LED Brake Light Bulb Question
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Joined: Nov 2012
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2005 C230 Sport Sedan
LED Brake Light Bulb Question
Hello all. I'm planning on smoking out my tail lights and replacing all halogen bulbs with LEDs. Now my question is, should I get white LEDs or red ones? I understand that under normal circumstances, white would be the better choice (better illumination because the housing itself is painted red), but in this case, the outside would be painted black, so which one do I go for? 
Thread will be deleted once I have a solid answer.
Thread will be deleted once I have a solid answer.
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From: NY, NY
2004 C240 4matic, 2009 C300 4Matic
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
Hello all. I'm planning on smoking out my tail lights and replacing all halogen bulbs with LEDs. Now my question is, should I get white LEDs or red ones? I understand that under normal circumstances, white would be the better choice (better illumination because the housing itself is painted red), but in this case, the outside would be painted black, so which one do I go for?
Thread will be deleted once I have a solid answer.
Thread will be deleted once I have a solid answer.
Your rear lamps are conventional incandescent lamps. Red LED's have a higher light output, and will shine seamlessly through red plastic. You are also better off with red if the lens breaks, you will not show red to the rear.
You have a rear SAM that measures current through the lamps and will send a message to the instrument cluster if the current is too high or too low. Most LED's use way less current than an incandescent lamp with the same lumens. Sellers of these LED's will add a resistor in the LED base to make the SAM feel comfortable, but they can get quite warm and might melt nearby plactics.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 139
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2005 C230 Sport Sedan
There are no halogen lamps on the rear of your car. Only headlamps and foglamps are halogen type.
Your rear lamps are conventional incandescent lamps. Red LED's have a higher light output, and will shine seamlessly through red plastic. You are also better off with red if the lens breaks, you will not show red to the rear.
You have a rear SAM that measures current through the lamps and will send a message to the instrument cluster if the current is too high or too low. Most LED's use way less current than an incandescent lamp with the same lumens. Sellers of these LED's will add a resistor in the LED base to make the SAM feel comfortable, but they can get quite warm and might melt nearby plactics.
Your rear lamps are conventional incandescent lamps. Red LED's have a higher light output, and will shine seamlessly through red plastic. You are also better off with red if the lens breaks, you will not show red to the rear.
You have a rear SAM that measures current through the lamps and will send a message to the instrument cluster if the current is too high or too low. Most LED's use way less current than an incandescent lamp with the same lumens. Sellers of these LED's will add a resistor in the LED base to make the SAM feel comfortable, but they can get quite warm and might melt nearby plactics.
In the meanwhile, can anyone confirm that 7528 is the correct bulb type for me tail light? I know that the brake/reverse is 7506 and the turn signal is 7507.
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
Mercedes Specification: Industry Number:
Brake/Reverse Lamp (Single contact) P 21W 7506
Turn Signal (Single contact Amber) PY 21W 7507
Parking/Side Marker (Dual contact) P 21/5W 7528
Rear Fog/Tail/Standing Lamp (Dual) P 21/4W 7225
European specification lamps are better because the base is nickle plated brass for long life against weather. US and Asian lamps can use aluminum or plain brass bases.
Note: The rear fog lamp is only mounted on the driver's side. (Mercedes accountant is whistling "Save a nickle, save a dime, save a dollar every time.")
Brake/Reverse Lamp (Single contact) P 21W 7506
Turn Signal (Single contact Amber) PY 21W 7507
Parking/Side Marker (Dual contact) P 21/5W 7528
Rear Fog/Tail/Standing Lamp (Dual) P 21/4W 7225
European specification lamps are better because the base is nickle plated brass for long life against weather. US and Asian lamps can use aluminum or plain brass bases.
Note: The rear fog lamp is only mounted on the driver's side. (Mercedes accountant is whistling "Save a nickle, save a dime, save a dollar every time.")
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Vancouver, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe
I've heard some pretty good news about AZN Optics so I'm gonna go ahead and go with their LEDs. Will report back in a few months after I've made the purchase.
In the meanwhile, can anyone confirm that 7528 is the correct bulb type for me tail light? I know that the brake/reverse is 7506 and the turn signal is 7507.
In the meanwhile, can anyone confirm that 7528 is the correct bulb type for me tail light? I know that the brake/reverse is 7506 and the turn signal is 7507.
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