2005 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG low beam

35 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch. If necessary, move steering
wheel slightly to allow the locking
mechanism to engage.
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to see
“Lamps in instrument cluster”
(
page 288).
3Starting position
iWhen you switch on ignition, the indi-
cator and warning lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. This indicates that the respective
system is operational. The indicator
and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should
go out when the engine is running.iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.

51 Getting started
Driving
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher revolution. This al-
lows the catalytic converter to reach its
operating temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 216).
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 223).
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.iYou can open the doors from inside at
any time. Open doors only when the
conditions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic
locking using the control system
(page 141).
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.

110 Controls in detailLightingFor information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” and “Turn sig-
nals” (
page 51).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 112)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 112)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps, li-
cense plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the combi-
nation switch is pushed forward)
and parking lamps
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
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
Light Truck Center.

111 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 only the parking lamps will
switch on and off automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
iWith the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch and the driver’s door
open, a warning sounds if the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on.
The message
TURN OFF LIGHTS!
ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
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,
activate 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 headlamps. Doing so while driv-
ing in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
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.

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
following lamps will switch on
additionally:

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 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 run-
ning lamp mode.
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”
(
page 137).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to
positionCorB, the manual head-
lamp mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (page 110).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all
times.

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Locator lighting and night security illu-
mination
The locator lighting and the night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system section”, see (
page 138) and
(
page 139).
Exterior rear view mirror lamps
If the vehicle is centrally unlocked in the
darkness, the lamps in the exterior rear
view mirrors come on.
If a door is opened, the lamp on this side
goes out. If no doors are opened, the
lamps will switch off:


after a maximum of 40 seconds


immediately, when you switch on the
ignition (
page 35)Fog lamps
Front fog lamps

Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 110).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps switch on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 110).

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps switch off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
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 low beam headlamps on.
Fog lamps should only be used in con-
junction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allow-
able lamp operation.
iFog lamps cannot be switched on with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU. For switching on the fog
lamps, turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB first.

114 Controls in detailLightingRear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 113).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp switches on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 110).

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.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the 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.

138 Controls in detailControl system
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to select manual
operation or daytime running lamp
mode (constant) activated.
With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionMorU, the low beam
headlamps are switched on when the en-
gine is running.In low ambient light conditions the follow-
ing lamps will switch on additionally:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime run-
ning lamp mode, see “Lighting”
(
page 110).Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in position
U, the following lamps will switch on
when the vehicle is unlocked with the
SmartKey during darkness:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
with the SmartKey the lamps will switch off
automatically after approximately
40 seconds.
iFor safety reasons, resetting the LIGHTING
submenu to factory settings
while driving (
page 132) will not de-
activate the daytime running lamp
mode.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
LIGHTING – CANNOT BE TOTALLY RESET
TO FACTORY SETTINGS WHILE DRIVING