LILBENZ230

Does anyone know why the facelift W212 uses the red brake lights as the turn signals, but in the ROW the turn signal is separate (amber strip at the bottom)?

I've always wondered this having seen videos of the W212 outside of the US and thinking that is the better way. I plan to pick up a facelift W212 in the future and am hoping it can be coded to work the way it does outside of the US.

teksurv

I can't say why, but as I recall US tails do not have the bulbs in the lower section for turn signals.

pamiboy

Simple reason ... cost saving. Since the US allows both Amber and red as acceptable colors for rear turn signals, many auto makers have decided to skimp on the amber lights to save a couple dollars. If you want them to work, you need to buy a Euro spec tail lamp (which has the amber LED bulbs) and do the required coding. I'm assuming that the wiring and connectors have not been altered for the US version.
The US tail lamps have empty holes in the bottom row. .