len56

On some C's is the silver panel around the main instruments, sticking out of the dash, kind of leaning forward (picture below), and on other ones, It's just flat, like in the site galleries (the canadian site, at least).

So which C's have the 'leaning' (now i learned it's hooded) panel and which ones don't?

Attached is the picture of the silver panel 'leaning' out of the dash, which I like more.

hongcl78

This 'leaning' instrument is actually called a hooded instrument cluster.

C300Sport

The 2008s have the flat panel while the 2009s come with the hooded gauges.

len56

ok thanks guys

and I'll make sure to say 'hooded' when I talk to the dealer

aprince2die4

wish i had the paddle shifters...

len56

Unfortunatley, it's not mine, It was at the 2009 Toronto Autoshow.

Buying it soon though. Might be waiting for 2010's, if they have random cool features :P (Ambient Lighting would be nice)

RLE

I had a 2009 C300 Sport service loaner last week with the hooded instruments and in the daytime they were not as visible as the unhooded in my old-fashioned '08 model. Maybe if the instrument lights were permanently on, it would help.

Different but not better.

08w204

I think ALL new C-classes have ambient lighting. My 08 C300 has pale yellow lighting throughout the cabin at night and my friend's 09 also has it. Look for light from under the rear-view mirror, foot wells, behind the door handles, and in the rear light cluster.

axhoaxho

Wife just got a 2009 C350 Sport, and this is how its instrument panel looks like. At night, the edges of the rings around the hoods will reflect the light from the dials, and have a nice blue-ish-tone color around the rings. Personally, I don't have preference beetween the 2008 and 2009 panels.

With best regards,

Ron Jr

Early '09s were not hooded here in the US now all are. I like the look of the hooded panel.

aowhaus

Luxury models do not have the hooded guages, only the sport.

jstaneff

I've an 08, flat panel, and I like it. It give a bit of the "classic" feel to the instrument panel, as opposed to the "Detroit" look of the 60s that hooded gauges give.

And, bonus: when you make a left at a green light, it nicely reflects the red lights that keep traffic stopped while you turn. Cool.

RabbitDad

Actually the hooded dials come with the AMG pack, which is standard on all Sport models in the US. In Europe you choose between three trim levels (Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde - resp. basic, luxury and sporty) and *then* you can add an AMG pack on top of that (at least according to the car configurator). Not that I've ever seen anything but Avantgardes with AMG packs.

This also means that in Europe you still get the silver flat panel, on the non-AMG pack Avantgarde (which is what I am getting). Kind of a pitty, I like the hooded ones (slightly) better.

The other two versions have black panels standard (definitely Classic but I believe Elegance as well).

C300Sport

I have noticed the reflection as well. Not enough to be distracting but it certainly picks up a bit of the glow. Pretty cool.

len56

Thanks!!! For some reason, I love lighting effects.

I noticed a bright white LED under the rear view mirror, but not a pale yellow bulb, and not any of the other ones

So are they ALL on when you are driving? Is there an on off switch or something (I would always keep it on :P)

len56

and thanks guys! this is helpful stuff

yeah, I love the look of the hooded ones, don't know why. :p

jstaneff

I have the P2, and it lights up really nice inside at night. A friend sat in the passenger seat, looked at ALL the lit up stuff, played with the Nav unit, and said "This has enough stuff to be the cockpit of a small plane!" He's right, no?

I've always turned off all inside lights. Every car I've driven until now. I cannot find that switch that makes the 204 dark inside. Sure I want to see the instrument panel, but I really don't need to see the door handles?

Be nice to find that switch, but I don't think there is one. Maybe a setting in the computer?

len56

lol, I'm the opposite, so I don't mind if they're on, but thats unfortunate for you

len56

In canada, we only have one Premium Package, so I hope it comes with the lights (if they're not standard)

len56

Does anyone have any pics of the ambient lighting (at night)?

flagman

I don't think we get the ambient lighting - at least I haven't noticed any lighting in the places mentioned above, except for under the rearview mirror.

I also find that the lighting on the switches (eg. steering wheel controls, COMAND unit), to be very dim unless the instrument cluster dimmer control is turned up to max.

len56

great -_-, I love lighting....

check again maybe? lol...

tchockie

i was indifferent about the instrument cluster until i had a 08 loaner recently with my car issues. and i realized that i really really missed my hooded gauges. for some reason, i was especially bothered that the pin on the older gauges are orange.

i know, picky picky.

C300Sport

What color are the needles on the 09s? I know the orange pins are classic Benz but I have always thought them out of place considering the red markings on the tach and no other orange in the car.

C300Kid

The 09s have white ones