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Conformed all ILS features are working.
It may just be my brain, but the lights seem NOTICEABLY brighter.
Check out the dance at :07 of this video. It's the high beams activating automatically.
What isn't captured is the dimming and brightening of specific areas as you drive. Really cool stuff.
Thanks for the posts. Mine's a different problem. I have a 2024 GLE450, which came with the standard reflectors (poor performance, when compared to the superb adaptive projector headlights on my 2022 E450 All-Terrain) and want to replace them with the 2024-2025 adaptive Projectors.
Wonder if replacing the standard reflectors with the adaptive projectors, is still a plug-and-play or whether the installation and the setup is more complicated.
I just ordered for a set of Projector multi-beam LED headlights from the above seller. Thanks for the pointer. The GLE450 should have come from the factory with these headlights, and not sure why MB took the cheap route and put the reflector headlights on a luxury product.
Comparing the 2024 reflector LEDs on my GLE450 and the multi-beam projectors in my 2022 E450 All-Terrain Wagon, it is night-and-day when it comes to the performance between these two. The All-Terrain is drastically better.
Hopefully the lights should get to me by late next week, since it is being shipped over from Michigan to the PNW.
Seems like from an installation standpoint, it will need to be coded, calibrated and leveled etc. Roughly one hour of labor, is my guess.
I just ordered for a set of Projector multi-beam LED headlights from the above seller. Thanks for the pointer. The GLE450 should have come from the factory with these headlights, and not sure why MB took the cheap route and put the reflector headlights on a luxury product.
Comparing the 2024 reflector LEDs on my GLE450 and the multi-beam projectors in my 2022 E450 All-Terrain Wagon, it is night-and-day when it comes to the performance between these two. The All-Terrain is drastically better.
Hopefully the lights should get to me by late next week, since it is being shipped over from Michigan to the PNW.
Seems like from an installation standpoint, it will need to be coded, calibrated and leveled etc. Roughly one hour of labor, is my guess.
Before the facelift, you could order the multi-led (code 640) as a standalone upgrade for $900ish but now it's tied to pinnacle trim which is a $5600 package. We all know why they made that move... 💰
Before the facelift, you could order the multi-led (code 640) as a standalone upgrade for $750 but now it's tied to pinnacle trim which is a $5600 package. We all know why they made that move... 💰
Yeah, I agree they did it to get people to splurge more. In fact, prior to the facelift, at least the standard lights were LED Projectors, just that they did not have the swiveling-in-corners feature of the Multi-LEDs, but they quietly replaced projectors with cheaper reflectors, with the facelift.
When I bought the GLE, I had no idea that the reflectors would be this bad, until I drove it at night. The performance is so drastically different from the multi-LEDs in my All-Terrain. The light's throw is barely 200-250 feet, while the All-Terrain's light projects 3 times that distance (650 feet is what the literature says), and also spreads wider.
Yeah, I agree they did it to get people to splurge more. In fact, prior to the facelift, at least the standard lights were LED Projectors, just that they did not have the swiveling-in-corners feature of the Multi-LEDs, but they quietly replaced projectors with cheaper reflectors, with the facelift.
When I bought the GLE, I had no idea that the reflectors would be this bad, until I drove it at night. The performance is so drastically different from the multi-LEDs in my All-Terrain. The light's throw is barely 200-250 feet, while the All-Terrain's light projects 3 times that distance (650 feet is what the literature says), and also spreads wider.
So your lights don't say "LED high performance" at the bottom similar to Pic 2 of this listing (you have to zoom in)
I need to clarify. Yesterday was the first time I took the GLE out for a long night drive (returning back after a trip), since that original night drive well over a month back.
Taken in isolation, the LED reflector headlights of the GLE are not bad at all. Illuminates roads pretty well, except that in curves it does not swivel. It is only in comparison to the All-Terrain's lights that it falls short.
So as long as the All-Terrain is not in the mix to compare against, the reflector LEDs of the GLE are decent lights. Either way, they are being replaced shortly.
The below are the actual lights in my car (I need to take some head-on pictures, but this should also show what they are): Reflector LEDs that are now standard on the GLEs
I need to clarify. Yesterday was the first time I took the GLE out for a long night drive (returning back after a trip), since that original night drive well over a month back.
Taken in isolation, the LED reflector headlights of the GLE are not bad at all. Illuminates roads pretty well, except that in curves it does not swivel. It is only in comparison to the All-Terrain's lights that it falls short.
So as long as the All-Terrain is not in the mix to compare against, the reflector LEDs of the GLE are decent lights. Either way, they are being replaced shortly.
The below are the actual lights in my car (I need to take some head-on pictures, but this should also show what they are):
The following is the 2022 E450 All-Terrain's headlights (LED Intelligent light system) and further below is a crop from the All-Terrain's window sticker:
All-Terrain's Headlights Crop of a picture of the All-Terrain's window sticker
From the MBUSA website, this seems to be the one I ordered:
From the MBUSA website
That's good. The Multi-LED upgraded lights have the 4 hash marks in the DRLs while the standard lights only have two hash marks. You should consider getting ILS+ coded onto your AT, it's a very worthy upgrade if you predominantly drive in areas with very little street lighting.
This video might help your endeavor of installing your new headlights:
You can also improve your overall headlight performance by adjusting their vertical aim.
After getting my ILS+ "Europeanized" by RJ Automotive, I aim the lights so they just cover the rear license plate of the car I'm following.
That's on full bright, with the Euro pattern blacking out high beams as I approach the car in front.
The factory setting was significantly lower before adjusting.
That's good. The Multi-LED upgraded lights have the 4 hash marks in the DRLs while the standard lights only have two hash marks. You should consider getting ILS+ coded onto your AT, it's a very worthy upgrade if you predominantly drive in areas with very little street lighting.
Interestingly, I asked a local independent shop that specializes in Euro cars, on what it would take to install these lights, and their estimate came back with 3 hours for the light installation, and 1 hour for the coding/calibration.
And I asked them the basis for the 3-hour estimate, and they stated that it is a "book estimate". If I had not seen this video, I would have blindly believed that !
I then sent over this video to them, and mentioned that the removal took roughly 10-15 mins, while the guy doing the video, had a recording device in one of his hands. I then tried to give them an out, stating that I understand that this type of work may not be routine for them, and that might have led to the inflated hours, but instead of taking the opening I gave him, he responded back, that they do this kind of stuff all the time. What a dummy !
@Roweraay glad the video was useful. I thought for sure you'd do it yourself. Keep us posted on the process and coding. I know the OP provided video of the cornering /Curve of his new lights so it'd be nice to hear your feedback on that as well, the pre-facelift GLE doesn't have this.
@Roweraay glad the video was useful. I thought for sure you'd do it yourself. Keep us posted on the process and coding. I know the OP provided video of the cornering /Curve of his new lights so it'd be nice to hear your feedback on that as well, the pre-facelift GLE doesn't have this.
Thank you. The lights will arrive on Monday (in 2 days) and will do the installation and coding once it gets here. But the video was eye-opening on what's involved, and what they were planning to charge me. Being an informed customer is always a huge plus ! I might get the whole thing done at the local dealership.
As far as the cornering/curve etc., my 2022 E450 All-Terrain (purchased in September, 2022) already has that feature, within its "LED Intelligent light" system. Absolutely superb performance and in Mercedes literature, they state that they had to restrict its throw range to 650 meters (2133 feet), since it would violate DOT regulations to project the light beyond that distance. And going from that system into the GLE's standard LED lighting was disappointing to me, which was reflected in my original review.
I suspect the GLE (even pre-facelift versions) have more than one projector LED lighting options. One of them being the standard LED projector lighting and the other one being Projector beams with the curve/cornering feature, like in my All-Terrain. The curve/cornering aspect is within the "LED Intelligent light system" option, which my 2022 E450 has. I am not that familiar with the options within the pre-facelift GLE and thus I could be wrong on this.
Driving both the All-Terrain and the GLE interchangeably, I always rate the All-Terrain as a step-up over the GLE overall, in terms of its overall feel and quality.....just feels tight as a drum. When options are matched across both products, the E450 All-Terrain wagon is around $5000 higher in price, than its equivalent GLE counterpart. And I doubt that price bump-up is exclusively due to the All-Terrain being produced in their German Sindelfingen plant, like with the S-class.
The All-Terrain wagon comes standard with the Air Suspension etc., which is something you have to additionally option into the GLE. Space-wise, the GLE has more rear-seat room, but the All-Terrain has more length (but around 4 inches less height, being a wagon) in the hatch area. The All-Terrain E450 does 0-60 in 4.6secs, and you feel the immediacy of how it leaps forward like a cheetah, when gas is applied, versus the slightly more lazy and ponderous response from the GLE, from the identical "450" drivetrain. Probably due to the additional several 100lbs weight in the GLE.
Last edited by Roweraay; Jan 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM.
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As far as the cornering/curve etc., my 2022 E450 All-Terrain (purchased in September, 2022) already has that feature, within its "LED Intelligent light" system. Absolutely superb performance and in Mercedes literature, they state that they had to restrict its throw range to 650 meters (2133 feet), since it would violate DOT regulations to project the light beyond that distance. And going from that system into the GLE's standard LED lighting was disappointing to me, which was reflected in my original review.
I suspect the GLE (even pre-facelift versions) have more than one projector LED lighting options. One of them being the standard LED projector lighting and the other one being Projector beams with the curve/cornering feature, like in my All-Terrain. The curve/cornering aspect is within the "LED Intelligent light system" option, which my 2022 E450 has. I am not that familiar with the options within the pre-facelift GLE and thus I could be wrong on this.
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You keep saying that your E-class has ILS lights. Do you not have ILS+ on your 2022 E? (Both are LED.)
I thought ILS was the standard headlight for the E-class and that they would be equivalent to the ILS on GLE, but less effective than the ILS+ on either an All Terrain or GLE.
I'm a bit confused about your terminology.
Twenty years ago, standard MB headlights were Halogen, and the option was Bi-Xenon projectors, which I had on my C-class. Later, LED's became the standard headlights with ILS+ as the US upgrade. Projectors became obsolete.
BTW I wouldn't have any car of any brand that didn't have the upgraded lighting package. Even my 63 Land Cruiser pickup got Euro Cibie's.
And now my ILS+ headlights on my '21 GLE 53 have been Euro coded.
Could you be more specific and accurate about what headlights you have on your cars and what you're getting? Thanks.
You keep saying that your E-class has ILS lights. Do you not have ILS+ on your 2022 E? (Both are LED.)
I thought ILS was the standard headlight for the E-class and that they would be equivalent to the ILS on GLE, but less effective than the ILS+ on either an All Terrain or GLE.
I'm a bit confused about your terminology.
Twenty years ago, standard MB headlights were Halogen, and the option was Bi-Xenon projectors, which I had on my C-class. Later, LED's became the standard headlights with ILS+ as the US upgrade. Projectors became obsolete.
BTW I wouldn't have any car of any brand that didn't have the upgraded lighting package. Even my 63 Land Cruiser pickup got Euro Cibie's.
And now my ILS+ headlights on my '21 GLE 53 have been Euro coded.
Could you be more specific and accurate about what headlights you have on your cars and what you're getting? Thanks.
No, all E-classes don't get the options that are standard on the 90-100K All-Terrain, like say the Airmatic adaptive suspension etc. But the "Intelligent LED light" is an option even on the All-Terrain.
The All-Terrain's "intelligent LED light" has an absolutely phenomenal throw - the 2133 feet talked about above, and does curve/project around corners and curves. Not sure if that's what you are referring to as "ILS+".
I have re-attached pictures of the various lights that are being talked about, below, with tags indicating what they are.
Lights on my E450 All-Terrain Light I am getting for the GLE450 (arriving on Monday) from the Mercedes website Actual picture of the lights that are arriving on Monday (purchased from an eBay seller based out of MI) Lights that came standard on my GLE450 ("High Performance LED" - Reflector LEDs)
Last edited by Roweraay; Jan 25, 2025 at 06:43 PM.
Re-looking at the pictures above, the All-Terrain's lights have a lot more going on in there, even compared to the upgraded GLE lights. I will know soon if the new GLE upgraded "Intelligent" lights are a match for the All-Terrain's lights, performance wise.
Re-looking at the pictures above, the All-Terrain's lights have a lot more going on in there, even compared to the upgraded GLE lights. I will know soon if the new GLE upgraded "Intelligent" lights are a match for the All-Terrain's lights, performance wise.
I'm not certain but I believe that the W213 and W214 have the digital lights which are more advance than the multibeam in the V167.
EDIT: Nevermind, only the W214 gets the digital lights as an option. But the upgraded lights (640) in the W213 is still more advance than the multibeam led in the pre-facelift V167. The V167 facelift multibeam LED *might be* equivalent to the W213 upgraded 640 lights... We'll find out soon when you get them installed.
To answer the ILS+ question, ILS+ stands for Intelligent Light System Plus, the Plus in this case means it will automatically turn off individual LEDs and keep the rest of the high beam on when it senses another vehicle to not blind the drivers, this was a feature since W213 E-Class pre-facelift Europe which never was legal in USA, the hardware is there but disabled with software, I did hear that NHTSA did make it somewhat legal (at certain restrictions and reduced brightness) but I am not sure how many MBs actually have this feature enabled in the USA.
I'm not certain but I believe that the W213 and W214 have the digital lights which are more advance than the multibeam in the V167.
EDIT: Nevermind, only the W214 gets the digital lights as an option. But the upgraded lights (640) in the W213 is still more advance than the multibeam led in the pre-facelift V167. The V167 facelift multibeam LED *might be* equivalent to the W213 upgraded 640 lights... We'll find out soon when you get them installed.
To me, the digital light package does not seem to be adding any more output, but seems to be adjusting/readjusting the existing light output, by turning on/off the multiple LEDs that are built into the lights (lowbeam and highbeam). For the sake of other drivers.
In case of the light within the All-Terrain, it does the auto-dimming, curves/turns and other regular stuff, but a low-beam will always have the typical full output of a low-beam (all of the built-in LEDs blazing away) and the high-beam (when it is set to high-beam) will always have the typical full output of the high-beam (all of the LEDs in the high-beams blazing away). I personally am fine with this, since I don't ever blind oncoming drivers and always dim my lights to low-beams, when I am not driving in open, traffic-free areas.
The digital lighting seem to turn-off some of the LEDs within the light (lowbeam and highbeam), depending on ambient light conditions, and when it senses oncoming drivers etc. So might have some power savings (by turning off selective LEDs within the light) and maybe some additional life for the LEDs by all of them not being turned on constantly. So an advancement in lighting tech for the sake of other drivers, but not adding any additional light output that's over-and-above the multibeam-Intelligent-LEDs. At least that's how I interpreted it. I am personally perfectly fine controlling the light output aspect myself, than allowing the car to interpret the lighting that I need, as a driver. I hope the digital lighting has an option to turn it off, and allow the driver to control. the lighting that they need.
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