Mercedes-Benz E-class 2012 update

by autoindustrie | November 1, 2011 1:23 pm

• Most noticeable update is the DRL and (reinclusion) of front fog lamps
• LED DRL is now integrated the into headlamp assembly.

In our last feature story on automotive LED lighting[1] and daytime running lights, we mentioned about LED DRLs on the Mercedes-Benz E-class being mounted on the lower front bumper rather than within the headlamp assembly like many of its competitors. This solution is actually more cost effective, not just from a manufacturing stand point (less complicated headlamp design) but also in terms of long term ownership cost (ease of replacement – a single DRL strip rather than the entire headlamp). The downside is that the LED DRL now occupies the spot where the fog lamp used to fit. Mercedes-Benz’s solution was to integrate the fog lamp functionality within the AFL (adaptive front lighting) intelligent headlamp feature. But customers didn’t react very well to it. Customers being customers, most of them don’t read the owner’s manual. And sales people being sales people, most of them didn’t pay attention / didn’t attend product trainings for the facelifted model.

Customers are still posting questions on Internet forums asking why their W212 E-class has a front fog lamp switch, but has no front fog lamp fitted and why can’t they see any differences in the lighting pattern after turning on the front fog lamp (when the vehicle is stationary, AFL intentionally turns down / deactivated the fog lamp function to reduce glare to other road users). Sales people who didn’t their product update memos were adding to the confusion by telling their customers that the LED DRLs also function as fog lamps (LED strips don’t have focusing lenses and are not meant to be illuminate the road ahead).

Judging from the latest set of spyshots from secretnewcars.com[2], it looks like Daimler is listening to customer demands and is redesigning the headlamp to integrate the LED DRLs and reintroducing a physical front fog lamp. The other explanation was that the separate DRL on the W212 facelift was just a temporary stop-gap solution to meet the February 2011 deadline by the European Union in implementing the Directive 2008/89/EC regulation making daytime running lights compulsory on all new cars.

Current E-class

A non-series production looking device is also spotted behind the front grille. It looks like radar transceiver for the adaptive cruise control, probably an improved unit with a longer distance and wider speed range (or lower cost) is in the pipeline.

The changes on this model looks very minimal, so minimal that we hesitate to call it a facelift but a product update.

Source URL: http://www.motorindustry.org/2011/11/01/mercedes-benz-e-class-2012-update/

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