2011 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS high beam

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 à to L with the vehicle
at a standstill in a safe location. Switching
from à 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.
X Switching on: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to position Ã.
The following lamps come on and go out
depending on the brightness of the ambient
light with the SmartKey in starter switch
position 1 or the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button pressed once:
R Tail lamps
R Parking lamps
R License plate lamps
R Side marker lamps
When the engine is running, the low-beam
headlamps will also come on and turn off
automatically.
Canada

only: High-beam headlamps are only
available with the exterior lamp switch in
position L.
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.
X Activate the daytime running lamp mode
using the control system, see “Switching daytime running lamp mode on or off (USA
only)”

(Y page 121).
X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
$ or Ã.
When the engine is running, the low-beam
headlamps come on.
In low ambient lighting conditions, the
following lamps will come on additionally:
R
Tail lamps
R Parking lamps
R License plate lamps
R Side marker lamps
With the daytime running lamp mode
activated
and the engine running, you cannot
switch off the low-beam headlamps manually.
Canada only
With the exterior lamp switch in position
$ or Ã, you cannot switch on the
high-beam headlamps.
The high-beam flasher is available at all times.
X For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch

to position L to permit activation
of the high-beam headlamps.
When the engine is running, and you
R shift from a driving position to park
position P

with the vehicle at a standstill or
the parking brake is engaged, the low-beam
headlamps will go out with a delay of
3 minutes
R turn the exterior lamp switch to position
T, the low-beam headlamps, the tail
and parking lamps, the license plate lamps
and the side marker lamps come on
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 87). 88
Lighting
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USA only
You can only switch on the high-beam
headlamps in low ambient lighting conditions.
The high-beam flasher is available at all times.
X
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to position L or à to permit
activation of the high-beam headlamps.
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 87).
Fog lamps Fog lamps cannot be switched on with the
exterior lamp switch in position Ã.
G
Warning!
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position à to L with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from à to L will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions may
result in an accident.
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.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
T or L (Y page 87).
X Switching on front fog lamps: Pull out the
exterior lamp switch to first stop.
The green indicator lamp N in the
exterior lamp switch comes on. X
Switching on rear fog lamp: Pull out the
exterior lamp switch to second stop.
The rear fog lamp, the front fog lamps, the
green N and the yellow indicator lamp
R in the exterior lamp switch come on.
X Switching off front fog lamps/rear fog
lamp: Push in the exterior lamp switch to
its stop.
Locator lighting and night security
illumination Locator lighting and night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system” section, see “Switching locator
lighting on or off” (Y page 121) and
“Switching night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off feature) on or
off” (Y page 122). Combination switch
Turn signals
X
Press 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. Lighting
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To signal minor directional changes:
X
Press 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 X
Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
L (Y page 87).
X Switching on: Push the combination
switch in direction of arrow :.
The high-beam headlamp indicator lamp
K in the instrument cluster comes on.
X Switching off: Pull the combination switch
in direction of arrow = to its original
position.
i Also note the information on high-beam
headlamps with activated automatic
headlamp mode (Y page 87) or the daytime
running lamp mode ( Y page 88).
High-beam flasher X
Switching 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. The hazard warning flasher switch is located
on the center console. X
Switching on: Press hazard warning
flasher switch :.
All turn signal lamps are flashing.
i With 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.
X Switching off: Press hazard warning
flasher switch : again.
i If 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
R switched on the headlamps
and
R the windshield wipers have wiped the
windshield with washer fluid five times
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 181).90
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsb Marker
Lamp
Front Left
or
Marker
Lamp
Front
Right The front left side or right side marker lamp is malfunctioning.
X
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible. b Parking
Lamp
Front
Left
Auxiliary
Bulb On
or
Parking
Lamp
Front
Right
Auxiliary
Bulb On The left or right front parking lamp is malfunctioning. A
substitute bulb is being used.
X
Halogen headlamp: Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(Y page 266).
X Bi-Xenon headlamp: Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible. b High Beam
Left
or
High Beam
Right The left or right high-beam lamp is malfunctioning.
X
Replace the bulb as soon as possible (Y page 266). b License
Plate
Lamp Left
or
License
Plate
Lamp Right The left or right license plate lamp is malfunctioning.
X
Replace the bulb as soon as possible (Y page 266). b AUTO-
Light
Inoperativ
e The light sensor is malfunctioning. The headlamps come on
automatically.
X
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
To switch off the headlamps (U.S. vehicles only):
X In the control system, set daytime running lamp mode to
manual

(Y page 121).
X Switch off the headlamps using the exterior lamp switch
(Y page 87). 248
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
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G
Warning!
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You may
lose control of the vehicle. Continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire. G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely affect
handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear
unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are
more likely to become punctured or damaged by road debris, potholes etc. What to do if …
Lamps in instrument cluster
Notes If any of the following lamps in the instrument
cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-
check when switching on the ignition, have
the respective bulb checked and replaced if
necessary.
When you switch on the ignition, all lamps in
the instrument cluster come on. The low-
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high-beam
headlamp indicator lamp, and turn signal
indicator

lamps will only come on if activated.
If a lamp in the instrument cluster fails to
come on when the ignition is switched on,
have it checked and replaced if necessary. What to do if …
251
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humidity, driving the vehicle a distance with
the lights on should clear up the fogging.
Bulbs
You can replace the following bulbs yourself: Halogen headlamps Type
:
Turn signal lamp: 3457AK
; High-beam lamp: H7 55 W
= Parking and standing lamp: W 5 W
? Low-beam lamp: H7 55 W Bi-Xenon headlamps Type
:
Turn signal lamp: 3457AK
; High-beam lamp: H7 55 W License plate lamps Type
:
License plate lamps: C 5 W Replacing bulbs
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Notes on bulb replacement
!
Do not replace LEDs or bulbs not
described in this section. You could
otherwise damage the LEDs, the bulbs or
parts of the vehicle. Only have the LEDs and
bulbs replaced at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. G
Observe Safety notes, see page 266.
R Only use 12-volt bulbs of the same type and
with the specified watt rating.
R Switch the lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
R Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
R Your hands should be dry and free of oil and
grease.
R If the newly installed bulb does not come
on, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends using
Longlife (LL) bulbs. Replacing bulbs for front lamps
G
Warning!
Do not remove the cover for the Bi-Xenon
headlamp. Because of high voltage in Xenon
lamps, it is dangerous to replace the bulb or
repair the lamp and its components. It is
recommended to have such work done by a
qualified technician.
Before you start to replace a bulb for a front
lamp, do the following:
X Switch off the ignition.
X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
$.
X Open the hood (Y page 178). :
Housing cover for low-beam halogen or Bi-
Xenon headlamp
; Housing cover for high-beam headlamp/
high-beam flasher bulb and for parking
and standing lamp bulb =
Bulb socket for turn signal lamp bulb
? Bulb socket for high-beam bulb
A Bulb socket for parking and standing lamp
bulb
B Bulb socket for low-beam bulb
Low-beam bulb (halogen headlamps
only) X
Turn housing cover : counterclockwise
and remove it.
X Turn bulb socket B with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove it.
X Pull the bulb out of bulb socket B.
X Gently press the new bulb into bulb socket
B. 268
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X
Place bulb socket B back into the housing
and turn it clockwise until it engages.
X Align housing cover : and turn it
clockwise until it engages.
High-beam and high-beam flasher bulb
(halogen headlamps only)/high-beam
flasher bulb (Bi-Xenon headlamps only) X
Turn housing cover ; counterclockwise
and remove it.
X Turn bulb socket ? with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove it.
X Pull the bulb out of bulb socket ?.
X Gently press the new bulb into bulb
socket ?.
X Place bulb socket ? back into the housing
and turn it clockwise until it engages.
X Align housing cover ; and turn it
clockwise until it engages.
Front turn signal lamp bulb X
Turn bulb socket = with the bulb
counterclockwise and remove it.
X Gently press onto the bulb and turn it
counterclockwise out of bulb socket =.
X Gently press the new bulb into bulb socket
= and turn it clockwise until it engages.
X Place bulb socket = back into the housing
and turn it clockwise until it engages.
Parking and standing lamp bulb Halogen headlamps
X
Turn housing cover ; counterclockwise
and remove it.
X Pull out bulb socket A with the bulb.
X Pull the bulb out of bulb socket A.
X Gently press the new bulb into bulb socket
A.
X Press bulb socket A back into the lamp.
X Align housing cover ; and turn it
clockwise. Bi-Xenon headlamps
In vehicles with Bi-Xenon headlamps, the
bulbs of the parking and standing lamps are
LEDs.
!
Do not replace the LEDs yourself. You
could otherwise damage the LEDs or parts
of the vehicle. Only have the LEDs replaced
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Replacing bulbs for rear lamps
Tail lamp unit The tail lamps are equipped with HiP bulbs
and LEDs. Have them replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
G
Observe Safety notes, see page 266.
License plate lamps X
Switch off the ignition.
X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
$.
X Open the trunk.
X Loosen screws : of lamp cover to be
removed.
X Remove lamp cover ;.
X Replace the bulb.
X Reinstall lamp cover ;.
X Retighten screws :. Replacing bulbs
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