Do your headlight switch pictograms light up?
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
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2010 Mercedes C350CDi Elegance - black with almond beige leather / 2008 Yamaha YZF-R1
Conclusive Answer:
It is done this way so as to not distract the driver when checking for lights being illuminated as the positioning of the knob is in a cluttered area which requires the driver to do more than just glance down and over at the control switch (ie steering wheel and turn signal knobs in the way.) You have to physically move your body in order to move your head to the appropriate level to get the proper angle to see the switch and all the lights or functions.
Therefore, Mercedes has put those indicator lights in the dash to ensure two things: 1, that the driver has to move his eyes off the road the least to check if his lights are on, and that 2, the driver can see whether the lights are on or off directly and immediately. (Same rationale with the C, S, and CL with the placement of the new NAV screens)
If you notice, when you turn on your lights, by the tachometer, a green light turns on with rays pointing down indicating that normal running lamps are on.
If you are to activate the high-beams, you will also notice that there is a blue light with rays pointing forward and parallel to the horizontal plane that will turn on in the clock cluster.
That's why the fog lamp indicator lights are positioned all the way to the bottom left side of the control panel, so that their view is not obstructed by the steering wheel and other levers. Also, for those of you wondering why the fog lamps are lit up and indicated on the control cluster and not in the dash, it is because of priority and functional importance. Headlamps are much more crucial than fog lamps ever will be, even in circumstances that call specifically for their use (such as fog or mist), hence their placement in the main cluster.
Hope this helps rationalize some of the German's train of thought!
Chris
It is done this way so as to not distract the driver when checking for lights being illuminated as the positioning of the knob is in a cluttered area which requires the driver to do more than just glance down and over at the control switch (ie steering wheel and turn signal knobs in the way.) You have to physically move your body in order to move your head to the appropriate level to get the proper angle to see the switch and all the lights or functions.
Therefore, Mercedes has put those indicator lights in the dash to ensure two things: 1, that the driver has to move his eyes off the road the least to check if his lights are on, and that 2, the driver can see whether the lights are on or off directly and immediately. (Same rationale with the C, S, and CL with the placement of the new NAV screens)
If you notice, when you turn on your lights, by the tachometer, a green light turns on with rays pointing down indicating that normal running lamps are on.
If you are to activate the high-beams, you will also notice that there is a blue light with rays pointing forward and parallel to the horizontal plane that will turn on in the clock cluster.
That's why the fog lamp indicator lights are positioned all the way to the bottom left side of the control panel, so that their view is not obstructed by the steering wheel and other levers. Also, for those of you wondering why the fog lamps are lit up and indicated on the control cluster and not in the dash, it is because of priority and functional importance. Headlamps are much more crucial than fog lamps ever will be, even in circumstances that call specifically for their use (such as fog or mist), hence their placement in the main cluster.
Hope this helps rationalize some of the German's train of thought!
Chris
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
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Why would it be cost-saving poor design? Who ever worked for MB in the engineering and designing department of all of you who bash over and over about how MB works?
Chrysler, GM, Ford and Chevy just to mention a few make such bad *** cars I presume, why don't you guys go with them and help them out of the worst crisis ever at the same time...? Nothing but cheapest crap they use and then talking about the best quality in the world.
Ridiculous!
Chrysler, GM, Ford and Chevy just to mention a few make such bad *** cars I presume, why don't you guys go with them and help them out of the worst crisis ever at the same time...? Nothing but cheapest crap they use and then talking about the best quality in the world.
Ridiculous!
Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 166
Likes: 2
From: Philadelphia Suburbs
2002 C32, 2007 E550 4matic
Why would it be cost-saving poor design? Who ever worked for MB in the engineering and designing department of all of you who bash over and over about how MB works?
Chrysler, GM, Ford and Chevy just to mention a few make such bad *** cars I presume, why don't you guys go with them and help them out of the worst crisis ever at the same time...? Nothing but cheapest crap they use and then talking about the best quality in the world.
Ridiculous!
Chrysler, GM, Ford and Chevy just to mention a few make such bad *** cars I presume, why don't you guys go with them and help them out of the worst crisis ever at the same time...? Nothing but cheapest crap they use and then talking about the best quality in the world.
Ridiculous!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Speaking of "the cheapest crap in the World..." one just has to look back at the '03 & '04 211's. Most of the components in them were crap. Thats why MB fell to last place in Quality on the Powers lists back then... and why after re designing thousands of parts in the 211s MB is back near the top again.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 118
Speaking of "the cheapest crap in the World..." one just has to look back at the '03 & '04 211's. Most of the components in them were crap. Thats why MB fell to last place in Quality on the Powers lists back then... and why after re designing thousands of parts in the 211s MB is back near the top again.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Perth, Australia
2006 E500
I just noticed that the pictograms didn't light up tonight when driving to the supermarket. I was about to disassemble to change the back light bulb which I thought was faulty. Now, thanks to you guys, as normal, I have saved time and embarrassment going to the dealer for a replacement bulb!
2006 E500 - we are building our relationship, I love her when she behaves!
2006 E500 - we are building our relationship, I love her when she behaves!
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
2005 E320 CDI, 2007 GL 450
I found it rather weird when I bought my 2005 E in December but figured I'd just live with it. My 2002 Jetta has lit indicators except for my fogs and that is only because I bought a Euro switch so that I could power both front and rear fogs and didn't wire lights in for them.
I have a black switch and grey area around it. I figured it was supposed to be this way. Am I supposed to have a grey switch?
I have a black switch and grey area around it. I figured it was supposed to be this way. Am I supposed to have a grey switch?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 41
Tesla Model S P100D
I was surprised to find this out also when I first bought my car. The thing is though once you know what the switches are you don't really need to do anything. I pretty much leave mine on Auto. However if someone else or valet drives the car at night, it is really frustrating to figre out the light knob when it is not illuminated.
Given that they have illuminated the door handles and the foot wells with ambient light, they should have illuminated this pictograph IMHO opinion. Does anyone know if this is illuminated in the current S class or the new E class?
Given that they have illuminated the door handles and the foot wells with ambient light, they should have illuminated this pictograph IMHO opinion. Does anyone know if this is illuminated in the current S class or the new E class?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
OK. Can someone explain to me why the dealer service techs turn the headlight switch to "off" from "Auto" every time I have the car in for a A or B service?
And whose stupid idea was it to have all the light switch assemblies in every car be black no matter what color the interior is from MY 2007 thru 2009 ???
And whose stupid idea was it to have all the light switch assemblies in every car be black no matter what color the interior is from MY 2007 thru 2009 ???
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 59
From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
just sticks out like soar thumb in a gray or tan interior car.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: Long Island
2018 GLC 300 4Matic
OK. Can someone explain to me why the dealer service techs turn the headlight switch to "off" from "Auto" every time I have the car in for a A or B service?
And whose stupid idea was it to have all the light switch assemblies in every car be black no matter what color the interior is from MY 2007 thru 2009 ???
And whose stupid idea was it to have all the light switch assemblies in every car be black no matter what color the interior is from MY 2007 thru 2009 ???
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: Long Island
2018 GLC 300 4Matic
i bought and have my car serviced at massapequa too. occasionally i will goto huntington if no loaners are avail at massapequa and both places turn off the auto setting.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 66
Likes: 3
From: Hollywood, FL
2003 E500 Sport, C8 CORVETTE
You know those little white diagrams on the headlight switch bezel? Well, mine never light up. Not when the ignition is on, not when the head lights are on. Meanwhile, the pictograms on the driver's door for windows, mirror and seat adjustment light up whenever the ignition is on.
Could someone check theirs and let me know if it's the same on their car? Thanks.
Could someone check theirs and let me know if it's the same on their car? Thanks.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1
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e220
I've been reading through and people claiming lighting isn't needed for the icons around the headlight control switch.
erm.. did you all remember that there are certain parts of the day that is quite dark everywhere, i.e. night time?
I was there sat in my car in the dark and even with dashboard lights on I could NOT tell which setting my headlight was on. All I could tell was by looking at headlights outside and whether it was on or not. I may want to put it in Auto mode if it wasn't, but I cannot see. And I don't want to hear "oh you'll know the most right is X" blah, if that's an argument then let's remember all buttons on the dashboard control system and not have any of the illumination in the dashboard.
Mercedes made a mistake, period.
erm.. did you all remember that there are certain parts of the day that is quite dark everywhere, i.e. night time?
I was there sat in my car in the dark and even with dashboard lights on I could NOT tell which setting my headlight was on. All I could tell was by looking at headlights outside and whether it was on or not. I may want to put it in Auto mode if it wasn't, but I cannot see. And I don't want to hear "oh you'll know the most right is X" blah, if that's an argument then let's remember all buttons on the dashboard control system and not have any of the illumination in the dashboard.
Mercedes made a mistake, period.
