German Car Zone

Some photo of the A8.

That is one detail that I really don't like about the Lexus. I admit the white lighting is cool but I seriously don't want the police or anyone else to get a good view of my number plate at night time.


The BMW ones are very discreet. I discovered them by chance in my friend's X5. They are well hidden but they are not as well designed as those in MB.

I've never known, that the A8 has such great lightning at night! Thanks for sharing the pictures and can't wait to see some night shots of Mr. M A8!!

Great pictures you found monster. I tried Google and I just couldn't get stuff like that.

Heh well I guess you're right about those Lexus lights. But Lexus drivers don't speed, they follow the speed limit.

I saved these photos ages ago, I think it is from this forum, or the one before, can't remember what it was called.

As for Lexus drivers, sometimes I wish they follow the speed limit instead of going 10km/h to 15km/h slower than the limit.

Nice thread. Interior ambient lighting is something I never overlook. When my Dad bought his 320i E46, it was the first 'bigger' sort of car we ever had (our previous car was a Peugeot 106!). That is what made me obsessed wih interior lighting. Although it is nothin fancy, it was fancy for us - my Dad used to say it was like driving with a Christmas tree around you - the illuminations on the steering wheel, the lit up centre console, the bright orange dial illuminations, the 2 'ambient led lights' above the gear stick. And then there was the normal interior lights when you open the door. The whole car interior lit up - for a 9 year old boy, this was the height of coolness!

Nowadays, you get much better interior illumination, Mercedes providing the best in my opinion. True, the Germans are great at this, but other car manufacturers are catching on with different plays with light in the car. Even my Corolla now with the 'Optitron' dials originally from Lexus that stay on all the time. Honda and other manufacturers have similar effects with their dial illuminations.

Does the S-Class has, like the E-Class has (and was the first to offer a real night-friendly drive), softly illuminated roof-light whereas the drive? Or is it only the lights on the doorpanels and center console?

I like it so much, that the light softly comes from the roof, it makes the entire car looks warm.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My sis had a E46 320i as well, the buttons are all very well illuminated, warm and yet not glaring orange. Yes you are right about the Japanese catching up, my sis's Jazz even has orange ambient lighting from under the rear-view mirror. I was pleasantly surprised to see that. I've also always liked those Optitron dials, it was a personal irritation to me when the Phaeton didn't have daylight illumination of its dials. Now it's all good with the A8.

Sorry for taking so long to take those interior lighting pictures, been pretty busy.

If I remember correctly the S-Class doesn't have those roof lights, somebody has to confirm it though.

After seeing all these great ambient lights, I like to present a different concept.
Since a longer time, Saab offers the "Night Panel" in all cars of the 9-5 range! In my opinion, it is great idea. Instead of bringing more light into the interior, they installed a button - and with this you can turn all lights of (except for the speedometer)! I've never had the possibilty to test it, but I can imagine, that it is comfortable, when a lot of lights are around you (especially on the Autobahn).

I can understand that, with such a speedo and such a night "design", you want to turn it off...

This function is called the Night Panel.

Don't think it is good, what if you want to turn something on or off, like the radio or anything?

And alone in the dark, driving a dark car...Brrr, no thanks. I prefer having some warm lights than a cold night with just the speedo flashing...