Mercedes-Benz Lights Up the Three-Pointed Star Ever since Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft registered the three-pointed star as its logo in 1909, that emblem has been prominently displayed on millions of Mercedes, and later Mercedes-Benz vehicles. For more than a century, the metal stars have glinted in the light of the sun and electric lamps. But now Mercedes-Benz stars have become a light unto themselves. For the last several years, the emblems on the front of some Mercedes have grown in size, proudly proclaiming their Teutonic pedigree like a huge and conspicuously hung medallion necklace. But Mercedes engineers decided to go one better. In February, the automaker began offering illuminated stars on some of its vehicles. According to the company's Web site, a light-up star costs $480. If you want one on your 1995 E-Class, better find a friend with a spare rope light strand; this factory-backed electro-light show is available for only a select few models: the 2006-and-up CLS; the 2012-and-up M-Class; the 2013-and-up GL-Class and the 2014 E-Class. The logo comes only in white and will work only when it's dark outside and the car is not moving. Vehicles equipped with Distronic adaptive cruise control cannot have the glowing star because its location is also where the Distronic system's sensors live, said Dan Barile, a spokesman for Mercedes-Benz. Mr. Barile confirmed that federal regulations prohibit use of the backlighted star while the car is in motion. But the star will turn on when you unlock the car and also when the engine is turned off for the ultimate in automotive look-at-me-I'm-leaving and look-at-me-I've-arrived special effects. We asked if anyone famous had bought one, but were told that relationships with customers were confidential (back to the TMZ scanning, I guess). Just so the meaning of the Mercedes-Benz star is not lost to the ravages of time and forgotten history, I will mention that Gottlieb Daimler, a founder of D.M.G., had wanted a star as his company's emblem from the get-go. Emercedesbenz.com elaborates: Gottlieb Daimler had been technical director of the Deutz gas engine factory from 1872 until 1881. At the beginning of his employment there, he had marked a star above his own house on a picture postcard of Cologne and Deutz, and had written to his wife that this star would one day shine over his own factory to symbolize prosperity. As these things often go, it was years before the star became official, by which time Mr. Daimler had died and his two sons - Paul and Adolf - were running things. So the star's three points came to represent the company's desire for motorization on land, in the water and in the skies. That was then, and the future is now. That the star lights up with the cool white glow of modernity is a technological feat worthy of placement in the "Back to the Future II" plotline.