I like them and even actually use them sometimes.
US version: (the orange dot lights up when you pull the heaadlight switch outward to the second detent on the headlight switch); on US spec cars (seen below) unfortunately, the orange dot is disconnected, you would have to wire it up and use a grain of wheat bulb to make it work.
They are meant to save battery juice and only illuminate the side of the car that is next to traffic to indicate where it is parked, so passing vehicles won't miss seeing it at night and sideswipe it when it's parked next to the curb.
They are left and right so they can illuminate whichever side of the parked car is closest to passing traffic.
European version with thumbwheel headlight adjusters seen at right:
With only the ONE taillight and front corner light illuminated, the draw on the battery is lower and the car could sit parked for hours with the standing lights on, and not drain down the battery, very much - so you could turn the key and the car would still fire right up.
Besdes this, it makes it pretty easy to find YOUR car on the dark street at night, it would almost certainly be the only one lit up that way.
I like some of the unique tricks on these old Mercedes Benzes, such as a MANUAL outside mirror adjusment, the litte baby sunshade above the inside rear view mirror, and the dead bang reliable VDO analog clock which 20 years after the car is built, keeps good time and is easy to read. Not to mention the placement of the dead pedal, the dash gauges always logically placed and easy to read, day or night, and the cruise control stalk that can be tapped either up or down when the cruise control is on, to increase your speed one mile an hour up, or down, with each up or down "blip" with your finger. And the bus sized steering wheel designed fopr long distance cruising so one elbow falls on the door armrest, and the other, on the center armrest, if you like...
Lots of wonderful unique features on these old Mercedes Benzes.
I love driving mine, I love its looks, its build quality, longevity, durability, safety, ease and simplicity of repair, its supreme long distance comfort, and suportive seats, drieveability, power, cornering and emergency handling and braking ability, prestige, ability to cruise at high speed all day and achieve interstellar mileage, and availibility of parts and many more things it has.
Well kept up, it will last almost forever, and it makes the 1991 MSRP of $84,500 USD more palatible, considering it looks and runs as new, almost 20 years later.
1991 560SEC AMG of mine as seen January 2110 in Alameda CA. :
