a rather strange option....? which i'd never herd of before....

[nick-E55]

My wife drives an Eclass estate, and has been getting flashed by oncoming cars when driving at night. Her friend pointed out that only one of the small lights in the front spoiler was working (as she approached up her drive). We thought it might be a loose connection or something, as they both work when the car is stationary.

...it turns out, it's some kind of option whereby when you turn left (say), the left light comes on , and vica-versa. It stays on for a variable period of time, depending on how much the wheel is turned, at least according to the manual.

needless to say, she's going to turn this option off, on the basis that it;s ****** annoying!

 

[jberks]

This is the active cornering light, designed to illuminate a corner as you turn. People may flash but that's because they don't understand, not because there is anything actually wrong. I saw one recently, looked a bit odd but it wasn't glaring or anything.
Just as i constantly get told that I've left my lights on as I lock the car - it's just a feature of the car that as its not available on mondeos yet.
You should be able to turn it off in the menus though.

 

[nick-E55]

Thanks. The car's even better specc'd than i thought! MB seem to have thought of everything.. they've out-jap'd the japs.. Must say, having had the car for about a year now, the build quality is 100% too. Even the service from the main dealer (my biggest gripe in the past) has been impressive. Whatever next

 

[television]

You can turn this off Nick in the consumer menu

 

[philharve]

Selective parking lights - a nice touch

Hi All

I had a similar confusing experience shortly after purchasing my C-class. It was Winter time and I wanted to leave my parking lights on whilst I was indoors. The road was narrow where I had parked and I wanted to give other drivers adequate warning of my car's presence. But could I get all the parking lights to come on together? No! I thought 'blown bulbs'. When I checked they were all OK.

I mentioned there was something funny up with the lighting system to a colleague and they had a vague recollection that the lefthand and righthand circuits were independent but didn't know why. It seemed pointless to me too, that is, until I researched the problem.

You can switch on either set of parking lights according to which side of the road the car is parked. Having the roadside lights on is sufficient to identify the car to other road users and it saves draining the battery. When I thought about it some more I decided it was a nice touch. Very thoughtful of MB.

I still wonder if, one day, I will discover and other nice touches. Having owned the car for almost 3 years, that's unlikely. Still ... you never know.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

Empty out the lounge Phil, Winters coming take all the bits indoors, I still get a good feeling when I find out more about my car, the build is first class

 

[philharve]

Hi Malcolm

By shear coincidence I HAVE cleared out the lounge but only so that I can remove the carpet in order to examine the floor boards. I live in Cornwall which is notorious for woodworm. My home is like thousands of others and sooner or later the weakened floor boards have to be replaced. The only thing that's holding my lounge floor together is the carpet. Walking around in my lounge is like walking on a giant sponge, the floor boards are riddled with woodworm holes.

Which 'bits' had you in mind? Nothing heavy, of course, and my car must be in a fit state to drive. What about the bonnet badge or the rear seat and its headrests? Is this the sort of thing you had in mind?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

Dont forget phil that woodworm fly in March, as I understand it and dormant most of the year, Is there any truth in that

 

[philharve]

Dont forget phil that woodworm fly in March, as I understand it and dormant most of the year, Is there any truth in that

Hi Malcolm

I've heard that too. I have seen them flying around the house. They are not actually a worm, rather a small black beetle with wings and with a voracious appetite for certain types of soft wood such as that used in floor boards and furniture. They won't touch hard woods or coated woods. They tunnel into wood leaving a 'dart hole' and a small pile of wood dust on the floor. It's usually the piles of wood dust that first gives away their location.

They fly but I don't think they migrate (except possibly to next door). I think they hibernate or as you say, Malcolm, lay dormant for long periods. I have yet to find a remedy to defeat them. Chemical sprays only work if they come into contact with the beetle or the lava but they place a wood bung in the tunnel to stop outsiders getting in. So there's little chance of liquids reaching them. I have purchased a steam cleaner that's providing highly effective against dust mites and moulds. The 150 degree heat will certainly kill them in the open but I'm less sure when they are 'at home'. It's their wood boring activities that makes them a particular nuisance. Burning the wood will kill them.

Since this is a Mercedes forum I ought to mention woodworm in connection with Mercedes. I have owned several cars with wood in their construction/trim but I have never heard of woodworm attacking a car. Many up-market Mercedes models have polished wood trim (veneer?) but as far as I'm aware no insects have ever shown an interest in the wooden components. Don't know about the upholstery or leather coverings though. The situation may be entirely different in other countries such as Africa. What about termite attack???

REGARDS

Phil

 

[staylorhome]

Hi All

I had a similar confusing experience shortly after purchasing my C-class. It was Winter time and I wanted to leave my parking lights on whilst I was indoors. The road was narrow where I had parked and I wanted to give other drivers adequate warning of my car's presence. But could I get all the parking lights to come on together? No! I thought 'blown bulbs'. When I checked they were all OK.

I mentioned there was something funny up with the lighting system to a colleague and they had a vague recollection that the lefthand and righthand circuits were independent but didn't know why. It seemed pointless to me too, that is, until I researched the problem.

You can switch on either set of parking lights according to which side of the road the car is parked. Having the roadside lights on is sufficient to identify the car to other road users and it saves draining the battery. When I thought about it some more I decided it was a nice touch. Very thoughtful of MB.

I still wonder if, one day, I will discover and other nice touches. Having owned the car for almost 3 years, that's unlikely. Still ... you never know.

REGARDS

Phil

How do i activate it on my 2006 C Class

 

[television]

How do i activate it on my 2006 C Class

Sorry I do not think it was an option on your car

 

[television]

Phil the woodworms do love plywood as it is the glue that they love, they did eat the floor panels in cars and some walnut on Sundays.

 

[philharve]

How do i activate it on my 2006 C Class

Hi staylorhome

I can't speak for the 2006 C-class but mine is activated by the multi-function lighting switch on the dash on the righthand side of the steering wheel. It took me quite a while to figure out all the functions.

I'm not sure where I read about the left+right parking light system. It may have been in the vehicle handbook but I'm sure I first came across it on the Internet when I researched the curious behavior of the parking lights.

Sadly I no longer use the parking lights on my car because my street has upgraded lighting.

I wonder if this feature has been retained in the 2006 C-class?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

I wonder if this feature has been retained in the 2006 C-class?

REGARDS

Phil

I have just looked and its part of the Xenon package on the new C

 

[whitenemesis]

It is possible to activate cornering lights using STAR. One doesn't need to have xenons, despite what the dealers will tell you!

 

[whitenemesis]

Left-right poarking lights have been around for decades. Had it on a number of previous cars. Simply had the leave the indicator stalk in the desired position and switch off the ignition.

 

[Rory]

How do i activate it on my 2006 C Class

On my late 2004 C Class (which I would expect to be same as yours, but you never know), the lighting switch has 2 positions to the left of OFF - the arrows on the positions indicate left or right side parking lights.