mbforlife86

Hi Guys.

We just bought a new GLE 450 from Laguna Niguel. Its optioned very nicely. My one questions is, do the exterior door handles on your 2021's light up? I have a 2019 E53 and a 2017 GLC and they both light up when you unlock the car.

Did MBUSA can this standard option?

Thanks

user 7208224

Mine light up. Don't remember if it was part of a package or standard.

AlphaGLE

So to clarify, your 2021 door handles dont light up in the dark when unlocking?

Sigp232

2021 GLE 450 my door handles do not light up. And mine is fully loaded.
2017 GLC 300 my door handles do light up. And mine is fully loaded.

mikapen

Do they light up when you approach, or do they light up when you touch them?

Daso

Well optioned 2021 GLE 450 and my door handles definitely do NOT light up, I do have the shining MB logo on the ground, but I guess everyone has that.

AlphaGLE

I have a 2020 GLE 350 and the handles light up when unlocking the car. My running boards also light up. Do you guys have the illuminated running board option on your GLEs?

Kleen_GLE

Can you take a picture of the door handles lighting up?

AlphaGLE

Sigp232

GLC door handles light up with remote or touching door handles to unlock.
GLE no lights on door handles with remote or unlocking by touching handles. Have to admit GLC door handles look nicer when lit up.

Kleen_GLE

First time seeing the door handles light up. Do you know what package that is part of because I have the Exterior Lighting Package and the Illuminated Running Boards but mine don't light up.

AlphaGLE

no clue. My GLE350 is pretty basic. Doesn’t have many options. I’m hoping the GLE53 I ordered will have handles that light up.

z28lt1

There are reports across this forum (at least here, in the GLS section, and in the C class section) of 2021s without door handle LEDs. I've also seen video reviews of 2021s where they don't appear to have them. Looks like MB stopped putting them in some or all of the 2021s.

I believe they were standard and not part of any package.

djer

What?!?!?!?! Mine's a 2021 Dec build and does NOT have this. I have illuminated boards as well.

mbforlife86

Same. I pulled the handle on the door and clearly the LED was not installed for some reason. The slot is there where the LED should have gone. Chip shortage?

z28lt1

I strongly suspect that Mercedes stopped putting them in because they would often fail within warranty and need to be replaced. It's not a terrible job to replace them, but in general requires the whole inside door panel to come off, so a bit of a pain, and probably an hour or so of labor that Mercedes was paying on each one. There's been a ton that have burned out fairly quickly requiring replacement. I've heard that Mercedes updated the part at some point to last longer, but maybe not long enough....

I wonder if all the wiring and such is still there that someone can just buy the lights and put them in. I suspect it would work, but we'll need someone willing to go to the effort to try....

mbforlife86

FWIW, I do have the Soft Close doors. Perhaps thats why its not there. In either case its going back to the dealer since the wireless charger doesn't work, neither does the air balance package, and occasionally the Navigation says the medium doesn't match the region.

maalox

Mine from October 2019 has Soft Close doors and also the illuminated door handles.

TwinCam

I have a GLE 350 without soft close doors and the handles light up when unlocking the doors. See page 142 in the owners manual for turning on or off the exterior surround lighting that activates when the doors are unlocked…this might be what is causing the problem.

Sigp232

What year is yours?

GregW / Oregon

Early 2020 450 here and I have the lights. They only activate when unlocking, not just when pulling the unlocked handle. Looks like MB ditched this feature after 2020?

z28lt1

From the profile, that poster has a 2020. As I said up thread, it is not related to options or settings. These were removed for 2021, at least on some lines of vehicles, but I suspect all. There are similar posts in the GLS, C, and E class forums.

BACnMercedes

I don’t have them either but in all honest, who needs them? I mean, probably most of us just walk up and grab the handle, wait a second and unlock, and then open the door using the keyfob in our pocket, right? So by then, there really isn’t any use for them other than to see when you walk away.

TwinCam

. Model year 2020.

TheOtherDodge

Unless you have a family that doesn't want to wait by the door for the person with the key to unlock, or its raining... Plenty of reasons why this is nice to have. Definitely not something that is useless or harmful.