MA88

Hello All,
I recently purchased a 2017 GLE 350. my old car was 2013 BMW 528i.
the headlight on the GLE are 1/3 as bright as the BMW, and the range is 30 feet at best, my BMW I can see 70+ feet. I've avoided driving the GLE at night, and MBZ dealer is telling me this is normal for GLE.! I don't think this GLE is safe at night, especially I drive in Hilly areas with few street lights.
Anyone else noticed this problem.? I know there is a $1200 upgrade kit, but I wish the Dealer told me that ONLY the Running Daylights they showed me were LED, but the headlights are 1990 model. Disgraceful. Even my 2004 E320 had stronger headlights. Is this like the Volkswagen Diesel secret.?
Thanks, M.

baobay

EVERYONE who didn't get the lighting package noticed the problem. Its a major safety issue and I wouldn't drive it at night either if I didn't have the aftermarket HID kit installed. I think MB will have to address this issue. Its not only the GLE but the GLS also.

MA88

thank you... I'm taking my GLE back to Fletcher Jones Mercedes today, and requesting headlights be replaced under warranty, since Mercedes have known about this safety problems since last Oct/2015. I'll keep you posted of how things go. as it stands, with me not wanting to drive at night, my 13 year old is hating this new GLE 350, and asking me to get the BMW X5 instead. :-( SAD STORY.

baobay

They cannot replace the headlights with LED ones. I asked already. They said it is not possible. I was even willing to pay whatever they charged me. I leased my GLS. Had it not been a lease I would have traded it in. How do you know MB has known about this issues since oct 2015?

TripleInboard

The halogen lights are awful, and I agree, completely unsafe for night driving. I called MB USA to complain, and they had nothing to say. I would recommend that you do the same so they can document all of the unsatisfied customers.

If there are any engineers and social media experts out there that want to do a light comparison of the GLE vs halogens in other vehicles, I bet you could get MB's attention pretty quickly, and a possible solution created.

baobay

Funny you say that...I just got off the phone with MB USA customer care and made a formal complaint. They also had nothing to say. Basically "sorry, but it is what it is"
So you either get the lighting package or you're screwed. I would have gotten it had I known how horrible the lights are. The test drive was during the day and I questioned the sales person about it he said "the lights are very bright, even brighter than the HIDs you had on your 2014 GL"

TripleInboard

It is a ridiculous situation. The GLE is now a daytime only car.

JOHNBEST2017GLE

I think you must be in So-cal because you said you got from Fletcher Jones Mercedes.

I have the lighting package which paid extra for. Let me know you Fletcher Jones Mercedes won't take care your issue at all, they are the worst dealer. I got mine from house of imports. Fletcher will keep telling you you didn't buy the lighting package so forth. which you might need to suffer...

TripleInboard

MA88, did you have any success at the dealer?

nvsocr7

It's definitely a safety issue. Good news is, you're not completely out of luck.

https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...d-success.html

I Was able to get HID's installed using those items. It's 1000000x better and well worth the time and effort

MA88

1st, let's continue to file complaints with MB USA, also with NHTSA, DMV and US Dept of Transportation. the more GLE owners call and email these Orgs, the better for us to force MB to take ownership of this issue.

my MB Dealer said car is as designed. I asked them to draw papers to return GLE and Break the lease, as I won't drive it as is. they will get back to me with solutions. I know about the Halogen to HID kit, but surely I feel betrayed by Mercedes, and would rather not pay them any more money.
thanks for your support guys. It's a shame that such a nice SUV has to be such a pain in the ***. M.

baobay

my MB Dealer said car is as designed.

It is as designed...we are not arguing that....but the design is SERIOUSLY flawed

kenkirk

seems MB could at least offer those of us fool enough to purchase a GLE with Halogens a nice set of night vision goggles... because thats what I needed driving the beast in a night time rain storm. My only saving grace was staying close to a Lexus Rx350 that was lighting my path for me.

Ken

baobay

Night vision glasses.....Now that's thought....

deuce40s

My wife is currently in a 2011 C300 with known horrible headlights. I went with the morimoto replacements a year ago and have been fairly happy. I'm looking to move her up to a new GLE or GLS and I'm extremely disappointed MB hasn't got this figured out yet. We're now looking hard at the X5.

baobay

If you get a GLE or a GLS MAKE SURE YOU GET THE LIGHTING PACKAGE.
The standard halogens SUCK!

flyinduck

I'm from NZ. Our GLE has LED as standard also all security and high tech features are standard also. Though x5 and q7 are not and they are more expensive. funny thing.

MA88

Guys, no surprise, MB Dealer could not replace the lights, as MB will not cover the fix, and say they meet the RSA MINIMUM requirement.
Talking to my Attorney, he suggested that the quickest way to get Mercedes USA to step up is to file as many complaints with BBB (Better Business Bureau) in as many cities and states as possible. the more they hear from all over the USA the better our chances...
I will start by filling a complaint with Los Angeles, CA BBB, as the visibility on a rainy night is absolutely DANGEROUS.!
Let's do this guys, help me out...
Thanks, M.

baobay

I'm IN with you all the way. I will contact BBB in my area. I was thinking along the lines of a class action law suit.

JOHNBEST2017GLE

what if dealer came up with contract which listed term as sold as is?? i'm not legal expert but wouldn't that be something lawyers has advice for ?

baobay

that doesn't matter. They are selling vehicles to the public which are dangerous to drive at night and in low light conditions.

racers1600

We have 2016 C300 and the headlights are absolutely horrible as well... It's almost impossible to drive at night. I'm about one dark night away from taking the car back to the dealership or considering starting a class action lawsuit.

nvsocr7

If you can, do so, if not, just install the HID kits (there's a link on the main GLE forum). I'm not sure what the MB engineers were thinking with the GLE. It's very rushed and unpolished which is ridiculous considering this is supposed to be an update to the ML not a complete redesign. Even the COMMAND center is very unpolished although the Harmon Kardon sound system makes up for it. The ZF9 transmission we have is garbage too, they should have kept the previous edition; I didn't spent 50k to feel gear shifts...

Bamafan

I've been away from the forum a while, so I missed this thread. I have posted here earlier about this problem and , ironically, I came out of a 2013 BMW 528i as well (though mine was an ix).

drwolf

you know whats very strange? if any of you have/had the 2014 W212 it doesnt even give you the option of halogens, you either get xenon (no moving curves but the range it extends to is amazing) or the lighting package and yet the ML/GLE still continues with either the Halogens or Xenon/Led, i just wonder why MB didnt go the same route with the GLE