2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ESTATE Owners Manual

X
To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to Ã.
The daytime driving lights improve the visibil-
ity of your vehicle during the day. Here, the
daytime driving lights functio nmust be
switched on via the on-board computer
(Y page 259).
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the green Lindicator lamp
in the instrumen tcluster lights up and the
daytime driving lights go out or are dimmed.
Dipped-beam headlamps G
WARNING
If the light switch is set to Ãand it is foggy,
snowing or there is poor visibility, the dipped-
beam headlamps will not come on automati-
cally. This could endanger you and others. In
such situations tur nthe light switch to L.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times. 1W
Left-hand parking lamps
2X Right-hand parking lamps
3T Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4Ã Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5L Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
BR Rear foglamp
CN Foglamp (only vehicles with front
foglamps). Even if the light sensor does not detect that
is dark, the side lamps and dipped-beam
headlamps switch on when the key is inserted
into the ignition lock and the light switch is
set to the
Lposition. This is a particularly
useful function in the event of rain and fog.
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 green Lindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
Foglamps 1W
Left-hand parking lamps
2X Right-hand parking lamps
3T Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4Ã Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5L Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
BR Rear foglamp
CN Foglamp (only vehicles with front
foglamps).
In conditions where visibility is poor due to
fog, snow or rain, the foglamps improve visi-
bility as well as making it easier for other road
users to see you. They can be operated
together with the side lamps or together with
the side lamps and dipped-beamh eadlamps.126
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

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 LorÃ.
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.
Only vehicles with front foglamps are equip-
ped with the "Foglamp" function; for how to
operate the foglamps on vehicles with the
Intelligent Light System (Y page 131).
Rear foglamp 1W
Left-hand parking lamps
2X Right-hand parking lamps
3T Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4Ã Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5L Dipped-beam/main-bea mhead-
lamps
BR Rear foglamp
CN Foglamp (only vehicles with front
foglamps).
The rear foglamp improves visibility of your
vehicle for the traffic behind in the event of
heavy fog. Please take note of the country-
specific regulations for the use of rear fog-
lamps. 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.
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.
side lamps
! If the battery has been excessively dis-
charged, the side lamps or parking lamps
are automatically switched off to enable
the nexte ngine start. Always park your
vehicle safely and sufficiently li taccording
to legal standards. Avoid the continuous
use of the Tside lamps for several
hours. If possible, switch on the Xright
or the Wleft parking lamp. 1W
Left-hand parking lamps
2X Right-hand parking lamps
3T Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4Ã Automati cheadlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5L Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
BR Rear foglamp
CN Foglamp (only vehicles with front
foglamps).
X To switch on: turn light switch to T. Exterior lighting
127Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Parking lamps
1W
Left-hand parking lamps
2X Right-hand parking lamps
3T Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4Ã Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5L Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
BR Rear foglamp
CN Foglamp (only vehicles with front
foglamps).
Switching on the parking lamps ensures the
corresponding side of the vehicle is illumina-
ted.
X To switch on the parking lamps: the key
is not in the ignition lock or it is in posi-
tion 0.
X Turn the light switch to W(left-hand side
of the vehicle) or X(right-hand side of
the vehicle).
Adjusting the headlampr ange (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 the headlamp range control to the
position which corresponds to the load in
your vehicle. Combination switch
Turn signals :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left 128
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

X
To indicate briefly: press the combination
switch briefly to the pressure point in the
direction of arrow ;or?.
The corresponding tur nsignal flashes three
times.
X To indicate: press the combination switch
beyond the pressure point in the direction
of arrow ;or?.
Main-beam headlamps :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left
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 switc hbeyond 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 blue Kindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up when the main-beam
headlamps are switched on.
X To switch off the main-beam head-
lamps: move the combination switch back
to its normal position.
The blue Kindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out. i
Vehicles with Adaptive Highbeam Assist:
when Adaptive Highbeam Assist is active,
it controls activation of the main-beam
headlamps (Y page 131).
Headlamp flasher :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To switch on: turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 1or 2, or start the engine.
X Pull the combination switch in the direction
of arrow =. Hazard warning lamps
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, Exterior lighting
129Lights and windscreen wipers Z

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 automatically
switch on if:
R an airbag is deployed.
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of more than 70 km/ha nd comes to
a standstill.
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. Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamps are cleaned automatically if
the "Wipe with washe rfluid" function is oper-
ated five times (Y page 137) while the lights
are on and the engine is running. When you
switch off the ignition, the automatic head-
lamp cleaning system is reset and counting is
resumed from 0. Intelligent Light System
General notes The Intelligent Light System is a system that
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit
the prevailing driving and weathe
rconditions.
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 259). Active light function
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 remain illuminated 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 tight bends, for example. It can only
be activated when the dipped-beam head-
lamps 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. 130
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after
no more than three minutes.
Motorway mode Active:
if you are driving at aspeed above
110 km/ hand do not make any large steering
movements for at least 1000 m or if you are
driving at a spee dabove 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 driver and improve
the illumination of the edge of the carriage-
way.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/ hand you switch on the rea rfoglamp.
Not active: if, following activation, you are
driving at speeds above 100 km/h or if you
switch off the rear foglamp. Adaptive Highbeam Assist
Important safety notes 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
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. Exterior lighting
131Lights and windscreen wipers Z

You can use this function to set the head-
lamps to change betwee
ndipped beam and
main beam automatically. The system recog-
nises vehicles with their lights on, either
approaching fro mthe 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. Switching Adaptive Highbeam Assist
on/off :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To activate: activate the Adaptive High-
beam Assist function using the on-board
computer (Y page 260).
X Turn the light switch to Ã.
X Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of
arrow :.
The _ indicator lamp in the multifunc-
tion display lights up if it is dark and the
light sensor activates the dipped-beam
headlamps.
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 K indicator lamp in
the instrumentc luster 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 instrumen tcluster goes out. The _132
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

indicator lamp in the multifunction display
remains lit.
X To deactivate: move the combination
switch back to its normal position.
The _ indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. Headlamps misted up on the inside
The headlamps may mist up on the inside if
there is high atmospheric humidity.
X Switch on the lights and drive off.
The level of moisture diminishes, depend-
ing on the length of the journey and the
weathe rconditions (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 Switches the rear interior lighting
on/off
; | Switches the automatic interior
lighting control on/off
= p Switches the right-hand front read-
ing lamp on/off ?
c Switches the front interior lighting
on/off
A p Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off Rear-compartment overhead control panel
:
p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
; p Switches the left-hand reading lamp
on/off Interior lighting control
General notes In order to prevent the vehicle's battery from
discharging, the interior lighting functions are
automatically deactivated after some time
except for when the key is in position
2in the
ignition lock.
The colour and brightness of the ambient
lighting may be set using the on-board com-
puter (Y page 260). Interior lighting
133Lights and windscreen wipers Z