This one is bizarre...Last night was foggy, and I turned on the fog light section of the taillight. I was told in advance by the salesperson that this would only activate the left hand side because that's the newest trend from Europe. I guess I was fine until last night when I noticed that there is a bulb in the opposite side, yet it never illuminates!?! Why would MB put a bulb if it's never meant to be used. Now I want to set my car so that both sides would glow; it would certainly make more sense!! Could this be easliy done through the menus or StarDiagnostic?

"Newest trend"?? It's only been the law in Germany for like... at least 20 years. It might make more sense to you to have both bulbs illuminated, but it really makes sense to most other people to have only one illuminated in a low-visibility situation. It marks one side of the car and isn't mistaken for brake lights.

The bulb in the other taillight is for the failed bulb replacement function, so Mercedes did not put a bulb in there that is never intended to be used.

-s-

I know for a fact on the 171 that you can version code the rear fog light to illuminate on both sides, rather than just the left. I think it's in one of the SAMs. Maybe beside the replacement function, you can do that on the 219.

By replacement you mean, you'd actually unplug the bulb and move it over to the other side if one goes out? Still, is there a way to light both sides?

Yup, I remember that I have the rear european fog light in my import 1985 930. When I used that in the old days a lot of people asked me is that...

Cheers,
hlkc

Nope, not what I mean... isn't this covered in your user manual? It might not be but I thought it is.

-s-

I'm not sure about the 219 chassis, but you can for the 171 using Star Diagnosis.

You don't want people to think you're braking and thus ignore you when you really are braking . My 1987 190e had this feature, so definitely not new, but newer than a Model T so maybe it is relatively new...hmm.

I've seen some Audi's with both lit but they are in the center right next to the license plate, whatever floats the boat.

What Scorchie is saying, I think, is that when a light bulb burns out the car will use different ones to compensate. (i.e. Right Rear parking lamp dies the car will switch to dimmed brake lights which get brighter when you brake (duh..) till you replaced burned bulb.)