Active Headlight Opinions
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 574
Likes: 1
From: NorCal
W211,E90,E66,E39,E38,NSX,Z32-TT
Active Headlight Opinions
How do you guys feel about the Active-Headlight system in our cars?
The headlight doesn't swivel much at all (barely does in fact) in my car and it's almost negligible in my opinion. I've reviewed several threads on the E-forum that the swivel is so negligible that a lot of us had brought it into the dealer only to have them tell us that it is working properly.
I went ahead and "diagnosed" the system in the STAR computer and found no error codes. What is interesting is that with the STAR computer, you can "acutate" the lights and have it go full sweep to the left, right, up, and left and the range during this actuation process is HUGE. The headlights can literally swivel as much as the flood-lamps on police cruisers!!! Well maybe not that much, but you get the point.
It's somewhat dissappointing that you can't get that an adequate amount of swiveling while the car is on the road. I bought my car used, so I didn't pay extra for this feature. But I would surely be REALLY dissappointed if I opted and paid for this option had I bought it new!
Thoughts?
The headlight doesn't swivel much at all (barely does in fact) in my car and it's almost negligible in my opinion. I've reviewed several threads on the E-forum that the swivel is so negligible that a lot of us had brought it into the dealer only to have them tell us that it is working properly.
I went ahead and "diagnosed" the system in the STAR computer and found no error codes. What is interesting is that with the STAR computer, you can "acutate" the lights and have it go full sweep to the left, right, up, and left and the range during this actuation process is HUGE. The headlights can literally swivel as much as the flood-lamps on police cruisers!!! Well maybe not that much, but you get the point.
It's somewhat dissappointing that you can't get that an adequate amount of swiveling while the car is on the road. I bought my car used, so I didn't pay extra for this feature. But I would surely be REALLY dissappointed if I opted and paid for this option had I bought it new!
Thoughts?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,793
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
I don't know... Either I'm not that picky, or my headlights work better than yours. But mine move quite a bit. When going up freeway on-ramps, I can see them move so far that they're still lighting up the middle of the lane as my car is turned. Then when I straighten out at the end of the ramp, I can see them whip back straight.
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 207
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From: Palmyra, PA
2007 E63 AMG, 2012 F250 4x4
I've seen mine move on slower bends. They seem to snap back pretty abruptly. I really notice it my neighborhood in an "S" section ~20mph. I've seen it exiting a freeway as well. Had an 2002 530 and the lights only went up and down. I think this setup is fine.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
I don't know... Either I'm not that picky, or my headlights work better than yours. But mine move quite a bit. When going up freeway on-ramps, I can see them move so far that they're still lighting up the middle of the lane as my car is turned. Then when I straighten out at the end of the ramp, I can see them whip back straight.
What he said. Mine work great.
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From: N. CAL
'00 ML320, '07 E550
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From: NOLA/SoCal
1966 230SL, 1969 300SEL 6.3, 1990 350SDL, 1992 500E, 1993 500E, 2008 GL320 CDI, 2013 S63 w/Perf Pkg
They do "jump" when the car is parked and I first start the car and turn the headlamps on.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
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From: San Diego
2004 E55
As QuadBenz said, no (unless you have it hooked up to STAR) - mine work when the car is in motion, headlights on, and I turn the steering wheel. I can clearly see them moving from side to side.
They do "jump" when the car is parked and I first start the car and turn the headlamps on.
They do "jump" when the car is parked and I first start the car and turn the headlamps on.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: CT
Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, Tesla
FYI, even if the lights are off, when you switch on the car, the lights still auto-level. Turned on my car once and my right headlamp was in front of a mirror, and I could see the bulb/lense moving up and down.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 361
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From: Northern California
05 e55
when i first purchased my vehicle, the previous owner had gone in via star and lowered the suspension... however, the rear was lower than the front.... the lights turned quite a bit though, you could definately see them jump around left to right.... after the dealer reprogrammed the suspension, not only were the headlights aimed too low, they moved side to side considerably less than before....
i'm sure there's an option in star somewhere to adjust this...
i'm sure there's an option in star somewhere to adjust this...
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: N. CAL
'00 ML320, '07 E550
As QuadBenz said, no (unless you have it hooked up to STAR) - mine work when the car is in motion, headlights on, and I turn the steering wheel. I can clearly see them moving from side to side.
They do "jump" when the car is parked and I first start the car and turn the headlamps on.
They do "jump" when the car is parked and I first start the car and turn the headlamps on.
