White Light On Underside Of Rear View Mirror 2008 S204 C220Cdi

[Chrishazle]

I've never before noticed this, but herself had to drive home in the dark a week or so back and has been giving me earache about it ever since, wants it turned off! Can't find anything about it in the owner's manual. I think it's permanently on to illuminate the Comand etc controls and the switches etc around the gearstick. She does nothing except complain about it every time we go out in the car now, even in daylight, but as it's dark so early these days we can't go anywhere in the afternoon without "comment".

Can anyone "shed light" on this - is it as I suspect permanently on with engine, or can it be switched on and off?

 

[s5tuart]

I've never before noticed this, but herself had to drive home in the dark a week or so back and has been giving me earache about it ever since, wants it turned off! Can't find anything about it in the owner's manual. I think it's permanently on to illuminate the Comand etc controls and the switches etc around the gearstick. She does nothing except complain about it every time we go out in the car now, even in daylight, but as it's dark so early these days we can't go anywhere in the afternoon without "comment".

Can anyone "shed light" on this - is it as I suspect permanently on with engine, or can it be switched on and off?

Take the bulb out?

 

[EmilysDad]

she wants it off .... so let her do it

or ..... black tape over it or paint it black

Pretty sure my Omega had one too

 

[Uncle Benz]

Ambient light, as you say to provide hand to eye reference when using buttons on the centre console. They all have it. I don’t know if you can dim it via the settings menu. You can adjust ambient light brightness on the w205

 

[Chrishazle]

TBH, I do not want to dim it or turn it out unless I can turn it on for when I'm driving, as I find it un-noticable but useful. What I need to turn off is the earache from the passenger seat - which I know from 48 years experience is not easy!! Will have a look at the settings menu, but other than that it's staying as is!

 

[EmilysDad]

..... What I need to turn off is the earache from the passenger seat - .....

 

[SL63 Mark]

Stick a bit of blu-tac in the light hole ? Simple, reversible and unobtrusive. Unfortunately means you will no longer be able to see your centre console, gear lever, or switches. All Mercs have this ambient lighting for a reason, tell her it is a safety issue.

Normally it is not very bright, and is red coloured so you barely notice it. Are you sure you don't have one of the map reading lights on by mistake ?

 

[Mr Greedy]

Tell her it's a a safety feature and is supposed to be there. Suggest (but do nothing!!!!!) about the blue tac or roll of black tape options for when she's driving. Nothing more you can do and if she wants to eliminate the safety feature, it's time to put on some big girl shoes and do it herself. If she does it, remove it before you set off.

I'm faced with similar scenarios in life. But I would not actively help in a situation like this, as in the event of an accident potentially caused by said lack of lighting on the controls, the driver would immediately point the finger at me having 'tampered' with the light. It's the same reason why when the passenger shouts impatiently 'go, what are you waiting for, it's clear', I go when I'm good and ready and certain it is clear, because if I then had an accident it would immediately (and correctly) be turned round to 'you were driving, your fault'.

Good luck as per Taken vid clip above.

 

[Chrishazle]

I've told her it's a safety feature that cannot be turned off, but even when in the passenger seat like this evening she complains, so I guess it's put up with the earache for now, it's not one of the overhead center console lights being on, just a safety feature of the car that I have no problem with - but I'm not female!! We are already considering changing the S204 as she finds it too big now (until we go away for a weekend with grandchildren!!) so maybe that will "cure" the problem!!