Lights coming on of their own accord

[littleowl]

I'm still getting used to all the gadgets and gizmos this car has, do the exterior lights come on their own if the key is left in the ignition and the car senses it's getting dark? I was parked up for about 15 mins and left the key in, and the sidelights and dash illumination came on after about 10 mins. I didn't think it was particularly dark but it was overcast and about 4.30pm. I hadn't touched anything, they just lit up on their own!

 

[markjay]

Looks like the auto lights feature decided it was dark enough... but ther's no reason to suspect anything is wrong. Ther's a 'light and rain' sensor inside the black plastic housing behind the rear view mirror. That's how the car knows if it's dark outside...

 

[Stratman]

Is the light switch in the "A" (auto) position?

 

[Delderek]

Happens on my C class regularly, feel a right idiot driving with headlights on, when no one else is, all I do is switch from auto to side lights (stupidly there is no off position on c class) for a few seconds, then back to auto, and that fixes it. Went back to dealer under warranty. Standard reply "They all do that"

 

[littleowl]

Yes the lights are set to auto, and I know that they decide when to come on if you are moving or engine running but I was parked up with engine off and key in 0 position, which I found odd!

 

[littleowl]

Happens on my C class regularly, feel a right idiot driving with headlights on, when no one else is, all I do is switch from auto to side lights (stupidly there is no off position on c class) for a few seconds, then back to auto, and that fixes it. Went back to dealer under warranty. Standard reply "They all do that"

I don’t know why they don’t let you switch back to daytime running lights, mine also come on at what I perceive as light conditions! I do wonder if other drivers think I’m flashing them

 

[markjay]

Yes the lights are set to auto, and I know that they decide when to come on if you are moving or engine running but I was parked up with engine off and key in 0 position, which I found odd!

Are you sure this wasn't the Surround Lighting function ?

 

[littleowl]

Are you sure this wasn't the Surround Lighting function ?

I don’t know what that is (still discovering new things), how does it work? It didn’t come on when I first stopped, it was about 10 mins after?

 

[markjay]

I don’t know what that is (still discovering new things), how does it work? It didn’t come on when I first stopped, it was about 10 mins after?

What are Surround Lights? - Mercedes-Benz Forum

 

[littleowl]

Thank you, it doesn't sound like that, bit of a mystery lol

 

[stephenmercedes]

... (stupidly there is no off position on c class)

Really?

 

[markjay]

It's different on the W204 facelift....

 

[markjay]

Thre's no 'Off':

 

[clk320x]

feel a right idiot driving with headlights on

Really? Lol who cares