So am I! I'm curious to see this mod as in its completion.
2010 LED Tail light Swap
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
2007 GL450, 2006 Porsche 911, 2004 VROD
Guys any update on this. i bought a set of LED tails on ebay, shipped to me tomorrow.
i am curious to know
i am curious to know
- how you installed
- any errors codes, how you fixed
- did you bought any resisters
- any pictures is appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
2007 GL450, 2006 Porsche 911, 2004 VROD
got mine today, looks like harness connectors from old tail lamp and new LED ones are same. but erros are coming when i connect them. i need some resisters i believe.
any help on where to put the resisters?
any help on where to put the resisters?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
I thought these looked pretty nice when I saw them on vehicles on the dealer's lot.
When I saw them in action and noted that rear turn signals are red, I lost interest.
When I saw them in action and noted that rear turn signals are red, I lost interest.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
1992 BMW 318is, 2009 GL 320 BlueTec
Upgrade to LED Tail lights
I have been running my LEDs for several months now without resistors. Despite the random error codes that come and go the lights work seamlessly and look great. After multiple attempts with various resistor combinations and continued heat issues (from the resistors) and persisitent error codes, I decided the "plug and ride" option was best for me. It passed the annual NC state inspection with no problems last week.
Also the SAM updates have been done 3 times with no resolution of the error codes. However, I am still holding on to my stock lens just in case some compatiblity issues arise "down the rode"
.
Also the front LEDs are still running strong as detailed in my previous blogs.
Also the SAM updates have been done 3 times with no resolution of the error codes. However, I am still holding on to my stock lens just in case some compatiblity issues arise "down the rode"
.Also the front LEDs are still running strong as detailed in my previous blogs.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
2007 GL450, 2006 Porsche 911, 2004 VROD
I have been running my LEDs for several months now without resistors. Despite the random error codes that come and go the lights work seamlessly and look great. After multiple attempts with various resistor combinations and continued heat issues (from the resistors) and persisitent error codes, I decided the "plug and ride" option was best for me. It passed the annual NC state inspection with no problems last week.
Also the SAM updates have been done 3 times with no resolution of the error codes. However, I am still holding on to my stock lens just in case some compatiblity issues arise "down the rode".
Also the front LEDs are still running strong as detailed in my previous blogs.
Also the SAM updates have been done 3 times with no resolution of the error codes. However, I am still holding on to my stock lens just in case some compatiblity issues arise "down the rode"
.Also the front LEDs are still running strong as detailed in my previous blogs.
nice, i plugged in yesterday, except regular tail light which is flashing irregularly, all others (turn signal, brake light, fog light, reverse light working fine. is this same for you?
also let me know where you added the resistors before, any pictures of your current setup would be helpfull.
last q, for installing the tail lights do we need to remove rear bumper? or just remove 3 screws (which are on the tail light)?
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
GL450
LED Taillights
Same problem here. The LED taillights flash for about 20 seconds and then stop working. The Brake, Turn signal and reverse work well. I had the dealer change the code on start diagnostics but they could not get it to work. The report is that when he changed the programming to LED lighting the lights would not come on at all so they had to change it back.
I am pondering what to do next. Maybe resistors will help.
Ive also read in another thread that we might need a new SAM. I don't know what the SAM is or where it is located. Is this an expensive part? Do we need a SAM for each taillight?
If anyone has any answers please let me know. My vehicle is GL450 2007 but early manufacture. It was built in 06.
I am pondering what to do next. Maybe resistors will help.
Ive also read in another thread that we might need a new SAM. I don't know what the SAM is or where it is located. Is this an expensive part? Do we need a SAM for each taillight?
If anyone has any answers please let me know. My vehicle is GL450 2007 but early manufacture. It was built in 06.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 541
Likes: 22
From: USA
10 speed bicycle
I remember seeing a coding setting in rear sam for bulb technology (LED or bulb). They may have changed it though...if you have access to an SDS if you play around for a few, or select intitial startup of rear sam, you still may be able to change the setting.
I need to look around in EPC and see what rear SAM's are available.
I need to look around in EPC and see what rear SAM's are available.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
2007 GL450, 2006 Porsche 911, 2004 VROD
Originally Posted by ksdprasad
Guys any update on this. i bought a set of LED for installing the tail lights do we need to remove rear bumper? or just remove 3 screws (which are on the tail light)?
No need to remove the bumper Just remove 3 screws for the light.
How to reach the back of tail light?
So simple,
In passenger side
Just Remove the flap for the FUSE Box (use a coin to unscrew the black nut) and you can see fuse box as well as rear light.
For Driver side
Unscrew First-aid kit box screws(2) with a coin, and you can see the rear light.
Hope this helps...
haven't had a chance to work on adding resisters. will add next week. and post some instructions.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 541
Likes: 22
From: USA
10 speed bicycle
In EPC there are no different part numbers displayed for differance in rear SAM's and bulb technology used. Which means if you go in via SDS you can change the coding of bulb technology.
SAM control unit supplies various systems and control units with power, it also is an input location for various sensors and signals, evaluates signals and transmits them on CAN B, controls various systems, actuates components and relays via CAN B requests.
For this instance...your tail lights are wired directly to rear SAM, if you origionally had bulbs and switched to LED's, the rear SAM is looking for a specific voltage drop accross the bulbs...if it does not see that(cause you installed LED's) it will set codes for the bulbs are inop. Sometimes when the codes are set, the rear SAM will shut off power to the bulbs to protect itself.
SAM control unit supplies various systems and control units with power, it also is an input location for various sensors and signals, evaluates signals and transmits them on CAN B, controls various systems, actuates components and relays via CAN B requests.
For this instance...your tail lights are wired directly to rear SAM, if you origionally had bulbs and switched to LED's, the rear SAM is looking for a specific voltage drop accross the bulbs...if it does not see that(cause you installed LED's) it will set codes for the bulbs are inop. Sometimes when the codes are set, the rear SAM will shut off power to the bulbs to protect itself.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
GL450
I suspect that the tech that worked on my truck did not fully know what he was doing. He mentioned that after switching the software to LED, the actual taillight would not come on. The brake, backup and turn-signal lights did work however.
I was not present when he performed this work and the dealership here is gotten a little uppity as of late. I used to be able to go in the garage with the techs when to see when they were working on my truck but they no longer allow that. I even helped them work on the star diagnostics system when I installed a phone for my old ML.
I need to think of my next move. I don't want to go with the resistors because I don't think that they would work properly. The incandescent taillights use the same bulbs for tail and brake and the difference is that the SAM sends a lower voltage to the bulbs for the tail operation and increases the voltage when braking. The bulbs are mono-filament and not the dual filament type. I am pretty sure that the LEDs operate in separate circuits for the brake and taillight portions. So I need to program the SAM to send voltage/current to the tail light led group separately from the brake led group.
I was not present when he performed this work and the dealership here is gotten a little uppity as of late. I used to be able to go in the garage with the techs when to see when they were working on my truck but they no longer allow that. I even helped them work on the star diagnostics system when I installed a phone for my old ML.
I need to think of my next move. I don't want to go with the resistors because I don't think that they would work properly. The incandescent taillights use the same bulbs for tail and brake and the difference is that the SAM sends a lower voltage to the bulbs for the tail operation and increases the voltage when braking. The bulbs are mono-filament and not the dual filament type. I am pretty sure that the LEDs operate in separate circuits for the brake and taillight portions. So I need to program the SAM to send voltage/current to the tail light led group separately from the brake led group.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
2007 GL450, 2006 Porsche 911, 2004 VROD
My dealer tried to do the rear SAM programming..but unable to ...and he advised me to get a new SAM and program that to LED.
i had to order a new rear SAM($380 + $120 programming = $500 + Tax) to make my new LEDs work.
Not worth the money, but they look awesome.
i had to order a new rear SAM($380 + $120 programming = $500 + Tax) to make my new LEDs work.
Not worth the money, but they look awesome.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Hi! How did you do this? Do you have any pics with new look? I'm planning to do the same on my GL500 2009.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
2007 GL450, 2006 Porsche 911, 2004 VROD
hi eurodok,
do you have pictures on how you upgraded the front fogs. any pictures during the install.
are they plug and play? how they are working or they acting like day time running lights or fogs? any programming done for this?
do you have pictures on how you upgraded the front fogs. any pictures during the install.
are they plug and play? how they are working or they acting like day time running lights or fogs? any programming done for this?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Sorry, you're in the GL forum. I would suggest you re-post your question in the E forum for best response?
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2009 GL320 BlueTec
I did the Swap today take a look at the pics...
I got a pair of LED lights from EBAY for $158.00 out of a wrecked GL450. Today I did swap out my standard lights for the LED and the left side flickered and then stopped and does it once in a while but here is what it looks like.
