Hi,

First post on the forums, so please go easy on me.

I'll be picking up my (well I bought it for my parents actually) C300 soon (first Mercedes and basically the most powerful non-AMG W205 available in Malaysia), and I'm a bit confused by the ILS system that comes with it (in Malaysia, Mercedes vehicles either come with extras or don't come with it at all. There's no such thing as options to spec up the car).

Is ILS automatically activated with the headlamp switch in Auto or at the most clockwise setting (force activate headlamps)?

What's the difference between ILS and Adaptive Highbeam Assist?

I know that to activate Adaptive Highbeam Assist, I've to set the headlamp switch to Auto and push the indicator stalk forward. However, I'm not sure whether ILS is automatically activated without having to do this.

Anyway, I'd love to get this figured out.

Thank you.

*non-relevant parts below*
Essentially my C300 AMG Line (C250 and C300 are sold only in AMG Line in Malaysia) has every option available as standard except for Driving Assistance Package Plus, 360º camera, Airmatic, HUD and heated seats (who in his right mind would use this in a tropical country anyway haha).

Other than that, it's pretty much specced out, with sports exhaust, panoramic sunroof, ILS headlights, COMAND Online, Burmester, AirBalance, leather seats with memory package, Thermotronic 3-zone a/c (rear passengers have separate a/c controls), open-pore ash wood trim, full Keyless-go with hands-free access package, parking package (includes automatic parking), lighting package (interior has color-selectable LED lighting), LED headlamps with ILS and adaptive high beam assist.

It's a shame that in Malaysia, consumers are not given the choice to add packages as needed (it either comes with it or it doesn't). I wanted to add the Driving Assistance Package, but was told that I would have to order a CBU unit if I wanted to add separate packages. I wasn't about to do that since the tax for fully-imported cars is 300% (it's nuts, I know, but Malaysia has a reputation for having one of the highest car prices around). This also means that if consumers want nicer stuff which isn't present in the C180/C200, they would have to buy a C250 or a C300 just to get it. PS - the C250 and C300 are identical except that the C250 has 18" 5-spoke AMG wheels, while the C300 has 19" multispoke AMG wheels plus Thermotronic.

Meanwhile, C180/200 are identical, except that the C180 has electric seats without memory functions. The C200 Exclusive Line adds in the ILS system (Avantgarde C200 doesn't have it) and a front-only sunroof, plus it has the traditional grille with the hood ornament. LED headlights are standard on all W205s.

 

ILS is automatically on in Auto mode. Adaptive High beam works as you push the indicator stalk forward. I have always Auto on my ILS. You do not have to worry about changing from high beam to low beam as you drive .It works fine. Try to find in youtube some material hoe the ILS works.There should be some.

 

Hi,

Thanks for the tip. I'll just leave it in Auto and call it a day then

 

Adaptive high beam is different from ILS. Whether you have the full ILS features depends on your country's regulations. Europe gets the full ILS, while the US gets a dumbed down version due to DOT regulations. I believe we in Canada also are deprived of the full features since our vehicles are built in the US even though the headlight assembly has the ILS label in it (but if someone knows otherwise please advise). We do have Adaptive High Beam and it works great.
Not sure about Asia, Autralia, etc. - they may get full ILS. From what I have read elsewhere, the selective control of individual LEDs in the headlight in response to road conditions and oncoming vehicles, which is the main feature of ILS, is not activated in the software in the US. There is thread somewhere here in the W205 forum on this.
Maybe a smart programmer can come up with a way to enable this feature, like they've done with the video features in Command.

 

In Australia, you need to have something called a "Vision" option pack to get the full ILS - meaning LED Intelligent Light System with adaptive highbeam assist plus, active light function, motorway mode, cornering light & enhanced fog light function. It's basically that under auto high beam the light for oncoming traffic is boxed out rather than fully dipped, plus a whole heap of other wizardry like illuminating highway road signs etc. Even with full ILS though you still need to put the stalk forward though to have the auto high beam assist active. To revert from full auto lights to manual high beam, the light switch needs to be placed from AUTO to the standard "On" position.

 

Hi,

Thanks for the heads-up. I live in Melbourne most of the time and I'm aware of the ability to spec vehicles up with packages. Essentially, my C300 here in Malaysia has the stuff in the Vision package, sans the 360º camera.

In Australia, my vehicle would be equivalent to having the AMG line package (with the black ash wood trim), antitheft protection package, COMAND package, seat comfort package, vision package (minus the Surround View camera) and Air-Balance. Thermotronic 3-zone climate control doesn't seem to be an option for Aussie W205s, but my vehicle has it.

Once again, thanks for your post. I'll just leave the light switch at AUTO and have the indicator stalk pushed forward.