GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

Lighting Package or OK Without??

Old 03-26-2011, 08:19 PM
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Lighting Package or OK Without??

We have an ML with the lighting package and it's great. We are looking at adding a GL, and one without the lighting package is being offered to us as an "end of the month" real deal.

Opinions? Obviously we would prefer it, but how are the lights otherwise with the halogens? We don't drive out of the city too often, but when we do it is really in the country/really dark. Thoughts appreciated.
Old 03-26-2011, 09:55 PM
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2008 GL 320 CDI Black/Black
Originally Posted by troymir350
We have an ML with the lighting package and it's great. We are looking at adding a GL, and one without the lighting package is being offered to us as an "end of the month" real deal.

Opinions? Obviously we would prefer it, but how are the lights otherwise with the halogens? We don't drive out of the city too often, but when we do it is really in the country/really dark. Thoughts appreciated.
The halogens are AWFUL! Mine is a 2008, not sure what year you are looking at....as maybe they are better now. But there are a lot of folks on this site that have complained about the halogens. Maybe a late night test drive to be sure is in order.
Old 03-26-2011, 10:19 PM
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from a use perspective, nothing provides more value in my opinion than xenon headlamps...

night and day difference - no pun intended.

can't put price on safety, and being able to see plays a big role in that.

just my 2 cents
Old 03-26-2011, 10:23 PM
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I don't have it, it is the one thing I wish I would have got. If you get the Halogens, I would invest in some better (legal) bulbs, and spend some time aiming them correctly. Mine were pointing at the ground from the factory. I also use the driving/fog lamps quite a bit to fill the near distance.
Old 03-27-2011, 02:08 AM
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Now just one GL450 with EORP.
Go for the xenons. The factory halogens are downright dangerous.
Old 03-27-2011, 06:53 AM
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+1 for Xenon. LED DRL look awesome too.
Old 03-27-2011, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by WWMIndy
from a use perspective, nothing provides more value in my opinion than xenon headlamps...

night and day difference - no pun intended.

can't put price on safety, and being able to see plays a big role in that.

just my 2 cents
I like your politics!
Old 03-27-2011, 12:27 PM
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+1 for Xenon! And the LED DRL look really hot too! Get the BSA if this is for the wife
Old 03-27-2011, 12:38 PM
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From a halogen owner, after buying aftermarket bright whites and adjusting them dangerously high (I always think people are going to think I have my high beams on), I would not do the GL again without the light package. I'm good now, but it's been a long and obnoxious road to get where I feelc omfortable with the lighting. How anyone can drive this thing at night at Autobahn speeds with the factory halogens is beyond me. Bi-xenon? More like "bi-WINNING!" (Okay, that was bad, sorry.)
Old 03-27-2011, 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Brocktoon
spend some time aiming them correctly. Mine were pointing at the ground from the factory. I also use the driving/fog lamps quite a bit to fill the near distance.
I really disliked driving my GL at night. I just had the regular lights and mine were also pointing to the ground from the factory. I noticed the first time I drove it at night that I could not see. My husband spent time adjusting them up, etc to help me see, but then everyone kept flashing their lights at me thinking I had my brights on. I kept them a bit higher than they should have been I'm sure, but otherwise I felt it was dangerous.
Old 03-27-2011, 05:50 PM
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I'd go with the lighting package but I would not let it be a deal breaker for me. True, the stock halogen bulbs and aiming are horrible. You can easily retrofit an aftermarket HID system for under a $100 and have incredible performance using the stock housing. The cut-off is perfect with the stock H7 reflectors. Just adjust the aim a little higher and you will be good to go.

Last edited by BlownV8; 03-27-2011 at 11:37 PM.
Old 03-27-2011, 11:13 PM
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I have the bixenons on my 07. I recently tried a 2011 GL450 overnight to see if I could live with the halogens, and I just couldn't live with the halogens. I do live in the country so lights are valuable to me.

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