A Question for the Benz Super Experts

[Merc1]

A co-worker just came in and told me that my passenger side brake lights were on. Of course when I got out the car a few minutes ago I turned the light switch too far to the left, instead of the center. For those not familiar with Benzology there are 2 positions to the left of the off position, one to turn on the right side lights and one for the left. My question is what the hell is such a feature for? Wimmer? Yaz? Anyone? I've asked this question on MBWorld and no one could really give me an answer.

M

 

[wltsm]

I'm just guessing here, but is so depending on which side of the road you're parked on, the lights can be seen, if you get what I mean!

 

[Merc1]

Interesting, but I can't see why you would need to have your lights on in such a situation?

M

 

[PanterroR]

Because there are roads/streets with no public lights at all and it happens that you park the car there, so you'd like others to know there's a car to avoid eventual contact/crash at night.

 

[LaArtist]

yep its a parking light..
and your chose side depending on your position on the street

or you can switch em really fast..and fantasize that your driving a cop car

 

[Merc1]

Why not just your flashers if you're parked on a dark road?

M

 

[wltsm]

Thinking about it, on my car, the way you change which side the parking lights are on, are if you were indicating in a direction, the other side lights come on. Wonder why Mercs make it harder to use this function!

 

[PanterroR]

Why not just your flashers if you're parked on a dark road?

M

Their lamps use more el. enregy.

 

[Mr. M]

I've never heard of such a feature, interesting.

In our car if the indicator stalk is accidentally engaged, the brake lights will turn on on the side which the indicator stalk is turned to. I'm not sure if we're referring to the same thing.

 

[cawimmer430]

Some people nailed it.

It's for those times when you are parking in a dark place and want your car to be seen by the traffic that passes through. What happens is that a section of your front headlights and rear lights are lightly illuminated - enough to be seen, not to strong to consume too much battery power. And depending on which side of the road you park on, you can choose to activate the lights on your left or right side.

 

[Merc1]

Some people nailed it.

It's for those times when you are parking in a dark place and want your car to be seen by the traffic that passes through. What happens is that a section of your front headlights and rear lights are lightly illuminated - enough to be seen, not to strong to consume too much battery power. And depending on which side of the road you park on, you can choose to activate the lights on your left or right side.

Wow, only German engineers would come up with this. I can't imagine such a scenario in which this would be needed though.

M

 

[PanterroR]

Marcus, it's not needed. It's only a small feature that many cars have. No special engineering or so. Just to prevent some things that you wouldn't like to happen. Scratches and such. You either use it or not, simple as that. I personally use it always.

 

[Merc1]

Marcus, it's not needed. It's only a small feature that many cars have. No special engineering or so. Just to prevent some things that you wouldn't like to happen. Scratches and such. You either use it or not, simple as that. I personally use it always.

What other cars have it?

M

 

[PanterroR]

Every single BMW i drove, Golf (all VWs), Audi, MB, Opel, Fiat, Alfa, Skoda,...

 

[Merc1]

Every single BMW i drove, Golf (all VWs), Audi, MB, Opel, Fiat, Alfa, Skoda,...

Ok, I was just about to say it must be European car thing becaue I've never seen a Japanese or American car with it.

What would be the scenario in which you'd use such a feature?

M

 

[wltsm]

When you park the car on a dark road, so people may not see it when they come around the corner! Especially hard when there is a car coming the other direction with full beam on!

 

[PanterroR]

Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift, Euro Accord...All of them have it.

Dark and narrow roads without public lights where traffic goes through, villages, during the night in the city, especially the weekend when there are a lot of drunk people driving their cars, etc...

In any case at night!

 

[klier]

Wow, only German engineers would come up with this. I can't imagine such a scenario in which this would be needed though.

M

I see this being used every day in a lot of cars

I use it too, it's very useful.

 

[Merc1]

Interesting. Other than MB, I don't know of another car here in the U.S. that have this feature. I'll have to see if BMWs here have it or any of the U.S. owners can chime in. Not sure about Audi either. None of the Japanese or American cars have this that I know of.

M

 

[Yaz]

Hey Marcus.. when did you get a CLK? I noticed the picture of it on your signature on the MBWorld board.

Anyway, I've always wanted to know this as well. My W140 had it and I've always wondered what's it for. The ML350 doesn't have this and the E probably has it since it's a W210, but I've never checked.

But you're right Marcus, I've only noticed it in an MB. The American and Japanese cars we've had never had it.

So let me get this right Wimmer, you just leave the lights on all night and it doesn't drain your battery?