LED Headlights
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
LED Headlights
Hey guys, for those that have owned both the 222 and the 221, which has the better headlights? Most people I've talked to prefer xenon's light output to LED, but I'm wondering if on the newest generation maybe LEDs have improved to equal the output of xenon's finally.
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
I've had both. I don't notice a big difference except the auto headlights are great in my 222. We have a lake house upstate that is in the middle of nowhere- trust me, you will never be asking for more light output....
#5
Super Moderator
![](https://staticssl.ibsrv.net/autocomm/Content/MB/mbwambassador2.gif)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 10,100
Received 3,303 Likes
on
2,049 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
There are significant differences in performance between LED and Xenon but I am not sure how many of the features were disabled for the US due to the antiquated US DOT regulations.
By design, the LED lighting system is variable by light output. Low beam lighting is used up to 55ph. The lighting has wider angles to illuminate more of the side of the road than Xenon. Over 55mph and again at roughly 70mph, LED light output of the LED's are increased in two steps (constant adaptive high beam).
The driver-side light acts as fog lights when activated by lowering the angle by 8 degrees down/outwards (up until 40 some mph).
Audi's Matrix light are somewhat cooler as the the constant high beam does not blind oncoming traffic by selectively turning off LED elements (traffic tracked by camera).
By design, the LED lighting system is variable by light output. Low beam lighting is used up to 55ph. The lighting has wider angles to illuminate more of the side of the road than Xenon. Over 55mph and again at roughly 70mph, LED light output of the LED's are increased in two steps (constant adaptive high beam).
The driver-side light acts as fog lights when activated by lowering the angle by 8 degrees down/outwards (up until 40 some mph).
Audi's Matrix light are somewhat cooler as the the constant high beam does not blind oncoming traffic by selectively turning off LED elements (traffic tracked by camera).
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
There are significant differences in performance between LED and Xenon but I am not sure how many of the features were disabled for the US due to the antiquated US DOT regulations.
By design, the LED lighting system is variable by light output. Low beam lighting is used up to 55ph. The lighting has wider angles to illuminate more of the side of the road than Xenon. Over 55mph and again at roughly 70mph, LED light output of the LED's are increased in two steps (constant adaptive high beam).
The driver-side light acts as fog lights when activated by lowering the angle by 8 degrees down/outwards (up until 40 some mph).
Audi's Matrix light are somewhat cooler as the the constant high beam does not blind oncoming traffic by selectively turning off LED elements (traffic tracked by camera).
By design, the LED lighting system is variable by light output. Low beam lighting is used up to 55ph. The lighting has wider angles to illuminate more of the side of the road than Xenon. Over 55mph and again at roughly 70mph, LED light output of the LED's are increased in two steps (constant adaptive high beam).
The driver-side light acts as fog lights when activated by lowering the angle by 8 degrees down/outwards (up until 40 some mph).
Audi's Matrix light are somewhat cooler as the the constant high beam does not blind oncoming traffic by selectively turning off LED elements (traffic tracked by camera).
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 6,383
Received 297 Likes
on
249 Posts
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Sounds exactly the same a adaptive ILS LEDs on the W222? High beams are on almost all the time except for the part of the beam that would blind the car ahead or the facing car. Is it not the same?
Trending Topics
#9
Super Moderator
![](https://staticssl.ibsrv.net/autocomm/Content/MB/mbwambassador2.gif)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 10,100
Received 3,303 Likes
on
2,049 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
It is in a way yes but many more LED elements that makes the high beam exclusion more precise and can handle multiple cars of oncoming traffic (multiple blanking zones).
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...-banned-in-us/
#11
Super Moderator
![](https://staticssl.ibsrv.net/autocomm/Content/MB/mbwambassador2.gif)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 10,100
Received 3,303 Likes
on
2,049 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
This is not a feature for any cars in the U.S. http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...-banned-in-us/
#12
Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: The OC
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Depends where I'm going.
I had a 2008 S63 with Xenons and low beams were fine but high beams were awful. I have a 2015 S550 now with LEDs and they're incredible. Literally night and day... excuse the pun.