JeffN365

I purchased a 2015 GL450 just the other day and it does not have the lighting package. I've been doing a ton of driving over the past few days and the Halogen lights are miserable, I also have a 2014 RDX and the lights there are much better. Do I have any options on the lights? I love the GL but I was so fatigued from the lack of vision it will be hard to keep the truck with the stock lights. Please any advice will be appreciated.

cadetdrivr

Two basic options, neither of which will match the Lighting package, other than replacing the truck:

1) Replace the stock Halogen bulbs with "improved" bulbs using the existing projectors. Examples: Philips or PIAA (not an endorsement). Do not attempt to but a Xenon bulb in the existing projector as the optics are not correct and heat is a problem.

2) Retrofit a HID package (this is not plug-and-play and there are numerous threads in this sub-forum as well as the ML one)

sp913

I thought the new 2015 gl450 came equipped with led lights. Is that not true? Would love to hear from anyone who has the lighting package to see if it's worth it.

PeterUbers

You'd be hard pressed to find someone who has actually driven at night with basic halogens and also with led headlamps --- who would say the LED headlamps were NOT worth it...

Get the led headlamps, don't be another mbworld statistic (another regretful Benz owner who opted for basic halogens)

JimBarnhart

+1

Anyone who drives any reasonable amount of time after dark on rural roads will regret not having the lighting package.

Steve Maislin

Lighting package is the best option of all. However, my heated seat is right up there. :-)

cadetdrivr

The front daytime running lights (flat light bars on bottom front corners) are LED. In markets where the Lighting Package is an option (example: USA) the stock headlights are projector beam Halogen and the Lighting Package upgrades those to bi-xenon.

I would not buy a MB without the lighting package, so yes, I think it's worth it.

cadetdrivr

I used to agree with you, but now that it's below zero here in MN I'm gonna say that the Heated Steering Wheel is a strong contender.

And to think I thought it was a quasi gimmick when we ordered it....

JeffN365

I was out for a quick drive in the RDX(Xenon headlamps) on a back road. The road was nicely lit. I arrived at home and decided to try the same drive with my new GL450. I'll post the video on youtube or something but I'm very bummed out....
The GL450 just cannot compare.Everything else? TOP NOTCH...

Steve Maislin

Yes, I have the heated steering wheel as well as heated seats. And, I told my wife the other day that I could not buy another GL without them. The next one will have heated rear seats as I feel bad for my passengers these days. I know that sounds trite, but the comfort of the seats and wheel with heat is one of my favorite features. Many cars have them, but these work very well. Yes, there are many things I enjoy, most more technically difficult, but the heated accruements are hard to live without. Also, I would not mind having a heating system that pre-heated the vehicle prior to entry, but that might asking for too much! Why suffer needlessly?

Venom-AMG

where are you located? I wired some aftermarket HID for a friend's ml that had halogen and it came out nice

JeffN365

I'm in North Carolina... still trying to figure out how to get the video from my phone and do a side by side in single frame

Venom-AMG

If you were in Socal I wouldn't mind helping. I did just send you a pm

anothercar

My GL has bi-xenons and they are great! Love the automatic hi-beams. However my S6 has LED headlights and they are superior to the bi-xenons. Can't imagine nighttime driving without one or the other.

JeffN365

I can imagine, enjoy your lights!
I am definitely in the statistic category......

dougpham

I agree with your complain. I have 2013 , I have to upgade it after market HID lighting from MTEC, no problem plug&play. You can find it from Ebay. There is 1 guy with Power rating he is good.

smartbot

I just installed the MTEC and it seems to work just fine (no errors or flickering). The included clip does not work for the X166. Overall, the installation was a bit harder than I expected (not quite plug & play).

blittle

HAHAHA! Absolutely!

vivaitalia

so I opened up my 2013 GL450 and no, my configuration is NOT a simple plug and play ... sooooo disappointment ... access through the wheel wells is tight and can only blind trace the wires into an empty void ... NO WAY to visually see it without removing what I presume to be a plethora of panels ... how was this possible for you? can you share pics? videos? links? sooooooo frustrating for what I presumed to be a fairly simple plug n play .... arrrgghhhhhh

vivaitalia

could you give me a little more detail of the MTEC you are referring to and what you used as the clip in lieu of the OEM clip. Many Thanks, John

VRJ

Anyone have experience with any of the LED kits to replace the stock halogens? I am not looking to replace the entire casing to go to HID...at least NOT yet.

whyjay

I posted this in the GLS forum. I went the HID route and they're great. Super easy to install. If you find something solid with LED, would love to know more.

https://mbworld.org/forums/gls-class...ml#post7377114