Page 138 of 522
137 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 56)
and see “Turn signals” (
page 57).
Exterior lamp switchExterior lamp switch
i
If you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country
where the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
Vehicles equipped with active Bi-Xenon*
headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon headlamps monitor your
steering angle and driving speed, then automati-
cally shift their beams to either side to better fol-
low the curvature of the road ahead, increasing
usable illumination over conventional head-
lamps.
1‚
Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
2ˆ
Standing lamps, right (turn left
one stop)
3M
Off
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 139)
4U
Automatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 139)
5C
Parking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
6B
Low beam headlamps or high
beam headlamps when the com-
bination switch is pushed for-
ward. The tail lamps, license
plate lamps, side marker lamps,
parking lamps and instrument
panel lamps also come on.
7‡
Front fog lamps
8†
Rear fog lamp
Page 140 of 522
139 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
Turn the 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 fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly:
Tail and parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lampsCanada only:
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a 3 minute delay.When the engine is running, and you
turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps and
the side marker lamps switch on addi-
tionally.
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 137).
i
With the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, you cannot switch off
the low beam headlamps manually.
i
With the exterior lamp switch in
positionM orU, you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch in positionB to permit activation of
the high beam headlamps.
Page 141 of 522
140 Controls in detailLightingUSA 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 173).
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 137).Locator lighting and night security illu-
mination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the “Control sys-
tem” section, see (
page 174) and
(
page 175).
Fog lamps
i
With the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the exterior lamp switch in positionM,
you cannot switch on the high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch in positionB orU to permit activa-
tion of the high beam headlamps.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position U to B with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
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.
i
Fog 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
permissible lamp operation.
i
Fog lamps cannot be switched on with the
exterior lamp switch in positionU. To switch
on the fog lamps, turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB first.
Page 142 of 522
141 Controls in detail
Lighting
Front fog lamps
Switch on the low beam
headlampsB (
page 137).
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 137).
Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps switch off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Switch on the low beam
headlampsB (
page 137).
Pull out the exterior lamp switch to sec-
ond stop.
The front fog lamps and the rear fog
lamp switch on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 137).
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 switchCombination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
Page 143 of 522
142 Controls in detailLightingHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 137).
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 26).
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.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 137)
or
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 137)
or
the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 139).Driving forward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Switch on the left or right turn signal
(page 57), depending on whether
you are turning left or right.
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
or
Turn steering wheel in desired direc-
tion.
The front fog lamp on the side of your
steering direction comes on.
i
With the automatic headlamp mode activat-
ed: The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
i
If you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h), the corner-illuminating function is
not available.
i
If you have switched on the turn signal for
one side but turn the steering wheel in the oppo-
site direction, the corner-illuminating front fog
lamp comes on for the side indicated by the turn
signal.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp remains lit
for a maximum of 3 minutes. Afterward, it goes
out even if the turn signal is still switched on.
Page 146 of 522
145 Controls in detail
Lighting
Interior lighting in the front
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.1Left front reading lamp on/off
2Automatic control on/off
3Rear interior lighting on/off
4Right front reading lamp on/off
5Front interior lighting on/off
6Interior lighting
7Ambient lighting
8Front reading lamps
Deactivating automatic control
Press switch2.
The interior lighting remains switched
off in darkness, even when you:
unlock the vehicle
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
open a door
open the trunk
Activating automatic control
Press switch2.
The interior lighting switches on in
darkness, when you:
unlock the vehicle
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
open a door
open the trunk
The interior lighting switches off after a
preset time (
page 176).
!
An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving an interior lamp switch in the ON posi-
tion for extended periods of time with the engine
turned off could result in a discharged battery.
i
The interior lighting is factory-set to auto-
matic mode.
i
If a door remains open, the interior lighting
switches off automatically after approximately
5minutes.
An interior lamp switched on manually does not
go out automatically.
Page 147 of 522
146 Controls in detailLightingManual control
Switching front/rear interior lighting on
and off
Press front/rear interior lighting
switch5 or 3 (
page 145) to switch
on the desired interior light.
Press front/rear interior lighting
switch5 or 3 again to switch off the
respective interior light.
Switching front reading lamps on and off
The front reading lamps are located in the
lower edge of the interior rear view mirror.
Press front reading lamp
switch1or4 (
page 145) to
switch on the desired front reading
lamp.
Press front reading lamp
switch1or4 again to switch off the
respective front reading lamp.Ambient lighting
You can switch the ambient lighting7
(
page 145) on and off, using the “Control
system” (
page 175).
Interior lighting in the rear
The overhead control panel is located
above the rear seat bench.
1Left rear reading lamp on/off
2Left rear reading lamp
3Ambient lighting switch, to brighten
4Ambient lighting
5Right rear reading lamp
6Right rear reading lamp on/off
7Ambient lighting switch, to dim
8Rear interior lamp
Page 148 of 522
147 Controls in detail
Lighting
Rear reading lamps
Press rear reading lamp
switch1or6 to switch on the re-
spective rear reading lamp.
Press rear reading lamp
switch1or6 again to switch off the
respective rear reading lamp.
Ambient lighting
Press ambient lighting switch3or7
repeatedly until ambient lighting4
has reached the desired intensity.
You can switch the ambient lighting on and
off, using the “Control system”
(
page 175).
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the cor-
responding door entry lamps will switch on
in the darkness when you open a door and
the automatic control is activated.
The door entry lamps will switch off when
the corresponding door is closed.
Trunk lamps
The trunk lamps switch on if the trunk is
opened.
If the trunk lid remains open, the trunk
lamps switch off automatically after ap-
proximately 10 minutes.
i
If you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the head-
lamps, the door entry lamps will remain lit for ap-
proximately 5 minutes.
