Daytime Running Lights
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Scotland
W211 E270CDI Elegance, Tansanite Blue with Anthracite Leather
That was my understanding also. DRT is a legal requirement, if not set then you would have to select sidelights or dipped headlights for daytime use. I normally drive with lights on, I figure you have a better chance of being noticed by all those slack drivers out there and so lessen your chance of a car accident.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NYC Tri State Area
2013 w204 C350
Activating DRL
You can actually activate this through the instrument cluster settings menu. I believe its under the lighting menu, under Lighting Circuit or something like that. Turn it to on in the cluster menu and even with your lights set to off or auto during the day they will always stay on.
Fazooley
Fazooley
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
DRL's (In the E's case, if you set it up, your low beam headlights will be on all the time as soon as the engine is started & they key released from the "crank" position). This can be set in the cluster for the head lamps to be always ON.
That being said, most American car manufacturers DRL's are the HIGH Beams ONLY, illuminated to 1/2 their brightness output by a resistor & series circuit.
When those 1/2 dimmed brights are illuminated, the instrument cluster is NOT on, and neither are the tail lights/ marker lights. It is done this way to not shorten the life of the regular headlight bulbs, and if you are driving from day into night, you will notice that your instrument cluster lights are off & will either manually turn on the regular headlamp switch or in some cars the change is done automatically by an external light sensor.
In the E clas, its simply telling the car's settings whether you want
(1)the headlights on ALL the time or,
(2) turn on at automatically dusk, or
(3) leave them always off to be manually turned on when you feel you want them on.
That being said, most American car manufacturers DRL's are the HIGH Beams ONLY, illuminated to 1/2 their brightness output by a resistor & series circuit.
When those 1/2 dimmed brights are illuminated, the instrument cluster is NOT on, and neither are the tail lights/ marker lights. It is done this way to not shorten the life of the regular headlight bulbs, and if you are driving from day into night, you will notice that your instrument cluster lights are off & will either manually turn on the regular headlamp switch or in some cars the change is done automatically by an external light sensor.
In the E clas, its simply telling the car's settings whether you want
(1)the headlights on ALL the time or,
(2) turn on at automatically dusk, or
(3) leave them always off to be manually turned on when you feel you want them on.
Last edited by Barry45RPM; Jul 21, 2004 at 12:16 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Red Sox Nation (No. Va. chapter)
2004 E500
Originally Posted by fazooley
You can actually activate this through the instrument cluster settings menu. I believe its under the lighting menu, under Lighting Circuit or something like that. Turn it to on in the cluster menu and even with your lights set to off or auto during the day they will always stay on.
Fazooley
Fazooley
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,492
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From: Canada
2004 E500 / 2001 C240
Here in Canada DRL are mandatory. Ii has been shown to reduce accidents especially at lights with people turning. I know in the States you guys don't have them but I would turn them on if it is an option in the dash..
Just my 2 loonies..
Just my 2 loonies..
