polo1

OK, I can "understand" some of the differences in the S-Class in the US...

However, I do not understand why the yellow/amber rear turn signal light is not on the US version...?

mercedesbuff

Yep, I'm right there with you... there's no good reason, at least not that I've come across. [shrug]

superswiss

Because it's legal in the USA and based on an interview I once read, car designers prefer all red taillights, because it's cleaner. It also lowers component costs and car makers don't wanna stray from the herd as it could open them up to potential litigation They'd probably be red in Europe, too if it was legal.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/d...ave-to-be-red/

polo1

Some car designers might prefer all red taillights - but I bet if you took a poll of car buyers (that care) you would get a different answer...?

A yellow/amber turn signal is a lot more noticeable in a sea of red taillights head of you.

And it seems to me that it would lower costs to not have to design and manufacture two different kinds of taillights for the same car...?

Just my .02

superswiss

All valid points, but I think the cost factor is more nuanced. Each market has its own pricing strategy and there are homologation costs, so while there is an increased cost of having to design two parts, the ongoing lower production costs for an all red taillight will ultimately outweigh that. Cars in the USA are cheaper than in Europe, so if they can save on parts cost that will add up over 1000s of cars and I'm not sure they actually design different lights. It's just the color of plastic and the bulb that is different.

polo1

I guess what makes it rather silly, to me, is that they have the clear/white outline on the rear taillights - but they don't use them for the turn signals...

Just really strange...

But I guess you can get some of them coded (by BenzNinja?) so they do work...?

SW20S

I totally agree, I prefer amber turn signals. We also have the technology now to have a turn signal that appears red, and then flashes amber...

For example the new Range Rovers, the lights are red but in Europe they flash amber...in the US they flash red!

polo1

So, been doing some "research"...

There appears to be conflicting information regarding whether or not the US taillights on the S-Class have yellow/amber LEDs in them - in the clear/white turn signal part of them - or if they are just left blank with no yellow/amber LEDs...

Anyone have any definitive answer...?

SW20S

They are red, not amber.

polo1

?

SW20S

Those are the reverse lights

polo1

They are also the yellow/amber turning signal lights in other countries other than the US.

roviw1

On my car, in the UK they are the white lense but amber when indicating, the front white daylight running lights also change to amber colour when indicating.

SW20S

We're in the US though

SW20S

Front white DRLs in the US turn to amber when indicating also

polo1

Right...

That's the whole point of this thread

The US not getting the yellow/amber rear turn signals - when everyone(?) else does.

SW20S

Like I said, no clue why they do that...but they do. It may be because of a US regulation that requires the reverse lights not to be interrupted by the turn signals?

W205C43PFL

I thought I saw new MBs started having amber turn signals so whatever the reason MBUSA decided prior to 2021(?) 2022(?) model year was resolved(?) and now they put amber turn signals like Europe or otherwise the rest of the world.

Sleeper Benz

Yes, the current W223 S-Class has flashing only amber rear turn signals in the US. I believe that only the Maybach animates them when turning like you see when you arm the alarm on the standard S-Class. Thought I saw that the standard W223 S-Class's can be animated through aftermarket coding though.

I tried to see if our W222 had amber LED's along with the white LED's on the circuit board, but couldn't see far enough up into them from the exterior.