Page 118 of 434
117 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 46).
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 run-
ning, the low beam is also switched
on.
BLow beam plus parking lamps or
high beam headlamps (combination
switch pushed forward)
ˆStanding lamps, right
‚Standing lamps, left
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Page 119 of 434
118 Controls in detailLighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on or off with the
exterior lamp switch.
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 from the
starter switch and open the driver’s
door while the parking lamps or low
beam headlamps are switched on, then
a warning sounds
$ appears in the speedometer
display field
the message
Turn lamps off
ap-
pears in the tachometer display
field
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, the
low beam headlamps cannot be
switched off manually.
To activate the daytime running lamp
mode, see “Setting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)” (
page 142).
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.
Page 120 of 434
119 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 con-
ditions, the parking lamps will also
switch on.
Canada only:
When you shift from a driving position 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 the exterior
lamp switch in positionM.
To activate the daytime running lamp
mode, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 142).
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section, see “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 143) and "Exterior lamps delayed
switch-off" (
page 143).
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 position U.
To activate the fog lamps turn exterior
lamp switch to position B.
iSee notes on the exterior lamp switch
(page 117).
Page 121 of 434
120 Controls in detailLightingSwitching on fog lampsSwitching 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 lamp
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.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
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 headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding permis-
sible lamp operation.
Page 122 of 434
121 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on high beams
Turn the exterior lamp switch toB
or toU (
page 117).
Push the combination switch in
direction1.
The high beam indicator A in the ta-
chometer comes on.
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 above and between
the center air vents.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals flash.
Switching off the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective left or right turn signals will
operate when the starter switch is in
position 1 or 2.
Page 123 of 434
122 Controls in detailLightingInterior lighting
1Left reading lamp
2Right reading lamp
3Interior lighting on/off
4Slide switch for interior lighting controlAutomatic control
Activating
Slide switch4 to the left.
Interior lamps are switched on in dark-
ness when you
unlock the vehicle
open a door
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
open the trunk
In addition, the entry/exit lamps in the
door trays will come on when you open
a door.
The interior lamps are switched off af-
ter a preset time (
page 145).Deactivating
Slide switch4 to the right.
The interior lighting and the entry/exit
lamps remain switched off in darkness,
even when you
unlock the vehicle
open a door
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
open the trunk
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after ap-
proximately five minutes.
Page 124 of 434
123 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual control
Switching lamps on
Press switch3.
The interior lighting switches on.
Switching lamps off
Press switch3 again.
The interior lighting switches off.
Courtesy lighting
For better orientation in the dark, courtesy
lamps will illuminate the interior of your ve-
hicle as follows:
With parking lamps switched on:
the door handles
the driver and passenger footwells
With SmartKey in starter switch position1:
the door handles
the center console
iThe setting selected for the interior
lighting is used for the trunk lighting as
well.
If you leave the trunk lid open for an ex-
tended period of time, the trunk light-
ing will switch off automatically after
approximately ten minutes.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the
exterior headlamps, the door handle
lamps will remain lit for approximately
five minutes.
Page 125 of 434
124 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterFor a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(page 22).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you
open a door
switch on the ignition
press the reset button (
page 22)
switch on the exterior lamps
Opening a door will activate the instrument
cluster only for about 30 seconds.
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 140).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster
and the switches on the center console.
To brighten illumination
Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster (
page 22) clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster (
page 22) counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature gauge
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient
light conditions.
Warning
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns an can occur just by
opening the hood. Stay away from the
engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
