2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 ignition

123 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
Switching on high beams
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 119).

Push the combination switch in
direction1.
The high beam indicatorA on the
instrument cluster is illuminated
(page 22).
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be activat-
ed with the ignition switched on or off. It is
activated automatically when an airbag is
deployed.
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.1Hazard warning flasher switch

126 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 22).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you


open a door


turn on the ignition


press the reset button (
page 22)


switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 141).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button (
page 22) to adjust
the illumination brightness for the instru-
ment cluster.To brighten illumination

Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster clockwise (
page 22).
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise (
page 22).
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.

168 Controls in detailGood visibility
Good visibilityInformation on the windshield wipers
(page 48) and for setting the rear view
mirrors (
page 38) is found in the “Get-
ting started” section.
Rear view mirror
Automatic antiglare rear view mirror
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when:

the ignition is switched on, and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror
The rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gear is engaged


the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!
G
The automatic antiglare function does not
react if incoming light is not aimed directly
at sensors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the rear window sun-
shade is in raised position.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
In the case of an accident liquid electrolyte
may escape from the mirror housing if the
mirror glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can be
completely removed only while in the
liquid state by applying plenty of water.

169 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Activating exterior rear view mirror
parking position
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror will be
turned downward to the stored position.
Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 118).

Make sure the
Mirror adjustment
parking aid function in the
Conve-
nience
submenu of the control system
is switched on (
page 152).

Switch on ignition (if not already on).

Press button2 for the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror.

Place the gear selector lever in reverse
gearR.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror will be turned downward to the
stored position.1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:


ten seconds after you put the gear se-
lector lever out of positionR


immediately once your vehicle exceeds
a speed of approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h)


immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side mirror.
Windshield wipers
Information on the windshield wipers is
found in the “Getting started” section
(page 48).
A rain sensor automatically controls the
windshield wipers depending on how wet
the windshield is.

Switch on ignition.

Set the wiper switch to positionI
(page 48).
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled by the
rain sensor.
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front
door is opened.

170 Controls in detailGood visibility
Headlamp cleaning system*
The button is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer button
Switch on ignition.

Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
Information on filling up the washer reser-
voir can be found in the “Operation” sec-
tion (page 288).
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
Swing sun visors down when you expe-
rience glare.
!Do not leave windshield wipers in inter-
mittent setting when the vehicle is tak-
en to an automatic car wash or during
windshield cleaning. Wipers will oper-
ate in the presence of water sprayed on
the windshield, and wipers may be
damaged as a result.
The switch should not be left in inter-
mittent setting as the wipers will wipe
the windshield once every time the en-
gine is started. Dust that accumulates
on the windshield might scratch the
glass and / or damage the wiper blades
when wiping occurs on a dry wind-
shield.
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.

183 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press buttonT (
page 176).
The indicator lamp on buttonT
goes out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:


when the ignition is switched on


after about 30 minutes


if the battery voltage drops
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on the coolant tempera-
ture and the temperature set by the
operator. The blower will run at speed
setting 1 regardless of the air distribu-
tion control setting.

195 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
The residual heat is automatically turned
off

when the ignition is switched on


after about 30 minutes


if the battery voltage drops
Rear air conditioning
1Left rear center air vent, adjustable
2Right rear center air vent, adjustable
3Thumbwheel for air volume control for
right rear center air vent
4Temperature rocker switch, right
5Display
6Temperature rocker switch, left
7Thumbwheel for air volume control for
left rear center air vent
Display1Temperature, left
2Temperature, right
Basic settings
We recommend setting the temperature
on both the left- and right-hand sides to
72°F. This ensures a pleasant temperature
in the rear of the vehicle.
The temperatures for the left- and
right-hand sides can be set using tempera-
ture rocker switches4 and6.
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on the coolant tempera-
ture and the temperature set by the
operator. The blower will run at speed
setting 1 regardless of the air distribu-
tion control setting.

200 Controls in detailPower windowsClosing the side windows with KEY-
LESS-GO*
Press and hold lock button at door
(page 54) until the side windows and
the sliding / pop-up roof or panorama
sliding/pop-up roof* are closed.
Synchronizing power windows
The power window must be resynchro-
nized each time

after the battery has been disconnect-
ed.


if the power windows cannot be fully
opened (Express-open) or closed (Ex-
press-close).
Synchronizing the power windows

Switch on ignition.

Pull the power window switches until
the side windows are closed.
Hold the switches for approximately
one second.
The power windows are synchronized.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows and the
sliding / pop-up roof*, be sure that there is
no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
If potential danger exists, proceed as fol-
lows:

Release the lock button.


Pull on the door handle and hold firmly.
The side windows and the
sliding / pop-up roof* will open for as
long as the door handle is held but the
door not opened.