My 2020 450 is the same. Looks like a lens, though hard to tell definitively as you cannot really see through it.

 

Mine has it too. I think those are roundabout light, but I never see it working (because there is no roundabout in my area) so not sure if they are active or disable in US.
Corner light are those that turn when you are turning the steering wheel, I believe those are active in US, but very hard to see as individual LED within the headlight turn on and off instead of the entire light housing move.

 

Those look like a plastic panel to me, not a reflector for a light. I meant to say that this is where the reflector (silver-colored reflector, instead of a black three-lined panel) for the cornering light should've been.

I scoured through the owners gallery and tried to find a good picture of the european / ROW market, but they don't have any close up's of the headlights. Here's what I found so far that I think you can tell that it is different than the US market:







The third one from the top is the most close up one. Thoughts?

 

You are probably right - wishful thinking on our part.

 

You're probably right. Definitely a silver reflector in corner. Once again we get screwed in the US. Wonder if parts schematic shows that reflector and can be installed in light?

 

I guess the only way to put the issue to bed is find out if the US and EU versions have a different part number.

 

Looks to me and logically it is a lens with separate light source behind rather than a reflector, and zero chance it can be retrofit.

 

How about a contrarian view...rather than be disappointed maybe the glass is half full!
The lights seem very good at lighting corners now, IMO. The way they light the road side (20’-30’) also lights up corners very well compared to a normal headlight. The weakness today seems to be the dimming function that reduces the distance. If the Euro light is better then that would be nice but it seems to me that what we have now with Vlad’s activation or a future approval by the Govt. will provide a very nice cornering view at night.
On a recent trip, I left at 5 AM in very light traffic with intermittent snow. The lights on high beam provided such a great night view...until they dim. I would be happy with the update that dimmed the oncoming car leaving the rest of the light on high beam. Vlad’s software is on my shopping list now.

 

I have uploaded his software to both my 2018 E300 and my 2020 GLE . It works great. Vision much better. Only wish my GLE would light up side of vehicle on when turning like my E300. FYI, my E300 had great side lighting before upgrading software. Light assemblies are totally different in both vehicles.

 

Was wondering if anyone here had a previous gen W166 ML/GLE, either with bi-xenon or LED (not halogens), here in the US, and see if there is such a reflector on that same location. Our W166 (both 2014 ML and 2019 GLE) both have cornering light functioning on that reflector portion, but it's an ROW spec overseas not in the US. Maybe they've done this in previous gen too.

 

My 2012 ML350 w/ bi-xenons had functioning cornering lights (separate lensed light sources):

 

Hi there, that's my GLE at the top, Australian model, and I can confirm I have cornering light functions. When turning at low speed or putting on the indicator you get a lot more light on that side of the vehicle.

I think all the Australian GLEs have the Multibeam LED standard for what its worth.

 

That solves it we all need to move to Australia, who's with me.

 

me
I just hate that in addition to the software "lock" on the light features, there are also physical differences on the light. One would think corner lights improves safety.
The other item is the tail light. I always in love of amber rear turn signal instead of the US version which is all red.
This is something I don't understand. If Mercedes (and other car manufacturers) were to save cost, wouldn't it be cheaper to make the same spec on global market? Or is the cost of having different color/spec outrate the cost of the different design?
And even if it is a few hundred extra, I don't think people will complain (at least for Mercedes) since we are already paying a premium for it.

 

I don't disagree with this, overall the low beam pattern and projection is nice and wide. However the low beam pattern can never beat the cornering light beam throw (it's literally within 90 degrees of the front end).

I swapped cars with my folks last weekend (2019 G01 X3, withOUT executive light package, but with premium package which at the time bumps up the LED light to mid-level <more info here under General Vehicle Electronics> so it gives the adaptive turn AND cornering light). Guess what, they have a functioning cornering light, at the exact spot where ours is blanked out. And it really lights up the entire side, especially when you're making a left hand turn into a dark street and you really need that 90 degrees area to be lit. I took the same street and dark roads back to back between the X3 and GLE, and at least in my area, the cornering lights really made a difference. And having it separate than the fog light really makes it superior, that it really utilizes projection to the side (the fog light is separate, mounted on the bumper on the X3). It just sucks how they can't justify having a cornering light as a safety item and decided to delete it on the US market (sigh).

Also seems like our fellow BMW brethren is having the same issue as us with the latest and greatest G05 X5 and G07 X7, that BMW blanks out the cornering light if equipped with the supposedly highest, most advanced lighting package with laser lights. So I guess I don't feel so bad now HAHA! See here.

By the way, anyone here WITHOUT the Exterior Lighting Package? Curious to see if they have the cornering light in those. If so, I'd be floored!

Last ranting question: Did MBUSA remove their references to Cornering Lights in their build site? Can't find anything referencing to cornering lights anymore, thought I've seen it last time?

 

Here in Vancouver, I just checked with my dealership and looked at all the headlights. It appears the GLC all have the reflective corners, but the GLE has a black semi-reflective piece. I talked with my guy there, and he mentioned the GLE does not make use of the reflector as the GLC does, and instead tilts the headlight as needed in the newer models.

Another clarification I got was on the Multibeam behaviour. I was assured that they are fully functional, as in they will turn off beams to prevent dazzling of oncoming vehicles, and also the same for street signs.
This is in contrast to the X5 I did a night test drive with, which just switched to low-beam when there were oncoming vehicles. (it had lazerlight package which look cool IMO but seems to be crippled?)

 

You may well have the full "intelligent lighting" adaptive features in Canada, but for sure there is no tilting going on.

 

This I cannot say one way or another, but I will be getting 24 hr test drive sometime soon after the weather clears, and will definitely be checking these claims.

 

Had this same question (regarding cornering lights) for my potential 580 order in the US. Found some interesting info on the MB sales site that described the system, and linked to a short video that walked through the 'multiple led' changes the 'smart' system made while driving.
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/inn...urns-into-day/

Seemed cool, but I think the engineers got too carried away with their own toys and decided the new stuff meant they could do away with the cornering light capability. I think they got this one wrong, personally.

 

So how do you know the Multi-beam lights on bright have a narrower field of view than the field of view provided by the corning light?

On my GLE, when the brights are on I can see just fine when turning...the sides are lite extremely well. Low beam is not as wide a field of view, but I can still see. If the full S/W capability is available, as designed the brights would always be on (except where it blacks out vehicles in the light path) and you have cornering lights...the only difference is they are always on.

 

Hmmm, pretty sure there is no 'cornering' light on the US GLE. Have had them on my last 3 vehicles (two Audi's and an ML550), and they light up the corner/side you are turning towards, in my case my driveway, at 90 degrees to my left (or right, depending on if I'm going uphill or downhill <grin>). Very useful when the sun is not shining. My understanding of the 'multi-beam' lights is they always point straight, they just adjust which ones are lit to provide a 'smart' illumination, don't think they actually 'turn'? The only test drives I have made were daylight, so no personal experience, but the MB video does not seem to show the same capability to light up the curb immediately to your left as you turn into the driveway. Cornering lights are literally angled left and right, not straight ahead, and only light up when you turn the wheel sufficiently. The MB youtube does show a good capability to change the illumination to the sides of your direction of travel, and some very interesting abilities to adjust the light in front, but not sure it shows a 'cornering' thing where you are going slow and trying to see the curb you are trying not to hit as you turn into your driveway.... Definitely shows an ability to 'bend' the light around a curve, which used to take a capability to physically turn the bulb. Would be delighted to be wrong about a cornering illumination (but it is not a deal breaker). :-) (oh, gig 'em.... BQ '73 here)

 

Um, and not trying to be argumentative... Just have a different view on what 'cornering lights' mean...

 

In that embedded youtube video, cornering light is shown on 2:34 and again in 2:56 though now they combine cornering light with roundabout function.

I'm not arguing on how awesome the ultra wide high beam is in covering a wider pattern. But high beam is projected high across the entire front end. Cornering light is projected low to the ground, so you won't blind that pedestrian that's crossing the street (in fact you're actually lighting their path).

 

The GLE LED is not a single light but a composite of several LED’s that point in several directions. Some point to the side and do a decent job of illuminating corners on high beam. If they are ever activated as designed they will stay on high beam with some turned off as a car approaches so that everything but that vehicle is still illuminated. I can’t testify for all lights but mine light up corners very well and also a wide area of the roadside barrow pit. I’ve had lights that turned on corners but none that turned 90 degrees and none that illuminated so much real estate. These are great lights now and should be much better if the Govt ever approves them or if you buy the activation from Vladimir.

 

Yeah don't even start on this one LOL. Hate that all red tail light.