Vent knob lights!
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Vent thumb wheel lights!
I'm going to post a DIY when this is done if anyone is interested.
I'm adding LEDs to the vent knobs (the airflow knobs on each vent to turn them on and off). They come stock on the C320. Other vehicles are missing the LEDs and the wiring.
My question: Does anyone know where I can tap a power source near the dash that only turns on when the lights are on? It's not a lot of amperage just 4 LEDs with resistors. Is there a power source where the vents would plug in if i had that option?
Thanks
I'm adding LEDs to the vent knobs (the airflow knobs on each vent to turn them on and off). They come stock on the C320. Other vehicles are missing the LEDs and the wiring.
My question: Does anyone know where I can tap a power source near the dash that only turns on when the lights are on? It's not a lot of amperage just 4 LEDs with resistors. Is there a power source where the vents would plug in if i had that option?
Thanks
Last edited by acr2001; Nov 23, 2009 at 01:34 AM.
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From: VA
THE C350
no clue but is it really worth it? i have mine turned down all the way because i think they are annoying lol
just had a thought what about the power for the ash tray light? it also dims with the knob on the IC.
just had a thought what about the power for the ash tray light? it also dims with the knob on the IC.
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2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
That's be a great DIY!
The ashtray light is probably the closest source which would suit the requirements, or the cigarette lighter surround light.
Looking forward to youre DIY. Dont forget to take pics..
The ashtray light is probably the closest source which would suit the requirements, or the cigarette lighter surround light.
Looking forward to youre DIY. Dont forget to take pics..
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2012 C300 4Matic
Ash tray light sounds like an idea, I just don't want to overload the circuit. Is that light an LED or a bulb?
I wonder if I can tap into that voltage source directly without resistors on the LEDs....
Last edited by acr2001; Nov 22, 2009 at 10:45 PM.
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From: VA
THE C350
Honestly I'm doing it because I was looking for a simple project to waste some time.
Ash tray light sounds like an idea, I just don't want to overload the circuit. Is that light an LED or a bulb?
I wonder if I can tap into that voltage source directly without resistors on the LEDs....
Ash tray light sounds like an idea, I just don't want to overload the circuit. Is that light an LED or a bulb?
I wonder if I can tap into that voltage source directly without resistors on the LEDs....
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Honestly I'm doing it because I was looking for a simple project to waste some time.
Ash tray light sounds like an idea, I just don't want to overload the circuit. Is that light an LED or a bulb?
I wonder if I can tap into that voltage source directly without resistors on the LEDs....
Ash tray light sounds like an idea, I just don't want to overload the circuit. Is that light an LED or a bulb?
I wonder if I can tap into that voltage source directly without resistors on the LEDs....
Theyre both 12V 0.5A incandescent bulbs. So you will definitely need resistors to knock the voltage down to a voltage which the LED can handle.
You wont need load balancers because the SAM doesn't monitor those lights..so varying power draw wont be a problem
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2012 C300 4Matic
Photos coming tomorrow with any luck.
Soldered some surface mount LEDs to some thin wires. They get shoved into the back of the thumb wheel, positioned so that the light faces the center of the symbol on the wheel, and then the thumb wheel is filled with hot glue locking the LED in place.
Next question is how to remove the side vents. Already removed the center vent.
I'm hoping I can snake the wire from the ash tray to the top of the dash without removing my comand unit... otherwise this is a hell of a lot of work for these lights. I'm going to use wire taps so that this is all totally reversible (no factory wires spliced or cut).
Soldered some surface mount LEDs to some thin wires. They get shoved into the back of the thumb wheel, positioned so that the light faces the center of the symbol on the wheel, and then the thumb wheel is filled with hot glue locking the LED in place.
Next question is how to remove the side vents. Already removed the center vent.
I'm hoping I can snake the wire from the ash tray to the top of the dash without removing my comand unit... otherwise this is a hell of a lot of work for these lights. I'm going to use wire taps so that this is all totally reversible (no factory wires spliced or cut).
Last edited by acr2001; Nov 23, 2009 at 03:15 AM.
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
You have to also make sure that the LED's are the diffused variety and not the focussed type.
This will ensure even spread of the light across the entire area of the knob and not concentrate it in the center.
This will ensure even spread of the light across the entire area of the knob and not concentrate it in the center.
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Center vents done!
This worked out a lot better than I expected. Haven't put it in the car yet, but the light looks identical to stock as far as I can tell.
Have to route the wires into the thumb wheels carefully so that they can go through their full motion without putting stress on the wires.
Positioned the LEDs very carefully for the right light pattern and then held in place by injecting hot glue into the thumb wheel - but it can't get between the LED and the front of the wheel!
Everything is held together with hot glue (which actually worked well).
Resistors (2 per LED): 3.65k ohm 1/4W 1% Metal Film Resistors (had these from a previous project and doubling them in parallel works fine)
LEDs: Osram LYT670 Yellow SMT Bought from this seller: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=110429887995
This worked out a lot better than I expected. Haven't put it in the car yet, but the light looks identical to stock as far as I can tell.
Have to route the wires into the thumb wheels carefully so that they can go through their full motion without putting stress on the wires.
Positioned the LEDs very carefully for the right light pattern and then held in place by injecting hot glue into the thumb wheel - but it can't get between the LED and the front of the wheel!
Everything is held together with hot glue (which actually worked well).
Resistors (2 per LED): 3.65k ohm 1/4W 1% Metal Film Resistors (had these from a previous project and doubling them in parallel works fine)
LEDs: Osram LYT670 Yellow SMT Bought from this seller: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=110429887995
Last edited by acr2001; Nov 24, 2009 at 02:11 AM.
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2012 C300 4Matic
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To be honest, i really never look back there at night, so i dont remember if they light up or not. i personally dont think its really worth it doing the rear knob even if you can. GL
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Was this a C320-only thing or was this something they deleted during the 2005 facelift? Because they progressively deleted stuff from 2005 to 2007, as you already know.
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2012 C300 4Matic
I also added the LEDs back to the symbols around the headlight switch (using the same LEDs and resistors) but that was much easier as they only had to be soldered to the existing leads on the circuit board. I think they deleted those lights in 2005.
I'm surprised the 07's still include a windshield
If I completely lose my mind I might install some footwell lighting too (but it would be very dim - same as MB does stock in the E class)
Last edited by acr2001; Nov 24, 2009 at 02:51 AM.
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Center vents done!
This worked out a lot better than I expected. Haven't put it in the car yet, but the light looks identical to stock as far as I can tell.
Have to route the wires into the thumb wheels carefully so that they can go through their full motion without putting stress on the wires.
Positioned the LEDs very carefully for the right light pattern and then held in place by injecting hot glue into the thumb wheel - but it can't get between the LED and the front of the wheel!
Everything is held together with hot glue (which actually worked well).
Resistors (2 per LED): 3.65k ohm 1/4W 1% Metal Film Resistors (had these from a previous project and doubling them in parallel works fine)
LEDs: Osram LYT670 Yellow SMT Bought from this seller: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=110429887995
This worked out a lot better than I expected. Haven't put it in the car yet, but the light looks identical to stock as far as I can tell.
Have to route the wires into the thumb wheels carefully so that they can go through their full motion without putting stress on the wires.
Positioned the LEDs very carefully for the right light pattern and then held in place by injecting hot glue into the thumb wheel - but it can't get between the LED and the front of the wheel!
Everything is held together with hot glue (which actually worked well).
Resistors (2 per LED): 3.65k ohm 1/4W 1% Metal Film Resistors (had these from a previous project and doubling them in parallel works fine)
LEDs: Osram LYT670 Yellow SMT Bought from this seller: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=110429887995
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 24, 2009 at 06:39 AM.
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2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
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I know that 2005 was the last year of real leather inserts. 2006 and 2007 cars had all MB-Tex, unless ordered with leather. At some point the tow-away sensor was deleted after 2005, but not sure if that was 2006 or 2007. The LEDs on the headlight controls were deleted in 2005. But from another thread on this board, some 2005s (early ones, I guess) had them. My car has a production date of 1/25/2005 and does not have LEDs in the headlight switch.
2005 was the last year of standard side airbags in the rear doors. 2006-2007 had this as an option.
The 2007 cars got cheap door lock tabs, and the surround on the headlight switch was black regardless of interior color.
ACR might want to chime in here.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; Nov 24, 2009 at 05:03 PM.
