I did a search and was not able to find if the light panel to the left of the steering wheel light-up at night. It seems that only the turning knob lights-up? Is this consistant with all W204's or do I have a burned-out bulb?
Thanks, noob here!!!

 

no it does not light up..

 

Sucks, doesn't it?

 

ahahahah i thought my bulb blew as well...

but nah it doesn't even light up...

the irony.

 

I just got a 2010 C300 as loaner and it does light up on the dash for headlights, front and rear fogs. Instead, the lights on the knobs are gone.

 

They started removing those LEDs IN THE US MARKET in 05 I believe for cost savings. Not sure about the W204, but on my W203 I removed the light switch assembly, soldered the missing LEDs and resistors on, and it lights up - matches the rest of the lights perfectly too.

 

This irks me! I'm driving a $40k car and can't even see what my light setting is... I have to count the clicks when switching the fogs on and off. Dumb idea by M-B!

 

Can you explain me when would you actually want to have a look at the light switch when operating it? If you want to turn lights on (from "0" or "Auto"), you would just turn the switch fully clockwise. You should not need to turn lights off before you stop and then you would know the switch vertical position without looking at it. If you wanted to turn it to "Auto", you would probably have it there already.

The indicator lights would be of marginal use because it would be dangerous to look at the switch while driving (it is too much hidden behind the steering wheel). Probably one reason for no lights, in addition to the fact that those useless lights would just create some additional dazzle.

Personally I prefer MB spends the two cents for something useful.

 

i prefer them lit, but I dont even touch that knob cause like Diesel said, I leave it on Auto and I dont need to change any settings

 

There are indicator lights for your fogs you don't have to count the clicks.. though it sounds like you have a different setup than mine.. I pull it out for front fogs, and turn it right for front and back.

 

The light switch on the W203 is nearly identical as far as functionality with a similar layout / lights for the fogs - and I have to say, there have been times that I've looked at it at night and thought "damn it I cant see the symbols." But yes, it's pretty easy to remember where everything is.

This can be said about the rest of the instruments too if MB decided not to illumiate them.

 

For me at least, its Auto, then to the right, its eyebrows only, then one more to the right is headlights on, then pull out once is fog lights, pull out one more time adds the rear fog light.

another problem is that you cant have the fog lights when set to auto, which IMO was a big mistake. MB too cheap to make active headlight bulbs

 

The more expensive & upmarket the model is the more is backlit - simple.

 

Yes, I would wany my S class to be all bright and pretty. lol