What's with the fog lamps?

[MX-5.0]

I've seen a few new E's at a local dealer. Most have the new boomerang fog light, but at least one had quad oval fogs....

What's that about?

Matt

[StewartM]

Models with Halogen headlights have the quad lamps below the bumper.

One lamp is a fog light, the other is a DRL.

Models with Xenon headlights have the LED strip below the bumper. These are just DRLs, the theory being that with the sharper cut-off of a Xenon, you don't need a fog light.


Stewart.

[sjulia76]

I like that they thought that out for the W212. I was and still am a bit displeased that when I enabled DRLs on my W211, the Xenon bulbs come on. It's a bit of an expensive light to have in use every second the car is running. I wish they'd have thought to wire the DRLs to the high beam halogens (inner globes) on the W211s fitted with Premium 2. If that were the case I'd have DRLs enabled on my car. Oh well.

[lkchris]

Then I'd have to flash you like I do the dummies in GM cars using high beams for DRLs.

[mm9351]

Hi I am new to this board, and will be picking up my E350 sedan later this week. I was advised that the LED boomerang lights are only available with the Premium 2 package, along with BiXenon headlights and washer, keyless / pushbutton start, trunk closer, and adaptive highbeam assist. Now you can no longer blind an oncoming driver with your high beams. I wish this feature was on ALL cars.

[StewartM]

Just for completeness, something I forgot - Up till now, the front fogs have also been used as static cornering lights on models so equiped. On the new 212 if Xenons are specified, there is an additional light unit in the bottom inner corner of the outer headlight unit which serves as a static cornering light.

Stewart

[srpcao]

At least you guys don't live in Canada where DRL is mandatory and the benzs here uses their low beams as DRL. Xenons working every second the car turns on worries me..

[mm9351]

Originally Posted by StewartM

Models with Halogen headlights have the quad lamps below the bumper.

One lamp is a fog light, the other is a DRL.

Models with Xenon headlights have the LED strip below the bumper. These are just DRLs, the theory being that with the sharper cut-off of a Xenon, you don't need a fog light.


Stewart.

Steward is correct, my W212 has the LED DRL strips but no fog lights. The LEDs automatically switches to "low intensity" when the Xenon's come on. This according to Mercedes keeps a proper light balance between the two sources. I guess I would rather have the LEDs at normal daylight intensity, but that is not an option.

[sjulia76]

Originally Posted by lkchris

Then I'd have to flash you like I do the dummies in GM cars using high beams for DRLs.

You know I never found the DRL high beams to be offensive on the GMs or any other car when I saw them. They go at 50% power if memory serves anyway, so I honestly can't understand why you'd flash your brights at them. Of course other people are more sensitive to light than others, maybe that's why they started using turn-signals as DRLs.

At any rate, yeah in Colorado we seem to have a lot of people who don't get that driving w/ their actual high beams on in traffic at night is rude and frankly unsafe to oncoming cars. It's rather effective when I flash them with my combined Xenon / Halogen high beams. But even then I won't flash if there are too many other cars around.

[MissMyBenz]

Just replaced a xenon lamp on my ML at a cost of over $200. Have both the ML and my wife's W211 E350 with the xenons on as DRLs. Wish there was an alternative, but I do believe there is added safety, so...I guess that's the price we pay. Wish there was a feature that would turn on lights when wipers were activated, as it's the law here in CA. Auto function doesn't work for that situation. Congrats to new owners of the W212. Beautiful cars. Enjoy.