timanto

So here's my current build:

Black
Sport Cranberry Red Leather
P01 Premium Package
Illuminated Star
Blind Spot Assist
318 Interior Package
320 Multimedia Package
321 Sport Package
389 HANDS-FREE ACCESS Package
Panorama Sunroof
Navigation Map Updates included for 3-years
LED Headlamps
19-Inch AMG Alloy wheels w/ High Perfor. Tire
Black Ash Open Pore Wood

I left off the rear spoiler, as I ordered a CF spoiler.

My question: Is it worth the extra $800 for the Lighting Pkg??

Thanks all!

miketc

Yes, it has a nicer looking lights, why would you want to save $800 for a loaded car like yours?

timanto

I think you're absolutely right. It's $8/mon...

rakaye47

YES, the $800 gives you a different headlights where both low beam and high beam are LED lenses. It makes the car look much more expensive than having a halogen reflector light.

Jinzen

The standard LED headlights have LED High beams too, they're just reflector LED and manual operated.

The real value in having the Lighting Package headlights is automatic leveling and automatic high beams - it turns on all 4 headlights at all times (and adjusts high beam level continuously so as not to blind oncoming cars) resulting in greater light output.

And it is VERY cool looking on the road - you look more like an E-Class or S-Class which have these features more readily optioned.

coladin

Yes!

mihaelb

So all 4 LED headlights are on when equipped with the auto high beams? During the day as well, or is it just the 'eyebrow' that's on during the day with this feature?

PeterUbers

Get this lighting package!!!

Jinzen

During the day, if you turn on the low beams, then the high beams will turn on too after a certain speed (35 mph I believe) resulting in all 4 LED headlights + eyebrow.

joshg1001

Plus, the orange reflector is smaller on the side, looks better

OldMerc94

Lighting Package is a no-brainer if you drive at night. I had a loaner W205 while my W204 was in for service and realized just how much of a difference the Intelligent Lighting System makes. [Side note: I also have an astigmatism which causes bad halos at night - the lighting package really does make a difference for me.] The loaner W205 had the basic LEDs, while my W204 has the old bi-xenon lighting package.

The standard LEDs do give good light dispersion, but I was glad to have my W204's lights back after 2 days for night driving. I live out in the country away from city lights. The automatic height adjustment is invaluable, both on the interstate and on 2-lane roads. You almost don't realize it until the feature is gone - then you're suddenly squinting in places you've never had issues with when you're behind another car.

The active bending lights are great as well for off ramps and curvy roads. Not as important to me as the variability on straight roads with other traffic though.

Even more important, I rarely toggle my high beams. This is most important on hilly terrain (lots of hills where I'm at) and on curvy roads with blind corners. The system reacts faster than a human could when a car crests a hill unexpectedly. I very rarely touch my high beam toggle - they are that good.

If you lease and live in a big city (DC, NYC etc) then the amount of artificial city light will negate your high beams ever activating automatically. That's the only reason to save the money.

But, if you drive in varying night conditions and routinely drive out of the city - pay the $800 for the package. Your safety is worth it.

Mr Enigma

You can see the lights 'avoid' shining directly at the parked car in this video:


And here:


Very nice feature IMO.

mihaelb

In Canada, it's actually a $250 add-on for the highbeam assist (the active LED is separate at $1200). I was sold on the active LEDs for the cornering, but after seeing this video (with the beam adjusting for parked vehicles), I see the point of the $250 as well.
I was under the impression it just turns highbeams on and off automatically when needed and that's it (which I can do myself)...

merC400

you are getting the Illuminated Star (I know it looks cool - but not much of a functionality) but checking on the Lighting package?
I'd say go for it... it's really helpful.

Mr Enigma

I would agree with you. Lighting Package > Illuminated star.

Plus you can get the star retrofitted at a later date whereas this is going to be very expensive (perhaps impossible) for the Lighting package.

Merlin1

The adaptive high beam assist plus is brilliant, but don't think that you have this over the pond?

mihaelb

Doesn't seem that way.

In Canada, we get Adaptive High Beam Assist (no Plus). Not 100% sure I understood the difference correctly...if I read this correctly: http://www.daimler.com/dccom/0-5-121...0-0-0-0-0.html , it will just bring the lights out as far as the vehicle ahead (but not actually change the shape of the beam), and only work from 55kph+.

merC400

yesterday while driving in my parking lot, I saw that the lights adapted to the parked car in front as well, and changed the lighting on that side to be lower...
I used to have a really basic car sometime back - no shebangs, not even auto dimming mirrors and there are times I had to change my seating position because someone didn't get the lighting package on theirs .

probably you could skip the illuminated star, but get the lighting package... also the lights are much wider and brighter.