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De-mystifying: Active full-LED lights vs LED lights
I think we all know that Lighting package gives headlights that dynamically adjust the headlights, automate the low and high beams as needed and illuminate the corners. But those are all characteristics while driving.
My question is: what are the differences between these 2 kind of lights from a purely physical appearance perspective? (like when the car is standing, could someone with experience on both, narrate the physical appearance characteristics and how the one or the other looks more sharper ... i personally cant tell the difference)
I think we all know that Lighting package gives headlights that dynamically adjust the headlights, automate the low and high beams as needed and illuminate the corners. But those are all characteristics while driving.
My question is: what are the differences between these 2 kind of lights from a purely physical appearance perspective? (like when the car is standing, could someone with experience on both, narrate the physical appearance characteristics and how the one or the other looks more sharper ... i personally cant tell the difference)
OK, I'll try to explain - but personally, I was more interested in the performance of the lights, than the minor differences in appearance, but anyway.
Looking at the lamp units, from any real distance you not really see any differences. The physical look of the light is, after all, dominated by the DRL LED.
Get up closer and the LED units look slightly different as the lights need to swivel left/right - nothing major.
In addition, the active lamps have a further LED unit embedded into the side of the unit, right at the front - this is there to shine out to the side, to light up side streets, when turning. These are very difficult to spot.
The only other real difference is the "Intelligent Light System" embossed in the reflector.
I would slightly disagree with the above. I think there is some more differences (see below pictures of our W205 which has the intelligent light pack)
Straight away there is an additional LED unit as you say, instead of the reflector on standard light units. But the key thing is when in dipped beam mode, these units are BOTH ON with the inner additional LED unit far brighter than the outer unit. Also note the colour temp of these are slightly different than standard (and I find more blue/purple tint) than standard.
When you turn car on, all units swivel. Also the DRLs I seem to think look different to standard but unsure. As it supports the Locator Blue lighting on the DRLs they do seem to be different than standard. Just my thought though. I for sure think this is an option I wouldn't have done without
I would slightly disagree with the above. I think there is some more differences (see below pictures of our W205 which has the intelligent light pack)
Straight away there is an additional LED unit as you say, instead of the reflector on standard light units. But the key thing is when in dipped beam mode, these units are BOTH ON with the inner additional LED unit far brighter than the outer unit. Also note the colour temp of these are slightly different than standard (and I find more blue/purple tint) than standard.
When you turn car on, all units swivel. Also the DRLs I seem to think look different to standard but unsure. As it supports the Locator Blue lighting on the DRLs they do seem to be different than standard. Just my thought though. I for sure think this is an option I wouldn't have done without
I agree with all that you say, I was trying to focus on the OP concern about the physical look of the light units.
I also would NOT be without this system - the difference in illumination is substantial around country lanes etc - I guess on straight US freeways etc, you might not notice - but I give it 10/10 for performance.
Thanks jolt8631, Mr5uby, MassC300, Rustycruiser for the great insightful details. Beautiful pics of your C300's. I love these headlights - the 2 LED beams (or whatever they are called) underneath the Arc LED.
a) When driving on low beam, does one beam come on or both come on?
b) I wonder, if the standard LED headlights (with Premium packages) has a single LED beam, and if so to me that single LED beam looks like a larger sized compared to the two LED beams?
c) from RustyCruiser's article, it seems like the Lighting package, also gives stronger tail-light LED's ... that part I couldn't fully comprehend. I previously believed that LED's or Active LEd's, both have same rear lights?
I made the mistake of assuming the LEDs would be enough. Coming from a VW GTI with active Xenon headlights which turned and illuminated where you were looking, to the much brighter, but inactive LEDs was a very disappointing experience. My next car will have the lighting package for sure, and I recommend it to anyone buying who might drive at night in ANY setting that maybe confused for dark.
Thanks jolt8631, Mr5uby, MassC300, Rustycruiser for the great insightful details. Beautiful pics of your C300's. I love these headlights - the 2 LED beams (or whatever they are called) underneath the Arc LED.
a) When driving on low beam, does one beam come on or both come on?
b) I wonder, if the standard LED headlights (with Premium packages) has a single LED beam, and if so to me that single LED beam looks like a larger sized compared to the two LED beams?
c) from RustyCruiser's article, it seems like the Lighting package, also gives stronger tail-light LED's ... that part I couldn't fully comprehend. I previously believed that LED's or Active LEd's, both have same rear lights?
I see no difference in rear lamps with the teo led spec'd cars, looks exactly the same. Base lights look different which is a given.
I've got experience with both LED light options and I'd definitely recommend the Lighting package. My '15 C300 had them but my salesperson forgot to order them on my '16 C300 (still have LEDs since I've got the Premuim pkg)
Maybe I'm paranoid but I swear the light output from the Lighting pkg is greater than the standard LEDs.
I would love that, only if it can be dimmable and color options, so, I can choose close to the headlight color.
Also, I don't need the whole grill to light up at once, few of them can twinkle at once. I know it is too much, but, it'll look, just my taste
Led high, has only one led reflect or. The ILS has two and in my opinion looks way sharper. Not to mention dynamic lighting assist 😁
......nah, you just got cornering lights? What a same 😄
What's the high beam looking like on the regular LED with no active curve ? I hope its not halogen
Given the clearly visible reflector for the high beam, I'd say yes it is a halogen. However it's the whitest halogen light I've ever seen. It's just as white as the LED low beam so it definitely doesn't look cheap. I have the regular LEDs so I'm speaking from experience.
So I've been trying to get the illuminated star, I replaced the grille with this similar one. I measured it with two different dealerships, turns out the emblem size is around 7 inches on the grille, and the new LED star is 7.5 ish. I'm wondering if you have a link to a good size emblem for this aftermarket grille. HELP! lol
06-28-2015, 02:55 PM
