[mike93108]

I have a 1997 E300 NA Diesel.

How do I get my lights to come on automatically when the car starts and go off automatically when the car is turned off?

I was very surprised to find out when I bought it that the headlights would not just turn on automatically when I start the car. This is a great safety help and has been standard on many cars for many years.

I'm hoping to just receive advice on how to do this and not have this turn into a discussion about whether this is best or why others dislike this approach. I'm sure that there is room for that elsewhere.

If you know how to do this or if you have actually done this, I would greatly appreciate your counsel.

Much thanks!!

Mike

 

[shingleback]

You have 2 choices:
1. use a relay to trigger the lights on when the car is running (you have to deal with feedback when the headlight switch is in the ON position too)
2. Get a headlight switch and wiring diagram from a 97 Canadian car and install according to the Canadian wiring diagram; the switch has the proper contacts for DRL. We have had mandatory DRL (daylight running lights) since 1990.

 

[RichardM98]

Mercedes started using CAN bus on models beginning in 1992. I believe all USA W210's are CAN bus. The way it works is that when you turn on the HL switch a low voltage signal is sent to the ECU (or ECM if you prefer) requesting 'headlights on'. Then a signal is sent by the ECU to the HL's and they turn on. This allows features like leaving the lights on for a few seconds when parking in a dimly lite area or at night, etc. even though you get out of the car and lock the doors.

When MB's arrive at the POE depot in Long Beach they are programmed according to country of destination. Those going to Canada have the head lights programmed to stay on when the key is on. Some people have suggested asking a dealer to re-program them but no one, to the best of my knowledge, has posted that they have succeeded.

The easiest solution is to get in the habit of turning the HL's off and on yourself. Even if you miss the warning when exiting the car, the lights are supposed to go off automatically after about 30 min to protect the battery. However, I've never tested that.

 

[raymond-]

i have all of next week off. if I have time, I'll look into this to see if I can toggle
this ON as if my car was Canadian. will advise. sometimes the menu is in German
so I'm left lip diddling and unsure what to do.

 

[Kajtek1]

In the past, I did rewire couple of cars to have lights powered by ignition relay.
If the computer programming will not work for some reason, the light switch has all fuses easy accessible on the side of it.
I don't see big trouble of rerouting the wires and run them via relay taking a signal from ignition-activated circuit like lighter circuit.