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ILS Intelligent Lighting - 2023 GLS 450 - alignment? review - specs?

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Old Dec 18, 2023 | 07:53 PM
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2023 GLS450
ILS Intelligent Lighting - 2023 GLS 450 - alignment? review - specs?

Had the coding completed to enable ILS on my 2023 GLS 450 - has anyone had this done for reference photos/videos? I'm curious if my lights are out of alignment or if this is normal within the ILS with the new lights enabled.

See the attached photo which shows the car approx 25' from the garage door and you can see a "riser" in one section (blue arrow). I have additionally attached the dashcam (mercedes onboard cam) from a drive last night. You can really see where the ILS engages and blacks out other cars. You can also see in some cases where this "riser" is within the sight line.

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions?

I also got on/off disabled, restart to Individual "dynamic" settings, 5 blinker flashes.

ILS Drive Video 2023 GLS 450




Thanks,
Randy
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Old Dec 18, 2023 | 08:04 PM
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I would talk to your coder, but mine does something similar (although without checking, can't sure if it is that drastic, but probably is) and it is definitely intentional. Should be reversed in the countries where you drive on the left.
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Old Dec 18, 2023 | 08:27 PM
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Who did the programming?
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Old Dec 18, 2023 | 11:26 PM
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Oh nice! RJ Automotive?

Enabling full lighting is the first thing I’m doing once mine gets here.
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 12:57 AM
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Watched your video. Amazing how 'lit up' the roadway was, especially noted when you were rounding curves and how the car ahead of you was specifically shielded from your lights. I am a bit of a MB newbie, but I gather the US has not approved the ILS, which the GLS is obviously capable of providing, but has been 'neutered' by the feds?
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by wyatt88
Watched your video. Amazing how 'lit up' the roadway was, especially noted when you were rounding curves and how the car ahead of you was specifically shielded from your lights. I am a bit of a MB newbie, but I gather the US has not approved the ILS, which the GLS is obviously capable of providing, but has been 'neutered' by the feds?
So this functionality was not allowed here until FMVSS regulations were amended on 2/22/2022. At this point, MB would have to recertify the assemblies to allow it, and I think we are just in that gap while waiting for it to happen. A lot of manufacturers are caught up by this - GM has offered adaptive beam on the Escalade in Canada and ROW for a year now, but is still waiting to allow it here.

It's basically what allowed Digital Light to be made available here as well on the Mercedes models that offer it.
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 10:09 AM
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Benzninja - great work, extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with!
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 10:16 AM
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C450, GLS 63 and a few other things
Originally Posted by MDMercedesGuy
So this functionality was not allowed here until FMVSS regulations were amended on 2/22/2022. At this point, MB would have to recertify the assemblies to allow it, and I think we are just in that gap while waiting for it to happen. A lot of manufacturers are caught up by this - GM has offered adaptive beam on the Escalade in Canada and ROW for a year now, but is still waiting to allow it here.

It's basically what allowed Digital Light to be made available here as well on the Mercedes models that offer it.
The problem is the US regulations differ from the EU regulations, so manufacturers can't just use the European software in the US. As we can see by coding, that is easy to do, but it will require different coding for the US. I know Polestar said for them they need entirely different hardware due to the regulation differences, but I don't know that every manufacturer is in the same boat.

Think we'll see it get adopted here relatively quickly, but could be so much easier if US adopted the existing standards.
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by randym4177
Benzninja - great work, extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with!
Glad to hear he helped you!

I have him muted, and will be sending my money to RJ. I can't with the spam. 😅
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by z28lt1
The problem is the US regulations differ from the EU regulations, so manufacturers can't just use the European software in the US. As we can see by coding, that is easy to do, but it will require different coding for the US. I know Polestar said for them they need entirely different hardware due to the regulation differences, but I don't know that every manufacturer is in the same boat.

Think we'll see it get adopted here relatively quickly, but could be so much easier if US adopted the existing standards.
It will happen quickly once things start rolling with the tech. NHTSA and DOT have a perpetually huge testing backlog, unfortunately - so I think manufacturers are waiting until major refresh to include it.

I'd love to see shared regulations, the abolishment of the chicken tax, and the abolishment/relaxation of the 25 year import rule personally.
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by wyatt88
Watched your video. Amazing how 'lit up' the roadway was, especially noted when you were rounding curves and how the car ahead of you was specifically shielded from your lights. I am a bit of a MB newbie, but I gather the US has not approved the ILS, which the GLS is obviously capable of providing, but has been 'neutered' by the feds?
Yes, even though the Germans have been enjoying the awesome benefits of ILS+ for more than a decade, we still suffer with the '60s-era federal "wisdom."

That's why many of us have paid to have our Mercedes coded, to unlock the full ILS+ functionality, since our cars already have the hardware!

I had @BenzNinja code both my cars (W222 and X167)... Once you've enjoyed it, you can't go back. In fact, I'm starting to look around for a 3rd Mercedes (used), since I have teenage drivers coming of age. I'm only considering Mercedes models that were optioned with the Full Active LED headlamps (hardware), so I can have it coded for ILS+. Hoping to buy a 2014-2016 E350, or a 2016-2018 GLE350.

Happy Motoring!
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by randym4177
Had the coding completed to enable ILS on my 2023 GLS 450 - has anyone had this done for reference photos/videos? I'm curious if my lights are out of alignment or if this is normal within the ILS with the new lights enabled.


I also got on/off disabled, restart to Individual "dynamic" settings, 5 blinker flashes.
Thanks,
Randy
Thanks for posting this, I have went back and forth with him for a while for doing some things to my 22 450 and this was one of them. Have you asked him to reverse it for LHD yet and what was his response? Also by on/off disabled do you mean the auto start stop or is that related to the headlights still? Also, do you think the 5 blinkers flashes was worth it? Is it just on the rear or the front too?

I was interested in the lights, the return to individual settings on restart and unlocking the head unit to give me access to the additional themes like AMG.
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Old Dec 19, 2023 | 08:29 PM
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I have not asked him to reverse. I'm happy with it overall.

Auto on/off is the turning off at a red light. I no longer have to manually press the button next to the ignition each time I start the car to turn that off.

I do enjoy the 5 blinkers - and it is on both front rear.

I really like the individual settings to return at start because I like comfort everything and sport transmission only. So, that is helpful.

He offered the AMG themes, but I wasn't interested.

I wish I knew more about the light alignment.

Overall, I'm happy with everything.
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Old Dec 22, 2023 | 01:27 PM
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MANUAL VERTICAL ALIGNMENT OF HEADLIGHTS

Originally Posted by randym4177
Had the coding completed to enable ILS on my 2023 GLS 450 - has anyone had this done for reference photos/videos? I'm curious if my lights are out of alignment or if this is normal within the ILS with the new lights enabled.

See the attached photo which shows the car approx 25' from the garage door and you can see a "riser" in one section (blue arrow). I have additionally attached the dashcam (mercedes onboard cam) from a drive last night. You can really see where the ILS engages and blacks out other cars. You can also see in some cases where this "riser" is within the sight line.

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions?
*****

Thanks,
Randy
It's not the ILS. It's vertical alignment, which we can do under the hood with a 6 mm hex wrench.


Left under hood adjuster, the white bit

Note index, count turns so you can return to previous setting

Right adjuster

I recommend you use the instructions from Daniel Stern Lighting https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html to make those adjustments.

I have done this on my 164 and 166 - the headlights were aimed lower than optimal.

It becomes especially apparent after you've reprogrammed your ILS, where you can see the sharp cut off on the car ahead.

After the Daniel Stern adjustment, I carried the 6 mm hex in the car for a while and raised the aim further, so the cutoff was just above the license plate on the car in front.

So the amazing improvement with the reprogramming is even more amazing after the vertical alignment.
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Old Dec 23, 2023 | 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by randym4177
Had the coding completed to enable ILS on my 2023 GLS 450 - has anyone had this done for reference photos/videos? I'm curious if my lights are out of alignment or if this is normal within the ILS with the new lights enabled.

See the attached photo which shows the car approx 25' from the garage door and you can see a "riser" in one section (blue arrow). I have additionally attached the dashcam (mercedes onboard cam) from a drive last night. You can really see where the ILS engages and blacks out other cars. You can also see in some cases where this "riser" is within the sight line.

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions?
I was finally in our GLS after dark, and I remembered your question, so I took a picture when I backed out of our garage. There was no notch, as you can see below. (That's not the end of the story, keep reading...)



Then, while I was driving through a nearby neighborhood, I noticed your "notch," so I stopped and took this photo (steering wheel straight):



Finally, when I pulled back into our driveway, I was surprised to see yet a different light pattern, which was decidedly different from the exact same setting of only 15 minutes prior (see first photo):



So, my conclusion is two-fold. 1- your headlamps are not an anomaly. And 2- These ILS+ headlamps are always doing cool things, even if I can't explain all of them

Definitely worth every penny to get both my cars coded for ILS+.

Happy Motoring!
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 01:23 AM
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Can anyone recommend a place I can get this done in Southern Cali or Vegas area? What does something like this cost?
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Venom-AMG
Can anyone recommend a place I can get this done in Southern Cali or Vegas area? What does something like this cost?
Can someone confirm that the 2024 has different headlights that don't allow for this? I can't find my VIN in any decoders and the window sticker does not mention headlights at all (I did check, I do have headlights!!!). They say Multibeam on them and I seem to recall that my GLC actually mentioned ILS on the light cluster...

Thanks all, and Happy Holidays.
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by AKSwift
Can someone confirm that the 2024 has different headlights that don't allow for this? I can't find my VIN in any decoders and the window sticker does not mention headlights at all (I did check, I do have headlights!!!). They say Multibeam on them and I seem to recall that my GLC actually mentioned ILS on the light cluster...

Thanks all, and Happy Holidays.
Ask your dealer to send you a copy of your build sheet.
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 08:32 AM
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If only they were that helpful. Asked for that before and they sent me the window sticker...

It's not important enough for me to become a nuisance for them, I want them to sell me another car or two next year...
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by AKSwift
If only they were that helpful. Asked for that before and they sent me the window sticker...

It's not important enough for me to become a nuisance for them, I want them to sell me another car or two next year...
I think multibeam is all you need. Sending your VIN to any of the coders and they'll confirm it before proceeding with any programming. There are 3 on here who are all reliable: Elebest, BenzNinja, and RJ Automotive.

Last edited by wildta; Dec 24, 2023 at 10:31 AM.
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by AKSwift
If only they were that helpful. Asked for that before and they sent me the window sticker...

It's not important enough for me to become a nuisance for them, I want them to sell me another car or two next year...
You’re not a nuisance, it’s a transactional relationship and you are giving them a lot of money.
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 10:08 AM
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I believe you need code 640 - Active Curve Illuminating Full LED

Benzninja was able to run my vin and tell me what options I could code on the car. For example, I don't have night vision camera so I wasnt able to code for the night vision features.
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 11:45 AM
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If I'm reading the 2024 GLS Dealer Order Guide correctly, I believe the necessary headlamps are standard equipment. If I recall correctly, I believe all X167 (GLS) have had the top-spec headlamps since the model debuted in 2020, whereas the W167 (GLE) has been optional. Hope that helps!



P.S. I do remember seeing a handful of very early-build 2020 GLS demo vehicles that were VERY stripped down, basic configurations... And they did NOT have the "Lighting Package," so their headlamps were distinctly different (there was even a $$$ credit for it on the window sticker). You'll know if you have one of these very early models, since they were also the only GLS vehicles I've ever seen with the 19" factory wheels.

Hope that helps!
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Old Dec 24, 2023 | 01:15 PM
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Originally Posted by mercedesbuff
If I'm reading the 2024 GLS Dealer Order Guide correctly, I believe the necessary headlamps are standard equipment. If I recall correctly, I believe all X167 (GLS) have had the top-spec headlamps since the model debuted in 2020, whereas the W167 (GLE) has been optional. Hope that helps!



P.S. I do remember seeing a handful of very early-build 2020 GLS demo vehicles that were VERY stripped down, basic configurations... And they did NOT have the "Lighting Package," so their headlamps were distinctly different (there was even a $$$ credit for it on the window sticker). You'll know if you have one of these very early models, since they were also the only GLS vehicles I've ever seen with the 19" factory wheels.

Hope that helps!
Yes, I got one of those as a loaner while my 2018 was in for service. I remember distinctly that it had halogen headlights and incandescent running lights.
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Old Dec 25, 2023 | 08:05 AM
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ILS+ is actually called IHC+ in these new car models, SA628 is the option code.

For most ECE cars, it is available if your light is Multibeam version (SA642 or SA641).
For USA, there is only SA640, and SA608(IHC, High Beam Assist).

so if you want to know whether your car can be coded the ILS+ or IHC+, basically check you have code 640 and 608, if yes, then can do coding to turn 628 on.

if you have 631/632 and 608, then no way to code 628, as the light hardware has not such feature.

For digital light: if your car has code 316+608, then can do ILS+ / IHC+.

cheers!
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