S-Class (W222) 2014-2020

Low beams really low

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Old 09-29-2024, 11:57 AM
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Low beams really low

I noticed while driving last night how at 45 mph I was driving beyond my visibility. The highbeams were good, but when a car in the distance was coming the lights instantly turned down. The best way to describe this - the low-beam lights only illuminated the lower half of the view out the windshield for about 75ft in front of the car. I never had nigh vision this poor in any vehicle ever.

I’m wondering if some setting isn’t correct?
Old 09-29-2024, 12:50 PM
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If the Fog button wasn't switched on, maybe you will need a mechanical adjustment in any workshop or even at home with a simple screwdriver.
Old 09-29-2024, 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by MrMischief
I noticed while driving last night how at 45 mph I was driving beyond my visibility. The highbeams were good, but when a car in the distance was coming the lights instantly turned down. The best way to describe this - the low-beam lights only illuminated the lower half of the view out the windshield for about 75ft in front of the car. I never had nigh vision this poor in any vehicle ever.

I’m wondering if some setting isn’t correct?
They are low for a reason, that is why there is such thing as high beams.... Sorry I had to : )

In all seriousness, yup they can be adjusted you pop the hood and you use an allen key to adjust the headlight if I recalled correctly.
Old 09-29-2024, 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by trigital
If the Fog button wasn't switched on, maybe you will need a mechanical adjustment in any workshop or even at home with a simple screwdriver.
It’s strange that last night was the first time I noticed this. Where I live the deer are waiting for me. They have it in for me, leaping out of the woods, cornfields and brush. I truly believe someone is slipping little Blue pills in the corn for the Bucks. Rutting moon nights are approaching and the Doe will be running for me when I’m going home so I need to spot them before they spot me!

Ps, “Fog switch?” Where is that? I feel like I’m driving the Batmobile. Where’s the anti-pursuit switch that throws out an oil slick, or the nails?
Old 09-29-2024, 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by MrMischief
It’s strange that last night was the first time I noticed this. Where I live the deer are waiting for me. They have it in for me, leaping out of the woods, cornfields and brush. I truly believe someone is slipping little Blue pills in the corn for the Bucks. Rutting moon nights are approaching and the Doe will be running for me when I’m going home so I need to spot them before they spot me!

Ps, “Fog switch?” Where is that? I feel like I’m driving the Batmobile. Where’s the anti-pursuit switch that throws out an oil slick, or the nails?

Old 09-29-2024, 01:54 PM
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Speaking of fog light, it also activates the rear taillight fog lamp. There will clearly be an amber fog light icon in the instrument cluster:
Old 09-29-2024, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
They are low for a reason, that is why there is such thing as high beams.... Sorry I had to : )

In all seriousness, yup they can be adjusted you pop the hood and you use an allen key to adjust the headlight if I recalled correctly.
Note* I caught this After I made my last post.

Wouldn’t it be wise to use a headlight alignment tool instead of in front of a wall. In PA we have state safety inspections and the mechanics will run their “Gottcha!” App to find anything they can charge for (and sometimes even make up crap that’s wrong only to them!). Ten years ago it took a half hour to do one of these inspections, since then shops have discovered just how profitable these “Safety” inspections can be, now taking over an hour.
I took my Silverado to a Mieneke shop 2 yrs ago. They hit me up for a torque setting adjustment - the front hub nut was off by 35ft lbs. The fee, $65 for 0.5 hrs shop rate.
Old 09-29-2024, 02:08 PM
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Safety came with a cost,
Old 09-29-2024, 02:10 PM
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I’m 6’ 4” tall, that headlight switch is kinda low to see down there on the left. I’ll go out to the car in a few minutes to check.

Thanks!
Old 09-29-2024, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by MrMischief
Note* I caught this After I made my last post.

Wouldn’t it be wise to use a headlight alignment tool instead of in front of a wall. In PA we have state safety inspections and the mechanics will run their “Gottcha!” App to find anything they can charge for (and sometimes even make up crap that’s wrong only to them!). Ten years ago it took a half hour to do one of these inspections, since then shops have discovered just how profitable these “Safety” inspections can be, now taking over an hour.
I took my Silverado to a Mieneke shop 2 yrs ago. They hit me up for a torque setting adjustment - the front hub nut was off by 35ft lbs. The fee, $65 for 0.5 hrs shop rate.
If they use XENTRY, there is a specific guided test to do it with.
Old 09-29-2024, 04:02 PM
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I don't think there is a fog light setting on US cars.
Alignment is performed with a complex set of tools now as there as some interactions between systems such as the night vision spotlight; but yes you can still turn the screw to move the lights.
Old 09-29-2024, 09:13 PM
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I don’t have any symbol on the light controller for fog lights. I swear I didn’t have this last week. I parked 12 feet from the garage side of the house. The illumination is even across left to right no more than about 36” - as if there was a cover over the lights. This is not good for driving at night, something strange is going on. I simply cannot believe anyone prior to me drove at night like this.
Old 09-30-2024, 02:41 PM
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I would highly recommend you have the ILS+ coded on. The improvement to the headlights is incredible.

One of the drawbacks of high intensity headlights, be they LED or HID is that they have a sharp cutoff to avoid blinding other drivers. If you’re not used to that it can be annoying at first. The ILS solves that issue

Last edited by SW20S; 09-30-2024 at 02:45 PM.
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Old 09-30-2024, 07:31 PM
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I don’t think any of that has to do with fog lights as others suggested… SW20S is right, this is purely what ILS or IHC would do for you to fix this issue. What you noticed is that the high beam won’t stay on as soon as other cars around are detected. What ILS/IHC coding does is to allow the high beam to stay on whenever possible, and to create a light tunnel around other cars while still illuminating the road around them.

I’d contact and get with @EleBest , sponsor forum vendor here, for ILS IHC coding and I think that should address your concern.

Keep in mind that ILS is not like magic and there will still be times when high beam won’t stay on, but at least it will be available under most conditions.

I posted about my personal experience with ILS coding here if u want to learn more https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...-low-cost.html
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Old 09-30-2024, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by MrMischief
I don’t have any symbol on the light controller for fog lights. I swear I didn’t have this last week. I parked 12 feet from the garage side of the house. The illumination is even across left to right no more than about 36” - as if there was a cover over the lights. This is not good for driving at night, something strange is going on. I simply cannot believe anyone prior to me drove at night like this.
We can help you with all your problems and ILS+ is free for members as you will get your full lifetime membership refunded as a voucher
Take a look at our website, you'll save up to 90% on all your future repairs compared to the dealer
Old 09-30-2024, 10:29 PM
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I’ll get the ILS+ , but for right now I can’t drive at night with the low beams like it is. When the car is facing a wall from about 15 feet away the low beam is less than 30” off the ground. At 45 ft the hits the ground.
I pushed the turn signal stalk forward and the light control dial is straight up on “Auto” - It’s just low beams. With the turn indicator stalk in the middle nothing but if I turn the light dial to the right the high beam is on. The high beam is again on when I pull the stalk towards me.
I drove this car last Monday night - low and high beams were just fine. The only thing I can think of is to drive to the Mercedes showroom near me and ask someone there about this. After I run the clock out for the 10 day guarantee this Thursday and I pass the point of no return, then I’ll be looking for the ILS+ to be added.
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Old 09-30-2024, 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by MrMischief
I’ll get the ILS+ , but for right now I can’t drive at night with the low beams like it is. When the car is facing a wall from about 15 feet away the low beam is less than 30” off the ground. At 45 ft the hits the ground.
I pushed the turn signal stalk forward and the light control dial is straight up on “Auto” - It’s just low beams. With the turn indicator stalk in the middle nothing but if I turn the light dial to the right the high beam is on. The high beam is again on when I pull the stalk towards me.
I drove this car last Monday night - low and high beams were just fine. The only thing I can think of is to drive to the Mercedes showroom near me and ask someone there about this. After I run the clock out for the 10 day guarantee this Thursday and I pass the point of no return, then I’ll be looking for the ILS+ to be added.
At this point since you have some form of a warranty to fix any issues at no charge to you, I’d just take it to the dealer you bought it from, or a Mbenz dealer, and ask them to check the calibration of the low-beam and then go from there. Some folks on the W223 forum said that after ILS was coded, even their low beam illumination improved; so am not sure if that’s a possibility too for you.
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Old 09-30-2024, 11:19 PM
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Low beam illumination improved on both my 222 and 223 after the ILS coding
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Old 10-02-2024, 02:44 PM
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I got to manually aim low beams up for same reason OP mentions. This after enabling ILS.

OP get with BenzNinja, get the computer and membership. Peter offers many software tweaks that do good things for your car. Just do it.
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Old 10-04-2024, 03:23 AM
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Coming back from the dealer I captured this

Highbeams

A minute later with low beams

Lowbeams

High

The lowbeams

Another minute later
Old 10-04-2024, 03:31 AM
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Notice how the low-beams appear as if the top of the headlights are masked off?
Old 10-04-2024, 09:23 AM
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Headlights need to be aimed up. Very easy.

Old 10-04-2024, 10:27 AM
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@MrMischief , after posting your photos, now am certain that your lights need to be aimed/calibrated. The low beam is aimed way too low. I recall you said that the car had an accident; is it possible the new headlights were installed buy they’ve never been adjusted/calibrated? Does carfax show front end accident? In all cases, you just need to aim the low beam higher.
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Old 10-04-2024, 12:57 PM
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Yeah they look too low for sure
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Old 10-04-2024, 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by S_W222
@MrMischief , after posting your photos, now am certain that your lights need to be aimed/calibrated. The low beam is aimed way too low. I recall you said that the car had an accident; is it possible the new headlights were installed buy they’ve never been adjusted/calibrated? Does carfax show front end accident? In all cases, you just need to aim the low beam higher.
Funny when I saw that I wondered whether the car had been in a front end collision as well.


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