2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C COUPE Owner's Manual

112 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly.

Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute time delay.
When the engine is running, and you


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps
switch on additionally.


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 110).USA only
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)” (
page 144).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to positionC
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 110).
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
The locator lighting and night security illu-
mination are described in the control sys-
tem section, see “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 145) and “Headlamps delayed
shut off” (
page 146).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the exterior lamp switch
in positionM, the high beam head-
lamps cannot be switched on.

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Fog lamps
Front fog lamps

Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 110).

Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps are switched on
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps are switched off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)

Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 113).

Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The rear fog lamps are switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
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 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.
iThe fog lamps cannot be switched on
with exterior lamp switch in
positionU. For switching the fog
lamps, turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB first.

114 Controls in detailLightingCombination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB orU (
page 110).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Cornering fog lamps*
The cornering fog lamps improve illumina-
tion of the road into which you are turning.
Cornering fog lamps will operate with the
engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 110)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 110)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 112)
iCornering fog lamps will only come on
in low ambient lighting conditions.
The cornering fog lamps function is not
available at a vehicle speed above
25 mph (40 km/h).

115 Controls in detail
Lighting
Driving forward
Switching on cornering fog lamps
Depending on whether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 52).
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the road into which you
are turning.Switching off cornering fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
cornering fog lamps if they were activated
by switching on the left or right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and cornering
fog lamp can be switched off by returning
the combination switch to its original posi-
tion.Driving rearward
Switching on cornering fog lamps

Place the gear selector lever (manual
transmission: gearshift lever) in
positionR.
The inverse front fog lamp comes on
automatically depending on the
steering direction and steering angle.
Switching off cornering fog lamps

Place the gear selector lever (manual
transmission: gearshift lever) out of
positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
iThe cornering fog lamps will come on
automatically depending on the steer-
ing angle, even if you did not switch on
either turn signal. If the cornering fog
lamps came on automatically, they will
also go out automatically depending on
the steering angle.

116 Controls in detailLightingHazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is locat-
ed on the upper part of the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on the hazard warning
flasher

Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signal lamps are flashing.Switching off the hazard warning
flasher

Press hazard warning flasher
switch1again.
iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective turn signals will operate when
the ignition is switched on (
page 33).
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch1 once to
switch it off.

117 Controls in detail
Lighting
Interior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Rear interior lights
2Right front reading lamp
3Rocker switch for automatic control
system
4Left front reading lampActivating automatic control

Press the rocker switch3 to center
position.
Interior lamps are switched on in dark-
ness, when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from starter
switch
The interior lamps are switched off follow-
ing a preset time, see “Setting interior
lighting delayed shut-off” (
page 147).Deactivating automatic control

Press the =symbol on rocker
switch3.
The interior lighting remains switched
off, even when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after
approximately five minutes, when the
SmartKey is removed or in the starter
switch position0.
An interior lamp switched on manually
does not go out automatically.

118 Controls in detailLightingManual control
Switching all front interior lights on and
off
Press the Wsymbol on rocker
switch3.
The front interior lights come on.

Press rocker switch3 to center
position to activate the automatic
control.
Switching rear interior lights on and off

Press buttonV.
The lights in the rear passenger
compartment come on.

Press buttonV again.
The lights in the rear passenger
compartment go out.Switching right front reading lamp on
and off

Press right buttonX.
The right reading lamp comes on.

Press right buttonX again.
The right reading lamp goes out.
Switching left front reading lamp on and
off

Press left buttonX.
The left reading lamp comes on.

Press left buttonX again.
The left reading lamp goes out.
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.

119 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “At a glance” (
page 24).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you


open a door


switch on the ignition (
page 33)


press reset button1


switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 137).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use reset button1 to adjust the
illumination brightness for the instrument
cluster.To brighten illumination

Turn reset button1 clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn reset button1 counterclock-
wise.
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.