gsessons

Has anyone changed over all the interior lights with LEDbulbs. If so where did you get all lights bulbs and did it make big difference in lighting. Has anyone also changed out light bulbs on license plate ligt and front mark lights (as well where did you get them from) Any information would be great. I am sure someone has tackled this already. Thanks

xxGenericSNxx

I changed my license plate lights and front parking lights (the cross eyed lights right next to the grille on pre facelift models). The license plate lights are VLE194HPLW5K and do not require resistors (I don't get an error code on the speedometer). The front ones do need resistors and I used: VLE Load Resistors with VLE2114HPW6K bulbs.


I had a shop do the LEDs for me and that's the parts that show up on the invoice however I can't find any info about "VLE LEDs" on Google.

Next up will be interior LEDs for me. I'd like to find out the same information you're looking for.

rosswell

Little known but true is the bulbs in the overhead dome above e cup holder are xenons. No need to change to led.

pacoman

Generic, can you share with us the site/place where you bought the error free LED lights for your license plate? I put in two of these and while they work great, I do get error codes on both sides.
PUTCO® 231150 - 1.5" LED Festoon Bulb (6418)
Also, is there really no way to turn the error codes off other than getting new lights?

xxGenericSNxx

A local shop purchased and installed the lights for me. From the invoice this is what it says:

194 5K White Rear LED (2) part number: VLE194HPLW5K $30.00 ($15.00 each)

I think the brand is VLE. I wasn't able to find it on eBay though.


Really no way to get rid of the error code unless you wire in a resistor to make the computer think you need more power or getting bulbs that "just work." Stuff like this is tough because you really don't know until after you purchase the LEDs.

Spud_Racer

Watch out with the LED's if you are thinking of replacing the premium lighting stuff. I really like the warm orange glow from the cooler color temp Mercedes used. I don't think I'd like a hotter white light from LED's as much. The factory lights look perfect with my Macadamia 2-tone interior. Depends on taste and what you're going for though. The big appeal of LED's for me is the lifespan. You should never have to worry about a bulb again.

xxGenericSNxx

I really dislike the warm light that the factory lights have and prefer a cooler color (it's not hotter white- it's cooler if your light moves towards the white and then blue part of the spectrum). Eventually I'd like to change everything over to LED as it's also going to be brighter.

user 823908234

Give AZN Optics a try aznoptics.com Michael is a great, honest supporter of MBWorld. I've had his led parking lights in both MBs for a year; look good, work properly, no error code.
That reminds me; time to look at other led change outs!

pacoman

Thanks. I'll give him a try.

xxGenericSNxx

Change the parking lights to LEDs too. I'd like to hear your experiences on those as I had mine changed out and they wired in a resistor. But I don't like the color temp of my lights (slight greenish tint) so I'd rather swap them out to something else.

user 823908234

I used the 194 wedge led in 5000k from AZN Optics. Great: plug-n-play. Color matches the hid in the CLK, but not the halogen in the R. Eventually will put in a cooler halogen low beam.

xxGenericSNxx

194 for the front parking light or the license plate lights (or other)?

user 823908234

Front parking (running) lights. Still thinking about LED for the license plate lights on both cars. I think they look better than incandescent. If I do, I'll get 'em from AZN Optics, since they research their products before selling them.
I did the front parking lights right away because the stock bulbs looked like crap. Literally; I've never seen 'brown' lighting. 5000k is a very cool white.

pacoman

I did notice a problem with putting LED's above the license plate. The light is so bright, it interferes with the back-up camera view.

xxGenericSNxx

Hmm alright, I'll change the front parking lights then. Mine has a green tint for some reason, even though they're cool LEDs. Yes, the stock ones look terrible!

Hmm, no problem with my license plate LEDs. Maybe you can put some tint film on the plastic license plate light lenses to cut down on light output.

ghenry

It seems that one of the map lights (in the rear view mirror) is not working correctly.. I removed the plastic lens for a look-see and the whole fixture is loose. The bulb lights up but the fixture is not "snapped" in place like it should be. Anyone have tips on how to get the rear view mirror casing apart so I can get this resolved.Thanks