illmaticnyc

i JUST discovered this feature...never it existed! you guys use? does yours work?

MINE DOESNT!!! any suggestions?

FrenchBenz

I park my car in the street almost every day given that I don't have garage and I never use the parking light feature. I've seen people using it a lot in other european countries where people park a lot on sidewalks at night, etc but haven't used it once here since I have the car.

illmaticnyc

mine doesnt even work however the l ights do come on. any idea if its a specific relay?

DRBC43AMG

Mine works perfectly and I have had this option on all my MB cars to date. I use it rarerly except if I'm parked somewhere where no parking officially exists

503C43 ////AMG

I have only used it a couple times and it was when I parked downtown.

JohnnyRock

Someone please explain this, 'parking light feature'....

illmaticnyc

ok mine works!! i realized that it does not work when the key is in the ignition. the car must be off.

johnny rock...how the light works...your light dial,,,just turn it to the left. once for the rear light and twice for the left light. you use it depending on which side of the road you are on

DRBC43AMG

You mean right light as both front and rear are working in the appropriate switch position WITHOUT ignition.

illmaticnyc

i never checked the front...assumed it was only for the rear?

JohnnyRock

Is this function to alert other drivers that you are parked? I just did this but can't figure out what it's supposed to do...

user 823908234

That's it. When parked on a narrow street, turn on the lights on the side of your car that is exposed to traffic. To avoid being sideswiped. Hopefully.
It's a European thing. I saw it over there 50 years ago. There were also little lamps on the body for the same purpose. I've never seen anyone use them over here in BIG USA.

illmaticnyc

confirmed. front too.

Kropf

I usually use them when parking on the side of a street, or even when parking at the end of a parking lot row (left hand lights when on the left end, or right hand lights when on the right hand end of a row).
Since all of my 'parking' lights are now LEDs, I often leave them on when I park somewhere, but that often motivates someone to initiate a "someone with a Black Mercedes left their lights on" announcement, but the lights on only one side amuzzes them instead.

The side/fender mounted signal lights are much more noticeable when someone is in the 'blind spot'. i.e. When someone next to you can't see the rear blinking light, and may not see the front turn signal light either.

asitreadalong

What affect do the Parking Lights have on the battery? Can you leave them on for several hours?

DRBC43AMG

I've had mine on for several hours at a time and never had a battery problem. The 100a/h battery has sufficient juice for some time. Don't know if it will last for several days though...

user 823908234

It'sa drain on the battery alright, 2 bulbs-worth (? current/watts). If your car was not designed for LEDs and you have aftermarket units, there will be a resistor built in to simulate the current draw of a regular bulb, so the "Bulb Out" feature is fooled. Have that on mine.
OTOH, for years people in Europe have been leaving regular filament lights on all night. Our big batteries shouldn't be affected much, unless of course, your battery is marginal (i.e., old). Try it and find out, then let us know! Inquiring minds want to know!

asitreadalong

Thanks I'll give it a try tomorrow. I can run it for hours in front of my shop. If I drain the battery I'll just jump it. If I kill the battery I'll sell myself one.
I'm a new owner of a 2011 GL 450. Needless to say I'm blown away by this vehicle. There are so many little surprises (like the parking lights) that it'll take some time to find them all. Which should be fun.

benzslo

I don't park on the street and even if I did, I wouldn't use it.

asitreadalong

?

Well thanks for all that.

On another helpful theme, still being a bit obsessed with lighting if I left my lights on but not Auto Does Benz have auto battery save feature shutting all external and internal lights?

DrX

No. "Auto" is the feature, so if you choose not to use it (or your eyes) you can drain your battery by leaving the lights on.

asitreadalong

That's what I thought but when I got into my vehicle I noticed I'd left the lights on in the on position overnight not auto but it started.. Weird because the lights weren't on when I opened the car. Ill test it again.

DRBC43AMG

I used mine last night in a darkish street for the first time in some time.

MBenzEnthusiast

when i double park i leave the side, that the cars are passing on, ON. Just so they won't hit my car. Other then that i don't think there is any other uses other then unintentionally leaving a side one all night and wake up to a dead battery and maybe a burnt out bulb.