2010 MERCEDES-BENZ E550 Owner's Manual

Exterior rear view mirrorsGWarning!
Exercise care when using the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror. The mirror surface
is convex (outwardly curved surface for a
wider field of view). Objects in mirror are
closer than they appear. Check your interior
rear view mirror and glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
iYou can store the settings for the exterior
rear view mirror position with the memory
function (Y page 96).
XSwitch on the ignition.XPress button : for the driver’s side
exterior rear view mirror or button ; for
the passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror.
The indicator lamp in the respective button
comes on.
If you do not make adjustments to the
selected exterior rear view mirror within
15 seconds, the indicator lamp goes out.
You will then have to select the desired
exterior rear view mirror again before
adjustments can be made. Adjustments
can only be made with the indicator lamp
for the respective exterior rear view mirror
button illuminated.
XPress adjustment button = up, down, left
or right according to the desired setting.
! If an exterior rear view mirror was forcibly
hit from the front, manually snap it back
into place.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior
rear view mirrors will be heated
automatically.
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors
The exterior rear view mirror on the driver’s
side and the interior rear view mirror will
respond automatically to glare when the
ignition is switched on and incoming light
from headlamps falls on the sensor in the
interior rear view mirror.
The rear view mirrors will not react if the
automatic transmission is set to reverse gear
R or the interior lighting is switched on.
GWarning!
The auto dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sensors
in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the rear window
sunshade is in raised position.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic
conditions and could cause an accident.
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position
To assist during parking maneuvers, you can
set the passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror so that you can see the rear wheel and
the road curb.
Setting and storing the parking position
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XSwitch on the ignition.XPress button ;, to select the passenger-
side exterior rear view mirror.
XShift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror moves to the preset parking
position.
XAdjust the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror with adjustment button = so
that you see the rear wheel and the road
curb.
The exterior rear view mirror parking
position is stored.
You can also store the parking position using
the memory button M ?:
XSwitch on the ignition.XPress button ;, to select the passenger-
side exterior rear view mirror.
XAdjust the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror with adjustment button = so
that you see the rear wheel and the road
curb.
XPress memory button M ? and within
3 seconds, press one of the arrows of
adjustment button =.
The parking position is stored if the exterior
rear view mirror does not move.
iIf the exterior rear view mirror does move,
repeat the above steps. After the setting is
stored, you can move the exterior rear view
mirror again.
Calling up the parking positionXSwitch on the ignition.XPress button ;, to select the passenger-
side exterior rear view mirror.
XShift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror moves to the stored parking
position.
The passenger-side exterior rear view mirror
returns to its previously stored driving
position
R10 seconds after you have put the gear
selector lever out of reverse gear R
Rimmediately once your vehicle exceeds a
speed of approximately 6 mph (10 km/h)
Rimmediately when you press button : to
select the driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror
Memory function
Notes
With the memory function you can store up
to three different configurations per front
seat.
Each memory position button on the driver’s
side can store all of the following settings:
RSeat position
RDrive-dynamic multicontour seat: Drive-
dynamic function level
RSteering wheel position
RExterior rear view mirrors’ position
GWarning!
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function while
driving could cause the driver to lose control
of the vehicle.
Each memory position button on the front
passenger side can store the setting of the
seat position.
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Storing positions into memory
XAdjust the seats.XOn the driver’s side, also adjust the
steering wheel and exterior rear view
mirrors to the desired positions.
XPress memory button M once and within
3 seconds press memory position button
1, 2 or 3.
When the settings are stored to the
selected position, an acknowledgement
signal sounds.
Recalling positions from memory
XPress and hold desired memory position
button 1, 2 or 3 until the seat has moved
to the stored position completely. On the
driver’s side, also wait for the steering
wheel and exterior rear view mirrors to
move to the stored position.
iReleasing the memory position button
stops movement to the stored positions
immediately.
Lighting
Notes
iIf you drive in countries with left-hand
driving, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iVehicles equipped with active Bi-Xenon
headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon headlamps increase
usable illumination over conventional
headlamps because they follow the
curvature of the road ahead. The beams of
the active Bi-Xenon headlamps shift to
either side according to the vehicle’s
steering angle and speed.
Exterior lamp switch
1 WStanding lamps, left2 XStanding lamps, right3 TParking lamps5
Daytime running lamp mode
4 cAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
5 LLow-beam headlamps or high-beam
headlamps
B RVehicles with front fog lamps: Rear
fog lamp
C NVehicles with front fog lamps: Front
fog lamps
iThe exterior lamps (except standing
lamps or parking lamps) go out
automatically when you remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch or open
5When the parking lamps are on, the tail lamps, the license plate lamps, the side marker lamps, and theinstrument cluster illumination are also on.
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the driver’s door with the ignition switched
off.
When the parking lamps or the rear fog
lamp are switched on and you remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch and open
the driver’s door, an acoustic signal
sounds.
In addition the message Switch Off
Lights appears in the multifunction
display.
Switch off the parking lamps or the rear fog
lamp manually.
! Failure to switch off the parking lamps
when leaving the vehicle may result in a
discharged battery.
i Vehicles without front fog lamps: For
better detection of the vehicle, the LED
daytime running lamps are dimmed to
parking lamp level when the low-beam
headlamps are switched on.
Low-beam headlamps
The low-beam headlamps can be switched on
and off with the exterior lamp switch.
XSwitch on the ignition.XSwitching on: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to position L.
The following lamps come on:
R Low-beam headlamps
R Parking lamps 5
R Green indicator lamp L in the
instrument cluster
Automatic headlamp mode
GWarning!
If the exterior lamp switch is set to c, the
headlamps will not automatically come on
under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others, activate
headlamps by turning exterior lamp switch to
L when driving or when traffic and/or
ambient lighting conditions require you to do
so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only switch
from position c to L with the vehicle
at a standstill in a safe location. Switching
from c to L 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.XSwitching on: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to position c.
When ambient light is low: When the
SmartKey is in starter switch position 1 or
when the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button has
been pressed once, the parking lamps 5
come
on automatically.
When the engine is running, the low-beam
headlamps come on additionally.
When ambient light is bright: When the
SmartKey is in starter switch position 1 or
when the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button has
been pressed once, all lamps are off.
When the engine is running, the daytime
running lamps 6
come on automatically.
When the low-beam headlamps are switched
on, the green indicator lamp L in the
instrument cluster comes on.
Once the low-beam headlamps are on, the
high-beam headlamps are also available.
Daytime running lamp mode
In Canada, 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.
5 When the parking lamps are on, the tail lamps, the license plate lamps, the side marker lamps, and the
instrument cluster illumination are also on.
6 USA only: The daytime running lamp mode must be activated via the control system.98LightingControls in detail
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XActivate the daytime running lamp mode
using the control system, see “Switching
daytime running lamp mode on or off (USA
only)” ( Y page 141).XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
c .
When the engine is running and the
ambient light is bright, the daytime running
lamps come on.
In low ambient lighting conditions, the
following lamps will come on additionally:
R Low-beam headlamps
R Parking lamps 5
R green indicator lamp L in the
instrument cluster
You can only switch on the high-beam
headlamps when the low-beam headlamps
are on.
The high-beam flasher is available at all times.
Canada only
When the engine is running, and you
R shift from a driving position to park
position P with the vehicle at a standstill,
the daytime running lamps or the low-beam
headlamps will go out with a delay of
3 minutes
R turn the exterior lamp switch to position
T , the daytime running lamps and the
parking lamps 5
come on in bright ambient
lighting conditions.
R turn the exterior lamp switch to position
L , the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode
The corresponding exterior lamps come on
( Y page 97).
USA only
When the engine is running, and you turn the
exterior lamp switch to position T or
L, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps come on
( Y page 97).
Fog lamps GWarning!
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position c to L with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from c to L will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions may
result in an accident.
Front fog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low-beam headlamps on.
The rear fog lamp can only be switched on
with the exterior lamp switch in position
L . Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low-beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor Vehicle
Regulations regarding permissible lamp
operation.
XSwitch on the ignition.XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
T , or L , or c (Y page 97).
Vehicles with front fog lamps
XSwitching on front fog lamps: Press
switch N (Y page 97).
The green indicator lamp N in the
instrument cluster comes on.XSwitching off front fog lamps: Press
switch N (Y page 97).
The green indicator lamp N in the
instrument cluster goes out.5 When the parking lamps are on, the tail lamps, the license plate lamps, the side marker lamps, and the
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XSwitching on rear fog lamp: Press switch
N (Y page 97).
The rear fog lamp, the front fog lamps, the
green N and the yellow indicator lamp
R in the instrument cluster come on.
XSwitching off rear fog lamp: Press switch
N (Y page 97).
The rear fog lamp, the front fog lamps, the
green N and the yellow indicator lamp
R in the instrument cluster goes out.
Vehicles without front fog lamps
XSwitching on rear fog lamp: Press switch
R (Y page 97).
The rear fog lamp and the yellow indicator
lamp R in the instrument cluster come
on.
XSwitching off rear fog lamp: Press switch
R (Y page 97).
The rear fog lamp and the yellow indicator
lamp R in the instrument cluster goes
out.
Locator lighting
The locator lighting is described in the
“Control system” section, see “Switching
locator lighting on or off” (Y page 142).
Combination switch
Turn signals XPress the combination switch in direction
of arrow ; or ?.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp ! or # in the instrument
cluster flashes.
The combination switch resets automatically
after major steering wheel movements.
To signal minor directional changes:
XPress the combination switch only to the
point of resistance in direction of
arrow ; or ? and release.
The corresponding turn signal lamps will
flash three times.
High beam
XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
L (Y page 97).
XSwitching on: Push the combination
switch in direction of arrow :.
The high-beam headlamp indicator lamp
K in the instrument cluster comes on.
XSwitching off: Pull the combination switch
in direction of arrow = to its original
position.
iAlso note the information on high-beam
headlamps with activated automatic
headlamp mode (Y page 98) or the daytime
running lamp mode (Y page 98).
Adaptive Highbeam Assist
The Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only
available in vehicles with Bi-Xenon
headlamps.
Depending on the driving and traffic situation,
low-beam leveling and the high-beam
headlamps are controlled via an optical
sensor. The sensor is located on the front of
the overhead control panel. Glare for other
road users is reduced and the illumination of
road ahead is improved. The transitions
between low-beam and high-beam
headlamps take place without a sudden
change of light.
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GWarning!
The Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid
intended to support you while driving. The
driver is and remains responsible for proper
vehicle lighting in accordance with the
prevailing light, sight and traffic conditions.
The system may be impaired or unavailable
when
R visibility is poor, e.g. due to snow, rain, fog,
or heavy spray
R the optical sensor area of the windshield is
dirty, fogged up, or covered by a sticker for
example
The system cannot recognize the following
road users:
R Road users without a lighting system of
their own, e.g. pedestrians
R Road users with dim lighting of their own,
e.g. cyclists
R Road users whose lighting is obstructed,
e.g. road users behind a guardrail
R In some seldom cases, even road users with
a lighting system of their own may be
recognized too late or not at all.
The automatic high-beam headlamps will then
not be deactivated or it will be activated in
spite of preceding or oncoming road users.
This could endanger you and/or others and
cause an accident. Always pay close attention
to the traffic situation and switch off the high
beam manually if necessary.
XActivating: Enable the Adaptive
Highbeam Assist via the control system
( Y page 142).XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
c .XPress the combination switch in direction
of arrow :.
The Adaptive Highbeam Assist
indicator _ in the multifunction display
comes on when switching on the low-beam
headlamps.When driving faster than approximately
34 mph (55 km/h) and no other road users
are recognized, the high-beam headlamps
are switched on automatically. The high-
beam headlamp indicator lamp K in the
instrument cluster comes on additionally.
When driving slower than approximately
28 mph (45 km/h), other road users are
recognized, or the road is illuminated
sufficiently, the high-beam headlamps are
switched off automatically. The indicator
lamp K in the instrument cluster goes
out. The Adaptive Highbeam Assist
indicator _ in the multifunction display
remains on.
Adaptive control of the headlamp leveling
takes place at a speed of approximately
25 mph (40 km/h).XDeactivating: Pull the combination switch
back to its initial position.
The Adaptive Highbeam Assist
indicator _ in the multifunction display
goes out.
High-beam flasher
XSwitching on: Pull the combination switch
briefly in direction of arrow =.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be switched
on at all times, even with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch.
The hazard warning flasher comes on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
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XSwitching on: Press hazard warning
flasher switch :.
All turn signal lamps are flashing.
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.
XSwitching off: Press hazard warning
flasher switch : again.
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch : to switch it off.
Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamps will be cleaned with a high-
pressure water jet automatically when the
engine is running and you have
Rswitched on the headlamps
and
Rthe windshield wipers have wiped the
windshield with washer fluid for the first
time
The headlamps are cleaned every tenth time
the windshield is washed with washer fluid.
The counter resets when you switch off the
ignition.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Washer system and headlamp
cleaning system” (Y page 227).
Corner-illuminating lamps
The corner-illuminating lamps improve
illumination of the area in the direction into
which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating lamps will only
operate in low ambient lighting conditions.
If you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h) the corner-illuminating function is
not available.
Switching on
XMake sure the engine is running.XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
L or c (Y page 97).
or
XActivate the daytime running lamp mode
(Y page 98).
XSwitch on the left or right turn signal,
depending on whether you are turning left
or right.
The respective corner-illuminating lamp
comes on. If you have switched on the turn
signal for one side but turn the steering
wheel in the other direction, the corner-
illuminating lamp comes on on the side of
the turn signal.
or
XTurn steering wheel in desired direction.
Driving forward: The corner-illuminating
lamp on the side of your steering direction
comes on.
Driving in reverse: The corner-illuminating
lamp opposite to your steering direction
comes on.
The corner-illuminating lamps will come on
automatically depending on the steering
angle, even if you did not switch on either turn
signal. If the corner-illuminating lamps came
on automatically, they will also go out
automatically depending on the steering
angle and vehicle speed.
The corner-illuminating lamps temporarily
come on on both sides of the vehicle if you
turn the steering wheel in one direction and
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