2012 MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS warning

Automatic headlamp mode
G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to Ã,
the low-
beam headlamps may not be switched on
automatically if there is fog, snow or other
causes of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions
such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
L.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times.
à is the favored light switch setting. The
light setting is automatically selected
according to the brightness of the ambient
light (exception: poor visibility due to weather
conditions such as fog, snow or spray):
R SmartKey in position 1 in the ignition lock:
the parking lamps are switched on or off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.
R With the engine running: if you have
activated the daytime running lamps
function via the on-board computer, the
daytime running lamps or the low-beam
headlamps and parking lamps are switched
on or off automatically depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
X To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to Ã.
The daytime running lamps improve the
visibility of your vehicle during the day. The
daytime running lamps

function is required by
law in Canada.
When the engine is running and the vehicle is
stationary: if you move the selector lever from
a drive position to P, the daytime running
lamps/low-beam headlamps go out after
three minutes.
When the engine is running, the vehicle is
stationary and in high ambient light: if you
turn the light switch to T, you turn on the
daytime running lamps and parking lamps. If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to L, the manual settings take
precedence over the daytime running lamps.
Low-beam headlamps
Even if the light sensor does not detect that
it is dark, the parking lamps and low-beam
headlamps switch on when the ignition is
switched
on and

the light switch is set to the
L position. This is a particularly useful
function in the event of rain and fog.
X To switch on the low-beam headlamps:
turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 2 or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to L.
The green L indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
Front fog lamps
In conditions where visibility is poor due to
fog, snow or rain, the fog lamps improve
visibility as well as making it easier for other
road users to see you. They can be operated
together with the parking lamps or together
with the parking lamps and low-beam
headlamps.
X To switch on the front fog lamps: turn
the SmartKey in

the ignition lock to position
2 or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to L or Ã.
X Press the N button.
The green N indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To switch off the front fog lamps: press
the N button.
The green N indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Only vehicles with front fog lamps are
equipped with the "fog lamp" function;
information on the fog lamp function for
vehicles with Intelligent Light System
(Y page 102). Exterior lighting
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The blue
K indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights
up when the high-
beam headlamps are switched on.
X To switch off the high-beam
headlamps: move the combination

switch
back to its normal position.
The blue K indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
i Vehicles with Adaptive Highbeam Assist:
when Adaptive Highbeam Assist is active,
it controls activation of the high-beam
headlamps (Y page 102).
High-beam flasher X
To switch on: turn the SmartKey in the
ignition lock to position 1 or 2 or 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 air bag is deployed
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of
more

than 45mph (70 km/h) and
comes to a standstill
X To switch on the hazard warning lamps:
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
corresponding side
of

the vehicle will flash.
X To switch off the hazard warning
lamps: press button :.
The hazard warning lamps switch off
automatically if the vehicle reaches a speed
of over 6mph (10km/h) again after a full
brake application.
i The hazard warning lamps still operate if
the ignition is switched off. Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamps are cleaned automatically if
the "Wipe with washer fluid" function is
operated five times

while the lights are on and
the engine is running (Y page 111). When you
switch off the ignition, the automatic
headlamp cleaning system is reset and
counting is resumed from 0. Cornering light function
The cornering light function improves the
illumination of the road over a wide angle in
the direction
you

are turning, enabling better
visibility in tight bends, for example. The
cornering light function can only be activated
when the low-beam headlamps are switched
on. Exterior lighting
101
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Active:
R
if you are driving at speeds below 25 mph
(40 km/h )
and switch on the turn signal or
turn the steering wheel.
R if you are driving at speeds between
25 mph (40 km/h) and 45 mph (70 km/h)
and turn the steering wheel.
Not active: if you are driving at speeds above
25 mph (40 km/h) or switch off the turn
signal or turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position.
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after
no more than three minutes. Extended range fog lamps
The extended range fog lamps reduce the
glare experienced by the driver and improve
the illumination of the edge of the road.
Active:
if you are driving at speeds below
40 mph (70

km/h) and you switch on the rear
fog lamp.
Not active: if, following activation, you are
driving at speeds above 60 mph (100 km/h)
or if you switch off the rear fog lamp. Adaptive Highbeam Assist
G
WARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist does not recognize
road users:
R who have no lights, e.g. pedestrians
R who have poor lighting, e.g. cyclists
R whose lighting is blocked, e.g. by a barrier
In very rare

cases, Adaptive Highbeam Assist
may fail to recognize other road users that
have lights, or may recognize them too late.
In this or similar situations, the automatic
high-beam headlamps will not be deactivated
or activated regardless. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always carefully observe the traffic conditions
and switch off the high-beam headlamps in
good time.
You can use this function to set the
headlamps to change between low beam and
high beam automatically. The system
recognizes vehicles with their lights on, either
approaching from the opposite direction or
traveling in front of your vehicle, and
consequently switches the headlamps from
high beam to low beam.
The system automatically adapts the low-
beam headlamp range depending on the
distance to the other vehicle. Once the
system no longer detects any other vehicles,
it reactivates the high-beam headlamps.
The system's optical sensor is located behind
the windshield near the overhead control
panel. 102
Exterior lighting
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?
| To switch the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off
A p To switch the right-hand front
reading lamp on/off
B To switch the automatic interior lighting
control on Rear-compartment overhead control panel
:
To switch the reading lamp on/off Interior lighting control
Important notes In order to prevent the vehicle's battery from
discharging, the
interior
lighting functions are
automatically deactivated after some time
unless the SmartKey is in position 2 in the
ignition lock.
The brightness of the ambient lighting may be
set using the on-board computer
(Y page 197).
Automatic interior lighting control X
To switch on: set the switch to center
position B.
X To switch off: set the switch to the |
position.
The interior lighting automatically switches
on if you:
R unlock the vehicle
R open a door
R remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock. The interior light is activated for a short while
when the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock. You can activate this delayed
switch-off using the on-board computer
(Y page 198).
Manual interior lighting control
X
To switch the front interior lighting on:
set the switch to the c position.
X To switch the interior lighting off: set the
switch to the |

position or (if the door
is closed) to the center position.
X To switch the interior lighting on/off:
press the u button.
X To switch the reading lamps on/off:
press the p button. Crash-responsive emergency lighting
The interior lighting

is activated automatically
if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
X To switch off the crash-responsive
emergency lighting: press the hazard
warning lamp button.
or
X Lock and then unlock the vehicle using the
key. Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs G
DANGER
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You can get
an electric shock if you remove the cover of
the Xenon bulb and touch the electrical
contacts. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Never touch the parts or the electrical
contacts of the

Xenon bulb. Always have work
on the Xenon bulbs carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. 104
Replacing bulbs
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If your vehicle is equipped with Xenon bulbs,
you can recognize this by the following: the
cone of light from the Xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again
when you start the engine. For this to be
observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety.
You
must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
Other bulbs G
WARNING
Bulbs, lamps and connectors can get very hot
when operating. If you change a bulb, you
could burn yourself on these components.
There is a risk of injury.
Allow these components

to cool down before
changing a bulb.
There are bulbs other than the Xenon bulbs
that you cannot replace. Replace only the
bulbs listed (Y page 105). Have the bulbs that
you cannot replace yourself changed at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance changing bulbs,
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not touch the glass tube of new bulbs with
your bare hands. Even minor contamination
can burn into the glass surface and reduce
the service life of the bulbs. Always use a lint-
free cloth or only touch the base of the bulb
when installing.
Only use bulbs of the correct type.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult
a qualified specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly. Overview: changing bulbs/bulb types
You can change

the following bulbs. The bulb
type can be found in the legend. Halogen headlamps
:
Turn signal lamp:3457
; High-beam headlamp: H7 55 W
= Parking lamp/standing lamp: W 5 W LL
? Low-beam headlamp: H7 55 W Vehicles with Intelligent Light System
:
Cornering lamp: H7 55 W Replacing bulbs
105
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Low-beam headlamps (halogen
headlamps)
G
WARNING
These bulbs are pressurized.
They can explode when being changed if:
R they are still hot
R they hit an object when being removed
R they are dropped
There is a risk of injury.
You should wear eye protection and clean
gloves when you are changing a bulb. If
necessary, have bulbs changed at a qualified
specialist workshop. X
Remove the cover in the front wheel
housing ( Y page 106).
X Turn housing cover : counter-clockwise
and pull it out.
X Turn bulb holder ; counter-clockwise
and
pull it out.
X Take the bulb out of bulb holder ;
.
X Insert the new bulb into bulb holder ;.
X Insert bulb holder ;
into the
lamp and turn
it clockwise.
X Align housing cover : and turn it
clockwise until it engages.
X Replace the cover in the front wheel
housing ( Y page 106). High-beam headlamps (halogen
headlamps) G
WARNING
These bulbs are pressurized.
They can explode when being changed if:
R they are still hot
R they hit an object when being removed
R they are dropped
There is a risk of injury.
You should wear eye protection and clean
gloves when you are changing a bulb. If
necessary, have bulbs changed at a qualified
specialist workshop. X
Switch off the lights.
X Open the hood.
X Turn housing cover : counter-clockwise
and pull it out.
X Turn bulb holder ; counter-clockwise
and
pull it out.
X Take the bulb out of bulb holder ;

.
X Insert the new bulb into bulb holder ;.
X Insert bulb holder ;
into the
lamp and turn
it clockwise.
X Align housing cover : and turn it
clockwise until it engages. Replacing bulbs
107
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Parking lamps/standing lamps
(halogen headlamps)
X
Switch off the lights.
X Open the hood.
X Turn housing cover : counter-clockwise
and pull it out.
X Pull out bulb holder ;.
X Take the bulb out of bulb holder ;.
X Insert the new bulb into bulb holder ;.
X Insert bulb holder ;.
X Align housing cover : and turn it
clockwise until it engages.
Turn signals (halogen headlamps) X
Switch off the lights.
X Open the hood.
X Turn bulb holder : counter-clockwise and
pull it out.
X Take the bulb out of bulb holder :
.X
Insert the new bulb into bulb holder :.
X Insert bulb holder : and turn it clockwise
until it engages.
Cornering light function (Intelligent
Light System) G
WARNING
These bulbs are pressurized.
They can explode when being changed if:
R they are still hot
R they hit an object when being removed
R they are dropped
There is a risk of injury.
You should wear eye protection and clean
gloves when you are changing a bulb. If
necessary, have bulbs changed at a qualified
specialist workshop. X
Switch off the lights.
X Open the hood.
X Turn housing cover : counter-clockwise
and pull it out.
X Turn bulb holder ; counter-clockwise and
pull it out.
X Take the bulb out of bulb holder ;

.
X Insert the new bulb into bulb holder ;.
X Insert bulb holder ;
into the
lamp and turn
it clockwise.
X Align housing cover : and turn it
clockwise until it engages.108
Replacing bulbs
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!
If the windshield wipers leave smears on
the windshield after the vehicle has been
washed in an automatic car wash, wax or
other residues may be the reason for this.
Clean the windshield using washer fluid
after washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash. Combination switch
1
$ Windshield wiper off
2 Ä Intermittent wipe, low (rain sensor
set to low sensitivity)
3 Å Intermittent wipe, high (rain sensor
set to high sensitivity)
4 ° Continuous wipe, slow
5 ¯
Continuous wipe, fast
B í Single wipe/ î To wipe the
windshield using washer fluid
X Switch on the ignition.
X Turn the combination switch to the
corresponding position.
! Vehicles with a rain sensor: if the
windshield becomes dirty in dry weather
conditions, the windshield wipers may be
activated inadvertently. This could then
damage the windshield wiper blades or
scratch the windshield.
For this reason, you should always switch
off the windshield wipers in dry weather.
Vehicles with
a

rain sensor: in the Ä or
Å position, the appropriate wiping
frequency is automatically set according to
the intensity of the rain. In the Å position,
the rain sensor is more sensitive than in the Ä position, causing the windshield
wipers to wipe more frequently.
If the wiper blades are worn, the windshield
will no longer be wiped properly. This could
prevent you from observing the traffic
conditions. Replace the wiper blades twice a
year, ideally in spring and fall.
Switching the rear window wiper on/
off
Combination switch
:
è Switch
2 ô To wipe with washer fluid
3 I To switch on intermittent wiping
4 0 To switch off intermittent wiping
5 ô To wipe with washer fluid
X Turn the SmartKey to position 1 or
2
in the
ignition lock.
X Turn switch : on the combination switch
to the corresponding position.
When the rear

window wiper is switched on,
the icon appears in the instrument cluster. Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the windshield wipers begin to move while
you are changing

the wiper blades, you could
be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a risk
of injury. 112
Windshield wipers
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