Having problems with my LEDs!!! Help !!!!
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Joined: Sep 2012
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w203
Having problems with my LEDs!!! Help !!!!
So I bought some LEDs for my low beam and when I put them on all they do is blink they stay on for a second then turn off my revers lights did it as well I was thinking maybe it's something to do with the resistance on them but know clue!!! has anyone changed there lights
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 527
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From: Carolinas
2005 C230K SS
Yes, it's the resistance. Your car uses resistance readings to determine bulb out condition. Since the LED have very low resistance, LEDs require a load resistor wired in parallel to the bulb to fool the car.
On a side note...LED bulbs are great for turn signals, brake lamps etc but are not practical on a W203 headlamp or indeed any other car they are not designed for. The reflector bowl in your headlamps is not designed for LED bulbs, which have different light output characteristics compared to gas bulbs. They will look brighter but the amount of light they project onto the road (lumens) will be low.
On a side note...LED bulbs are great for turn signals, brake lamps etc but are not practical on a W203 headlamp or indeed any other car they are not designed for. The reflector bowl in your headlamps is not designed for LED bulbs, which have different light output characteristics compared to gas bulbs. They will look brighter but the amount of light they project onto the road (lumens) will be low.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 13
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w203
Yes, it's the resistance. Your car uses resistance readings to determine bulb out condition. Since the LED have very low resistance, LEDs require a load resistor wired in parallel to the bulb to fool the car.
On a side note...LED bulbs are great for turn signals, brake lamps etc but are not practical on a W203 headlamp or indeed any other car they are not designed for. The reflector bowl in your headlamps is not designed for LED bulbs, which have different light output characteristics compared to gas bulbs. They will look brighter but the amount of light they project onto the road (lumens) will be low.
On a side note...LED bulbs are great for turn signals, brake lamps etc but are not practical on a W203 headlamp or indeed any other car they are not designed for. The reflector bowl in your headlamps is not designed for LED bulbs, which have different light output characteristics compared to gas bulbs. They will look brighter but the amount of light they project onto the road (lumens) will be low.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
From: SO FLORIDA
2010 E350 SPORT SEDAN, 2006 C280 4MATIC- SOLD 2009 FORD F-250, 2015 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID, 2013 MB E550
LED LIGHTS A BLINKIN...
-YES SIR; IT IS YOUR RESISTANCE OR LACK THEREOF.
THE NEW LED'S DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESISTANCE TO SATISFY THE LIGHT CIRCUIT SO YOU WILL GET INTERMITTENT LIGHTING
-AND POSSIBLY A FAILED LIGHT WARNING ON YOUR DASH DISPLAY.
YOU'LL NEED TO PUT A LOAD IN EACH LIGHT CIRCUIT VIA A RESISTOR.
WHERE DID YOU BUY YOUR LIGHTS?, THEY SHOULD HAVE ALSO OFFERED THE ACCOMPANYING RESISTORS TOO.
I'M TRYING TO FIND THE BEST LEDS TO REPLACE MY LOWS ALSO BUT HAVEN'T
FIGURED IT OUT YET.
GOOD LUCK SIR
THE NEW LED'S DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESISTANCE TO SATISFY THE LIGHT CIRCUIT SO YOU WILL GET INTERMITTENT LIGHTING
-AND POSSIBLY A FAILED LIGHT WARNING ON YOUR DASH DISPLAY.
YOU'LL NEED TO PUT A LOAD IN EACH LIGHT CIRCUIT VIA A RESISTOR.
WHERE DID YOU BUY YOUR LIGHTS?, THEY SHOULD HAVE ALSO OFFERED THE ACCOMPANYING RESISTORS TOO.
I'M TRYING TO FIND THE BEST LEDS TO REPLACE MY LOWS ALSO BUT HAVEN'T
FIGURED IT OUT YET.GOOD LUCK SIR
Junior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
From: SO FLORIDA
2010 E350 SPORT SEDAN, 2006 C280 4MATIC- SOLD 2009 FORD F-250, 2015 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID, 2013 MB E550
LED DECEPTIVE LIGHT OUTPUT
Yes, it's the resistance. Your car uses resistance readings to determine bulb out condition. Since the LED have very low resistance, LEDs require a load resistor wired in parallel to the bulb to fool the car.
On a side note...LED bulbs are great for turn signals, brake lamps etc but are not practical on a W203 headlamp or indeed any other car they are not designed for. The reflector bowl in your headlamps is not designed for LED bulbs, which have different light output characteristics compared to gas bulbs. They will look brighter but the amount of light they project onto the road (lumens) will be low.
On a side note...LED bulbs are great for turn signals, brake lamps etc but are not practical on a W203 headlamp or indeed any other car they are not designed for. The reflector bowl in your headlamps is not designed for LED bulbs, which have different light output characteristics compared to gas bulbs. They will look brighter but the amount of light they project onto the road (lumens) will be low.
WOW; THANKS RWD, I DIDN'T KNOW THE LATTER PART OF YOUR STATEMENT. SO I SHOULD JUST MAINTAIN THE H-7 BULBS FOR THE MAIN LIGHTS? ANY PREFERENCE?
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 527
Likes: 20
From: Carolinas
2005 C230K SS
Well, it's obviously entirely up to you whichever bulbs you wish to have on your car. While LED bulbs look brighter than gas bulbs, they don't quite pierce the darkness like gas bulbs. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule, for example the Acura RLX and newer BMW 5 series vehicles which have pretty good LED headlamps. Those are designed to be LED headlamps though, therefore when you install LED bulbs in a headlamp housing designed for gas bulbs you will lose actual light output.
Additionally, LED bulbs will require load resistors which get VERY hot. I have LED bulbs for my brake lights and turn signals, but since those lights are not on continuously, the heat is not that much. I did not install LED bulbs for the tail lamps. If you use LED bulbs in conjunction with your headlamps you will have to mount the resistors against a metal component to act as a heat sink, otherwise something will melt.
Hope this helps.
Additionally, LED bulbs will require load resistors which get VERY hot. I have LED bulbs for my brake lights and turn signals, but since those lights are not on continuously, the heat is not that much. I did not install LED bulbs for the tail lamps. If you use LED bulbs in conjunction with your headlamps you will have to mount the resistors against a metal component to act as a heat sink, otherwise something will melt.
Hope this helps.
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Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 89
Likes: 7
From: Roseville, Ca
01 ML55 / 97 E320/01 CLK55/ 2010 S550
-YES SIR; IT IS YOUR RESISTANCE OR LACK THEREOF.
THE NEW LED'S DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESISTANCE TO SATISFY THE LIGHT CIRCUIT SO YOU WILL GET INTERMITTENT LIGHTING
-AND POSSIBLY A FAILED LIGHT WARNING ON YOUR DASH DISPLAY.
YOU'LL NEED TO PUT A LOAD IN EACH LIGHT CIRCUIT VIA A RESISTOR.
WHERE DID YOU BUY YOUR LIGHTS?, THEY SHOULD HAVE ALSO OFFERED THE ACCOMPANYING RESISTORS TOO.
I'M TRYING TO FIND THE BEST LEDS TO REPLACE MY LOWS ALSO BUT HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET.
GOOD LUCK SIR
THE NEW LED'S DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESISTANCE TO SATISFY THE LIGHT CIRCUIT SO YOU WILL GET INTERMITTENT LIGHTING
-AND POSSIBLY A FAILED LIGHT WARNING ON YOUR DASH DISPLAY.
YOU'LL NEED TO PUT A LOAD IN EACH LIGHT CIRCUIT VIA A RESISTOR.
WHERE DID YOU BUY YOUR LIGHTS?, THEY SHOULD HAVE ALSO OFFERED THE ACCOMPANYING RESISTORS TOO.
I'M TRYING TO FIND THE BEST LEDS TO REPLACE MY LOWS ALSO BUT HAVEN'T
FIGURED IT OUT YET.GOOD LUCK SIR
Unfortunately, the truth is there is no high power led headlamp bulb that will satisfy you as earlier mentioned. It can not be possible as of yet. It does not emit 360 deg. More LEDs more heat. I've been testing dozens of manufactured led bulbs on many model cars. None are satisfactory. I tried everything out there. 3rd gen Multi dome Crees to large flat LEDs. They are very brighter than incandescent but don't reflect properly in a housing designed for halogen bulbs.
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