Command Screen Brightness
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
Command Screen Brightness
Just purchased a '11 E550 with Pano, AMG, Sport, dynamic seat, and P2 packages. OB exterior with a quite nice black/chestnut brown interior. This car replaces my '05 E500 - with which I had a love/hate relationship. So far, it's pretty much all love for the 550.
Except the Command screen brightness. I have it set to "Automatic" in the IC menu but the screen refuses to comply. Where's the light sensor that controls the screen brightness - the little nub in the center on top of the dash?
Car still has a few months left of MB warranty so trying to find every issue that I can.
Regards,
Dan
Except the Command screen brightness. I have it set to "Automatic" in the IC menu but the screen refuses to comply. Where's the light sensor that controls the screen brightness - the little nub in the center on top of the dash?
Car still has a few months left of MB warranty so trying to find every issue that I can.
Regards,
Dan
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1990 500sl
Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the 550 club. I have the same exact car as you, with the same options but in iridium silver with a black interior.
From what I understand the "automatic" brightness isn't variable based on the amount of available ambient light. What the auto enables is automatic day / night mode switching. Which is triggered by the light sensor which also actuates the headlights and interior amber led ambient lighting.
It's not like a smartphone screen that compensates for ambient light in an effort to reduce battery consumption.
Take care,
George
From what I understand the "automatic" brightness isn't variable based on the amount of available ambient light. What the auto enables is automatic day / night mode switching. Which is triggered by the light sensor which also actuates the headlights and interior amber led ambient lighting.
It's not like a smartphone screen that compensates for ambient light in an effort to reduce battery consumption.
Take care,
George
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
Thanks George. Yeah, I have the same understanding - the switch between day and night mode isn't variable, it's either day or night.
The headlights, as well as the interior ambient lighting, seem to work properly - though I would like some more control over the sensitivity, so that seems to rule out the light sensor. However, the Comand screen never switches to night mode, even though it is set for automatic in the IC.
Thanks for that Phil, I'll have to check the manual. You seem to be suggesting that the sensitivity can be adjusted. Correct?
Dan
The headlights, as well as the interior ambient lighting, seem to work properly - though I would like some more control over the sensitivity, so that seems to rule out the light sensor. However, the Comand screen never switches to night mode, even though it is set for automatic in the IC.
Thanks for that Phil, I'll have to check the manual. You seem to be suggesting that the sensitivity can be adjusted. Correct?
Dan
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1990 500sl
Thanks George. Yeah, I have the same understanding - the switch between day and night mode isn't variable, it's either day or night.
The headlights, as well as the interior ambient lighting, seem to work properly - though I would like some more control over the sensitivity, so that seems to rule out the light sensor. However, the Comand screen never switches to night mode, even though it is set for automatic in the IC.
Thanks for that Phil, I'll have to check the manual. You seem to be suggesting that the sensitivity can be adjusted. Correct?
Dan
The headlights, as well as the interior ambient lighting, seem to work properly - though I would like some more control over the sensitivity, so that seems to rule out the light sensor. However, the Comand screen never switches to night mode, even though it is set for automatic in the IC.
Thanks for that Phil, I'll have to check the manual. You seem to be suggesting that the sensitivity can be adjusted. Correct?
Dan
Random question do you have your headlights set to automatic? Or do you manually turn them on / off?
Take care,
George
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
Yup, that was my take away from Phil's post. Very useful really, as even in daylight the screen is just a bit too bright for me.
I leave the light switch in auto, although I would prefer an actual OFF setting - which of course the car does not have. I'm still trying to come to terms with the operation of the adaptive headlights in general, and so far I'm not a huge fan. I have a 1/2 mile long 25 MPH stretch of road with a sweeping turn in the middle of it into my neighborhood, which has no street lights. With the lights on, and control stalk pushed forward to place the lights into automatic mode, the system neither activates the high beams nor does it adjust for the corner.
Hmmm.
Dan
I leave the light switch in auto, although I would prefer an actual OFF setting - which of course the car does not have. I'm still trying to come to terms with the operation of the adaptive headlights in general, and so far I'm not a huge fan. I have a 1/2 mile long 25 MPH stretch of road with a sweeping turn in the middle of it into my neighborhood, which has no street lights. With the lights on, and control stalk pushed forward to place the lights into automatic mode, the system neither activates the high beams nor does it adjust for the corner.
Hmmm.
Dan
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1990 500sl
US law prohibits them from activating the high beam without manual driver intervention.
These lights don't really "turn" in the sense that a lexus's do. What they tend to do is use the inclination sensors to aim up / down, to put more light on the road, and not blind the hell out of oncoming drivers, ie when you are cresting or coming down a hill. They also self level for load. MB did use the fog on some cars as a "cornering lamp" ala something Cadillacs used to do, but that's not longer the case with the LED drl's. - Your car should have the "hockey stick" style ones like mine does in the front.
The lighting is decent on an MB but not spectacular.
Take care,
George
These lights don't really "turn" in the sense that a lexus's do. What they tend to do is use the inclination sensors to aim up / down, to put more light on the road, and not blind the hell out of oncoming drivers, ie when you are cresting or coming down a hill. They also self level for load. MB did use the fog on some cars as a "cornering lamp" ala something Cadillacs used to do, but that's not longer the case with the LED drl's. - Your car should have the "hockey stick" style ones like mine does in the front.
The lighting is decent on an MB but not spectacular.
Take care,
George
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'11 E350BTC P2 Leather
My car has Adaptive High Beam Assist (I think because it's P2 with bi-xenon). The high beams come on automatically when the feature is turned on, but you DO have to be above 25mph.
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
I read that also - that the lamps don't turn, but that they raise and lower. Still, mine don't seem to want to be bothered. I'm inclined to disagree, though, regarding automatic operation of the high beams, because I'm pretty certain I've seen the blue HB indicator light up on it's own once or twice. Moreover, if the switch is set to "A" and the stalk is set to auto, you completely lose manual control of the high beams - except for the flash feature. I really haven't driven the car much at night though so I need more time to test.
It does have the hockey stick DRL's. Those get dimmed when the headlamps are on. It also has a single fog lamp switch; and I'm still trying to figure out what difference it makes.
Thanks for your feedback George.
Dan
It does have the hockey stick DRL's. Those get dimmed when the headlamps are on. It also has a single fog lamp switch; and I'm still trying to figure out what difference it makes.
Thanks for your feedback George.
Dan
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1990 500sl
@ss396 - fog light switch is for the REAR fog light.
Maybe I've just never been on a dark enough road (per MB standard) to activate the high beams.
Take care,
George
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'11 E350BTC P2 Leather
Then you get a little A in a box on below the speedometer.
The manual says you have the be driving faster than 35mph and have no oncoming headlights, then the high beams will turn themselves on and off automatically. I have seen where a street lamp can fool the system sometimes.
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From: Ohio
E 250
I really love adaptive highbeam assist with my LED headlights. Very bright and clear. They are a real pleasure to use on empty rural roads.
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
I did find the passages in the manual. If the switch is at "A" and the stalk is away, at speeds above 25 MPH the low beams are adjusted automatically (depending). At speeds above 35 the high beams are activated automatically (depending), and then deactivate if speed falls below 30.
Still not a fan, especially for the one situation I noted above.
Still not a fan, especially for the one situation I noted above.
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2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I did find the passages in the manual. If the switch is at "A" and the stalk is away, at speeds above 25 MPH the low beams are adjusted automatically (depending). At speeds above 35 the high beams are activated automatically (depending), and then deactivate if speed falls below 30.
Still not a fan, especially for the one situation I noted above.
Still not a fan, especially for the one situation I noted above.
It is not clear to me what situation you mean you are not happy with but if you have the hockey stick DRLs in front you have the same lights as I have.
The automatic adaptive lights in this car must be some of the best money can buy but you have to drive the car in dark to see it.
Driving on highway low beam lights adjust to the car in front of you and you don't have the dark area without light as happens with regular lights when you are far behind but yet too close to use high beams.
lights turn with steering too.
You can disable automatic function by just setting the rotary switch to other than AUTO or disabling the adaptive lights in the cluster menu.
Last edited by Arrie; Aug 21, 2014 at 05:31 PM.
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
It is not clear to me what situation you mean you are not happy with but if you have the hockey stick DRLs in front you have the same lights as I have.
You can disable automatic function by just setting the rotary switch to other than AUTO or disabling the adaptive lights in the cluster menu.
You can disable automatic function by just setting the rotary switch to other than AUTO or disabling the adaptive lights in the cluster menu.
Night time, neighborhood road, 25 MPH. No other traffic, no street lights. Lots of dear. In this scenario, with the switch on "A" and the stalk away, it appears the lights do absolutely nothing. I want the high beams on and having to move the switch to another position in order to manually activate the HB's isn't a great solution. But, as I said before, I really haven't driven it much at night so I'll have to test it a bit more.
Dan
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
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W211 w221
Arrie, the following scenario:
Night time, neighborhood road, 25 MPH. No other traffic, no street lights. Lots of dear. In this scenario, with the switch on "A" and the stalk away, it appears the lights do absolutely nothing. I want the high beams on and having to move the switch to another position in order to manually activate the HB's isn't a great solution. But, as I said before, I really haven't driven it much at night so I'll have to test it a bit more.
Dan
Night time, neighborhood road, 25 MPH. No other traffic, no street lights. Lots of dear. In this scenario, with the switch on "A" and the stalk away, it appears the lights do absolutely nothing. I want the high beams on and having to move the switch to another position in order to manually activate the HB's isn't a great solution. But, as I said before, I really haven't driven it much at night so I'll have to test it a bit more.
Dan
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2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
I had my car four months before I was on a road dark enough for the adaptive high beam assist to come on.
In regards to screen brightness, I have it on 1 with auto. Otherwise, it is like a torch burning at night IMO.
In regards to screen brightness, I have it on 1 with auto. Otherwise, it is like a torch burning at night IMO.
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
I wonder if the screen uses the same dash top sensor that the lights do.
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
So this morning, for the first time, the screen changed to night mode.
Lovely, sunny morning here in NoVa. About 8:30 AM I started the car and the headlights came on automatically - lots of tree cover in that part of my driveway, but the Comand screen was on "day". Drove the car a mile to the local gas/car wash to have it washed. By the time I got there the lights switched off. Entered the wash - lights came back on and I immediately noticed that the screen had changed to night.
Weird.
Exited the wash, lights went off, screen changed back to day.
Dan
Lovely, sunny morning here in NoVa. About 8:30 AM I started the car and the headlights came on automatically - lots of tree cover in that part of my driveway, but the Comand screen was on "day". Drove the car a mile to the local gas/car wash to have it washed. By the time I got there the lights switched off. Entered the wash - lights came back on and I immediately noticed that the screen had changed to night.
Weird.
Exited the wash, lights went off, screen changed back to day.
Dan
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From: Sandy Springs, GA
'15 E350, '20 S560
Maybe a bit late here on the Command screen brightness issue. But ... the adjustment for this is a bit deceiving. You can adjust the brightness level regardless of whether it's set for day, night or automatic. The trick is to click on the "Display" selection which will then show a scale of 1 to 10 that you can adjust by turning the controller dial. So finally we can have the Command screen at night at a light level that is comfortable.
