Mercedes Sprinter Xenon HID Corning Lights
So you bought a NVC3 (2007-2018) Sprinter Van in the US that has those cool projector headlights huh. The 2013 and older vans had a different shape of headlight than the 2014 to 2018 vans, but they essentially the same setup. You basically have a system that was pulled off the E - class sedans and applied to the vans.
[2013 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 - 144]
We have found many folks (in the US) out there finding that their HID (Xenon option) headlights aren’t fully functioning. Or at least finding out that all their bulbs aren’t working.
It’s tough to see, but the projector (High/Low) is on but the bulb to the left (inbound) is not lighting up.
Details and Technology
The bi-xenon headlamp light source is a gas-discharge light which produces a luminous arc in a quartz
bulb filled with a gas mixture. The main beam is produced using the full light beam, while the low beam
is produced by moving a shutter between the bulb and the lens, so the long-range portion of the light is
blocked off, thus preventing dazzle.
Sensor-controlled dynamic range adjustment automatically counteracts changes in the angle of the
headlamps due to changes in the attitude of the vehicle when braking or accelerating, or due to changes
in payload.
The housing has two headlight bulbs. The Xenon bulbs (with igniter and ballast) in the #3 position in the diagram. And an H7 halogen bulb adjacent to the bulb at position #4.
Now here’s where things get a little confusing.
On non Xenon (non projector) headlights, you have two bulbs:
Low Beam #3 (H7 Bulb)
High Beam #4 (also the same H7 Bulb)
The shape and design of the headlight allows both of the bulbs at high-beam to shine brighter and further away.
But for those with Xenon (HID) headlights things are a bit different
The high and low beam are handled by the single HID Xenon bulb in position 3. Essentially you’re always in high-beam and simple have a mechanical shade that covers part of the beam as to not blind oncoming traffic. When the high-beam is engaged the shutter retracts and allows the Xenon' bulbs full light to be projected forward.
Position #4 has the same H7 55W bulb as the non Xenon headlights. This bulb is used for corning ONLY on the projector model headlights and comes on automatically at speeds up to 40 km/h (25 mph) and also when the direction indicator is operated and the steering wheel is turned beyond a certain angle - on the side corresponding to the direction in which the driver is signalling. This light may also be activated when cornering at speeds
up to approx. 69 km/h (43 mph) (with low beam on/direction indicator off), depending on steering angle and corner radius.
So that the lighting change is not too sudden, the additional light is dimmed up gradually. When in
reversing to the right, the left hand cornering light comes on at the front. When reversing to the left, the right hand cornering light comes on. The fog lamps are integrated in the bumper.
But not in the US!!!!
Say what??? I seems that all Sprinters with the Xenon-HID optional headlights have the capabilities built in to have the corning lighting but it seems all the vans bound for the US had a this feature disabled before being imported or when they were reassembled.
So what’s the solution?
[Cornering lights enabled on a US 2016 MB Sprinter]
Some have had success taking their vans to the dealer for the activation of the cornering lights, using a code or software packet from MBUSA to activate via the Star system. But dealers are no longer supporting those requests.
Since the feature is already included to those of you that have the full Bi-Xenon package there’s no hardware modifications. It takes a MB SDS (or a good clone) diagnostic tool with 2 way communications with your Sprinters ECM to activate this feature.
