[Hypnotismo]

Hello fellow 129 owners and enthusiasts.. I found this video and decided to update my dash with LEDs.
I have a photo of my work and will leave the videos here. I am not the creator of the videos.
I will also leave links to what I used to do this at the best possible price.

T10 MAIN DASH LIGHTS. These are 8SMD LEDs and are the best for this application.
10 x T10 Pure White 8 SMD LED Car Side Wedge Tail Light Bulb 2825 194 W5W T1K | eBay

I am ordering more of these T5 single SMD LEDs because I had some trouble installing them and broke them, I think I will have to modify them a little to work but I will figure that out when I recieve more. They are in the special housing that is like what we find in our dashboards. Will update when I get it working. These are for the odometer and outside temp gauges.

T5 B8 5D Car Gauge 5050 1SMD LED Speedo Dashboard Dash Side Light Bulb DC 12V | eBay

Youtube videos:
Dash cluster: LED gauge lights..How to convert Mercedes R129 SL ,w124 dash gauge lighting to LED - YouTube
Center Dash Vent lights: Mercedes r129 dash vent lighting to white LED - YouTube
Headlight switch light: Mercedes R129 changing headlight switch illumiation to LED - YouTube
Door power seat panel light: mercedes r129 power seat panel lighting to LED - YouTube

I also found these to be amazing bulbs for license plate lights and wherever else they fit such as door and footwell lights and the trunk light. Ordering more of these too The glass casing isn't common with LEDs, and I found it to be a nice touch.

2 Pcs 36mm White 6 SMD 1210 3528 LED Car Festoon Dome Light Lamp Bulb DC 12V New | eBay

 

[Pete S]

Thanks for sharing. I really like the way LEDs give the interior a modern look and would have done it if not for the mismatched colors that you end up having. By only changing the bulbs you changed, the center console and the seat adjustment areas look odd when completed because you end up having bright white lighting at the thumbwheels near the vents but then the HVAC controller, radio (if still OEM) all the remaining switches and shift gate put out the standard yellowish light. Same for the seatt adjusters, the surround around the seat is bright white but the memory buttons are yellowish again. Don't get me wrong I still thank you for sharing but I think only fellow member d_mcknight has done the full conversion which looks very good but is very time consuming. He had to take apart every single switch but it looks great, complete uniform color throughout the entire interior.

SMDs have a very small illumination angle and that is why you needed the metallic tape. A standard 1 LED T5 works without the tape but maybe not as bright as you mentioned. BTW if I remember correctly there is another bulb that you can swap out near the sunglass cubby above the center vents, it lights up the little up arrow on the cubby release button. :thumbsup: Thanks for taking the time to make the videos sharing.

 

[Hypnotismo]

SMDs have a very small illumination angle and that is why you needed the metallic tape. A standard 1 LED T5 works without the tape but maybe not as bright as you mentioned. BTW if I remember correctly there is another bulb that you can swap out near the sunglass cubby above the center vents, it lights up the little up arrow on the cubby release button. :thumbsup: Thanks for taking the time to make the videos sharing.

Like I said in the first post, I didn't make the videos and was just sharing them as I found them helpful. I will look up that user to see more info on a complete LED conversion.. sounds like exactly what I want to do.
I need a new sunglass cubby first since mine doesn't close.
And yes I see what you mean by the color differences. Even in the cluster itself if you don't get those T5 bulbs changed (odometer/tripometer and outside temp) it looks a little off.

And by the way just checked out your photobucket. Beautiful SL my friend. Everything looks better in black.