I decided I wanted to add daytime running LEDs instead of the hideous dimmed bright bulbs. iJDMToy.com offers multiple LED strips which is where I got mine from.
https://store.ijdmtoy.com/ProductDetail ... trip_SKU58
Here's the LED Strips. Because the gold film was showing through the clear vinyl, I taped off the LED section and then painted the base a brushed nickel color. Krylon for plastics is what I used.
- LED Strips
Next came the tough decision. In order to get the headlight assembly to come apart, I had to heat the rubber butyl adhesive holding it all together. so in the oven it went. 300 degrees for about 3 minutes. Be sure not to let any of the headlight touch the oven walls.
- 300 degrees for 3 minutes
Once out of the oven work quickly and pry apart the clear lens from the housing. if the black seal seems to tear instead of pull apart, put the headlight back in the oven to heat it up some more. With the lens off the housing, turn it over and look for 3 torx screws, size 10.
- 3 Torx, size 10
To run the wiring through the frame, I drilled a small hole in the corner. Once it's turned over you won't see the hole and the wires will be hidden up under the lip of the frame.
- Hole for wires
- No Holes showing
I used 3M double sided Automobile adhesive to attach the strip to the silver reflector and installed the reflector back to the clear lens with the 3 Torx screws. Drill a small hole on the backside of the headlight housing to route the wires through, then seal it with silicone. Put everything back together and place it back in the oven long enough to heat up the sealant then press together tightly.
- Finished Headlight with LED Strip
Repeat with the second headlight and put the front end of the car back together.
Now to get power to these.
In the fuse box in the Engine, find relay #33. its for the Rear Defogger. Remove the relay and the slot closest to the firewall is powered when the key is on or engine is running. Strip the wire, lay it in the slot then press the relay back down firmly. Ground the other wire to a generic ground somewhere in the engine compartment.
- Relay #33
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Job well done! Audi who?? Mercedes what??
- Finished Product
- Close Up
To turn off the factory daytime running lights, the plug is in the cabin, close to the brake pedal along the firewall as shown in the Service Manual, item #28.
- DRL Plug
Just unplug it; however this also disables the Brights as well. I'm currently working on wiring in a relay that bypasses the daytime dimming function but restores the factory brights. That's a project for another day.
