mbgle

I'm getting my GLE next week and debating the Lighting Package. I really like the look of the daytime running lights on the Lighting Package. With the standard headlights, do the daytime running lights also curve along the top of the headlights like the Lighting Package ones? It is tough to see where the daytime running lights are on the standard headlights.

jdube46

Even though I haven't order mine yet, I think that is one package you must get. Just my two cents.

shortspark

I think the decision to get the lighting package depends a great deal on where you live and the areas where you drive the most. I live in the country where there are no street lights and the forests are cut close to the road. Deer and other critters abound and I know the bi-xenons on my 2012 ML with their wide and bright light has prevented at least one deer accident and probably two. Out here in the "Piney Woods" of East Texas the lighting package is absolutely crucial.

There have been a couple of occasions when I have spent several days in Dallas. The lighting package there was totally useless. The big city lights and heavy traffic are everywhere you drive even at night, and the adaptive high beams never come on if you choose auto mode. The lights looks nice on the car but from a practical stand point I would never have them if most of my time was city driving. But where I live and for the kind of non-lit and sparsely traveled roads I drive the lighting package is a must have.

27T

Even in large cities there are tons of dark streets. I think you will regret not upgrading to the lighting pkg. It is a significant upgrade over the halogens in performance and looks.

mbgle

With the standard headlights, do the daytime running lights also curve along the top of the headlights like the Lighting Package ones? It is tough to see where the daytime running lights are on the standard headlights.

27T

The lighting package to upgrade form halogen to LED is a bargain at $1300. BMW has standard HID and offers upgrade to LED for $1900. It makes little sense to upgrade on the X5 because it already has HID but the GLE comes standard to halogen.

shortspark

I was looking at the new Jag XF for 2016, and it comes standard with bi-xenon headlamps, including power wash. They want $2200 to upgrade to the "vision package" which includes LEDs. They also throw in with this package the blind spot monitoring and reverse traffic detection. Like 27T said about the X5, it also makes little sense with the Jag to spend that kind of money since it comes standard with bi-xenons, even with those other things thrown in.

Vegan

The standard GLE headlights have DRLs that curve along the bottom of the headlight. The lighting package DRLs curve along the top.

Lighting Package
https://i.imgur.com/nrGCDsk.jpg

Standard
https://i.imgur.com/gZB6Cw1.jpg

nvsocr7

Get it. Don't even question it. Don't make the same mistake I did. I LOVEEE everything about my GLE, but I'm pissed I didn't spring for the lights. I assumed MB would at least give LED/HIDs as stock and the lighting package would give you all the fancy stuff, but no, you get crappy H7 halogens. GET THE LIGHTING PACKAGE. /endthread

Protip: get the lighting package. Get the harmon kardon sound system(it's phenomenal). Get leather seats. Get the heated steering wheel. Get the chrome package.

27T

Bad idea. Even worse than the lit MB marque on the grill.

Good advice on lighting pkg however.

nvsocr7

How is this [the chrome package] a bad idea? The chrome package phenomenal. It's on the handles, hood fins, and on the lining of the doors, that's it. It makes the vehicle look much classier IMO, especially with a black exterior, to each their own though! I agree with the lit MB grill though.

cmginc

I saw a GLE 400 on a dealer lot with the "night" package and the chrome package... so confusing...

Barry45RPM

The chrome pkg is just crap for the dealer to "pack" onto the sale for a high profit. Its just cheap bits of shiny self stick metal.

27T

Yeap, looks like someone got excited at pep boys and bought some plastic bling.

skw

Agreed, esp the door handle pieces, reminds me of the fender vents everyone was ticking on a few years ago.

Lighting pkg, yes. Chrome, no. Illuminated star, maybe. I wouldn't order it but wouldn't be a deal breaker if an otherwise perfectly equipped vehicle on the lot already had it. Leather, depends on your usage. Esp now that leather is not required for the multi-contour seats, can save the $1,600 or use it for something else.

William Kayen

Lighting pkg. is great if you live in a poorly lit area. The brights that go on and off automatically are a great safety feature to light up an otherwise dark road. The chrome pkg as well as the illuminated star is personal taste. Life is too short not to have what you want. Get the car to your specs to enjoy it and not regret what is missing.

nhanchi1003

Hello,


Can I replace my standard headlamps with the Active full-LED headlamps from the Lighting Package?


Thanks

vsix

Yeah, is that possible?

350MH83

Short answer: NO.

IRL everything is possible, but the conversion involves a lot of breaking down and putting back together (wire looms etc) as well as reprogramming the car to let it know it has the Lighting Package. You will need to find someone who knows how to do all that properly, and they'd probably charge you 5K for it... Get the Lightning Package upfront!!

speedlimit

Hi everyone!

We can add a new forum for the GLE series if you like, I'm just not sure where the forum should be located. Comments please? Thanks!

Bob

Keyser Soze

I'd like a GLE forum..........

wamado

The lighting package is great - the light is very bright and a real aid for my older eyes. The only problem with the lighting package is that you can't turn the brights on and off when you want. At least not in any convenient way. I guess that somebody in Germany thought that this was a good idea. There are really a lot of reasons why I'd like to be in charge of my lights.

Actually, I'd like to be in charge of the whole car, but I can't because I had to take the Driver Assist package. This car has 1000 miles on it and my wife and I hate it. I wish I'd never bought it. This is my fifth Mercedes and I've loved every one up until now. Oh well.....

davezaristo

I am now shopping for a GLE and believe it or not, 9 out of 10 cars do not have the lighting package and that's just suprising the fact that it is acceptable to have halogen on a car that averages 60k and up. At the very least, I think MB could have put some bi-xenon as standard like they did with the e-class right? This is making my shopping effort super frustrating as it is very difficult to find a car with that option..

wamado

Xenons would be OK - I've had them on my last two wagons and like the brightness and the color. To decide to make the lighting upgrade package LED instead of xenon...OK, but my problem is that they took the control of my lights away. I understand that I can control the brights as usual by changing from AUTO, but, really, who does that? How many Mercedes owners don't do what I do...which is switch to AUTO the day I pick up the car and not change the setting for four years?


And relating the function to speed? Sometimes I'm coming down my long driveway in the country at 5 mph and want to see if that thing way up ahead is a bear. I just want to flick my finger forward - not having to game the system to get it done. The fact that they have chosen to NOT leave the use of the system up to the driver seems to say that they know how you should drive in all situations....smacks of hubris.

When I come up against these little quirks I go to the operator's manual to figure them out. And I often come to the dread "If you fail to adapt your driving style.....". Makes me want to stick a fork in my eye. And, as you all know, I paid a pretty penny for all of this aggravation. Until now I've been a real Mercedes fanboy but I don't know what will happen when I need another car.

Rant over, for the moment.

SCardamon

The LED headlights are amazing, do it!