Review of Lighting Package
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Minnesota
2015 Ram 2500, former 2013 GL350, 2007 GL450
Review of Lighting Package
I thought I'd give my perspectives of a few options I have on my GL. These are my own personal opinions, I'd appreciate other's perspectives as well.
I thought I'd start with the Lighting package. This brings in the daytime LED lights, bixenon bulbs, curve assist and adaptive high beams. I believe it also prevents fog lights.
I had the lighting package on my 2007. I also drove a 2011 GL350 I was considering buying a couple of years back. It didn't have the lighting package so my dealer was nice enough to let me take it home overnight (I live about an hour away) and bring it back the next day. So I was familiar with not having the lighting package on this and chose not to upgrade because of it.
The LED daytime running lights are cool for looks and obviously allows others to see you better. Like I said I think you lose fog lamps with this, but I think the bi-xenons do great without them. So I'll take the coolness of LEDs over the fog lights. It was a good choice.
Next, evening lighting. First I live about 20 miles from town in the country. I even have to drive on gravel the last quarter mile. I need good lighting for morning and evening drives to the office during the winter. I find that the lighting package features of bi-xenons, active curve illumination and adaptive high beams work to provide excellent lighting. The curve illumination works now at higher speeds than it did on my GL. I find it bending around curves going 45mph, where on my 2007 it seems to provide minimal bend unless going slower. The adaptive high beams work quite well. It seems like when it goes back to low beam there is still very nice illumination of the ditches where deer and other critters like to hang out on my ride home. When on full high beam it really lights up the road, ditches, etc.
The only negative I'd say is the adaptive high beam isn't perfect. I will find it dimming sometimes on reflections from traffic signs like no passing zones. You can of course disable it and go to manual high beams. I find it good enough to leave on instead of constantly reaching for the light stick on the steering column.
I don't know what the base 2013 lighting looks like, maybe I'd be pleasantly surprised versus the base lighting in previous years, but I doubt it.
My net opinion is the lighting package remains a must have option on your GL if you drive at night in lowly populated areas.
I thought I'd start with the Lighting package. This brings in the daytime LED lights, bixenon bulbs, curve assist and adaptive high beams. I believe it also prevents fog lights.
I had the lighting package on my 2007. I also drove a 2011 GL350 I was considering buying a couple of years back. It didn't have the lighting package so my dealer was nice enough to let me take it home overnight (I live about an hour away) and bring it back the next day. So I was familiar with not having the lighting package on this and chose not to upgrade because of it.
The LED daytime running lights are cool for looks and obviously allows others to see you better. Like I said I think you lose fog lamps with this, but I think the bi-xenons do great without them. So I'll take the coolness of LEDs over the fog lights. It was a good choice.
Next, evening lighting. First I live about 20 miles from town in the country. I even have to drive on gravel the last quarter mile. I need good lighting for morning and evening drives to the office during the winter. I find that the lighting package features of bi-xenons, active curve illumination and adaptive high beams work to provide excellent lighting. The curve illumination works now at higher speeds than it did on my GL. I find it bending around curves going 45mph, where on my 2007 it seems to provide minimal bend unless going slower. The adaptive high beams work quite well. It seems like when it goes back to low beam there is still very nice illumination of the ditches where deer and other critters like to hang out on my ride home. When on full high beam it really lights up the road, ditches, etc.
The only negative I'd say is the adaptive high beam isn't perfect. I will find it dimming sometimes on reflections from traffic signs like no passing zones. You can of course disable it and go to manual high beams. I find it good enough to leave on instead of constantly reaching for the light stick on the steering column.
I don't know what the base 2013 lighting looks like, maybe I'd be pleasantly surprised versus the base lighting in previous years, but I doubt it.
My net opinion is the lighting package remains a must have option on your GL if you drive at night in lowly populated areas.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 599
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From: Maryland
2022 E450 Prior:2021 S580 2012 E350BT, 2013 GL350BT, 2009 ML320BT, 2006 E320CDI, 1987 260E
Thanks for the review! I opted out of the lighting package as am just in suburbia, city or highway environments 99% of the time. Certainly does look cool though with the LEDs so if I did have unlit roads on a regular basis I would have gone for it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,653
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From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
I have the lighting package on my 2011 and really like the bi-xenon output .....the curve illumination on mine seems to be minimal, and, thats odd because I had the same package on the 2007 and you could very definitely see the lights tracking the turns......glad to read your comments, as I have ordered it on the incoming 2013!
