A Question for the Benz Super Experts

[klier]

Nope, that's what it is for.

In BMWs, I think the outer angel eye is lit if you use this function.

 

[Merc1]

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?

I got the CLK430 in October of last year. I can't tell you the joy of finally being able to drive it top down the last 3-4 weeks!!!!

Yeah this feature is most intriguing because I can remember it on all the old Benzes from yesteryear. I'd love to hear the official reasoning from Mercedes as to why this feature is present.

M

 

[cawimmer430]

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 believe most European cars have this feature, not only German.

 

[Merc1]

I believe most European cars have this feature, not only German.

Yeah that is what Ty was saying. Also some Japanese cars sold in Europe. I've really got to research this on other makes of cars here in the U.S.

M

 

[cawimmer430]

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

M

It seems to be a European thing.

This for example is when one could use this feature.

DAY

NIGHT

 

[cawimmer430]

Yeah that is what Ty was saying. Also some Japanese cars sold in Europe. I've really got to research this on other makes of cars here in the U.S.

M

I have never seen it on Japanese cars sold in Europe, but I have not been inside one for ages. Perhaps they've adapted to the European market by now.

 

[PanterroR]

Bravo, Christian!

Marcus, hope this explains.

 

[Merc1]

I can't see the pics!!!!!

The firewall here blocks anything photobucket it seems.

M

 

[PanterroR]

I have never seen it on Japanese cars sold in Europe, but I have not been inside one for ages. Perhaps they've adapted to the European market by now.

Yes they did.

I can't see the pics!!!!!

M

Weird... It does happen to you lately, right? Not being able to see wimmer's pics?

 

[Merc1]

Yes they did.



Weird... It does happen to you lately, right? Not being able to see wimmer's pics?

Yeah I just figured it out, its anything from Photobucket it seems. I got a mesg when trying to access it even via Firefox.

M

 

[wltsm]

I can't see the pics!!!!!

The firewall here blocks anything photobucket it seems.

M

Are you at work at the moment?

I was just wondering, because I notice you can't often see pictures, and I find that when I'm at school, due to filters!!

 

[cawimmer430]

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

Hi Yaz, you've been gone for ages! Where have you been? How are you?

Correct. The lights are not fully illuminated, they're optimized in this mode to use as little battery power as possible - just enough to create a lightsource to be seen by passing traffic. I once left the drivers side lights on for several hours at a party when I parked the E320 on the side of a dark road and several hours later, the car started without problems - during the winter too.

 

[Merc1]

Are you at work at the moment?

I was just wondering, because I notice you can't often see pictures, and I find that when I'm at school, due to filters!!

Uhh....yeah something like that.

I can look at the pics later from a different location.

M

 

[cawimmer430]

I can't see the pics!!!!!

The firewall here blocks anything photobucket it seems.

M

Hold on, Imageshacking them right now...

DAY


NIGHT

 

[Merc1]

Oh ok I can see them now. I can see the theory behind this feature, but on a little street like that in the U.S. what we'd almost call an alley people would be knocking on your door to tell you lights were on or calling you if they knew you/your car. Then again such a small unlit street such as that is as rare as hen's teeth here in the U.S. I'd be scared that it would run the battery down. I wonder how long you can leave such a light on, I'll check my owners manual. As you all can see I'm pretty much fascinated by this, like a child as they walk into a big room when they do a 360 and say wow...

This would confuse the hell out of American drivers. Hell, when I use my rear fog light (only in real fog BTW) I get people telling me I have a brake light out!!

M

 

[PanterroR]

Oh ok I can see them now. I can see the theory behind this feature, but on a little street like that in the U.S. what we'd almost call an alley people would be knocking on your door to tell you lights were on or calling you if they knew you/your car.

LOL!! Sorry, Marcus, but that sounds funny! But i understand you.

Then again such a small unlit street such as that is as rare as hen's teeth here in the U.S. I'd be scared that it would run the battery down. I wonder how long you can leave such a light on, I'll check my owners manual. As you all can see I'm pretty much fascinated by this, like a child as they walk into a big room when they do a 360 and say wow...

M

I used to leave it like that for the whole night and nothing happened with the battery.

 

[cawimmer430]

Oh ok I can see them now. I can see the theory behind this feature, but on a little street like that in the U.S. what we'd almost call an alley people would be knocking on your door to tell you lights were on or calling you if they knew you/your car. Then again such a small unlit street such as that is as rare as hen's teeth here in the U.S. I'd be scared that it would run the battery down. I wonder how long you can leave such a light on, I'll check my owners manual. As you all can see I'm pretty much fascinated by this, like a child as they walk into a big room when they do a 360 and say wow...

This would confuse the hell out of American drivers. Hell, when I use my rear fog light (only in real fog BTW) I get people telling me I have a brake light out!!

M

I can see that you're indeed fascinated by this.

I'll check our E320 owners manual to see how long you can leave them on.

 

[Giannis]

Very interesting feature! But both mine S60 and dad's XC90 don't have it, so i think Volvo doesn't follow the maintstream german carmakers...

Anyway, Christian i think you can live it like this for ages - the battery won't de-charge! Once, i did a 150 night journey based only on the battery, since the belt connecting the engine to the dynamo somehow fell of the car... To my surprise everything worked ok, all the lights and the radio, but in the end, like 10 mins before my house everything was almost dead, i used the highest beam lights and it was very weak...

 

[Yaz]

I got the CLK430 in October of last year. I can't tell you the joy of finally being able to drive it top down the last 3-4 weeks!!!!

Yeah this feature is most intriguing because I can remember it on all the old Benzes from yesteryear. I'd love to hear the official reasoning from Mercedes as to why this feature is present.

M

Well, congrats my friend. Knowing you though, I thought you'd get an S or an E.

So my guess is that this is why we have those orange reflectors. They'd reflect light in a dark alley or road.

Hi Yaz, you've been gone for ages! Where have you been? How are you?

I am fine Chris, thanks for asking. I was away backhome (the Mideast) for a while. Also, thanks for the illustration above .

 

[Germaniac]

Parking lights are a fairly recent feature (which would explain, Merc1, why you haven't noticed them in older benzes), and they certainly aren't exclusive to Europe. Most new cars sold here have them, and I'd hazard a guess it's the same in America - just people are unaware or unsure of the feature.

Dad uses it all the time but I think it's a bit of a gimmick - lights have (by law) reflectors encased in them anyway.. you'd have to be blind not to see a parked car while driving at night (unless, of course, you didn't drive with your headlights, in which case you'd be stupid).