Modified Brake Light
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 127
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From: NYC
2008 GL550 Obsidian Black/Black
Modified Brake Light
Here I go messing with the lights again. I modified my rear fog lights (which is useless to me in NYC) to work with the brake lights. In stock form, the rear fog light area stays off until you turn it on and only the drivers side lights up. As we know there are fog lights on both sides (bonus:the bulb is there too; nothing to buy). So i connected the fog light to the brake light now they both work together. Now the fog light stays lit just like part of the tail light and when you press the brakes it lights up just like the brake light.(they use the same type bulb). I thinks it looks awesome now.(maybe the way it should have been in the first place). Cost of mod = $0.
This is stock set up. Fog light area not lit.
Now fog lights connected/lit. It is totally uniform with the rest of the taillight
Now with the brakes light on:
What you guys think?
This is stock set up. Fog light area not lit.
Now fog lights connected/lit. It is totally uniform with the rest of the taillight
Now with the brakes light on:
What you guys think?
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 78
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From: S. FL & MI
Currently Driving a BMW 325 Sport Wagon
I really like this MOD a LOT!!!
Did this on my Volvo S60 and my BMW. Down here in SFL. 90% of drivers can't see and the rest don't pay any attention SO when you increase the brake light strength I feel that you increase your safety.
My point of view - this is great.
Did this on my Volvo S60 and my BMW. Down here in SFL. 90% of drivers can't see and the rest don't pay any attention SO when you increase the brake light strength I feel that you increase your safety.
My point of view - this is great.
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 239
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2007 GL450
axchung,
Actually I think it looks OK, but:
On a serious note, there are specifications for brightness of brake lights and directional lights, etc.. Electrical engineers spend a lot of time meeting the US specifications for good reason.
If you are on your brakes, stopped and making a turn, will the extra "brake light" brightness, above and below your directional light, affect the visibility of your directional light to be seen by others drivers as they approach from behind?
One of the best braking safety advances ever was the addition of the central brake light on cars. That is proven with data. Extra brake light brightness overall, over what is specified; not clear this is beneficial, although some cars (? do MB GL's, I think they do?) have an increase in brake light brightness with an increase in applied brake pedal pressure, like in emergency or urgent braking situation.
I trust the car companies and the engineers to make the lighting decisions for safety reasons. My opinion.
Gordon
Actually I think it looks OK, but:
On a serious note, there are specifications for brightness of brake lights and directional lights, etc.. Electrical engineers spend a lot of time meeting the US specifications for good reason.
If you are on your brakes, stopped and making a turn, will the extra "brake light" brightness, above and below your directional light, affect the visibility of your directional light to be seen by others drivers as they approach from behind?
One of the best braking safety advances ever was the addition of the central brake light on cars. That is proven with data. Extra brake light brightness overall, over what is specified; not clear this is beneficial, although some cars (? do MB GL's, I think they do?) have an increase in brake light brightness with an increase in applied brake pedal pressure, like in emergency or urgent braking situation.
I trust the car companies and the engineers to make the lighting decisions for safety reasons. My opinion.
Gordon
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: S. FL & MI
Currently Driving a BMW 325 Sport Wagon
I agree the OEMs know a lot about brake light strength. Since I have done this project on two cars (convert rear fogs to brakes) I notice a significant difference in the "full ness" not brightness since the bulbs are the exact same bulbs used in the brake light socket.
Same light strength more of it -- I know more of the same may be brighter however, the fullness of the brake light in my opinion makes me feel much safer.
Down here in S.FL I'll take any additional driving safety I can get
Same light strength more of it -- I know more of the same may be brighter however, the fullness of the brake light in my opinion makes me feel much safer.
Down here in S.FL I'll take any additional driving safety I can get
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 127
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From: NYC
2008 GL550 Obsidian Black/Black
from gordongl450
"If you are on your brakes, stopped and making a turn, will the extra "brake light" brightness, above and below your directional light, affect the visibility of your directional light to be seen by others drivers as they approach from behind?"
There is no difference in brake light brightness, just increased brake light coverage. As I said, the fog lights use the same bulb as the brake light, meaning same wattage.
"If you are on your brakes, stopped and making a turn, will the extra "brake light" brightness, above and below your directional light, affect the visibility of your directional light to be seen by others drivers as they approach from behind?"
There is no difference in brake light brightness, just increased brake light coverage. As I said, the fog lights use the same bulb as the brake light, meaning same wattage.
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2007 GL450
axchung,
I'm sorry, I did not explain myself well. I understood that you were just using the fog light bulbs. However, they go brighter when you hit the brakes also, correct.
What I meant was, now you have a light "on" above and below the directional light when you are driving around with your regular lights on.
Then, when you hit your brakes, your regular brake lights and your "new fog light brakes lights" brighten also.
I am just wondering if all that light, while braking, overwhelms the light coming out of your directional light if you have a turn signal on while braking the vehicle. You're own pictures show that the directional light is covered by the glow of the "dual" brake lights. But that has a lot to do with photographic exposures. How does it look in real life? Can your see your turning signal blinking throught the extra brake light "coverage?"
Just a thought of mine, being as compulsive as I am.
I'm sorry, I did not explain myself well. I understood that you were just using the fog light bulbs. However, they go brighter when you hit the brakes also, correct.
What I meant was, now you have a light "on" above and below the directional light when you are driving around with your regular lights on.
Then, when you hit your brakes, your regular brake lights and your "new fog light brakes lights" brighten also.
I am just wondering if all that light, while braking, overwhelms the light coming out of your directional light if you have a turn signal on while braking the vehicle. You're own pictures show that the directional light is covered by the glow of the "dual" brake lights. But that has a lot to do with photographic exposures. How does it look in real life? Can your see your turning signal blinking throught the extra brake light "coverage?"
Just a thought of mine, being as compulsive as I am.
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Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: ft.lauderdale
08 S-550 & 08 GL-550
I think its pretty cool.
I will tell you what lghting feature I have mixed
feelings about is are front fogs,, lighting when we turn or use are signals
although I know it is to help us see the road better it also
apperars to the person outside are GL"s that we have a light out
Any thoughts?
I will tell you what lghting feature I have mixed
feelings about is are front fogs,, lighting when we turn or use are signals
although I know it is to help us see the road better it also
apperars to the person outside are GL"s that we have a light out
Any thoughts?
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Reno, NV
SL500, ML350, 2 GL550's (on order)
I think the extra lights on the back of the truck look great.
Anyone know of a way to make the fog lights come on every time the headlights are on? On an older ford truck (explorer) I had, you could leave a switch activated for the fog lights; when the main headlights were on the fog lights would come on. This might look extra nice on the GL, and I am too lazy to turn on the fog lights every night.
Anyone know of a way to make the fog lights come on every time the headlights are on? On an older ford truck (explorer) I had, you could leave a switch activated for the fog lights; when the main headlights were on the fog lights would come on. This might look extra nice on the GL, and I am too lazy to turn on the fog lights every night.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 603
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From: Spicewood, TX
2008 GL 320, 2007 Silverado LTZ C3500 Duramax Turbo Diesel
I don't like the fact that you have to change the headlights to manual to turn on the fog lights. I use them a lot in the mornings in my Silverado, and just leave the headlights in auto. The fog lights go off when the ignition is turned off. 
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: The OC
Depends where I'm going.
Interesting mod, I happen to see a lot of fog where I live so the rear fog light is a useful feature for me. Shall I be the first to comment..... what is up with the GL55 AMG thing? Maybe it's the e-thug in me but IMO, rebadging a car is bad enough but to rebadge it into a car that doesn't exist?!?!
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 185
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From: The OC
Depends where I'm going.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
2013 GL 450
Interesting mod, I happen to see a lot of fog where I live so the rear fog light is a useful feature for me. Shall I be the first to comment..... what is up with the GL55 AMG thing? Maybe it's the e-thug in me but IMO, rebadging a car is bad enough but to rebadge it into a car that doesn't exist?!?!
