cellik

Hey there, I know there has been a lot of talk that Mercedes had to switch suppliers on the Xenon headlights for the new ML.

My local dealer in Toronto showed me on his computer that it said only March 2012 build would be able to select this package.

Does anyone know if there is a chance they will rectify the supplier problem sooner? I need a new SUV for February 1st and don't want to have to wait till April (when a March build would arrive)

I loved the truck, but I might have to look at the Jeep GC (overland or SRT) because I would always feel like I missed out on something with all the MLs coming out later in the year with Xenons. Jeep seems to be my only other option as the X5 is way more expensive at the moment (terrible residuals)

smiley47

Why can't you rent some SUV for the few months between Feb 1 and when the ML arrives? Nothing against the GC (especially the SRT8) but if you really want the ML, renting would keep you from having buyers remorse.

jtorrebl

I was in same boat but can't wait so al leasing for 2 years. Then get something more loaded then. Getting a p2 package car this weekend when it arrives.

YYZ-E55

The xenons should be available with January production, to coincide with the production start up of the 550 and 63.

brutesky

yyz, are you 100 percentain its moved up from march to january?

YYZ-E55

"should"

brutesky

Sorry about that, i got excited and read it fast. I was just wondering if it was an assumption of yours or you had concrete information. Dealership is telling me March with no sign of earlier. For me it truly is a dealbreaker.

GregW / Oregon

Just spoke to my salesperson. They have a number of MLs with the 319 Lighting Package in the system scheduled for January build.

FYI, I know MBUSA calls them bi-xenons, but a more accurate term is HIDs (High Intensity Discharge). There are xenon lamps (that is just the gas fill) that are not HID.

lboudreau

Just an update on the Canadian side. My dealer just told me today that my ML will have a March build and April delivery. I hope that they are just quoting worst-case-scenario dates... seems like a long time to get some headlights.

jtorrebl

Yeah but thouse "xenon" filled incandescent bulbs are crock of $#it. It's just a regular bulb. Nobody really considers those xenons.

lboudreau

+1 It is well worth the wait for the real Xenon with AHA

caf

I'm probably in the minority, but I don't care about xenons. I've had and have cars both with and without. I like the brightness in straight ahead conditions, especially when you can use high beams. On the other hand, I dislike the color spectrum that results with xenons. Stop signs, for instance, look brown at night instead of red.

What I dislike most about xenons, though, is that the lighting systems have to be designed with a very sharp horizontal cut off of the light pattern to avoid blinding other drivers. That also means that if you are driving downwards into a small dip in the road, there is almost no light illuminating the opposite uphill side of the road. Almost ran into a deer once that way. On the same dip, my cars with halogens and less abrupt cut offs of the light beam illuminate the uphill side better.

I realize we're all supposed to love spending the money for xenons, but I can take them or leave them.

jtorrebl

Bur the xenon headlights look so much better and more aggressive

caf

I do like the look of the xenon lighting assembly on the vehicle. Maybe I could just order the "xenon-look" package.

lboudreau

You also get LED turn signals with the Xenon package. And I believe there are some LED running lights in the Xenon headlamps as well. So it definitely adds to the design of the front end... especially when you combine it with the AMG package.

dougiebear

BOYS BOYS LOL

They are indeed Bi Xenons they use HID bulbs.
"Bi" meaning that 1 light does high and low beam function.
Some cars have HID but only low beam like vw CC in non "highline" versions

Greg saw ur post "Confirmation" that sucks about delay
What is P1 vs P2,P3?

Hope mine got lucky

GregW / Oregon

P2 adds the Logic 7 sound system, KEYLESS-GO, ambient lighting and illuminated sills and a lockable rear storage compartment to the P1 package. Never seen P3 referenced in US literature. Funny they would keep the lighting on the less-expensive orders and hold up the more fully-optioned ones.

GregW / Oregon

I found out later that P1, 2 & 3 in this reference mean Priority 1, 2 & 3. Priority 1 orders are customer sold orders.

GregW / Oregon

Per my salesperson, "The first 319 pkg. orders have production dates of April 5th." So, the wait may be longer than first anticipated.

lboudreau

So instead of making a new thread every time someone has an update on this lighting package, I decided to just post it in this one.

My dealer called me today to let me know that they have a confirmed build and delivery date for my ML with the lighting package. Build date is March 10th and delivery is April 24th. They said that it will most likely arrive before the 24th but they usually like to give "safe" dates.

EDIT: They also confirmed that my ML will have the Sport package but will be the last one (in our area anyway) with the sport package for a little while (a month or two) because of the shortage of the 20" wheels

dougiebear

Where in Canada ru from? In Ontario our dealers can NOT order the AHA Bi's yet. Ur must be using allotment for build dates

rush1169

Im kinda wondering. . .I have a 550 on order and was told Jan/Feb delivery. . .with lighting pkg. and I havent heard anything to the contrary.

lboudreau

I'm from Nova Scotia. They had some available slots they could fill and they were able to get a confirmed build date for one of the slots in March.

The 550s come with lighting package as stock, therefore they will be the priority (along with the ML63)