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just a quick post to show those that don’t know to take a few minutes and swap out any interior light bulbs you can with newer LED bulbs.
Besides the LED bulbs running cooler and using less power, the yellow looking factory light bulbs make any car look older than it is and the whiter looking light bulbs just shine brighter/whiter and look more modern. Plus at night it looks like I’m caught in a beam of a UFO because they are soooo white and bright. I have always loved the look.
Anyway, swapped out my trunk light bulbs and sun visor light bulbs with LED bulbs. The difference is evident in the pictures and takes less than 15 seconds to swap each one. I had already swapped my glove box light bulb before, but don’t have a picture.
I had purchased a bag of mixed LED bulbs many years ago and have been using that same bag for years. Each time I got a new ride I went back to the bag to find some LED bulbs. Best way to do a swap is to take the old one out to match it up. Since my bag had many different sizes I have always been able to find the ones I need in the pile.
Enjoy.
Trunk after Trunk before Trunk after Trunk after Drivers side swapped compared to passenger factory. After both sun visors Factory left, LED right.
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; May 1, 2022 at 05:27 PM.
The bulbs in the glove box, vanity mirrors and in the trunk are all the same. I cannot provide a link to the bulbs, because I purchased that bag of mixed bulbs about 7 years ago. They do have similar on eBay. Just search T10 LED interior car bulbs and that should be a good place to start, because I am about 85% sure they are the correct size. Also the size might be stamped on your factory bulbs, so just pull one out and take a look.
Good luck.
Originally Posted by KeithS
Very nice! Are they the same bulb throughout the interior of the car? Can you provide a link to those LED lights or provide some info on them?
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I got a bag of the T10 bulbs off of ebay and tried to replace the bulbs in the foot wells. The problem is that the bulbs must be a different resistance because I could do one side, but when I did the other, they wouldn't work properly -- started slow flashing on and off. And, believe it or not, there was actually a code for foot well light malfunction. Jeez!
Anyway, I might try the trunk and see what happens. These are the bulbs I got. Less than $6 for a bag of 20.
Zero issues with any of the bulbs I replaced, so you should be fine. I totally forgot about the footwell bulbs, so I will do those this weekend, if I have enough bulbs left. If I am out I will order more bulbs and change them next weekend.
Next I want to change the bulbs in the above controls. (light that glows around all of those buttons. They have a yellow hue now and I think they would look very cool in white white glow. Seems a bit tricky to get to, but maybe not. That section of above head controls might just snap out like they did on my old CLK 430. I will take a look tomorrow.
Originally Posted by JettaRed
I got a bag of the T10 bulbs off of ebay and tried to replace the bulbs in the foot wells. The problem is that the bulbs must be a different resistance because I could do one side, but when I did the other, they wouldn't work properly -- started slow flashing on and off. And, believe it or not, there was actually a code for foot well light malfunction. Jeez!
Anyway, I might try the trunk and see what happens. These are the bulbs I got. Less than $6 for a bag of 20.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by ThatsMyDawg
Zero issues with any of the bulbs I replaced, so you should be fine.
The bulbs you have look to be a different design than the ones I have, so I'd be interested in finding out if you have the same problem. I know modern cars can be finicky when it comes to the electronics. I mean, why the heck would you have a controller monitoring the status of the foot well light?
In my 2004 SL500 I was able to replace the high beams (H7) with LED lights (plug-n-play) and they worked amazingly well. When I tried to replace the fog lights with LED bulbs, no go.
Ok. I will look at the footwells tomorrow, but I think I am out of bulbs. I will just pop one out of the mirrors to try it out in the footwell, if I am truly out of bulbs. I will update tomorrow.
Originally Posted by JettaRed
The bulbs you have look to be a different design than the ones I have, so I'd be interested in finding out if you have the same problem. I know modern cars can be finicky when it comes to the electronics. I mean, why the heck would you have a controller monitoring the status of the foot well light?
In my 2004 SL500 I was able to replace the high beams (H7) with LED lights (plug-n-play) and they worked amazingly well. When I tried to replace the fog lights with LED bulbs, no go.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Yeah, doing one foot well seemed to work. It was when I did the other foot well that the light's flashed. And I did try multiple bulbs, etc. I also found this to be the case on my C350. But I will try the trunk.
I have always changed the footwells, but somehow I forgot this time. There were no issues when doin so on my E350, or CLK430, or other vehicles and so I am curious to see what will happen.
Originally Posted by JettaRed
Yeah, doing one foot well seemed to work. It was when I did the other foot well that the light's flashed. And I did try multiple bulbs, etc. I also found this to be the case on my C350. But I will try the trunk.
I noticed that the ebay listings with 20 bulbs come from China. The ones with 10 bulbs are shipped from the US. I'm guessing folks in the US are buying in bulk from China and then reselling. If you bought from a China seller any issue with the bulbs? I know it will take longer to get them.
I purchased my last pack from chine several years ago. I have changed the bulbs in multiple vehicles with the same pack of bulbs. Not once have a had an issues with those bulbs, even when used on the R231.
Originally Posted by rmorin49
I noticed that the ebay listings with 20 bulbs come from China. The ones with 10 bulbs are shipped from the US. I'm guessing folks in the US are buying in bulk from China and then reselling. If you bought from a China seller any issue with the bulbs? I know it will take longer to get them.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I also was able to swap out the light in the trunk lid. The one that is both red and white. To access that one, you need to remove the trim piece. The others I have been able to pop the lens out to swap the bulbs.
Those bulbs in that link are different than what I got, but should be fine. My bag had a different style and also were mixed with all different sizes, which was better for me, because in my other rides there were always multiple sizes and not just T10. Sooner, or later a different size eventually would will burn out.
I am going check the footwells this morning.
Originally Posted by rmorin49
I noticed that the ebay listings with 20 bulbs come from China. The ones with 10 bulbs are shipped from the US. I'm guessing folks in the US are buying in bulk from China and then reselling. If you bought from a China seller any issue with the bulbs? I know it will take longer to get them.
I must have not been paying attention prior, because I DID change my footwell lights to the led before and have had no issues. Don’t know why I didn’t catch that before.
I came outside to peep at the footwell bulbs this morning that I thought I didn’t do to check if I would have an issue like Jetta, but when I got out side and saw them I was like “I remember these, I already changed them” AND THEY ARE pictured in my original post. Lol. So I can confirm 100% that I have no errors with those swaps and it has been a month ago.
Originally Posted by JettaRed
I was able to replace the two in the trunk with the T10 bulbs with no apparent problem like with the foot wells.
I also was able to swap out the light in the trunk lid. The one that is both red and white. To access that one, you need to remove the trim piece. The others I have been able to pop the lens out to swap the bulbs.
Any special tools or knowledge needed to remove trim?
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by rmorin49
Any special tools or knowledge needed to remove trim?
There are 4 or 5 push pin type connectors on the inside part of the trunk. Remove those and pull down and back away from the car. There are three more barbed connectors that pop out. I will try to get a picture tomorrow.
I got a bag of the T10 bulbs off of ebay and tried to replace the bulbs in the foot wells. The problem is that the bulbs must be a different resistance because I could do one side, but when I did the other, they wouldn't work properly -- started slow flashing on and off. And, believe it or not, there was actually a code for foot well light malfunction. Jeez!
Anyway, I might try the trunk and see what happens. These are the bulbs I got. Less than $6 for a bag of 20.
I just experienced the same situation. Swapped out the bulbs for the vanity mirrors. They work fine but when I installed the footwell bulbs they blink intermittently. I guess I'll try the glove box next.
Yeah, doing one foot well seemed to work. It was when I did the other foot well that the light's flashed. And I did try multiple bulbs, etc. I also found this to be the case on my C350. But I will try the trunk.
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