinkers and wheel well covers!
oh, and can used springs settle again? my front seems to be lower, although i have the same tire sizes..
i got my inspiration from Beaver's Benz, and i also did my tails like him. i liked how it looked on his car, and i like it on mine also! didn't turn out as bad as i thought. w221-kinda ftw!
also met up with spydapig [tien] and we just chilled for a bit at Monterey Trails HS in Elk Grove. haha
+Depo LED Tails
+custom painted [thanks Beaver's Benz for the idea ]
+silver brabus centercaps
+hyperwhite reverse and turn signals [thanks jonathon]
+nexen n3000/n7000 225/40/18 255/35/18 [thanks frank] no more rubbin!
- in the works:
- 05+ side blinkers and wheel well covers!
oh, and can used springs settle again? my front seems to be lower, although i have the same tire sizes..
Last edited by Mu9enx; May 14, 2008 at 12:04 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento/San Gabriel/Riverside
01' C32o
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,840
Likes: 1
From: MA
E90 M3
