2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK550 low beam

131 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
The daytime running lamp mode is
mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
In the USA the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default. Activate the day-
time running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 162).
Turn the 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 lampsCanada only
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
with the vehicle at a standstill the low
beam headlamps will switch off with a de-
lay of 3 minutes.
When the engine is running, and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam head-
lamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
license plate lamp and the side marker
lamps switch on.

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 129).
USA only
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 129).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engine running, you cannot
switch off the low beam headlamps manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
positionM or U, 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 to positionB to permit activation of
the high beam headlamps.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated 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 to positionB or U to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.

132 Controls in detail
Lighting
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the “Control sys-
tem” section, see “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 163) and “Setting night security il-
lumination (Headlamps delayed shut-off)”
(
page 164).
Fog lamps
Front fog lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC orB (
page 55).
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 129).
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)
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 55).
Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The front fog lamps and the rear fog
lamp switch on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(
page 129).
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 in a safe location.
Switching fromU 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
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.

133 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 129).
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 28).
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
the direction of arrow2.Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(With Bi-Xenon* headlamps only)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
improve illumination of the area in the
direction 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 129)
or

the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 129)
or

the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 131)
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
iIf you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h) or have the front fog lamps switched
on, the corner-illuminating front fog lamps
function is not available.

163 Controls in detail
Control system
With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM or U, the low beam
headlamps are switched on when the
engine is running.
In low ambient light conditions the
following 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 129).Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU, the following lamps will
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked using buttonΠon the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*:

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
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after
approximately 40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Surround Light.
Function
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function
On or Off
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position U when exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is
activated.
iFor safety reasons, resetting the Lighting
submenu to factory settings (
page 156) while
driving will not deactivate the daytime running
lamp mode.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Cannot be completely reset to factory
settings while driving
.

393 Practical hints
What to do if …?
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the display.
High priority messages appear in red color.
For your convenience the messages are
divided into two sections:

Text messages (page 394)

Symbol messages (page 403)
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, please do so
with added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iSwitching on the ignition causes all
instrument cluster lamps (except low beam
headlamp indicator lamp, high beam headlamp
indicator lamp, and turn signal indicator lamps
unless activated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps and the
multifunction display are in working order before
starting your journey.

413 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
. License Plate Lamp
LeftThe left license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 449).
License Plate Lamp
RightThe right license plate lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 449).
Low Beam
LeftThe left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 446).
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Low Beam
RightThe right low beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 446).
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Marker Lamp
Front LeftThe front left side marker lamp is malfunc-
tioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Marker Lamp
Front RightThe front right side marker lamp is mal-
functioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

444 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Bulbs Front lamps Rear lamps
LampType
1Additional turn signal
lampLED
2Turn signal lamp1156 NA
3Halogen headlamp:
Low beam
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Low and high beam
1
1V e h i c le s w i t h B i- X e n on h e a dl a m p s * d o no t r e p l ac e
the Bi-Xenon bulbs yourself.
H7 (55 W)
D2S-35 W
4Halogen headlamp:
High beam/high beam
flasher
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
High beam flasher
H7 (55 W)
H7 (55 W)
Parking and standing
lampW 5 W
5Front fog lamp
Corner-illuminating
front fog lamp*H11 (55 W)
H11 (55 W)
6Side marker lampW 5 W
LampType
7High mounted brake
lampLED
8Brake lampP 21 W
9Turn signal lampPY 21 W
aTail, parking and stand-
ing lamp, side marker
lampP 21/5 W
bBackup lampP 21 W
cLicense plate lampsC 5 W
dRear fog lamp (driver’s
side only) and tail lampP 21/4 W

446 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a
front lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM (
page 129).
Open the hood (page 323).
Front lamps halogen-type
1Housing cover for low beam headlamp
2Housing cover for high beam head-
lamp, parking and standing lamp3Bulb socket for turn signal lamp bulb
4Bulb holder of low beam bulb
5Bulb holder of high beam bulb
6Bulb socket for parking and standing
lamp bulb
Low beam bulb
Turn housing cover1 counterclock-
wise and remove it.
Turn bulb holder4 with the bulb coun-
terclockwise and remove it.
Pull the bulb at its socket out of bulb
holder4.
Insert the new bulb so that its socket
locates in the recess of bulb holder4
and is level to it.
Reinsert bulb holder4 with the bulb in
the lamp and turn clockwise.
Align housing cover1 and turn it
clockwise.
High beam bulb
Turn housing cover2 counterclock-
wise and remove it.
Turn bulb holder5 with the bulb coun-
terclockwise and remove it.
Pull the bulb at its socket out of bulb
holder5.
Insert the new bulb so that its socket
locates in the recess of bulb holder5
and is level to it.
Reinsert bulb holder5 with the bulb in
the lamp and turn clockwise.
Align housing cover2 and turn it
clockwise.