
99
Lights and visibility
Instrument and switch lighting / Headlight range control
Fig. 55  Dash panel: reg-
ulation for instrument
and switch lighting and
headlight range control
Instrument and switch lighting  1
When the headlights are switched on, the brightness of the instruments
and switch lighting can be regulated to suit your requirements by turning
the thumb wheel 
⇒ Fig. 55  1
.
Vehicles fitted with xenon gas discharge headlights are fitted with an auto-
matic headlight range system.
The instrument lighting (some dials and needles), the centre console light-
ing and the lighting of the displays are regulated by a photodiode incorpo-
rated in the instrument panel.
The instrument lighting (needles) is switched on when the ignition is on and
the light is off . The instrument lighting is dimmed automatically as the day-
light starts to fade. It goes out completely when the ambient light level is
very low. This function is intended to remind the driver to switch on the dip-
ped beam headlights in good time when light conditions become poor. Headlight range control 
2
By using the electrical headlight range control,  2 you can adjust the head-
light range to the load level that is being carried in the vehicle. This way, it
is possible to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic more than necessary. At the
same time, by using the correct headlight settings, the driver has the best
possible lighting for the road ahead.
The headlights can only be adjusted when the dipped beam is switched on.
To lower the beam, turn the thumb wheel down  2
 from the basic setting 
0.
Dynamic headlight range control
Vehicles with  gas discharge bulbs  (xenon bulbs) are equipped with dynamic
headlight range control . When you switch on the lights, their range regu-
lates itself according to the vehicle load.
Vehicles with gas discharge bulbs do not have headlight range control. 
Daytime driving lights*
Daytime driving lights light up automatically when the igni-
tion is switched on (only with AFS headlights)
Daylight driving lights switch off automatically when the side lights are
switched on.
Activating daytime lights (bi-xenon lamps)
Remove the key from the ignition, move the turn signal lever upwards (right
turn signal), press it backwards to flash position and hold in this position.
Insert the key and switch the ignition on, holding it in this position for 3
seconds. Then, switch off the ignition. The daytime lights are activated and
can be switched on.
Switching daytime lights off (bi-xenon lamps)
Remove the key from the ignition, move the turn signal lever upwards (left
turn signal), press it backwards to flash position and hold in this position. 
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101
Lights and visibility
Coming/leaving Home function*
The Coming Home function is controlled manually. The Leav-
ing Home function is controlled with a photosensor.
If the Coming Home or Leaving Home function is connected, the front side
and dipped lights, the tail lights and the number plate light will light up to
provide assistance.
Coming home function
The Coming Home function is activated by switching off the ignition and
briefly flashing the lights. When the driver door is opened, the Coming
Home lighting comes on. If the driver door is already open when the lights
are flashed briefly, the Coming Home lighting comes on  immediately.
When the last door of the vehicle or the rear lid is closed, the Coming Home
function starts and the switching off the headlights is delayed.
The Coming Home lighting switches off in the following cases:
● On completion of the time period established for the delay in switching
off the lights after all the vehicle doors and the rear lid have been closed.
● If, 30 seconds after being connected, any doors or the rear lid remain
open.
● If the light switch is turned to position  .
● If the ignition is switched on.
Leaving home function
The Leaving Home function is activated when the vehicle is unlocked if:
● the light control is in position   and
● the photosensor detects “darkness”.
The Leaving Home lighting switches off in the following cases:
● If the time period for the delay in switching off the headlights has ended
● If the vehicle is locked again. ●
If the light switch is turned to position  .
● If the ignition is switched on.
Note
● To activate the coming/leaving home function, the rotary light switch
must be in position   and the light sensor must detect darkness.
● If the ignition key is removed while the lights are on, and the lights are
flashed briefly and the driver door opened,  no audible warning is heard, as
when the Coming Home function is on, the lights are automatically switched
off after a period of time (except when the light switch is in position   or
. 
Heated rear window 
Fig. 57  Centre console:
heated rear window
switch
The heated rear window only works when the engine is running. When it is
switched on, a lamp lights up on the switch.
After approx. 8 minutes, the heating device of the rear window switches off
automatically. 
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103
Lights and visibility
Note
● The battery will run down if the hazard warning lights are left on for a
long time, even if the ignition is switched off.
● The use of the hazard warning lights described here is subject to the rel-
evant statutory requirements. 
Turn signal and main beam headlight lever
The turn signal and main beam lever also operates the park-
ing lights and the headlight flasher.
Fig. 59  Turn signal and
main beam headlight lev-
er
The turn signal and main beam headlight lever has the following
functions:
Switching on the turn signals
– Move the lever all the way up  ⇒ 
Fig. 59  1
 to indicate right, and
all the way down  2 to indicate left. Signalling a lane change
–
Push the lever up  1
 or down 2 to the point where you incur
resistance and then release it. The turn signal will flash several
times. The corresponding control lamp will also flash.
Switching main beam on and off
– Turn the light switch to position  .
– Press the lever forward  ⇒ Fig. 59 4
 to switch on the main
beams.
– Pull the lever back towards you to switch the main beam head-
lights off again.
Headlight flashers
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel  3
 to operate the
flasher.
Switching on parking lights
– Switch the ignition off and remove the key from the lock.
– Move the turn signal lever up or down to turn the right or left-
hand parking lights on, respectively.
WARNING
The main beam can dazzle other drivers. Risk of accident! Never use the
main beam headlights or the headlight flasher if they could dazzle other
drivers. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications   

105
Lights and visibility
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, the interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing the ignition key has been removed and
the courtesy light position selected. This prevents the battery from dis-
charging. 
Front reading light*
Fig. 61  Front reading
light
Switching on the reading light  
Press the corresponding button  B
 ⇒ Fig. 61 to switch on the reading light.
Switching the reading lights off  
Press the corresponding button to switch the reading light off. Luggage compartment light*
The light is activated when the rear lid is open, even when the ignition and
lights are turned off. For this reason, ensure that the rear lid is always
closed.
Glove compartment light
When opening the glove compartment on the passenger side, the glove
compartment light will automatically turn on and will turn off upon closure. 
Visibility Sun visors
Fig. 62  Sun visor on the
driver side 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications  

107
Lights and visibility
WARNING
● Worn and dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and safety levels while
driving.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the wash/wipe system unless
you have warmed the windscreen with the heating and ventilation sys-
tem. The windscreen washer fluid could otherwise freeze on the wind-
screen and obscure your view of the road.
● Always note the corresponding warnings on  ⇒ page 203.
CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the
glass before using the wipers for the first time. If you switch on the wind-
screen wipers when the wiper blades are frozen to the windscreen, you
could damage both the wiper blades and the wiper motor.
Note
● The windscreen wipers will only work when the ignition is switched on.
● The heat output of the heated jets* is controlled automatically when the
ignition is switched on, depending upon the outside temperature.
● In certain versions of vehicles with alarms, the windscreen wiper will on-
ly work in interval/rain sensor mode when the ignition is on and the bonnet
closed.
● When the interval wipe function is on, the intervals are directly propor-
tional to the speed. This way, the higher the vehicle speed the shorter the
intervals.
● If you stop the vehicle with the windscreen wiper in position 1 or 2, it
will automatically change to a lower speed. The set speed will be resumed
when the vehicle pulls away.
● The windscreen will be wiped again after approximately five seconds
once the “automatic wipe/wash system” has been operated, provided the
vehicle is in transit (drip function). If you activate the wipers less than three seconds after the drip function, a new wash sequence will begin without the
last wipe. For the “drip” function to work again, you have to turn the ignition
off and then on again.
Rain sensor*
The rain sensor controls the frequency of the windscreen
wiper intervals, depending on the amount of rain.
Fig. 64  Windscreen wip-
er lever
Switching on the rain sensor
– Move the windscreen wiper lever into position  1
 ⇒ Fig. 64.
– Move the control  A
 to the left or right to set the sensitivity of
the rain sensor. Control to the right: highly sensitive. Control to
the left: less sensitive.
The rain sensor is part of the interval wipe function. You will have to switch
the rain sensor back on if you switch off the ignition. This is done by switch-
ing the interval wipe function off and back on. 
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109
Lights and visibility
Headlight washer*
The headlight washers clean the headlight lenses. The headlight washers are activated automatically when the windscreen
washer is used and the window wiper lever is pulled towards the steering
wheel for at least 1.5 seconds – provided the dipped beam headlights or
main beams are switched on. Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from the
headlights at regular intervals, for instance when filling the fuel tank.
Note
● To ensure that the headlight washers work properly in winter, keep the
nozzle holders in the bumper free of snow and remove any ice with a de-icer
spray.
● To remove water, the windscreen wipers will be activated from time to
time, the headlight washers will be activated every three cycles. 
Rear view mirrors
Adjusting the rear view mirrors
Before beginning any journey, adjust the rear view mirrors for correct visibil-
ity. Interior rear vision mirror
It is dangerous to drive if you cannot see clearly through the
rear window.
Manual anti-dazzle function for interior rear vision mirror
In the basic mirror position, the lever at the bottom edge of the rear vision
mirror should be at the front. Pull the lever to the back to select the anti-
dazzle function.
Automatic anti-dazzle interior mirror*
The automatic anti-dazzle function can be switched on and
off as desired.
Fig. 66  Automatic anti-
dazzle interior rear vision
mirror.
Switching off the anti-dazzle function
– Press button  A
 ⇒ Fig. 66. Control lamp  B goes off.
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111
Lights and visibility
– The mirrors demist for some minutes to prevent draining the
battery.
– If necessary, press the button again to repeat the function.
– The exterior mirror heating is not activated with temperatures
above 20°C.
Folding in exterior mirrors*
– Turn the control  ⇒ Fig. 67 to position  to fold in the exterior
mirrors. You should always fold in the exterior mirrors if you are
driving through an automatic car wash. This will help prevent
damage.
Folding exterior mirrors back out to the extended position*
– Turn the knob to position L or R to fold the exterior mirrors back
out  ⇒ 
.
WARNING
● Convex or aspheric mirrors increase the field of vision however the
objects appear smaller and further away in the mirrors. If you use these
mirrors to estimate the distance to vehicles behind you when changing
lane, you could make a mistake. Risk of accident.
● If possible, use the rear vision mirror to estimate distances to vehi-
cles behind you.
● Make sure that you do not get your finger trapped between the mirror
and the mirror base when folding back the mirrors. Risk of injury!
For the sake of the environment
The exterior mirror heating should be switched off when it is no longer nee-
ded. Otherwise, it is an unnecessary fuel waste.
Note
● If the electrical adjustment ever fails to operate, the mirrors can be ad-
justed by hand by lightly pressing the edge of the mirror glass.
● In vehicles with electric exterior mirrors, the following points should be
observed: if, due to an external force (e.g. a knock while manoeuvring), the
adjustment of the mirror housing is altered, the mirror will have to be com-
pletely folded  electrically. Do not readjust the rear vision mirror housing by
hand, as this will interfere with the mirror adjuster function.
● The rear view mirrors can be adjusted separately or simultaneously, as
described before.
● The fold-in function on the exterior mirrors is not active at speeds over
40 km/h (25 mph). 
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113
Seats and storage compartments
Head restraints Correct adjustment of head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of
passenger protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in
most accident situations.
Fig. 68  Front view: head
restraints and seat belts
correctly adjusted
Fig. 69  Side view: head
restraints and seat belts
correctly adjusted
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top is at the same level as
the top of your head or as close as possible to the same level as
the top of your head, at least at eye level  ⇒ Fig. 68 and
⇒ Fig. 69.
Adjusting the head restraints  ⇒ page 114
WARNING
● Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted
increases the risk of severe injuries.
● Improperly adjusted head restraints could lead to death in the event
of a collision or accident.
● Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.
● The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the height
of the passenger.
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications