Just got a new (used) 1998 E430. Canadian car.

It has the factory xenon lights. When I turn the car on and put it into gear, the headlights come on, as is standard. This is independent of the light switch inside the car.

However, the interior lights - instrument panel, dash, gear selector, climate control/radio - don't come on until I turn the lights on with the light switch on the dash.

Is this normal? Something to do with the xenons?

I thought that all the interior lights should come on when the car is in gear?

TIA

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Perhaps it has to do with the car being Canadianized? It would have been modified a/c Canadian law so that the headlights are always on when driving, but the original switching configuration for the internal lights is still there.

Just a WAG...

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

Thanks beevly. I think that may be it as well, just trying to figure it out. I drove another E430, same year, but when the car was in gear, all the lights came on (including interior).

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Unlike their American counterparts, all Canadian Mercedes have Daytime Running Lights (DRL's). DRL's activate the front headlamps only, not the interior lights or rear lights. Hope this helps!

Perfect, thx!

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

well yes and no, my 98 has the lights on inside and outside at all times, I dont touch nothing.

but, there was a sd from benz, so you can switch the lights on manually if you wanted to.

it is an option not a directive.

maybe this car had the mod done, and something else changed, anyone else help here that has had this mod done please pipe in

This is perfectly normal.

Dash lights NEVER come on in ANY car unless turned on by light switch.

BTW, your tail lights don't, either.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles