2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 low beam

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
At a glance.......................................... 19
Cockpit ................................................. 20
Instrument cluster ................................ 22
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 24
Center console ..................................... 25
Upper part ...................................... 25
Lower part ...................................... 26
Overhead control panel ........................ 27
Door control panel................................ 28
Getting started................................... 29
Unlocking ............................................. 30
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 30
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 32
Adjusting .............................................. 34
Seats .............................................. 34
Steering wheel ................................ 37
Mirrors ............................................ 38
Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belts ................. 40
Starting the engine ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 47
Turn signals and high beam ............ 47
Windshield wipers ........................... 48
Problems while driving.................... 50
Parking and locking .............................. 51
Parking brake ................................. 51
Switching off headlamps................. 52
Turning off engine ........................... 52

47 Getting started
Driving
Switching on headlampsExterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the switch toB.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 119).
Turn signals and high beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signal, right
2Turn signal, left
Press the combination switch up1 or
down2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp L or K flashes in the in-
strument cluster.High beam

Push the combination switch forward.
The high beam headlights are switched
on.
The high beam symbolA in the
tachometer comes on.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 123).
iTo signal minor directional changes,
move combination switch to point of
resistance only and release. The turn
signal flashes three times.

119 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps and use the turn signals, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 47).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.MOff
UAutomatic headlamp mode
CParking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only:
When engine is running, the low
beam is also switched on.
BParking lamps plus low beam or
high beam headlamps (combination
switch pushed forward).
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

120 Controls in detailLighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch (
page 119).
Automatic headlamp mode
The parking lamps, low beam headlamps
and license plate lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to U.
iIf you remove the SmartKey and open
the driver’s door while the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on, then

a warning sounds


$ appears in the multifunction
display


the message
Switch off lights!

appears in the multifunction display
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others, acti-
vate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch to B when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from position U to B with the
vehicle at a standstill. Switching from U
to B will briefly switch off the head-
lamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient
lighting conditions may result in an acci-
dent.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle's lights at all
times.

121 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low beam
headlamps are automatically switched on.
In low ambient light conditions the parking
lamps will also switch on.
Canada only
When you shift from a driving gear to
positionN orP, the low beam switches off
(with a three-minute delay).
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.USA only
The high beam headlamps can also be ac-
tivated when driving with the daytime run-
ning lamp mode activated and exterior
lamp switch in positionM.
To activate the daytime running lamp
mode, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode” (
page 146).
Locator lighting and night security illu-
mination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section under “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 147) and “Setting night security il-
lumination” (
page 148).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated, the low beam headlamps will
not be switched off automatically.iThe front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
cannot be switched on manually with
exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps, turn exterior
lamp switch to positionB and pull
the exterior lamp switch to first or sec-
ond stop (
page 122).
iSee notes on the exterior lamp switch
(page 119).

122 Controls in detailLightingSwitching on fog lamps
Switching on front fog lamps

Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
lamp switch comes on.Switching on rear fog lamps

Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
lamp switch comes on.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position U to B with
the vehicle at a standstill. Switching from
U to B will briefly switch off the head-
lamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient
lighting conditions may result in an acci-
dent.iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and / or the low beam head-
lamps on. Fog lamps should only be
used in conjunction with low beam
headlamps. Consult your State or Prov-
ince Motor Vehicle Regulations regard-
ing allowable lamp operation.
iThe front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
cannot be switched on manually with
exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps, turn exterior
lamp switch to positionB and pull
the exterior lamp switch to first or sec-
ond stop (
page 119).

146 Controls in detailControl systemLighting submenu
Access the
Lighting
submenu via the
Set-
tings
menu. Use the
Lighting
submenu
to change the lamp and lighting settings on
your vehicle. The following functions are
available:Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the Lighting
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
Lamp circuit headlamp
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to select
manual
or
daytime running lamp (
constant
)
mode. This function is not available in
countries where daytime running
lamps are mandatory.With daytime running lamp mode se-
lected and the exterior lamp switch at
position 0, the following lamps will
come on automatically when the en-
gine is turned on:


Parking lamps and low beam head-
lamps


License plate lamps (in low ambient
light conditions)
Function
Page
Set daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
146
Set locator lighting
147
Ambient light level
147
Exterior lamps delayed shut-off
148
Interior lighting delayed shut-off
149
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to
another position, the corresponding
lamp(s) will switch on.
For safety reasons, resetting the Lighting
submenu to factory settings
(
page 138) while driving will not re-
set the daytime running lamp mode.
In the display you will then see the mes-
sage:
Lighting

338 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
High beam,
left
The left high beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
High beam,
right
The right high beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
License plate lamp,
left
The left license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
License plate lamp,
right

The right license plate lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Lamp sensor
Visit workshop!
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning. The
headlamps switch on automatically.

In the control system, set lamp opera-
tion to manual mode (
page 146).

Switch on headlamps using the exteri-
or lamp switch.
Low beam, left
The left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Low beam, right
The right low beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.