Page 147 of 570

146 Controls in detail
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 59)
and “Turn signals” (
page 60).
Exterior lamp switch
MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 148)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 147)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps or high beam
headlamps when the combination
switch is pushed forward. The tail
lamps, license plate lamps, side marker lamps, parking lamps and
instrument panel lamps also come
on.
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 registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
iVehicles with active Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon* headlamps monitor the
vehicle’s steering angle and speed, then auto-
matically shift their beams to either side to
better follow the curvature of the road ahead, in-
creasing usable illumination over conventional
headlamps.iIf you hear a warning signal when exiting the
vehicle, you have forgotten to switch off the ex-
terior lamps.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the exterior lamps.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, the low beam head-
lamps cannot be switched off manually.
For information on how to activate the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Daytime running lamp
mode” (
page 148).
Page 148 of 570

147 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.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically 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 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once, only
the parking lamps and the side marker
lamps will switch on and off automati-
cally.
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.
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps may switch off
unexpectedly when the system senses
bright ambient 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 toB when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromUtoB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving 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.
Page 150 of 570

149 Controls in detail
Lighting
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
The locator lighting and the night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system” section, see “Setting locator light-
ing” (
page 184) and “Setting night secu-
rity illumination” (
page 185).Fog lampsFront fog lamps*
Switch on the low beam headlamps
(
page 59).
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 146).
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 positionU toB with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromU toB 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
permissible lamp operation.
iFog 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 153 of 570

152 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
were activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after
making the turn, the turn signal and
corner-illuminating front fog lamps can be
switched off by returning the combination
switch to its original position.Driving rearward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Shift the automatic transmission to
reverse gearR (
page 199).
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp
opposite to your steering direction
comes on.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Shift the automatic transmission
to a gear other than reverse
gearR(
page 197).
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
1Hazard warning flasher switch
iThere may be a brief delay before the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps switch off.
Page 154 of 570

153 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
1Front left reading lamp, on/off
2Rear interior lighting, on/off
3Automatic interior lighting
4Front interior lighting, on/off
5Front right reading lamp, on/off
6Front right interior lamp
7Reading lamps
8Front left interior lampThe controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
Deactivating automatic control
Press switch3.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 184) remain switched
off even when you
unlock the vehicle
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
open a door
open the tailgate
iWith the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective left or right turn
signals will operate when the ignition is
switched on.
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard warning
flasher switch1 once to switch it off.
!An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving an interior lamp switch in the ON
position for extended periods of time with the
engine turned off could result in a discharged
battery.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.
Page 157 of 570

156 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 26).
1To dim instrument cluster illumination
2Reset button
3To brighten instrument cluster
illuminationThe instrument cluster is activated when
youopen a door
switch on the ignition (page 39)
press reset button 2
switch on the exterior lamps
(
page 146)
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 179).
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
Page 166 of 570
165 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu6Menu7Menu8Menu9MenuaMenub
DISTRONIC*Vehicle status
message memorySettingsDistance warning
function*Trip computerTelephone*
(page 271)(page 174)(page 176)(page 191)(page 191)(page 193)
Commands/submenus
Status and settingsCalling up
malfunction mes-
sages, warning mes-
sages, and system
status messages
stored in memoryResetting to factory
settingsDistance warning
function* on/offFuel consumption
statistics after startLoading phone book
Instrument cluster
submenuFuel consumption
statistics since the
last resetSearching for name
in phone book
Time/Date
submenuDistance to empty
Lighting submenu
Vehicle submenu
Comfort submenu*
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to those shown in the control system displays. The first
function displayed in each menu will show you
which part of the system you are in.
Page 176 of 570

175 Controls in detail
Control system
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message
memory appears in the multifunction
display.If conditions have occurred causing status
messages to be recorded, the number of
messages appears in the multifunction
display:
Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be
displayed in the order in which they
have occurred. For malfunctions and
warning messages, see “Vehicle status
messages in the multifunction display”
(
page 433).Should the vehicle’s system record any
conditions while driving, the number of
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display
when the SmartKey in the starter
switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch
or
when you turn off the engine by
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 67) in the starter
switch once and open the driver’s door
(this puts the starter switch in
position0, same as with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch)
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center to address the malfunc-
tion and warning messages (
page 433).
iAfter you have scrolled through all recorded
status messages, the first recorded message
appears again.
iThe vehicle status message memory will
be cleared when you turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch to position1 or2, or when you
press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once
or twice without depressing the brake pedal. You
will then only see high priority messages in the
multifunction display (
page 433).