SL/R230: Officially a MB owner! First error display!
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2005 SL600
Officially a MB owner! First error display!
So 2 weeks after taking delivery of my new(to me) SL600, I feel like I'm officially part of the club! My first malfunction message showed up on the instrument cluster, although it's pretty simple in my right license plate light being out.
I'm going to take this opportunity to upgrade them to a whiter LED if possible, but wanted to reach out to the forum to see what the recommended lights and places to buy them are. I believe they have to be a special kind to transmit the error codes? MB newb here.
I'm going to take this opportunity to upgrade them to a whiter LED if possible, but wanted to reach out to the forum to see what the recommended lights and places to buy them are. I believe they have to be a special kind to transmit the error codes? MB newb here.
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From: Salem, OR
2007 SL550, 2005 SLK350
Be sure they are CANBUS compatible to eliminate the constant errors. Don't skimp on quality. LED bulbs tend to get hot and overheat their own tiny integrated circuit boards and start flickering.
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2005 SL600
Originally Posted by FiatL
Be sure they are CANBUS compatible to eliminate the constant errors. Don't skimp on quality. LED bulbs tend to get hot and overheat their own tiny integrated circuit boards and start flickering.
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
I don't understand why one wouldn't simply get a conventional bulb of type C5W which was original to the car. It should last a decade or longer and obviates any concerns associated with circuit boards failing and LEDs flickering.
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2005 SL600
Originally Posted by bobterry99
I don't understand why one wouldn't simply get a conventional bulb of type C5W which was original to the car. It should last a decade or longer and obviates any concerns associated with circuit boards failing and LEDs flickering.
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From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
If they are like my w204, you can replace the entire housing with LED (not just bulb). They're kind of stupid bright but it's like I have a nice aurora behind the car in white light lol.
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From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
I wonder if tinkering with exterior lights is always a pleasure for fellow road users. And I’m fond of pure bred originality, as mods confirm ‘something’s not right’. But each to his own.
Would you believe at one point in time folks in the NL started planting red bulbs in their head lights. That was so confusing (and prohibited).
Would you believe at one point in time folks in the NL started planting red bulbs in their head lights. That was so confusing (and prohibited).
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Driving a high-powered SL myself, I would seek to do the opposite of the O.P. I desire for my license plate to be more difficult for law enforcement to read at night -- not easier.
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2005 SL600
Originally Posted by bobterry99
Maybe like the experience of getting a tattoo is for some people -- a predilection for customizing or making a change perceived as an "upgrade" be it to their body or a trivial component of their vehicle.
Driving a high-powered SL myself, I would seek to do the opposite of the O.P. I desire for my license plate to be more difficult for law enforcement to read at night -- not easier.
Driving a high-powered SL myself, I would seek to do the opposite of the O.P. I desire for my license plate to be more difficult for law enforcement to read at night -- not easier.
Humorously, I have 6 other cars and am active on several other forums (Ferrarichat, 6speedonline, rennlist) and there are always those who think "the stock-ier, the better". Frankly we can agree to disagree, and feel free to use all the multisyllabic words you'd like, but if you aren't adding any value to my thread I really don't need your holier than thou BS.
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
I appreciate the beauty of an R230 every time I walk to my parked car, so I understand making changes to further add to its visual appeal. But I never see the hue of my plate lamps because whenever they are switched on I am behind the wheel of the vehicle. So again, I don't understand the fuss over something so mundane. Now if these lamps generated holograms of dancing penguins...
Right. Here's a link to a broad selection of lamps both incandescent and LED: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...amp+bulb,13661
Right. Here's a link to a broad selection of lamps both incandescent and LED: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...amp+bulb,13661
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From: Tremonton, Utah
2014 E350 Sport 4Matic Sedan
You may try superbrightleds. They warrant all their LED lights for 3 years.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...03&scc_id=2532
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...03&scc_id=2532
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From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Let’s enjoy each other’s hobbies and preferences. No need for getting upset, folks. I for me DO enjoy talking to someone, exchanging differences of opinion. No harm meant at al. Bear hugs, everyone.
Oh and I did put it new plastic lenses (and bulbs) back there as things were getting a bit yellowish and uneven. All neat and fresh now (did have my thoughts about visibility for speed traps, indeed).
Oh and I did put it new plastic lenses (and bulbs) back there as things were getting a bit yellowish and uneven. All neat and fresh now (did have my thoughts about visibility for speed traps, indeed).
Last edited by Frederick NL; Jun 9, 2019 at 07:08 AM.
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
There appears to be a particularly egregious lie in their product description. Here is the offending statement:
.
No electronic device which installs in the license plate bulb holder can possibly communicate with the CAN in an SL nor any other vehicle in production, I'll guess. I'm not an electronics engineer, but I'd speculate that no device with fewer than four electrical connections to a vehicle communicates on the vehicle's CAN.
Since the bulb doesn't communicate with anything to prevent messages, it likely needs to mimic with some degree of accuracy the electrical load which the correct incandescent bulb would present to the R230's rear signal acquisition module (SAM). That load is 5 watts, and the superbrightled is only 2.2 watts.
Curiously, an accessory to this alleged CAN-communicating bulb is a 25-ohm resistor which is intended as an addition to prevent bulb-out warning messages -- the very messages superbrightled claims their LED bulb is engineered to prevent.
.
Error-free LED bulbs are designed to communicate with your vehicle's CAN Bus computer system and prevent "bulb out" error messages.
Since the bulb doesn't communicate with anything to prevent messages, it likely needs to mimic with some degree of accuracy the electrical load which the correct incandescent bulb would present to the R230's rear signal acquisition module (SAM). That load is 5 watts, and the superbrightled is only 2.2 watts.
Curiously, an accessory to this alleged CAN-communicating bulb is a 25-ohm resistor which is intended as an addition to prevent bulb-out warning messages -- the very messages superbrightled claims their LED bulb is engineered to prevent.
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From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
That load is 5 watts, and the superbrightled is only 2.2 watts.
Curiously, an accessory to this alleged CAN-communicating bulb is a 25-ohm resistor which is intended as an addition to prevent bulb-out warning messages -- the very messages superbrightled claims their LED bulb is engineered to prevent.
Curiously, an accessory to this alleged CAN-communicating bulb is a 25-ohm resistor which is intended as an addition to prevent bulb-out warning messages -- the very messages superbrightled claims their LED bulb is engineered to prevent.
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Yes, that's right. So total power draw would be 8 watts. That's considerably more than the original 5 watts, so perhaps it would still not solve the error message problem. A 47-ohm resistor would be better.
One advantage of LEDs is their improved energy efficiency over incandescent lighting. This is completely lost in this case where a resistor must be added to consume power by converting electric power into unwanted heat.
Since they are bespoke to Mercedes, the lights that Adi-Benz linked to presumably would have no message issues.
One advantage of LEDs is their improved energy efficiency over incandescent lighting. This is completely lost in this case where a resistor must be added to consume power by converting electric power into unwanted heat.
Since they are bespoke to Mercedes, the lights that Adi-Benz linked to presumably would have no message issues.
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From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Curiously, an accessory to this alleged CAN-communicating bulb is a 25-ohm resistor which is intended as an addition to prevent bulb-out warning messages -- the very messages superbrightled claims their LED bulb is engineered to prevent.
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
I have no experience with using bulbs of incorrect wattage on an R230, so I don't know how sensitive the SAM modules are in this regard. But recently I did get a one-time false indication that a license plate bulb was out which I presume was due to a marginally-adequate electrical connection at the bulb.
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
The information obtained could be valuable to someone looking to substitute an LED bulb for an incandescent. They could know what range of resistor values will work for the bulb they want, or they may be able to find a bulb that needs no resistor at all. But apart from that case, the information has no value that I can think of, and therein lies the rub.
Let me put it to you like this. If you had an 18-year-old daughter and she wanted to borrow 75 Euros to have her lip pierced and a loop earring fitted, would you give her the loan?
Let me put it to you like this. If you had an 18-year-old daughter and she wanted to borrow 75 Euros to have her lip pierced and a loop earring fitted, would you give her the loan?
Last edited by bobterry99; Jun 10, 2019 at 01:08 PM.
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From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
No. But all I’m asking -we are asking- is for you to apply a varistor of some kind to establish those values.
The Dutch entertain a simple inquisitive nature:
The Dutch entertain a simple inquisitive nature:
Last edited by Frederick NL; Jun 10, 2019 at 11:28 AM.
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Low-power potentiometers are commonly used in electronics and are inexpensive, but ones which can dissipate more than a watt or so are never seen in household electronics. A potentiometer or rheostat which can dissipate the 10 watts or so needed in this application would cost c. $100. That is a "Bridge too Far" for me -- a phrase which I presume the Dutch are particularly familiar with.
Last edited by bobterry99; Jun 11, 2019 at 09:46 AM.
