I've had my car for 2 years, valet parked it the other day, and for the first time ever, there was a light on, on the center of the light switch. I didn't even know there was a bulb there, just thought it was a white dot.

Why did it come on, and what is it for?

Thanks,

Jeff 1991 300d, 118k

Fog lights?

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

JBACH36,

Turn your main parking lights on (1st click clockwise with the light switch)
then pull the switch out 1/4 inch towards you (Fog lamps are now on).

When you turn the light switch back to Off it "Resets" and turns off the fogs.

From the factory on US-spec cars the light in the switch doesn't work. Its actually intended to come on for the rear fog lamps, which are not present on the US cars. The lenses are empty and have no bulbs/sockets by default. The switch actually pulls out two clicks if you pull enough. That second click activates the rear fogs on a euro, and that little light to let you know they're on.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

That is correct, the little light in the center of the switch is for the Euro fogs, but does anyone know WHY the DOT made them illegal, so that the US spec Mercedes Benz cars do not have them?

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

probably so you wouldnt wreck thinking a car was in your lane coming head on, I think thats why the rear running lights on US cars are red and the fronts are yellow.

__________________

1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

?? The rear euro-fogs on our cars were/are red....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

The first detent is the front fogs, the second detent is front and rear fogs, the rear fog position also turns on the light in the switch.

Rear fogs were not wired nor installed in US cars until '91, your car does have the rear fog, standard starting '91. It is a 21w bulb in the left taillamp only.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Wrong-
Both my AMERICAN 95's have rear fog lights. They work great! The knob light is active if the rear lights were installed and operational.

__________________
Mark
========
THE WHITE FLEET
2016 GLE300d 4-MATIC 38K BROWN!
2012 S350 Bluetec==94k WHITE

2007 ML320 CDI==166K WHITE (FOR SALE)

Under new management:
2005 E320 CDI--140K--WHITE
1995 E300-Diesel-133.5K--THE CAR IS BLUE
1986 300SL--97.5K (European) AND WHITE. Back in Europe!
1991 190E 2.3-73K California Perfect.--WHITE
1995 E320-Wagon-159K--WHITE (recently scrapped)
1987 300D Turbo-213K--WHITE
1987 190D 2.5 Turbo-288K--WHITE

Same on my 98....

__________________
Joe

1998 E300D turbo 240K + Miles
2000 Dodge Dakota 122K + Miles
1992 Mazda Miata Autocross Machine 143K + Miles
http://www.renegademiata.net

Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains. - Winston Churchill

Yeah...no rear fogs or working knob light on my '90. I think the bulb for the knob light is there, but it never turns on.

__________________
Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz

Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel

So,would the rear fog light bulb position be the "empty"(no socket) lower
left hand in the rear lens? (on the W124)

Here's a question about my 300TD... why are there 2 extra notches to the left of "off" on the light switch? I had a 99 SLK that had that feature as well. One click turned only the right parking lights on, the last click turned only left parking lights on... what's that about?

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1984 300TD Wagon

Compress,

There is only one rear fog bulb, on the driver's side. The other socket should not even be wired.

Aaron,

The first notch to the right of "off" is the parking lamps. The two notches to the left light just the left side or right side lamps. Apparently, people use these for parking lamps in Europe.

The left/right park lights will only work with the key off.

In the pre-'91 the rear fog is not wired, nor is there a connector for the lamp. The switch in the US cars also doesn't have the circuit for rear fogs pre-'91 (201 and 124 anyway, I don't know when the other models changed).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff