Footwell lights

[jon.english68]

After wiring up the door puddle lights last month I set about installing the front footwell lights, so I bought a pair of LED lamps off eBay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351668328044

Having read that these lights need connecting to the front SAM and the programming I figured the must be an easier way, well this is what I did,

I pulled out the front overhead console and removed the bulb holders, I the soldered wires to each side of the bulb holder,

The ether end I soldered the LED lamp (1 for each footwell) and ran the wire over the roof lining to the A pillars and down to behind the dash

Then the lamp just fits the existing hole for the lamps in the lower dash panels

Jobs a good en' they light up with the front interior lamps and go out with them

 

[GLK]

That's a very neat solution, I like it.

I fitted a low intensity blue LED footwell lights to my car, but I just left them on all the time - they stay cool, and, I think look cool too ...

 

[Headhurts]

Well done, I doubt I could even change a bulb.

[emoji3]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[jon.english68]

End results looks very good I think


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[richard]

Isn't that all rather bright at night ? Given what you did, I think you'd have no problem wiring it to the front SAM - although then you'd possibly have issue with LED not bulbs .. Of course, getting it coded is more difficult

Cheers

R

 

[jon.english68]

It's not actually as bad as it looks, I could have wired it to the SAM but then I'd have needed it programming, this way cost less than £15


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Panagiwtis]

is it easy to remove the pillars?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[baxlin]

is it easy to remove the pillars?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Never done this on a Mercedes, but have done the same on other modern, similarly equipped cars. I didn't try to remove the trim, there's usually enough 'give' in the trim to tease the cable either between the screen and the trim, or the door seal and the trim, depending on which side of the trim you are routing the wire.

 

[Wolfie1]

Your pics dont show

 

[Marku]

Just about to do this and was considering that the overhead display would be the best place because I wanted them to go out with the interior lights. Wouldn't it have been easier to add them to the switch, the one that will also switch off the display light from auto?

 

[jon.english68]

Im not sure why the pictures have disappeared, Marku soldering the wires to the light bulb fittings was by far the simplest way, the light console is all sealed and controlled via the CAN BUS so you cant actually get in to is very easily, soldering to the light fittings also makes it very simple to reverse should you need to.

 

[jon.english68]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jon.english68]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[baxlin]

Could you explain the second photo please? It looks like you've pulled trim off. When I put footwell lights in several cars, I've been able to tease the cabling between the trim and either the screen or door seal, depending on the cable routing, and to the dome light fixing by using a stiffer 'pull through' wire.

By not disturbing the trim, there was no risk of airbag failure, (or deploying!!) particularly in the A pillar.

Excellent final result though.

 

[Panagiwtis]

jon-english68 how did you remove the pillars?

 

[jon.english68]

jon-english68 how did you remove the pillars?

If you pop out the little badge at the top that says airbag there is a bolt behind it, undo the bolt and the pillar trim pulls off


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Marku]

Im not sure why the pictures have disappeared, Marku soldering the wires to the light bulb fittings was by far the simplest way, the light console is all sealed and controlled via the CAN BUS so you cant actually get in to is very easily, soldering to the light fittings also makes it very simple to reverse should you need to.

Looks very good - do they come on when the car is unlocked and off when running? The overhead lights in mine are contained within a single unit that also has the phone microphone, reading lights, alarm interior sensors plus switches for towing, alarm and both sides reading, general light and the switch I mentioned which controls whether the lights come on when the vehicle is unlocked and off when the ignition is on. That's why I thought this might be better as in mine the light sockets are very much smaller and pick up their current by engaging a live ring in the unit.

 

[jon.english68]

Unfortunately one of the pictures that have gone was of the light fitting, my light is the same as pictured


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jon.english68]

From the back you can remove the bulb holders to solder the wires to, then the foot well lights work exactly the same as the interior lights do [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[renault12ts]

Usually, where fitted as oem, the footwell lights front and rear are part of the ambient lighting system and stay on all the time when the headlamps are on. As does the light at the base of the interior mirror. In which case you don't want them too bright.