From

https://mbworld.org/forums/glk-class/380024-small-amber-light-under-int-rear-view-mirror.html

Since C class and GLK share many parts this might have come up before here, couldn't find it tho.

Does anybody know that this little light for?


It's not the light used during programing the homelink.

I believe it's ambient lighting. BMW has the same light and it doesn't light up anything. Just there to look cool

ambiance.

I've recently noticed this little light.

Its way too dim to illuminate anything, or be ambient lighting, and it doesn't always come on, either. Not there to be "cool", cause its very difficult to see. Its set in front of and between the map/reading lights. I only discovered it when I dropped something into the passenger footwell, and had to twist near upside down to retrieve it.

Any knowledgeable members have any idea?

I believe it has something to do with the autodimming mirror....

Whatever it may be, a close look with a flashlight shows it's not on my 09, which does have the garage door opener, however, and a button on the far right underside for compass calibration.

it is bright enough for ambient lighting. if your on a grid or rural road outside of the city, this light illuminates the whole dash and center console. that is what is and that is what its for. i don't understand what you want to hear.

It will illuminate a 1' circle back of you hand up to about 2" away

Sportstick - its only really apparent when you turn the Ignition on. It's just a dim orange glow, telling you something is "on", but I can't imagine what - and it doesn't always come on, and sometimes turns itself off as you drive Its
a real puzzle.

And by the time it gets to your dash/shifter area, it will light the entire area. It's not enough to really tell much during in town driving but it shows up quite well on late night inter city runs, etc. It sounds like yours may be cutting in and out and/or may be weaker than designed so you may want to have it checked out.

I mentioned a few years back what I determined the function of this small light under the rearview mirror to be. I believe it was placed for those who drive in NJ to illuminate the middle finger whilst flipping people off in the dark.

;-)

Cheers,
- Eric

Only sensible answer:so far

It's for the Garage Door / "Home Link" buttons. Press one of the 3 little buttons beside it. If you don't have that option, perhaps the mirror itself came with the light even when the buttons are not installed.

That was my thought, too.

We are talking about different one, not the homelink light.

Howyadoon?

On the topic of Jersey, anyone see the Southpark episode mocking Jersey?

Snooki want smoosh smoosh? LOL...

Anyone have any tips on how to change the bulb/led in there?

I didn't realize the link in the first post was going to the "GLK" forum. Anyway, I believe I found the reason for that small amber light under the rear-view mirror. While driving to work the other morning (quite dark out) I noticed that the small amber light perfectly hits the top of the shifter when it is in "drive". I believe it's so you can easily locate the shifter when it's dark because although the light is not strong, when I covered it with my hand the shift knob virtually became invisible. I rather prefer the method my past BMW M cars used by lighting the shift knob internally, but the small MB amber light gets the job done.

You are absolutely correct. Two years of ownership and I just noticed it!

I don’t know what’s the specific function is but it look so cool how illuminates my transmission shifter knob.

on a side note, our family's RXs has the same thing. Our old RX (2nd gen) had the orange light just like this one, but our new one (3rd gen) has an LED light dimly shining down.

Ambient lighting... Does anyone remember the ambient lighting in the older body e class? Mine was an 03 and had ambient lighting where the incandescent reading lamp is now. It could be adjusted to be barely visible or slightly brighter.

p.s. Its intensity is controllable via the knob mounted under the instrument cluster. I keep my instrument cluster at its lowest setting and the ambient light is barely visible. Turn the knob all the way right and the ambient lighting will brighten considerably.

Thanks for the info - this weekend was the first time I noticed it !

Nick