If multibeam isn't enabled in the USA, I see no reason why Mercedes would fit the much more expensive 84 LED segment lights to those cars. In Europe, the multibeam lights have distinctive blue illuminated lines inside the headlamp unit. They also do an unmistakable "dance"when first turned on (you see two rows of dark blocks in a vee formation cross on front of the car, each dark block one led segment turned off). The standard lights are cheaper, still led, but do none of the good things the multibeam do.

The cornering function is also highly visible when approaching complex junctions (linked to satnav) and you can see the beam turn corners before you arrive. Sorry for you if you don't get those features, they are outstanding!

 

Does anyone know if the Active Curve feature in the E300...

...is just forgotten to enable from the factory? Or...

...is on purpose not to move from side-to-side during cornering?

Just curious to know, as my wife's E300 will be arriving in a month or so.

Thanks.

 

The full implementation of the intelligent light system is not enabled in the US due to varying federal and state regulations. In addition, the cornering lights were checked out on my '17 E300 and are working to specs. The issue is that they are not being enhanced due to the limit placed on them.

 

Thanks for the updates. So the lights do turn side-to-side (per specs.), but just turn too little to be noticed in the driver's seat?

 

I just received a call from my dealership. They told me to bring my car in for service next week (again). They mentioned there is a software update to correct the issues i have been having with my headlights. This update will enable active curve illumination and cornering lights for those with P2/P3 package. We will see how that goes.

 

Cool! hope they fixed the issue and have already implemented it on cars that are being produced.

 

CB...hope you can post your results about getting the update. Would appreciate any info you have that we can give to our local dealer.

 

Yes something must be wrong here. Mercedes would not just put standard, non-adaptive LED headlamps on this car. That's like a Nissan Sentra.

My 2014 C350 has the ILS, although in this case it uses bi-xenons. It does the following:

-Lights turn with steering wheel
-Cornering light comes on at low speeds with steering input or when turn signal is on
-Auto high-beams
-On the highway, the lamps increase from 35w to 38w (you can see this happen)
-The car adjusts how far the light throw is on the highway based on traffic (you can see this as well)

So there's no way the new E-class doesn't have these abilities. I just can't see it.

 

2014 used LED on the w212

 

Mine is a W204 C350. Post updated. Whoops.

 

gotcha

 

I was told today by the Service manager that Mercedes knows about the problem (lightning features not working). However there is no fix at this time. It would have been nice for them to let me know prior to arriving at the dealership for my scheduled appointment. I was told this past weekend there was a software update. They wanted to keep my car for a few days to run more tests, but I did not let them keep it. I told them to call me when there is a fix. I've been trying to get this fixed since August.

 

I'm picking up my car tomorrow which was produced the first week of October. I'll check if the lights are not working properly with the shop foreman. I did alert him to the possibility that the headlights might not be working correctly and a software fix would be needed. I'll post back tomorrow.

 

Update: I drove my car this evening on the same route that I have repeatedly traveled with my E550. The beams definitely follow the curves in the road, but not as aggressively as with my former bi-xenons. The cornering lights appear to be functioning the same as before at lower speeds. I then turned on Adaptive lighting and the lights seemed to behave much differently. The high beam came on much more frequently and was less sensitive to streets with street lights only and no cars. Also, occasionally the beams flicked up to illuminate a speed or directional sign. Very surprising. I think that the lights could be made more aggressive in following a curve, but my overall impression is that they are better than the bi-xenons that I had in my E550.

One another note, the car has a lot of really neat features to use if you only take the time to read the manual. My cell phone has never worked better inside my vehicle as now. The antennas for the phone and the GPS are now located in the A-pillars and not on the roof. I have the PAF option and also a Pano roof..I find the driving experience to be smoother than my old car too. I have the air-body suspension and I also found the tires inflated to 37 psi. I'll reduce that in the AM to 32 (the tires are Pirelli P7 btw)

 

Thanks for the update HBerman, I'm glad the system is working on your car! Hopefully others can eventually get a software update to enable the ILS features (if it's in fact not enabled on their cars).

From the video link below you can see the ILS Multibeam headlights electronically "bend" the light vs having the projectors swivel. Different and perhaps not as noticeable as previous Bi-Xenon and LED setups, but still effective.




The next time you're out at night, turn on the rear fog light and see if the beam pattern changes at all with either the low or high beams engaged. It would be interesting to know if the extended fog light distribution (operates under 43 mph) functions on US cars.

 

Howard

My E300 (built June 16) has P3 but I can't get the functions you describe.

How are you able to enable the "active" function?

Pls advise

Tx, Steve

 

That is impressive. Do our E300 get the same Multibeam LED Headlight in the US?

Thanks,

 

Yes, those are the headlights installed on US P2/P3 cars.

 

To HBerman,

Sorry I addressed you as Harold (I know a Harold Berman so was automatic).

I have a P3 delivered in July, built in June and do not have "active curve" or the other features working as described in the above links.

Glad to hear that your car has working "active curve" as my dealer is working with Germany to come up with a software patch to allow operation on my car (unsuccessful as of today but, they are working on it).

My question relates to your post above advising that you can "turn on and turn off" the feature.

Please advise where you have found the ability to turn on and off this feature. I do not see anything in my display menu that allows this to be done although I have seen in some of the Utube pictorals a button in the lighting menu for this.

I do not have this option in my lighting menu, do you?

Eager to hear how your system works so I can advise my dealer Tech Mgr who is trying to work with Germany now.

THANKS, Steve

 

Read Pages 114-116 in the Operator's Manual concerning Adaptive Highbeam Assist. The lights work automatically when enabled. Also, the Active Curve feature works differently than in the W212. The light intensity tracks the curve and the rest of the beam stays on as well. The visibility enabled with these lights is quite amazing. I suspect that the reason that there had been mention of turning the ILS on/off is that there are other features besides Active Curve that are not allowed in the US. My shop foreman is unaware of any software update for the lights at this time. The cornering lights are also working as expected. I'll try the rear fog light tomorrow night and see if the pattern changes.

 

Had the same active curve illumination issues on my 2017 E300. Finally resolved this week. Apparently the dealer had to "open a PTSS" case with MB who provided the fix. Work order advises "enabled intelligent light system via Xentry control". Although I do not have a menu selection (apparently due to the dumbed down US system), the active curve system is now operable and works exactly as HBerman describes. Fantastic system, although the curve illumination is not as aggressive as my 2014 or my older Acura RL. The overall field of illumination stays the same but the "sweet spot" of illumination moves L-R as you drive and is quite visible; markedly improved over older systems where the lenses moved. The cornering lights come on as needed, whether entering a traffic circle or moving along a curved road. The system is far better than any I have experienced previously.

 

When was your car produced? Did the service tech give you the procedure code number for Xentry? Curious if what MB Germany supplied was an enhanced function?

 

Date of production 5/2017. Dealer didn't provide any additional information other than what was on work order. They did have the car a few days while they waited for a response from MB.

 

Thanks for providing that information. Mine was produced on 10/10/16 and does have the latest software according to my shop foreman (i.e. no new software available). He will be checking for software updates when the November software modules are available.

 

Mine was corrected last week with the noted software update.