Mixedfruits

Well Spring breaks coming up gota find something to do else than party all day.

Next DIY Puddle lights, but are puddles too much? or is there another great diy to do that takes equally long haha
?

Samieee

Yes, they're too much. It may also be illegal in your location. How long is "equally long"?

LawRens

Puddle lights are not "rice", if you use them properly. AKA turning them on while driving around is "rice," whereas if you wire them correctly such that they are set to turn on only when you open the doors, that is more tasteful. And white is usually the best choice. In fact, Brabus has puddle lights on their kits.

Puddle lights are not illegal in almost any state, as long as they are not in use while driving. I'll assume OP lives in SGV, as 626 is the area code.

jctevere

What the hell are puddle lights? Is that like neon underglow?

Matt_Eurojerks

Depends on where you put them? Under the mirrors is a great place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3ozwdc3ZF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT0u_...1&feature=fvwp

hitokiri89

I think they look good .

Mixedfruits

Dont want to do mirror since may void some sort of warranty while side skirts most likely wont.

Samieee

I was told it's illegal in NYC (like many things are) so I assumed it's similar in most areas. All the puddle lights I've seen here are too rice. I've never seen them nicely done. The idea of them turning on when the doors open are a good idea, like ambient lighting

Mixedfruits

What do you mena too rice as they drive with them on? Im planning to maybe have a swich for show or just when door opens

hitokiri89

Switch is s good idea that way you can control your use of the lights . I think they look pretty cool I say go for it .

sagar350z

I also think that the switch idea is good. You should try it out and make a DIY if you can! Also don't forget to show us the end product!

LawRens

Well, naturally puddle lights are supposed to be hooked up only to the bottom of the sideskirts of the car. And they're only supposed to turn on when doors open OR you unlock the car, hence the name puddle lights. So you can watch out for puddles as you exit or enter the car.

Brabus CLS Puddle lights:


I myself have had puddle lights installed on my c230, wired it to the dome light in the rear.

Mixedfruits

I would wire it to the dome in rear but sometimes I have passengers in the back who turn on the dome light so cant drive with them on. Any othere wireing solutions?

LawRens

Does the w204 have any courtesy light at the corner of the door? Like the one in the picture i posted before this one, you can just wire it into that. But then they will probably only light up when you open the door, not unlock it.

Mixedfruits

exactly what I was thinking which is a bummer I Guess What I might to is install a switch and wire to the dome light and when people in the back seat need the light turn off puddles and turn on dome! seems easy enough.

How was the install straightforword just tedious?

killerg

its okay and they are not rice but only if you take lots of pics and make us a DIY

LawRens

It's both. First you need to find the puddle lights, which vary in quality. I purchased mine from autolumination; the LED's themselves were pretty good, but the build quality sucked; it was NOT water sealed, and thus the wiring corroded. I even bought a second set and sealed them with silicone, but they still got water in it. But i digress.

You may need to buy EXTRA wiring so they can be long enough to be spliced into where you want them. And then you also need to think carefully how and where you decide to place the wiring. I don't know the architecture of the w204 too well, so you may be pioneering this voyage here, unless someone else has already done it.

Samieee

Yes, people who have them here drive with them on. They always have some crazy colors going on like green, red, blue, yellow, etc. I don't have a good impression of puddle lights because this.

I do, however, like the idea of the lights turning on when the doors open. I think it can give a nice pleasant feeling when done properly

Mixedfruits

What do you think of theese?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LED-P...ht_3653wt_1088

killerg

hey mixed the guys over on Azine in the 4G TL section have done something similar in case you wanna see how it might look, there was never a DIY written but he does give some info

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showt...php?p=12690837

Spec_Davis

that is a nice DIY project.