M-Class (W166) Produced 2012-2015

A question about interior lighting for 2014 ML350 US

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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 02:43 AM
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2014 ML350
A question about interior lighting for 2014 ML350 US

Hi,

Can anyone who own a w166 without the ambient lighting package check their car air vent adjustors(see attach) to see will they illuminated at night or not
My vent adjustor won't light up at night since the first day I bought it new.

Thank you
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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 04:58 AM
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Mine do not. Seldom adjust as they stay wide open, so it is not a concern.
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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 05:16 AM
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thanks for your information.
At first I thought this is normal until I watched the youtube video about ML350 ambient light. Then I found the vent adjustors were all lighting up in the video. Also, I had driven a C250 loan car with vent adjustors illuminated. I care about this because my gf always turn them off.
Just can't figure out why mercedes remove this function.
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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 06:39 AM
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Originally Posted by criss
thanks for your information.
At first I thought this is normal until I watched the youtube video about ML350 ambient light. Then I found the vent adjustors were all lighting up in the video. Also, I had driven a C250 loan car with vent adjustors illuminated. I care about this because my gf always turn them off.
Just can't figure out why mercedes remove this function.
I STAND CORRECTED!

Just went out and cranked my 2014 ML and the knobs DO light up. I had my dimmer so low that I thought there was no light but even at the lowest setting there is light coming from each. Turn the dimmer way up and they really light up!

Here is what it looks like at lowest light level:

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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 08:26 PM
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Originally Posted by GregGebhardt
I STAND CORRECTED!

Just went out and cranked my 2014 ML and the knobs DO light up. I had my dimmer so low that I thought there was no light but even at the lowest setting there is light coming from each. Turn the dimmer way up and they really light up!

Here is what it looks like at lowest light level:

guess I should bring my car to the dealer
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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 09:49 PM
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I don't have the ambient package and like Criss, my vents do not light up. I wonder if it a quality issue with these vehicles. I been back to the dealer already twice within the last 3 months. The built quality at least on my vehicle is very questionable.
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Old Aug 27, 2014 | 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by sonicboom188
I don't have the ambient package and like Criss, my vents do not light up. I wonder if it a quality issue with these vehicles. I been back to the dealer already twice within the last 3 months. The built quality at least on my vehicle is very questionable.
Cant agree more. I went back to the dealer couple times because the issue of my steering wheel(off center). Although the problem was solved, I still dont like the feeling of the steering wheel(it is too light). I plan to go to dealer this week to fix the vent lighting problem.
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 06:12 AM
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2014 ML350 BlueTec
Originally Posted by sonicboom188
I don't have the ambient package and like Criss, my vents do not light up. I wonder if it a quality issue with these vehicles. I been back to the dealer already twice within the last 3 months. The built quality at least on my vehicle is very questionable.
It my be an elected "option", only MB can tell.

As far as quality, my new ML350BT has performed without flaw. It has almost all the avaliable options and every single one of the work well.

I would say the vast majority of these trucks are defect free. You got to understand what is reported in forums like these represent a very small percentage of the owners. There will always be exceptions.
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 12:46 PM
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Agreed it might not be the norm, but hopefully I won't find more issues. Like Criss, I will have it check out when I go in for my first tire rotation.
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 08:13 PM
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Just checked my 2013. I do not have the ambient lighting package and my vent adjusters do not light up.
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 11:19 PM
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Thanks, so maybe without the ambient lighting package the vents don't light up.
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Old May 5, 2016 | 08:15 PM
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No ambient lighting in my 2013 ML350 (W166) - can anyone recommend an ambient lighting kit to install?
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Old Apr 18, 2017 | 06:20 PM
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Originally Posted by cesnek
No ambient lighting in my 2013 ML350 (W166) - can anyone recommend an ambient lighting kit to install?

Basically the answer is your stuck, i mean at the beginning i didnt like it either and the car interior would be pitch black at night time but i got used to it, over the course of 7 months of driving

I mean i dont drive alot at night as it is to notice it as it is, i make due now, sucks that ML doesnt include that standard and the BSA (prior to redoing as the GLE)
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Old Apr 21, 2017 | 05:32 PM
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Mine light up. It is an orange ish light emitting from under the rear view mirror.
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Old Nov 6, 2018 | 12:55 PM
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Revisiting this after a bit -- the OP is probably not around any longer, but I noticed in my 2015 ML250 (without the ambient lighting package), the vent dials do not light up, but if I'm following Criss's post, he does not have ambient lighting either, but his vent dials DO light up. Trying to figure out how they SHOULD work if anyone else around here knows.

Also, found it odd, as I'm getting to learn this vehicle, that the knob selector for the headlights lights up, but the actual section does not illuminate at night, so if you for some reason need to change off of auto, you have to turn on the interior lights to see which value you would like to select, and ALSO, it's odd the wiper stalk doesn't light up either so unless you have it on auto, you're also having to turn on the interior lights to select the option you need.

Last edited by we47b1me; Nov 6, 2018 at 01:27 PM.
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Old Nov 6, 2018 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by we47b1me


Revisiting this after a bit -- the OP is probably not around any longer, but I noticed in my 2015 ML250 (without the ambient lighting package), the vent dials do not light up, but if I'm following Criss's post, he does not have ambient lighting either, but his vent dials DO light up. Trying to figure out how they SHOULD work if anyone else around here knows.

Also, found it odd, as I'm getting to learn this vehicle, that the knob selector for the headlights lights up, but the actual section does not illuminate at night, so if you for some reason need to change off of auto, you have to turn on the interior lights to see which value you would like to select, and ALSO, it's odd the wiper stalk doesn't light up either so unless you have it on auto, you're also having to turn on the interior lights to select the option you need.
what you have is the way it is without option 876
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Old Nov 6, 2018 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by drwolf
what you have is the way it is without option 876
thanks Dr. Wolf -- I could have sworn the dials illuminated previously and to the OP's point, had illuminated as well even though he did not have the ambient lighting package. And not talking about the light under the vents, the specific vent dials.

Thank you!
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Old Nov 6, 2018 | 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by WayneEnterprise
thanks Dr. Wolf -- I could have sworn the dials illuminated previously and to the OP's point, had illuminated as well even though he did not have the ambient lighting package. And not talking about the light under the vents, the specific vent dials.

Thank you!
this is what it should look like with option 876, taken from this thread

https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w...eige-love.html

albeit this car is loaded with options though


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Old Nov 6, 2018 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by drwolf
this is what it should look like with option 876, taken from this thread

https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w...eige-love.html

albeit this car is loaded with options though

You know what I just realized? (And btw that car is awfully pretty). In the post below that shows the vent dials illuminated, you DO NOT see the ambient light under the vent -- SO, meaning that vehicle did not have the 876 package, but the dials still lit up. So somewhere, whichever module those dials are controlled by, is not functioning properly on my truck. I think I have supporting evidence as well, because my cigarette lighter does not light up at night either, AND the steering wheel button illumination had to be replaced when I first got the vehicle. So there are definitely some electronic gremlins in my vehicle.

Annoyed as this is a CPO vehicle, and seems to have more little nitpicky things wrong with it than my W163 with 325k miles on it. Back to the dealer I suppose!
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Old Nov 6, 2018 | 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by we47b1me
You know what I just realized? (And btw that car is awfully pretty). In the post below that shows the vent dials illuminated, you DO NOT see the ambient light under the vent -- SO, meaning that vehicle did not have the 876 package, but the dials still lit up. So somewhere, whichever module those dials are controlled by, is not functioning properly on my truck. I think I have supporting evidence as well, because my cigarette lighter does not light up at night either, AND the steering wheel button illumination had to be replaced when I first got the vehicle. So there are definitely some electronic gremlins in my vehicle.

Annoyed as this is a CPO vehicle, and seems to have more little nitpicky things wrong with it than my W163 with 325k miles on it. Back to the dealer I suppose!
That is strange to hear.. Ya go get it looked it, i never had them lit up on mine
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Old Nov 19, 2018 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by drwolf
That is strange to hear.. Ya go get it looked it, i never had them lit up on mine
I must be losing my mind or something. I took the truck into the dealer (had to have the mBrace system reloaded), and told them to check out the vent adjustors. I am 99.9% sure they lit up when I bought the truck, but he says they pulled one out, and there's no wiring in the vents for the dial light -- and I further investigated this by looking at the parts diagram -- there are two versions -- with and without ambient light. So I guess I just don't have the lights in there, and am losing my mind indeed

I do have a follow up question for you guys though -- without the ambient light package, does your cigarette lighter ring and ash tray light up? Mine don't light up, and find it so odd that the light is there, but it doesn't illuminate. Unless it's another ambient light package thing -- if you don't have it, it doesn't illuminate.

What is throwing me is my 2012 C250 WITHOUT the ambient light package -- the lighter socket and the vent dials all illuminate.

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Old Nov 19, 2018 | 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by we47b1me
I must be losing my mind or something. I took the truck into the dealer (had to have the mBrace system reloaded), and told them to check out the vent adjustors. I am 99.9% sure they lit up when I bought the truck, but he says they pulled one out, and there's no wiring in the vents for the dial light -- and I further investigated this by looking at the parts diagram -- there are two versions -- with and without ambient light. So I guess I just don't have the lights in there, and am losing my mind indeed

I do have a follow up question for you guys though -- without the ambient light package, does your cigarette lighter ring and ash tray light up? Mine don't light up, and find it so odd that the light is there, but it doesn't illuminate. Unless it's another ambient light package thing -- if you don't have it, it doesn't illuminate.

What is throwing me is my 2012 C250 WITHOUT the ambient light package -- the lighter socket and the vent dials all illuminate.

i have the same thing in my ML as well

here is what is part of code 876 (as defined as INTERIOR LIGHT ASSEMBLY)
1) Under wood dash lights, to the left of the steering wheel, to the right of the steering wheel all the way until the right AC Vent (again, see thread link)
2) Door under wood dash (same as #1, 3 colors)
3) rear door courtesy lights (Red/white, w/o 876 only front doors have it **i think this might be default in the GLE 350**)
4) Under front passenger seat lights (see the thread link i sent with the picture, you'll see everything in those pictures)
5) cup holder lights, (at the rear of the cup holder, this is not obvious). If you have the heated/cooled cups, you'll see the whole cupholder illuminated (Red: heated, blue: cooling, solar: nothing)
6) Lighted Vent controls of all AC vents in the front, maybe in the back too (cant definitively say)
7) illuminated door sills (Front only, Mercedes-Benz lights up)

MBUSA prices this option for $310 extra, granted if you do SPC (special order) or if you find it on a CPO you want, or a new one (GLE 350 has this w/P2, i've seen one model with 876 w/o P2 package)
Sucks it isnt standard, but hopefully if you chose the GLE going forward again, make sure you check and make sure
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Old Nov 19, 2018 | 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by drwolf
i have the same thing in my ML as well

here is what is part of code 876 (as defined as INTERIOR LIGHT ASSEMBLY)
1) Under wood dash lights, to the left of the steering wheel, to the right of the steering wheel all the way until the right AC Vent (again, see thread link)
2) Door under wood dash (same as #1, 3 colors)
3) rear door courtesy lights (Red/white, w/o 876 only front doors have it **i think this might be default in the GLE 350**)
4) Under front passenger seat lights (see the thread link i sent with the picture, you'll see everything in those pictures)
5) cup holder lights, (at the rear of the cup holder, this is not obvious). If you have the heated/cooled cups, you'll see the whole cupholder illuminated (Red: heated, blue: cooling, solar: nothing)
6) Lighted Vent controls of all AC vents in the front, maybe in the back too (cant definitively say)
7) illuminated door sills (Front only, Mercedes-Benz lights up)

MBUSA prices this option for $310 extra, granted if you do SPC (special order) or if you find it on a CPO you want, or a new one (GLE 350 has this w/P2, i've seen one model with 876 w/o P2 package)
Sucks it isnt standard, but hopefully if you chose the GLE going forward again, make sure you check and make sure
Thanks Dr. Wolf. Appreciate the clarity. I'm fine living with the way it is without 876 since the truck was such a deal, and is in immaculate shape. Don't see a lot of ML 250's with the ambient light and the Harman Kardon system. My dad's ML350 has both, but his CPO was about 10k more than mine for essentially the same vehicle minus a bell and a whistle here and there. Definitely will be more particular for the next one, likely a GLE.
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Old Nov 19, 2018 | 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by we47b1me
Thanks Dr. Wolf. Appreciate the clarity. I'm fine living with the way it is without 876 since the truck was such a deal, and is in immaculate shape. Don't see a lot of ML 250's with the ambient light and the Harman Kardon system. My dad's ML350 has both, but his CPO was about 10k more than mine for essentially the same vehicle minus a bell and a whistle here and there. Definitely will be more particular for the next one, likely a GLE.
ya same here, sucks that some have it and some dont.. definitely hated it first day and got use it, but for sure want this option in the future
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Old Dec 10, 2018 | 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by drwolf
ya same here, sucks that some have it and some dont.. definitely hated it first day and got use it, but for sure want this option in the future
Not to beat a dead horse, but trying to avoid a 4th trip to the dealership in 4 months with the truck, but if I'm reading your post above correctly, the bottom red courtesy lights on the FRONT doors SHOULD illuminate without the ambient light (876 package) when the doors open (but not the rear). Correct? Mine fronts do not light up at the moment. I'm taking off the front doors to replace the speakers soon, so I'll be able to find out for sure when I see whether or not the bulb/wiring harness is there, but wanted to make sure I'm reading your post correctly too. Thanks Dr.

The front footwell lights are intermittent too. Sometimes they're one when I'm driving at night (albeit dim), and sometimes they're not on at all.
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