Xenon indicator conversion on my 2004 W209

[reggie musson]

I would like to fit xenon indicator bulbs front and back to my 2004 CLK 2.7CDI, that I have seen on Ebay.
The supplier has offered to include a resistor with each bulb so I will not get a bulb fault on the dash.
Now before parting with my money could anyone give me their views or could I have problems ?

Thanks, Reggie

 

[designo500]

Xenon indicators? thats a new one to me. Sounds like an answer to a question no one has asked!. How bright do your indicators need to be I wonder? The answer will be found in the Road Vehilce lighting regulations I suspect.

I believe that despite the number of headlamp xenon "HID" kits available that they may not stictly be legal. Some seem to be just 100w bulbs with blue on them! The dipped/main beam is should be 55/65w respectively. Also Gas discharge (Xenon) headlamps have a completely different reflector to halogen and also need auto leveling

I cant help but think if were as simple as slapping a £45 hid kit on, all the manufacturers would be doing it. Maybe they are and are charging o.t.t. for bi-xenons on the options list.

It Would be interesting to hear other opinions

 

[redbaron]

Assume he means LED rather than Xenon - even so... is going to look good down MaccyD's

 

[Black Sheep]

So. You have a seller. On Ebay. Who doesn't even know what he's selling.

What could possibily go wrong?

 

[Alps]

im sure he means LED

i can see a " my wiring has burnt out" thread starting soon!

 

[Ted]

Hi, Reggie

I don't think you should have problems if you include a well located resistor.

I would be interested to see how this goes, and if the light output is better or worse than your incandescent bulbs.

One thing to be aware of - are the bulbs 'facing out' or at 90 dgrees (if that makes sense) as there are two types of LED bulb arrays.

 

[EuroCarParts]

From my experience xenon conversions need time to 'warm up' normally 3-5 seconds - It'd be interesting to see how to get around this with a flasher.!

P

 

[Troon]

There's no way a gas discharge HID could cope with being used as a direction indicator. This'll be an LED conversion with "xenon" in the title because a) the seller is clueless and/or b) it's more likely to attract bling addicts. My guess is that it's cheap and nasty, and it's also debatably illegal, although the wording leaves room for interpretation when not using filament lamps...

 

[Ted]

Pretty sure he means LED.
Lots of cars use LEDs for indicators/side/brake lights.

 

[Troon]

it's also debatably illegal, although the wording leaves room for interpretation when not using filament lamps...

Lots of cars use LEDs for indicators/side/brake lights.

Just to clarify my point: it's the replacement of approved filament bulbs with LEDs in a type-approved lamp assembly designed for filament bulbs that is a legal grey area. OEM lamp assemblies that have been designed and approved with LEDs are fine.

 

[reggie musson]

Sorry I did mean LED indicator lights, not sure how to fit a resistor to stop a error message on the dash.
Any ideas?

 

[reggie musson]

im sure he means LED

i can see a " my wiring has burnt out" thread starting soon!

Yes you could have a point, and yes your right I did mean LED`s

 

[reggie musson]

Xenon indicators? thats a new one to me. Sounds like an answer to a question no one has asked!. How bright do your indicators need to be I wonder? The answer will be found in the Road Vehilce lighting regulations I suspect.

I believe that despite the number of headlamp xenon "HID" kits available that they may not stictly be legal. Some seem to be just 100w bulbs with blue on them! The dipped/main beam is should be 55/65w respectively. Also Gas discharge (Xenon) headlamps have a completely different reflector to halogen and also need auto leveling

I cant help but think if were as simple as slapping a £45 hid kit on, all the manufacturers would be doing it. Maybe they are and are charging o.t.t. for bi-xenons on the options list.

It Would be interesting to hear other opinions

BIG sorry, I meant LED`s

 

[EuroCarParts]

Sorry I did mean LED indicator lights, not sure how to fit a resistor to stop a error message on the dash.
Any ideas?

Quite simple - it just goes inline with the positive cable to add load to the process - this tricks the car into thinking the bulb is a higher load than it is - thus, no Error

 

[Ted]

Not inline.
In parallel.

As you say - simple to do.

 

[davidsw]

Don't a lot of LED's come with inbuilt resistors ?

 

[Ted]

Most LEDs come with inbuilt resistors to limit the current through them.
What is required is a resistor in parallel with the LED.

This is because the LED, with the resistors (in series) are a very small load. This will make bulb failure units/flasher units think a bulb has blown.
The additional resistor in parallel 'dumps' some current to earth. fooling the unit into thinking that all is ok.

There ARE also some LEDs for bulb replacements with resistors to fool bulb failure devices, but you need to check.

Killerhertz on this forum is a trusted supplier (he must be - I have had some from him!), but I don't think he has any LED flasher (382?) devices.

 

[davidsw]

Thanks Ted you explained it much better than I did