Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Exterior lighting

Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Exterior lighting

• Important safety notes
• Information about driving abroad
• Light switch
• Combination switch
• Hazard warning lamps
• Cornering light function
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist
• Headlamps fogged up on the inside

Important safety notes

For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you drive with the lights switched on even during the daytime. In some countries, operation of the headlamps varies due to legal requirements and self-imposed obligations.

Information about driving abroad

Converting to symmetrical low beam when driving abroad: switch the headlamps to symmetrical low beam in countries in which traffic drives on the opposite side of the road to the country where the vehicle is registered. This prevents glare to oncoming traffic. Symmetrical lights do not illuminate as large an area of the edge of the road.

Have the headlamps converted at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, as close to the border as possible before driving in these countries.

Converting to asymmetrical low beam after returning: have the headlamps converted back to asymmetrical low beam at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, as soon as possible after crossing the border again.

Light switch

Operation

Depending on the date of manufacture of your vehicle, the or symbol for the automatic headlamp mode/daytime running lamps is located on the light switch.

Illustration: light switch with the symbol for the automatic headlamp mode/daytime running lamps

1. Left-hand standing lamps

2. Right-hand standing lamps

3. Parking lamps, license plate and instrument cluster lighting

4. Automatic headlamp mode/daytime running lamps

5. Low-beam/high-beam headlamps

6. Rear fog lamp

7. Front fog lamps

Illustration: light switch with the symbol for the automatic headlamp mode/daytime running lamps

1. Left-hand standing lamps

2. Right-hand standing lamps

3. Parking lamps, license plate and instrument cluster lighting

4. Automatic headlamp mode/daytime running lamps

5. Low-beam/high-beam headlamps

6. Rear fog lamp

7. Front fog lamps

The turn signals, high-beam headlamps and the high-beam flasher are operated using the combination switch

Switch off the parking lamps and standing lamps when you leave the vehicle. This prevents the battery from discharging.

The exterior lighting (except the parking/ standing lamps) switches off automatically if you:

- remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
 - open the driver's door with the SmartKey in position 0

If you hear a warning tone when you leave the vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.

•► Turn the light switch to or .

Low-beam headlamps

•► To switch on the low-beam headlamps:

turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 2 or start the engine.

•► Turn the light switch to .

The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

Daytime running lamps

Daytime running lamps in Canada

The daytime running lamps function is required by law in Canada. It cannot therefore be deactivated.

•► Turn the light switch to or .

With the engine running: depending on the ambient light, the daytime running lamps or the low-beam headlamps are switched on.

When the low-beam headlamps are switched on, the indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

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 brightness: if you turn the light switch to , the daytime running lamps and the parking lamps are switched on.

If the engine is running and you turn the light switch to , the manual settings take precedence over the daytime running lamps.

Daytime running lamps in the USA

In the USA, the daytime running lamps are deactivated upon delivery from the factory.

•►  To activate the daytime running lamps: activate the daytime running lamps function in the on-board computer

•► Turn the light switch to or .

With the engine running: depending on the ambient light, the daytime running lamps or the low-beam headlamps are switched on.

When the low-beam headlamps are switched on, the indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

If the engine is running and you turn the light switch to or , the manual settings take precedence over the daytime running lamps.

Automatic headlamp mode

To switch on automatic headlamp mode: turn the light switch to or .

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.

With the engine running: depending on the brightness of the ambient light, the daytime running lamps or the low-beam headlamps are switched on or off automatically.

When the low-beam headlamps are switched on, the indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

WARNING
If the light switch is set to or , the low-beam headlamps will not come on automatically if it is foggy. This could endanger you and others. Therefore, turn the light switch to in fog.

The automatic headlamp feature is only an aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's lighting at all times.

Front fog lamps

Only vehicles with front fog lamps have the fog lamps function.

WARNING
If you suspect that driving conditions will be foggy, turn the light switch to before you start your journey. Otherwise, your vehicle may not be visible and you could endanger yourself and others.

•► To switch on the front fog lamps: turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 2 or start the engine.

•► Turn the light switch to or or .

•► Press the button.

The green indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

•► To switch off the front fog lamps: press the button.

The green indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.

If you switch the engine off (SmartKey in position 1 in the ignition lock) and then restart it, the previous fog lamp settings are restored.

Rear fog lamp

•► To switch on the rear fog lamp: turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 2 or start the engine.

•► Turn the light switch to or or .

If the light switch is set to or , the rear fog lamp only lights up if the lowbeam headlamps are on.

•► Press the button.

The yellow indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

•►  To switch off the rear fog lamp: press the button.

The yellow indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.

If you switch the engine off (SmartKey in position 1 in the ignition lock) and then restart it, the previous rear fog lamp settings are restored.

Headlamp cleaning system

The headlamps are cleaned automatically if the "Wipe with washer fluid" function is operated ten times while the lights are on and the engine is running

Combination switch

Turn signals

1. High-beam headlamps
2. Right turn signal
3. High-beam flasher
4. Left turn signal

•► To indicate briefly: press the combination switch briefly to the pressure point in the direction of arrow 2 or 4.

The corresponding turn signal flashes three times.

•► To indicate: press the combination switch beyond the pressure point in the direction of arrow 2 or 4.

High-beam headlamps

•► To switch on the high-beam headlamps: turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 2 or start the engine.

•► Turn the light switch to or .

•► Press the combination switch beyond the pressure point in the direction of arrow 1.

In the position, the high-beam headlamps are only switched on when it is dark and the engine is running.

The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up when the high-beam headlamps are switched on.

•► To switch off the high-beam headlamps: move the combination switch back to its normal position.

The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.

High-beam flasher

•► To switch on: turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 1 or 2 or start the engine.

•► Pull the combination switch in the direction of arrow 3.

Hazard warning lamps

The hazard warning lamps automatically switch on if:

 - an air bag is deployed.
 - the vehicle is slowed down severely from a speed of over 45 mph(70 km/h) and comes to a halt.

•► To switch on the hazard warning lamps: press button 1.

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.

•► To switch off the hazard warning lamps: press button 1.

The hazard warning lamps are deactivated automatically if the vehicle returns to a speed of over 6 mph(10 km/h) after a full application of the brakes.

The hazard warning lamps still operate if the ignition is switched off.

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. It can only be activated when the low-beam headlamps are switched on.

Active: if you are driving at speeds below 25 mph (40 km/h) and switch on the turn signals or 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 light function may remain lit for a short time, but is automatically switched off after no more than three minutes.

Adaptive Highbeam Assist

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 lowbeam 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.

•► To activate: activate the Adaptive Highbeam Assist function using the onboard computer.

•► Turn the light switch to or .

•► Press the combination switch beyond the pressure point in the direction of arrow 1.

If it is dark and the light sensor activates the low-beam headlamps, the indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

If you drive faster than approximately 28 mph (45 km/h):

the headlamp range is set automatically depending on the distance between the vehicle and other road users.

If you drive faster than approximately 35 mph (55 km/h) and no other road users are identified:

the high-beam headlamps are switched on automatically. The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster also lights up.

When you drive slower than approximately 30 mph (45 km/h) or if other road users are identified or if the roads are sufficiently illuminated:

the high-beam headlamps are switched off automatically. The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out. The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster stays on.

•► To deactivate: move the combination switch back to its normal position.

The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.

WARNING
The Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid intended to support you while driving. The driver is and remains responsible for proper vehicle lighting in accordance with the prevailing light, sight and traffic conditions.

The system may be impaired or unavailable when

 - visibility is poor, e.g. due to snow, rain, fog, or heavy spray
 - the optical sensor area of the windshield is dirty, fogged up, or covered by a sticker for example

The system cannot recognize the following road users:

 - Road users without a lighting system of their own, e.g. pedestrians
 - Road users with dim lighting of their own, e.g. cyclists
 - Road users whose lighting is obstructed, e.g. road users behind a guardrail
 - In some seldom cases, even road users with a lighting system of their own may be recognized too late or not at all.

The automatic high-beam headlamps will then not be deactivated or it will be activated in spite of preceding or oncoming road users.

This could endanger you and/or others and cause an accident. Always pay close attention to the traffic situation and switch off the high beam manually if necessary.

Headlamps fogged up on the inside

The headlamps may fog up on the inside if there is high atmospheric humidity.

•► Drive with the headlamps switched on.

The level of moisture diminishes, depending on the length of the journey and the weather conditions (humidity and temperature).

If the level of moisture does not diminish:

•► Have the headlamps checked at a qualified specialist workshop.