Exterior lamp switch MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 2006 W163 User Guide

142 Controls in detailLightingFront fog lamps
Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 54).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps switch on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps switch off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)

Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 142).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 138).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
High beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB orU (
page 138).

143 Controls in detail
Lighting

Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the road onto which
you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 138)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 138)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 140)Driving forward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Depending on whether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 54).
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
iCorner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting
conditions.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
function is not available at a vehicle
speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps
will come on automatically depending
on the steering angle, even if you did
not switch on either turn signal. If the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps
came on automatically, they will also
go out automatically depending on the
steering angle.

148 Controls in detailInstrument clusterFor an illustration of the instrument
cluster, see the “At a glance” section
(page 24).
1To dim illumination
2Reset button
3To brighten illumination
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:


open a door


switch on the ignition (
page 34)


press the reset button2 (
page 24)


switch on the exterior lamps
(page 54)You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 164).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use buttons1 or3 to adjust the
illumination brightness for the instrument
cluster.To brighten illumination

Press and hold button3 in the instru-
ment cluster until the desired illumina-
tion is reached.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Press and hold button1 in the instru-
ment cluster until the desired illumina-
tion is reached.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.

163 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus. De-
tailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following pag-
es.INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
TIME/DATE
LIGHTING
VEHICLE
CONVENIENCE
Select speedometer display
mode
Set time (hours)
Set daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)
Adjusting compass
zone
Activate easy-entry/exit
feature*
Select language
Set time (minutes)
Set locator lighting
Calibrating compass
Set parking position for
exterior rear view mirror*
Select display (speed display
or outside temperature) for
status line
Set date (month)
Exterior lamps delayed
shut-off
Display when ignition is
switched off
Set fold-in function for
exterior rear view mir-
rors*
Set date (day)
Interior lighting delayed
shut-off
Set automatic locking
Set date (year)
Limiting opening height
of tailgate*

168 Controls in detailControl system
Pressæ orç to select
Manual
or
daytime running lamp (
Constant
)
mode.
With daytime running lamp mode se-
lected and the exterior lamp switch at
positionM, the following lamps will
come on automatically when the en-
gine is turned on:


Parking lamps and low beam
headlamps


License plate lamps (in low ambient
light conditions)Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
position
U
, the following lamps will
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked with SmartKey:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened. It switches off au-
tomatically after a period of approximately
40 seconds.
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to
another position, the corresponding
lamp(s) will switch on.
For safety reasons, resetting the Lighting
submenu to factory settings
while driving will not reset the daytime
running lamp mode.
In the display you will then see the mes-
sage:
Lighting - Cannot be com-
pletely reset to factory settings
while driving.


169 Controls in detail
Control system

Move the selection marker to the Lighting
submenu using theæ
orç button.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
Function Surround lighting
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
the desired setting.
The locator lighting will be switched on
or off.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle
(page 138).Setting night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off)
Use this function to set whether and how
long you would like the exterior lamps to
illuminate during darkness after exiting the
vehicle and all doors closed.
With the delayed shut-off feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
position
U
before the engine is turned
off, the following lamps will switch on
when the engine is turned off:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Front fog lamps

Move the selection marker to the Lighting
submenu using theæ
orç button.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
Headlmp. delayed shut-off
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
iYou can reactivate this function within
ten minutes by opening a door.
If after turning off the engine you do not
open a door or do not close an opened
door, the lamps will automatically
switch off after 60 seconds.


170 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonæ orç to select
the desired lamp-on period.
You can select:

0 s
, the delayed shut-off feature is
deactivated.


15 s
, 30 s
, 45 s
or
60 s
, the delayed
shut-off feature is activated.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U before turning the engine off.
You can temporarily deactivate the de-
layed shut-off feature:

Before leaving the vehicle, turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0.

Then turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position2 and back to0.
The delayed shut-off feature is deacti-
vated. It will reactivate as soon as you
reinsert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:

Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
in the starter switch (
page 35).
Interior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether and for
how long you would like the interior light-
ing to remain lit during darkness after the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.

Move the selection marker to the Lighting
submenu using theæ
orç button.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
Int. illum. delayed shut-off
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press buttonæ orç to select
the desired lamp-on time period. You
can select:

0 s
, the delayed shut-off feature is
deactivated.


5 s
, 10 s
, 15 s
, or
20 s
, the delayed
shut-off feature is activated.


195 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Auto-dimming rear view mirror*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gearR is engaged


the interior light is turned on
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, when transporting cargo
which covers the rear window.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can be
completely removed only while in the
liquid state and by applying plenty of
water.Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

196 Controls in detailGood visibilityActivating exterior rear view mirror
parking position*
Follow these steps to activate the mirror
parking position so that the
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror
will be turned downward to the stored
position.
The buttons are located on the door
control panel.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
2Adjustment button
3Passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror button

Make sure you have stored a parking
position for the passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror (
page 137).

Make sure the
Mirror adjustment
parking assist function in the
Conve-
nience
submenu of the control system
is switched to
On (page 174).

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).

Place the gear selector lever in reverse
gearR.
The indicator lamp on the driver’s side
or passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button comes on, dependent
from the last setting.When the driver’s side exterior rear view
mirror button comes on:

Press button3 for the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror.
The passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror will be turned downward to the stored
position.
When the passenger-side exterior rear
view mirror button comes on:
The passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror will be turned downward to the stored
position.iThe exterior rear view mirror parking
position is key-dependent. For more in-
formation on storing exterior rear view
mirror parking position, see “Storing
exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tion” (
page 137).

197 Controls in detail
Good visibility
The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
previously stored driving position:

when you switch off the ignition


ten seconds after you put the gear
selector lever out of positionR
Approximately 15 seconds later the in-
dicator lamp on the exterior rear view
mirror button goes out.


immediately once your vehicle exceeds
a speed of approx. 6 mph (10 km / h)


immediately when you press button1
for driver’s side mirror (
page 196)Power folding exterior rear view
mirrors*
Folding the exterior mirrors in and out
automatically
When the corresponding function in the
control system is activated (
page 175):


The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold in as soon as the vehicle is
locked from the outside.


The exterior rear view mirrors automat-
ically fold out as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front pas-
senger door are subsequently opened.Folding the exterior mirrors in and out
manually
The button is located on the door control
panel.
1Button for folding exterior mirrors in
and out

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
iWith gear selector lever in reverse
gearR you can deactivate the exterior
rear view mirror parking position by
pressing button1, or activate by
pressing button3. The indicator lamp
of the selected button is on.
!Before you drive the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, fold the exterior
mirrors in, otherwise they may get
damaged.