[amgdvl]

Updated Thread:

• Interior LEDs : Post #18
• Front and Rear Turn Indicators: Post #19
• High Beam LED / Foglight LEDs : Post #14
• Tail Light LEDs: Post #20
• Another LED Discussion Thread: Here

Original Post:​

Hoping someone can give me some guidance how to diagnose this.....
All lights (Front, Rear Signals, and Mirror Indicators) flash Rapidly (according to which side is selected)
I pulled the taillights , and noticed the right connector had a pin pushed in , I reseated it... but rapid flashing still occurs.
whats strange is when i indicate...the first indication is slow..then immediately turns rapid.
any ideas ?

 

[khomer2]

Interesting.
Your issue mimics the rapid flashing of LEDs installed vs. incandescent, without proper a resistor(s) used, but not the first slow indication. Did something change?

 

[amgdvl]

Interesting.
Your issue mimics the rapid flashing of LEDs installed vs. incandescent, without proper a resistor(s) used, but not the first slow indication. Did something change?

Thanks for quick follow up...

I have been doing some further reading / searching on this site..... HERE and HERE ... I am thinking it has to be related to front LED bulbs....even though they are supposedly error-free / can bus ready bulbs... nothing else makes sense.

In the linked threads above... the person solved it by adding resistors in parallel to each side... (in his case, he was never using LED bulbs)....but it solved his problem

THINGS I WILL TRY / HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED :

• Cycling Hazard Switch
• Replacing each from LED indicator bulb with standard.
• adding resistor (where / how does this get added?).... i will search if i come to that

 

[amgdvl]

"did something change?" .... if only you knew...... lmao (I know it is the right question)....I do think I need to test the indicators ... i should have done that before posting... its just that the rapid indicator stresses me out... and scrambled me up...

 

[khomer2]

Ive got a small tool box FULL of LEDs, you name it, canbus ready (claims), resistors I've trialed on the ML and E50, in attempts to replace the incandescent bulbs for pretty much what everyone would like (clean, brighter, whiter lighting). The dreaded rapid flashing, no flashing, super hot resistors....
Even the w163 interior footwell led light swap gets temper "mental".
In the end, I've only got a few working.

 

[amgdvl]

yeah... there is no "definitive" solution to this.... especially interior i think... random blinking... weird lighting etc...

OT: but which interior LEDs do you have ?

 

[mattml430]

LED’s we’re always a pain to keep going in the ml. I tried expensive ones cheap one and all of the above. It is hit and miss with them. The best way I found was to have adjustable LED drivers and adjust the voltage perfectly to suit each LED and also put heat sinks on them where I could. LED’s hate heat it will kill them as quickly as over voltage.


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[amgdvl]

LED’s we’re always a pain to keep going in the ml. I tried expensive ones cheap one and all of the above. It is hit and miss with them. The best way I found was to have adjustable LED drivers and adjust the voltage perfectly to suit each LED and also put heat sinks on them where I could. LED’s hate heat it will kill them as quickly as over voltage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So ...do you (or anyone) have a "blueprint" for LED replacements ? ... in other words...what did you do for door panels... what did you do for license plate light... for under dash light...etc...etc..

 

[mattml430]

For some lights I used the LED’s with a heat sink and small led driver. It’s a lot of mucking around but the results are better. You have to make a few adjustments to fit it all in there and it may not work everywhere in the car.
LED technology is improving all the time so there may be something better out now but this is what I used at the time. It will give you the idea, I bought in bulk it was a lot cheaper so I still have quite a few left in the cupboard in the garage. .

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[wallyo]

This is why I don’t use LED’s, In the states it can turn your ml into an Independence Day Float.

UK Guy Fox Day?

Matt sorry I forget what you have that is similar?

Happy Fourth of July, also happy birthday to my daughter Laura!

 

[amgdvl]

For some lights I used the LED’s with a heat sink and small led driver. It’s a lot of mucking around but the results are better. You have to make a few adjustments to fit it all in there and it may not work everywhere in the car.
LED technology is improving all the time so there may be something better out now but this is what I used at the time. It will give you the idea, I bought in bulk it was a lot cheaper so I still have quite a few left in the cupboard in the garage. .

yeah... i was hoping to avoid that.... is a lot more work that i wanted to do.... frustrating. I know David @2000 E 320 White Wagon, did a write up here some time ago... i tried following up with him some time ago but never heard back from him.... you would think there would be better solutions now with time that has gone by....

 

[amgdvl]

This is why I don’t use LED’s, In the states it can turn your ml into an Independence Day Float.....

LOL ! Happy "independence day" everyone ! ....

 

[khomer2]

yeah... there is no "definitive" solution to this.... especially interior i think... random blinking... weird lighting etc...

OT: but which interior LEDs do you have ?

Sorry for the late response.
LEDs Fog lights H8, Backup bulbs (LEDs were slightly brighter than the incandescent), Dome lights front, and newly installed DRL LEDs below the bumper tied into (temporarily) the oem aux switch at fusebox harness (will be switching out the DRL headlight xenons soon and then a quick re-wire to an acc tap with key on ).
Tired of playing 'tag - you're it...' with the lighting system conversion to led.

US Members and abroad,
Happy July 4th to you all. Be safe, enjoy the time with your family's and friends. 🤙

 

[amgdvl]

(I'm purposely not updating my primary problem yet... i am just worried i will break those #%([email protected]%#$! headlight trim covers when i try to remove them..... ) .... i will say a couple of hail mary's before i do it....

Regarding my current LED setup :
headlight low/high : OEM Xenon (no change)
foglight (ML55) : Hella LED replacement
2ndary brights (euro / FTP) : LEDs, no issues (Beamtech H7s)
front indicators : NEEDED RESISTORS to work (Sylvania Zevo Amber)
rear taillight: LED replacement units off ebay...

Overhead convenience light: smaller Osram/Sylvania LEDs work (if replacing, use the same LED size as the passenger overhead light)
Front footwell area lights: NO SOLUTION (new Osram/Sylvania LEDs dont work..blinks on and off)
Glove Box: (new Osram/Sylvania LEDs dont work)
Rear convenience lights (2nd row) : replaced with LEDs ..no issues whatsoever
Door Puddle Lights : LED bulbs ...older style worked (new replacement sylvannia/osram LED's didn't work)
Rear Overhead Trunk : Didn't Test Yet

 

[khomer2]

(I'm purposely not updating my primary problem yet... i am just worried i will break those #%([email protected]%#$! headlight trim covers when i try to remove them..... ) .... i will say a couple of hail mary's before i do it....

Regarding my current LED setup :
headlight low/high : OEM Xenon (no change)
foglight (ML55) : Hella LED replacement
2ndary brights (euro / FTP) : LEDs, no issues (Beamtech H7s)
front indicators : SEEMS TO BE SOURCE OF MY RAPID FLASH PROBLEMS (Sylvania Zevo Amber)
rear taillight: LED replacement units off ebay...

Overhead convenience light: NO SOLUTION CURRENTLY (new Osram/Sylvania LEDs dont work)
Front footwell area lights: NO SOLUTION (new Osram/Sylvania LEDs dont work..blinks on and off)
Glove Box: Didn't Test Yet
Rear convenience lights (2nd row) : replaced with LEDs ..no issues whatsoever
Door Puddle Lights : LED bulbs ...older style worked (new replacement sylvannia/osram LED's didn't work)
Rear Overhead Trunk : Didn't Test Yet

Regarding our current LED setup :
headlight low/high : OEM Xenon (no change)
foglight (ML500) : 2400 Lumens 3570 Chipets H8 LED Xenon White
2ndary brights (lower bumper) : 4" round 10W cree leds - flood lights (presently wired to aux switch - switching to DRLs after Xenon OEM DRLs switched off in the system)
front indicators : oem
rear taillight: oem

Overhead convenience light: el cheapo (what I had in the tool box leds)
Front footwell area lights: oem
Glove Box: (what I had in the tool box leds) - have to verify
Rear convenience lights (2nd row) : el cheapo (what I had in the tool box leds)
Door Puddle Lights : oem
Rear Overhead Trunk : not sure - I have my LED head headlamp back there if I need to light up

 

[amgdvl]

.....
Rear Overhead Trunk : not sure - I have my LED head headlamp back there if I need to light up

Hahaha ! ... you should have one by front engine bay / fusebox also, i imagine ? )

also, i like your 2ndary flood idea...

 

[amgdvl]

UPDATE (for future ref) : @khomer2 yup....... replaced with OEM turn signals... and back to normal. I $%($%!# hate LEDs ..... !

 

[amgdvl]

INTERIOR LIGHT OPTIONS:

front floor/footwell lights: no LED...I will update if i find something that works
trunk overhead convenience : I did not change it (keep forgetting there's a light back there!) ..will update
front and rear overhead lights: note...the LEDs shown in pic below will sequentially dim when activated and deactivated (and for some reason...when "off" ..the rear lights have a dim flicker = still on...but extremely dim)

 

[amgdvl]

FRONT AND REAR TURN INDICATORS UPDATE...

... I ended up adding resistors... and using Sylvania Zevo Amber for front
and ebay amber LEDs for rear (similar to picture below).

I had to add resistors to both front and rear... of course i added them to the harness and secured them for maximum airflow / cooling

 

[amgdvl]

REVERSE LEDS:
I tested a number of reverse LEDs ..... in case anyone is interested.

1st: When car has engine running... there will be a dim white "light leak" coming from the reverse LED bulbs.
ultimate solution: insert a resistor in line one of the reverse bulbs
note: I am solving this "light leaking" a different way....when i complete it.. i will share

2nd: I rated them as follows :

• price
• amount of light leak (none, low, med, high)
• intensity of reverse light (0-close to stock, 4+ really bright)
• dispersion (subjective) light gradient around the car (good - sharp rings)
• warmth of bulb after 2 mins

Brand	Price	Amt Light Leak	Intensity	Dispersion	Bulb Warmth	Comment
Sylvania Zevo	$15	3	1	diffuse	cold	oem like, low brightness
Philips Ultinon	$19	4	0	diffuse	cold	oem like, low brightness
besbul (titanium cylinder)	$13	3	2+	rings	warm	good quality
maxgtr	$20	2	5+	sharp rings	hot	bright and hot, but dispersion isn't good... many sharp rings
Luyed (generic cylinder)	$15	2	3+	good dispersion	slight warmth
Luyed (2019, flat)	$15	2.5	4+	good dispersion	cool	excellent build quality, ** my choice **
Oxilam	$16	3	3+	good with ring	slight warmth	slightly warm in color, quality casing heat sync, ** my runner-up choice **