2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SALOON light

Useful information
............................122
Exterior lighting ................................ 122
Interior lighting ................................. 128
Changing bulbs ................................. 129
Windscreen wipers ...........................132 121Lights and windscreen wipers

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment
available to your vehicle at the time of pub-
lication of the Owner's Manual. Country-
specific deviations are possible. Please
note that your vehicle may not be equipped
with all features described. This also
applies to safety-relevan tsystems and
functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 25).Exterior lighting
Important safety notes
Fo rreasons of safety, Mercedes-Benzr ecom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, operation of the headlamps varies due
to legal requirements and self-imposed obli-
gations. Notes on driving abroad
To convert to symmetrical dipped beam
when driving abroad: switch the headlamps
to symmetrical dipped beam in countries in
which traffic drives on the opposite side of the
road to the country where the vehicle is reg-
istered. This prevents glare to oncoming traf-
fic. When using symmetrical lights, the edge
of the carriageway is not lit as widely and as
far ahead as normal.
Convert the headlamps as close to the border
as possible before driving in these countries
(Y page 245).
Convert to asymmetrical dipped beam
after returning: convert the headlamps back
to asymmetrical dipped beam as soon as pos-
sible after crossing the border when returning
(Y page 245). If the headlamps are converted to symmetri-
cal dipped beam, the "motorway mode" and
"extended range foglamps" functions (Intelli-
gent Light System) are not available. Light switch
Operation 1W
Left-hand parking lamps
2X Right-hand parking lamps
3T Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4Ã Automatic headlamp mode/daytime
driving lights
5L Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
BR Rear foglamp
CN Foglamps 12
The turn signals, main-beam headlamps and
the headlamp flasher are operated using the
combination switch (Y page 124).
! Switch off the side lamps and parking
lamp when you leave the vehicle. This pre-
vents the battery from discharging.
The exterior lighting (except the side lamps/
parking lamps) switches off automatically if
you:
R remove the key from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the key in posi-
tion 0
12 Only vehicles with fron tfoglamps have the "Foglamps" function. 122
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the lights witch toÃ.
Dipped-beam headlamps X
To switch on the dipped-beam head-
lamps: turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to L.
The L indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Daytime driving lights You can activate or deactivate the daytime
driving lights function using the on-board
computer (Y page 244).
X Daytime driving lights: activate the day-
time driving lights function using the on-
board computer.
X Turn the light switch to Ã.
When the engine is on: depending on the
ambien tlight conditions, the daytime driv-
ing lights or the parking and dipped-beam
headlamps are switched on.
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the Lindicator lamp in the
instrumen tcluster lights up.
Automatic headlamp mode X
To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to Ã.
Key in position 1in the ignition lock: the
side lamps are switched on or off automat-
ically depending on the brightness of the
ambien tlight.
With the engine running: depending on the
brightness of the ambien tlight, the daytime
driving lights 13
or the dipped-beam head-
lamps are switched on or off automatically.
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the Lindicator lamp in the
instrumen tcluster lights up. G
WARNING
If the light switch is set to Ã, the dipped-
beam headlamps will not come on automati-
cally if it is foggy. This could endanger you and
others. Therefore, tur nthe light switch to
L in fog.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times.
Foglamps Only vehicles with front foglamps have the
"Foglamps" function.
G
WARNING
If you suspect that driving conditions will be
foggy, turn the light switch to Lbefore you
start your journey. Your vehicle may other-
wise not be visible and you could endanger
yourself and others.
X To switch on the foglamps: turn the key
in the ignition lock to position 2or start the
engine.
X Turn the light switch to T,Lor
Ã.
X Press the Nbutton.
The green Nindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
X To switch off the front foglamps: press
the N button.
The green Nindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
i If you switch the engine off (key in posi-
tion 1in the ignition lock) and then restart
it, the previous foglamp settings are
restored.
Rear foglamp X
To switch on the rear foglamp: turn the
key in the ignition lock to position 2or start
the engine.
X Turn the light switch to LorÃ.
13 Only if daytime driving lights have been activated via the on-board computer. Exterior lighting
123Lights and windscreen wipers Z

X
Press the Rbutton.
The yellow Rindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To switch off the rear foglamp: press the
R button.
The yellow Rindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Vehicles with frontf oglamps: when the light
switch is in the Tposition, the rear fog-
lamp can only be switched on if the foglamps
(without dipped-beam headlamps) are
switched on.
i If you switch the engine off (key in posi-
tion 1in the ignition lock) and then restart
it, the previous rear foglamp settings are
restored.
Adjusting the headlam prange (halogen
headlamps) The headlamp range control allows you to
adjust the cone of light from the headlamps
to sui tthe vehicle load. g
Driver's seat and front-passenger seat
occupied
1 Driver's seat, front-passenger seat and
rear seats occupied
2 Driver's seat, front-passenger seat and
rear seats occupied, boot laden
3 Driver's and front-passenger seats occu-
pied and maximum permissible rear axle
load utilised, e.g. when towing a trailer X
Start the engine.
X Turn headlamp range control to the posi-
tion which corresponds to the load in your
vehicle.
Headlampc leaning system If the "Wipe with washer fluid" function is
operated five times (Y
page 132) while the
lights are on and the engine is running, the
headlamps are cleaned automatically. When
you switch off the ignition, the automatic
headlamp cleaning syste mis reset and count-
ing is resumed from 0. Combination switch
Turn signals :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To indicate briefly: press the combination
switch briefly to the pressure point in the
direction of arrow ;or?.
The corresponding turn signal flashes three
times.
X To indicate: press the combination switch
beyond the pressure point in the direction
of arrow ;or?. 124
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

Main-beam headlamps
X
To switch on the main-beam head-
lamps: turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to LorÃ.
X Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of
arrow :.
In the Ãposition, the main-beam head-
lamps are only switched on when it is dark
and the engine is running.
The K indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the main-beam head-
lamps are switched on.
X To switch off the main-beam head-
lamps: move the combination switch back
to its normal position.
The K indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Headlamp flasher X
To switch on: turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 1or 2or start the engine.
X Pull the combination switch in the direction
of arrow =. Hazard warning lamps The hazard warning lamps automatically
switch on if:
R
an airbag is deployed.
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of more than 70 km/h and comes to
a standstill.
X To switch on the hazard warnin glamps:
press button :.
All turn signals flash. If you now switch on
a turn signal using the combination switch,
only the turn signal lamp on the corre-
sponding side of the vehicle will flash.
X To switch off the hazard warning
lamps: press button :.
The hazard warning lamps switch off auto-
matically if the vehicle reaches a speed of
over 10 km/h again after a full brake appli-
cation.
i The hazard warning lamps still operate if
the ignition is switched off. Intelligen
tLight System
Important notes The Intelligent Light System is a syste
mthat
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit
the prevailing driving and weather conditions.
It offers advanced functions for improved illu-
mination of the road surface, e.g. depending
on the vehicle speed or weather conditions.
The system includes the active light function,
cornering light function, motorway mode and
extended range foglamps. The system is only
active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "Intelligent
Light System" using the on-board computer
(Y page 244). Exterior lighting
125Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Active ligh
tfunction The active light function is a system that
moves the headlamps according to the steer-
ing movements of the front wheels. In this
way, relevant areas remai nilluminated while
driving. This allows you to recognise pedes-
trians, cyclists and animals.
Active: when the lights are switched on.
Cornering light function The cornering light function improves the illu-
mination of the road over a wide angle in the
direction you are turning, enabling better vis-
ibility in tigh
tbends, for example. The corner-
ing light function can only be activated when
the dipped-beam headlamps are switched on.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
40 km/ha nd switch on the tur nsignal or turn
the steering wheel.
Not active: if you are driving at speeds above
40 km/h or switch off the turn signal or turn
the steering wheel to the straight-ahead posi-
tion. The cornering light function may remain lit for
a shor ttime, but is automatically switched off
after no more than three minutes.
Motorway mode Motorway mode increases the range of the
beam.
Active:
R
if you are driving at speeds above
110 km/h and do not make any large steer-
ing movements for 1000 m
R if you are driving at speeds above
130 km/h
Not active: if you are driving at speeds below
80 km/h following activation.
Extended range foglamps The extended range foglamps reduce the
glare experienced by the drive
rand improve
the illuminatio nofthe edge of the carriage-
way.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/h and you switch on the rear foglamp 126
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

Not active:
if you are driving at speeds above
100 km/h or if you switch off the rea rfoglamp
following activation Adaptive Highbeam Assist
You can use this function to set the head-
lamps to change between dipped beam and
main beam automatically. The system recog-
nises vehicles with their lights on, either
approaching from the opposite direction or
travelling in front of your vehicle, and conse-
quently switches the headlamps from main
beam to dipped beam.
The system automatically adapts the dipped-
beam headlamp range depending on the dis-
tance to the other vehicle. Once the system
no longer detects any other vehicles, it reac-
tivates the main-beam headlamps.
The system's optical sensor is located behind
the windscreen near the overhead control
panel. X
To activate: activate the Adaptive High-
beam Assist function using the on-board
computer (Y page 245).
X Turn the light switch to Ã.X
Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of
arrow :(Ypage 124).
If it is dark and the light sensor activates
the dipped-beam headlamps, the _
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up.
If you are driving at speeds above
45 km/h:
the headlamp range is set automatically
depending on the distance between the
vehicle and other road users.
If you are driving at speeds above
55 km/h and no other road users are rec-
ognised:
the main-beam headlamps are switched on
automatically. The Kindicator lamp in
the instrument cluster also lights up.
If you are driving at speeds below
45 km/h or other road users are recog-
nised or the roads are adequately lit:
the main-beam headlamps are switched off
automatically. The Kindicator lamp in
the instrument cluster goes out. The _
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
stays on.
X To deactivate: move the combination
switch back to its normal position.
The _ indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. G
WARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid
designed to assist driving. The driver is
responsible for adjusting the vehicle's lighting
to the prevailing light, vision and traffic con-
ditions.
The system may be impaired or deactivated:
R if there is poor visibility, e.g. due to snow,
rain, fog or spray
R if the area of the windscreen around the
optical sensor is dirty, misted up or covered
up, e.g. by a sticker Exterior lighting
127Lights and windscreen wipers
Z

The system may not recognise the following
road users:
R road users that have no lighting, e.g. pedes-
trians
R road users that have poor lighting, e.g.
cyclists
R road users whose lighting is not clearly visi-
ble, e.g. road users behind a crash barrier
R on rare occasions :road users that have
lights that may be recognised too late or not
at all
The automatic main-beam headlamps will not
be deactivated, or they may be activated
despite road users travelling in front of or
approaching the vehicle.
Thus, you could cause an accident and injure
yourself and others. Always observe traffic
conditions and, if necessary, dip the lights
manually. Headlamps misted up on the inside
The headlamps may mist up on the inside if
there is high atmospheric humidity.
X Drive with the headlamps switched on.
The level of moisture diminishes, depend-
ing on the length of the journey and the
weather conditions (humidity and temper-
ature).
If the level of moisture does not diminish:
X Have the headlamps checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. Interior lighting
Overview of interior lighting
Front overhead control panel
:
u To switch the rear interior lighting
on/off
; | To switch the automatic interior
lighting control on/off
= p To switch the right-hand front read-
ing lamp on/off
? c To switch the front interior lighting
on/off
A p To switch the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off Rear-compartment overhead control panel
:
p To switch the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
; p To switch the left-hand reading lamp
on/off 128
Interior lightingLights and windscreen wipers