Anyone find a LED to match the green gauges?

[lennoxavesosa]

I still cant believe that this car dosent have an illuminated ashtray with the smokers package! I rarely smoke in my car, but when I do at night not having an illuminated ashtray causes me to get ashes all over place, plus I think it'd just be a cheap/fun project to do one weekend. So does anyone know where I might be able to find a LED to match that of all the green gauges?


Ive also been thinking about trying to find lights the same color to faintly illuminate the foot area inside. I know this is typical rice, and many of you think this has place in 300 cabin, but I've always wanted to see what it would look like. A dull glow (not anywhere near as bright as those neon tubes usually used) to match the green I love so much of all the gauges might not look all that bad. And what the heck, if I dont like it, it's not gonna cost me much. So any of you electrical guys know where to find any sort of matching lights as well?

[DESIREE]

Originally Posted by lennoxavesosa

So does anyone know where I might be able to find a LED to match that of all the green gauges?


Ive also been thinking about trying to find lights the same color to faintly illuminate the foot area inside.

RADIO SHACK: Different sizes, mountings and illuminations. Check'em out on the web.
The cigar lighter has key-switched power, so you can tap right into its wiring and the LED will only be on when the engine is running. Just pop out the rubber tray at the front of the console and pry the ashtray/lighter panel out of the dash. The wires are rigt there. You'll need a dropping resistor of about 300 to 500 ohms (depending on the current draw of the LED) in series with the LED.
As for the foot area, you're on your own with regard to a power source (could get it at the ashtray while you're in there).

[wesexcellence]

Originally Posted by lennoxavesosa

I still cant believe that this car dosent have an illuminated ashtray with the smokers package! I rarely smoke in my car, but when I do at night not having an illuminated ashtray causes me to get ashes all over place, plus I think it'd just be a cheap/fun project to do one weekend. So does anyone know where I might be able to find a LED to match that of all the green gauges?


Ive also been thinking about trying to find lights the same color to faintly illuminate the foot area inside. I know this is typical rice, and many of you think this has place in 300 cabin, but I've always wanted to see what it would look like. A dull glow (not anywhere near as bright as those neon tubes usually used) to match the green I love so much of all the gauges might not look all that bad. And what the heck, if I dont like it, it's not gonna cost me much. So any of you electrical guys know where to find any sort of matching lights as well?

The color is a turquoise/teal color. We have led's to match and we have plenty! We are only using about 40 in my C, and I bought 60.
They come in packs of 4.

[slk320]

I don't think its "rice" at all, as I have done the same on my Mercedes. The footwhell lights create a softer ambiance in the car and they look great.

You can find different LED lights in Auto-stores, radioshack, home depot, OSH or Michaels.

[lennoxavesosa]

hey wes. would you be interested in selling me your spare LEDS? how many do you think itll take to do the foot area in the front and back? since your in this business, any tips on how i should go about doin this would be greatly appreciated. im really anxious to see how this comes out looking.


just outta curiousity, what are you planning on doing with 40 LEDs in your car?!?! i cant wait to see the finished product!

[Ruppstar]

Actually I've been wanting to do the same thing but I wanted an exact match. Wes do you have any product info on the LED's you got that match? Thanks.

[lennoxavesosa]

ruppstar, im in the same boat as you. i want an exact match as well. i think anything too green or too blue wouldnt look right. im kind of reluctant about just purchasing LEDs then trying to figure out how im going to mount them and make them work, ect. id rather if someone could fabricate a harnass and all the wiring necessary for them to be installed instead of toying around with it myself. unless this is a very easy do-it-yourself project, id rather take the easy way out.


but Wes, any info on where you got yours, or if anyone else knows where i can find an exact match would be appreciated. i dont want to go to radio shack or something and hope im buying their LEDs that are supposed to be close in color to find out they are not

[Ruppstar]

I did some looking around today for teal led kits. Mostly I found were kits for motorcycles. Some of them look like they might work. But I was also wondering if I did this I could set up some kind of dimming control and connect them to turn on automatically when the lights go on. Is that even (easily) possible?

[lennoxavesosa]

hey ruppster, i know what types of LEDs you are talking about for motorcycles (8 color types and whatnot) and i dont think any of those would work. i used to have a 8 color LED underbody kit on my last car, and even tho it was pretty cool i dont think those type of setups are what we're looking for. what we need is to find a LED (or any other type of bulb for that matter) that is a match to the green illumination of the car. thats probably going to be the easy part, just takes some looking. what i myself am having trouble with is how i am going to mount these lights when i find them. im not experienced enough with electric wiring and stuff of this nature to try and figure something up myself without a couple tries. im sure there is going to be soldering involved in connecting these lights to a circuit then hardwiring it to the car (an easy task for someone who knows what theyre doing). im sure there could be a way to get them to turn on when you turn your interior lights on as well.

SLK320-may i ask how you went about doing your lights on your benz?

Wes- if you do not know how do go about this im sure someone at your shop would know where to get started and what exactly need to be done. id greatly appreciate it if you could shed any light on this project, as well as tell me where you found your LEDs from. thanks

[wesexcellence]

Originally Posted by Ruppstar

Actually I've been wanting to do the same thing but I wanted an exact match. Wes do you have any product info on the LED's you got that match? Thanks.

We use Streetglow led's in turquoise. As you've seen in my install, we used them throughout. They come in packs of 4 and run about $19 per pack.