One would think that the MB guys would have installed an underhood light, but NOOOOO.
I remedied that situation with a 1980's series GM truck underhood light.
On these, the light detaches from the body and has about a 20 foot cord and a magnetic base, PERFECT !

 

Nice, my old 78, 280z, 2x2 had one like that. I always wondered why other companies didn't utilize that kind of a feature. You could even take it under the car, the cord was so long.

 

Awfully cool mod! I can even see the on/off switch AND the cord rewind feature. Pretty clean bay as well! Congrats George!


.

 

Not that is a handy mod.....

 

I have thought about this little problem and I figured some LED lights that are switched on by the use of a mercury switch might do the trick.
I guess mercury is a hazardous material these days, even though we played around with the stuff up close at school, making it from mercury oxide.
I do have a mercury switch that came from an old car of mine from years back that might work. Old heating/AC thermostats have mercury switches in them.