MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG 2002 W163 Owner's Manual

98 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Turn signal failure
If one of the turn signals fails, the turn signal indicator
system flashes and sounds at a faster than normal rate.Standing lamps
When the vehicle is parked on the street the standing
lamps (right or left side parking lamps) can be turned
on, making the vehicle more visible to passing vehicles.
The standing lamps cannot be operated with the key in
steering lock position 1 or 2.
Note:
With the key removed and a front door open, a warning
sounds if the vehicle’s exterior lamps (except standing
lamps) are not switched off.

99 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Headlamp mode
The headlamps can be switched on and off manually or
automatically.
Manual operation:
The low beam headlamps and parking lamps can be
switched on and off with the exterior lamp switch. For
exterior lamp switch, see page 97.
Automatic operation:
With electronic key in steering lock in position 1 turn
exterior lamp switch to positionU.
The parking lamps switches on and off automatically
depending on the brightness of the ambient light.With the engine running and exterior lamp switch in
positionU:
USA only:
The low beam headlamps and parking lamps are
switched on and off automatically depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
Canada only:
In conjunction with the daytime running lamps, see
page 100, in low ambient light conditions the parking
lamps will also switch on.
Note:
The high beam headlamps, high beam flasher, low beam
headlamps, parking lamps can still be switched on and
off manually using the exterior lamp switch.
The headlamps will not be automatically switched on
under foggy conditions.
Front fog lamps and rear fog lamps cannot be switched
on manually with exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps turn exterior switch to
positionB.
Wa r n i n g !
The driver is responsible for the operation of the
vehicle’s lights at all times. The automatic
headlamp feature is only an aid to the driver.
Switch on the vehicle lights by hand when driving
or traffic conditions require you to do so.

100 Exterior lamp switch
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Daytime running lamp mode (Canada only)
Turn exterior lamp switch to positionD.
When the engine is running the low beam headlamps
are automatically switched on. In low ambient light
conditions the parking lamps will also switch on.
When shifting from a driving position to position “N”
or “P”, the exterior lamps switches off (3 minutes delay).For nighttime driving the exterior lamp switch should
be turned to position õ or U to permit activation
of the high beam headlamps.
Note:
The high beam flasher is always available.

101 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Night security illumination
This function will be only active with exterior lamp
switch in positionU.
When turning off the engine, the exterior lamps
(parking lamps and fog lamps) switch on for added
illumination. After the last door has been closed the
lamp-on time period commences.
The lamp-on time period for night security illumination
can be set at several different timed levels from 0 (off) to
60 seconds, see “Setting illumination time” on
page 102.Notes:
Within 10 minutes after closing the last door or the
tailgate the night security illumination can be
reactivated by opening a door or the tailgate.
If after switching the engine off, no doors are opened or
if after opening the doors or trunk they are not closed,
the night security illumination will switch off
automatically after 60 seconds.
Deactivating night security illumination temporarily:
Turn the electronic key in steering lock to position 0
then to position 2 and back to position 0 again before
getting out of the vehicle. The night security
illumination will not be activated when the door is
opened.

102 Exterior lamp switch
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Setting illumination time:
The illumination time can only be set while the vehicle
is at a standstill and the electronic key in steering lock
position 2.
1. Turn exterior lamp switch to positionD.
2. Press top (1) of fog lamp switch (approx. 5 seconds),
until the clock display (located in the instrument
cluster) displays the actual illumination time.3. Continued pressing of the switch varies the
illumination time between 0 (off) and 60 seconds.
Each time the switch is pressed, the illumination
time increases by 15 seconds.
4. Approx. 5 seconds after pressing the switch the
illumination time is set and the clock is again
displayed.
Locator lighting
This function will be only active with exterior lamp
switch in positionU.
After unlocking the vehicle with the electronic key
during darkness, parking lamps and fog lamps switch
on for approximately 40 seconds.
The exterior lamps will be switched off when opening
the driver’s door.

103 Fog lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Fog lamp switch
The switch is located in the center console.
Press down rocker switch symbols:
1Front fog lamps on. Green indicator lamp ‡ in
instrument cluster comes on.
Press upper half of the switch again to switch fog
lamps off. The green indicator lamp‡ in
instrument cluster goes out.2Rear fog lamp (driver’s side) in addition to front fog
lamps on. Yellow indicator lamp in switch comes on
in addition to green indicator lamp‡ in
instrument cluster.
Press lower half of the switch again to switch rear
fog lamp off. The yellow indicator lamp in switch
goes out.
When pressing upper half of the switch once with
front fog lamps and rear fog lamp on, first the rear
fog lamp is switched off. The yellow indicator lamp
in the switch goes out. Press upper half of the
switch again to switch off front fog lamps. The green
indicator lamp‡ in instrument cluster also goes
out.
Note:
Front fog lamps and rear fog lamp operate only in
exterior lamp switch position õ and with no
highbeam headlamps on. Consult your state Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allowable lamp operation.

104 Hazard warning flasher
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and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Hazard warning flasher switch
The hazard warning flasher switch is located on top of
the steering column.
The hazard warning flasher can be activated either
manually via the switch located in the dashboard, or it
is activated automatically at the time an airbag is
deployed.
To activate hazard warning flasher, press switch once.
To deactivate, press switch again.
Note:
To signal turns while being towed with hazard warning
flasher in use, turn key in steering lock to position 2
and activate combination switch for left or right turn
signal in usual manner. Now deactivate the hazard
warning flasher, only the selected turn signal will
operate. Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher must be activated again.Headlamp cleaning system (with Xenon headlamps)
The switch is located on the right side beyond the
steering wheel.
The headlamp washer can be activated with the key in
steering lock position 2.
Briefly press symbol side of switch.
See page 258 for instructions on filling up the
windshield / headlamp washer reservoir.

105 Windshield wiper/washer
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Windshield wiper/washer switch
Move stalk briefly up for single wipe without adding
washer fluid (use only when windshield is wet).
Pull stalk toward steering wheel and hold to activate
wiper and washer.
Wiper off
Move stalk down for:
Intermittent wiping
(Interval is vehicle speed dependent
1). Optional rain sensor:
(Canada: standard on ML 500;
USA: standard on ML 55 AMG)
One initial wipe, pauses between wipes are
automatically controlled by a rain sensor
monitoring wetness of windshield.)
Notes:
With vehicle at a standstill, a front door open and
the key in steering lock position 2 there will be no
operation of windshield wipers in intermittent
setting.
With the intermittent wiping on, turn the
electronic key in steering lock from position 1 to
position 2 and keep the key in that position for
longer than 2 seconds and the wipe interval will
be set to approx. 5 seconds.
Optional rain sensor:
Do not leave in intermittent setting when vehicle
is taken to an automatic car wash or when
cleaning the windshield. Wipers will operate in
presence of water spray at windshield, and wipers
may be damaged as a result.
1 At speeds of approximately 105 mph (170 km/h) the wiper
switches automatically to continuous wiping. (Always obey local
speed limits.)

106 Rear window wiper/washer
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Move stalk up for:
Normal wiper speed
Fast wiper speed
Note:
When shifting into reverse with windshield wipers on,
the rear wiper automatically turns on.Rear window wiper/washer
The rear window wiper / washer switch is located in the
center console.
12

107 Rear window wiper/washer
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index With key in steering lock position 2:
1Intermittent wiping
To a c t i va te :
Press upper half of the switch.
To deactivate:
Press upper half of the switch again.
2Rear window washer
Press and hold lower half of the switch to activate
rear window washer.
After releasing the switch the wiper operates for
additional 5 seconds.
Once activated, the rear intermittent wiper function
remains active.
The rear window wiper will also automatically engage if
the windshield wiper is engaged and the gear selector
lever is placed in “R” Reverse.Windshield wipers smear
If the windshield wipers smear the windshield, even
during rain, activate the washer system as often as
necessary. The fluid in the washer reservoir should be
mixed in the correct ratio.
Note:
For windshield and headlamp washer fluid mixing ratio
see page 259.
Blocked windshield wipers
If the windshield wipers become blocked (for example,
due to snow), switch off the wipers.
For safety reasons before removing ice or snow, remove
key from steering lock. Remove blockage.
Activate windshield wiper / washer switch again (key in
steering lock position 1).