Westwind

Hi Friends,
I am a proud owner of 2011 E550, just a week old. Still exploring it, browsing the manual, so pardon me if this is a silly question.

Maybe its me, but I find the dashboard too dark. On a bright sunny day, its fine, but otherwise, for a vehicle of this class, it is not well illuminated unless of course, your headlights are on - which wont happen (on auto) until its really really dark outside. When the headlights are on - there is no problem, and of course I can adjust the intensity of light. Besides, if you wear sunglasses, its even worse. Sure, I can clearly see, but I believe there must be a way to keep it illuminated ALL the time - with something like ambient light throwing on the numbers and needles. The computer readout (mpg, digital speed, etc) is always illuminated - so how can I keep the speedometer, rpm, clock, fuel gauge illuminated a bit? I have searched thru the manual, and I have not had great luck. Maybe I am asking for too much, not wear sunglasses and just shut up. If there is no other way - I will

Diesel Benz

I believe you are not the first one complaining this. It has not bothered me but perhaps your complaint is valid to some extent at least. I don't know any cure for it.

mg-E550

Ive found mine to be just right...Id say better than my BMW although maybe not quite as brilliant as my acura when turned up.

hyperion667

way to go WW, must be awesome to finally have it.....
I'm still waiting.........until November........

I'm sure you'll figure it out while tinkering or something......ENJOY dude!
I won't be far behind!

RT66BOB

You have a small knob to the left of the steering wheel that adjusts the brightness of the instrumpet panel. Your Nav.screen is adjusted by going into System's. You bacisly have three settings which are night, day, and automatic. Tabing over to the right to the last portion of the screen gives you a scale that you can adjust for the intensity of this screen. Sounds confusing but once you find it, its simple.The dealers are still learning what the car can do.Mercedes has so many new things I guess they have an educational problem on there hands.

Westwind

I am aware of the brightness knob. Problem is, during the day, unless headlights are on, the instrument panel does not light up at all. On certain days, it can get a bit dark. This has nothing to do with Nav screen. Maybe you are trying to something that I am not following. If so, please clarify.

mallard

Westwind,
I agree with you. It can be very difficult to read during the day, even when it is bright outside which I know sounds odd. Sunglasses make it worse. Would be nice if there was a setting that would allow the speedometer cluster to stay lit at all times. I asked the dealership if there is a way to do this through the car's computer settings and was told there isn't. A small gripe and I guess I've gotten used to it, just one of those things that would be nice...

Dema

I have no such problem, can clear read dashboard, although my eyes are not perfect. However of you suddenly get in tunnel, you speedometer reading becomes blind. So certainly S class dashboard does not have such problem. I noticed that Audi or Lexus dashboards are well designed for changing lighting conditions, but E class. My BMW is lacking in this matter as well, although not getting so awful. I hove to upgrade to S soon.

El Cid

Really haven't had a problem with mine during the day, but you do have to focus on them.
However, I have noticed that the warning displays do not really stand out-neither the white or red ones. The attention assist lit up once and I barely noticed it. The red TPMS warning came up after the tires were rotated and did not notice it for a mile or more. They may have chimed also, but I never heard it. The hood not closed warning came up once also and did not notice it until my passenger asked why it kept chiming. Chime was so low, I thought it was part of music from radio.

jbean114

I haven't had any issues with the brightness, but I will say that the placement of the upper-lights (i.e. where the turn signal indicators are) are invisible to me. I like having the steering wheel very low and straight on. In this position, the entire top of the steering wheel blocks the lights on the top of the instrument cluster. Not a big deal right now, but I'm getting older and I'm afraid that one day I'll be that old man driving down the road with my turn signal on for no friggin reason!

Westwind

Funny, I did not even notice the turn signal lights until you brought it up. Yes, even I keep the steering low and that does block the top part, including some area of speedometer. I agree, I can clearly see the instrument panel - I just thought they could have thrown in some ambient light - just as the computer readings are light up. Hey, nothing to do with how my vehicle is performing - which is what I love the most

jbean114

Amen.