Hundens

My 2¢. The lighting system is fine my me. I am embarrassed by the puddle lights. I know I bought a MB, I don't need to be reminded or reassured or to have others gawk at the ostentatious display. At least it doesn't project the MSRP. I am not that insecure. However, my 2004 Volvo (16 years old) has fobs that reset the seats. I have my keys and she has her keys. I open the car and the driver seat adjusts for me automatically. Maybe this is just a manifestation of German versus Scandinavian culture.

Cerave

wow, sorry to hear about that. Scary situation!

Cerave

I think if the car is locked already, and then unlocked with the key fob, it will automatically lock itself again after several seconds or a couple minutes. A safety feature in case you accidentally pressed the button in your pocket or something.
Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

whoover

Yes, mine does that.

rraisley

Most all cars do that. My 2012 VW did that.

rraisley

No, you're embarrassed by LED Logo Projectors located under the doors (and only lighted or visible once the doors are open), as would I be. The puddle lights are the lights under the mirrors, without any ostentatious display, but rather just placing light down outside the car and in front of the doors, before they're opened. So you don't step into, guess what, a puddle. Yes, they come on once you're unlocked the doors, but that would mean my wife would have to scrounge through her purse to find and actuate the key. That's the whole idea of such a key, that you don't have to get it out to use the features of the car. Which my Toyota and Acura did an excellent job of doing, but which the E-Class does not.

whoover

Got the car washed tonight and it was starting to get dark. The guy was writing up the ticket and used the puddle light to see what he was doing. "Very cool place to put a light." I just smiled and thought of this thread.

rraisley

Interesting. How did you turn it on? I (now) know it comes on when the car is unlocked, as do inside lights, but then they turn off after a bit.

whoover

When I pulled up to his station, I turned off the engine. That turns them on.

ua549

One only needs to touch the door handle to unlock the car. The key can remain in your wife's purse.

After more than 2 years of E300 ownership, I've never had a situation where I needed to physically use the key. It stays in my pocket.

rraisley

Again, by the time you touch the door handle, you're standing in the puddle that the puddle light is supposed to show you. Meaning by that time, it's worthless. That's why other cars I've had illuminate it as you're walking up to it.

ua549

I typically unlock the car by touching the rear door handle from about 3' away. I've yet to step in a puddle that could be avoided by a puddle light.