"Standing lights" proper use?
 

the owners manual makes no mention of HOW and WHEN one should use the standing lights.

What is the proper use for these lights and when??

you mean the parking lights. Like maybe when you park on the side of a street and headlights are not needed but some form of illumination is needed for traffic to see you

it was my understanding that they were to be used when parking on dark narrow European streets overnight so that the car can be seen. It seems that on our cars it is a carry over feature, never really used here in the states.

Ive never tried leaving them on over night, but with a good battery I dont see how the little circuit that they are on could drain a good battery.

Someone try it and let us know.

If not, Ill try it this weekend and let you all know. Im driving the SL-C for daily use for the next day or so (it is its time in the rotation of vehicles to be driven)

I believe you are talking about the feature which allows the front and back parking light on the same side to remain on while those same lights on the other side are not illuminated. We have always used the streetside lights when parking on city streets. Makes the car easier to see. At least for a few hours it has never bothered the battery.

I use them on my cars when I've had to park them in a high traffic area. Figure it can't hurt to make the car more visible.

The power used is very low (30w on my TDI, 40w on the Benz), so you can leave them on for hours with no problem.

-Jason

When I was driving my SD, and I had to park in an alleyway during winter when all the snow is pushed aside narrowing the passage. I had them on for at least a good 5 hours with no ill effect.

Lights "On" on the side facing Traffic
 

Lights "Off" on the side up against the buildings.
(Kinda Nasty for Drunk Pedestrians stumbling along the frozen sidewalks...
BUT they couldn't really do much damage tripping over the parked Mercedes.)

I know this is an older thread but figured I'd add my 2 cents. While stationed in Frankfurt Germany I noticed cars using these lights, lights on the streetside were lit. I use mine (left side lit) when at gas stations.