Exterior lighting
General notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends 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.
Driving abroad
Symmetrical dipped-beam headlamps
If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles are driven on the opposite side of the
road to the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, your headlamps must be switched to
symmetrical dipped beam. This prevents
oncoming traffic from being dazzled. Symmetri-
cal lights do not illuminate as large an area of the
edge of the carriageway.
Convert the headlamps as close to the border as
possible before driving in these countries
(
Y
page 210).
Asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps
Convert the headlamps back to asymmetrical
dipped beam as soon as possible after crossing
the border (
Y
page 210).
If the headlamps are converted to symmetrical
dipped beam, the "motorway mode" and "exten-
ded range foglamps" functions (Intelligent Light
System) are not available.
Setting the exterior lighting
Setting options
Exterior lighting can be set by:
R
using the light switch
R
using the combination switch (
Y
page 115)
R
using the on-board computer (
Y
page 209)
Light switch
Operation
1
W
Left-hand parking lamps
2
X
Right-hand parking lamps
3
T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4
Ã
Automatic headlamp mode, controlled
by the light sensor
5
L
Dipped-beam/main-beam headlamps
B
R
Rear fog lamp
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X
Turn the light switch to
Ã
.
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 position
0.
Automatic headlamp mode
G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to
Ã
, the
dipped-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 lighting
at all times.
Exterior lighting
113
Light
s
and
windscr
een
wiper
s
Z