Apologies if this has been discussed in another thread, but does anyone know the significance of the head light switch settings where 1) only the right side parking lights come on and 2) only the left side parking lights come on?? What purpose do the settings serve??

Thanks in advance.

 

The purpose to **** you off lol

 

Zoodust,

Yup, I initially was thinking the same.

Within the first couple weeks of getting the car (now with me for about 3+ months), I must have inadvertently turned one of the settings on once or twice. I'm pretty sure other owners have gone through this and thought that there must be some electrical glitch without realizing they also inadvertently chose the wrong setting (not the OFF setting).

For a second there I really thought there was something screwy with the car!!

 

The left side "standing" light is for parking in the U.S. , and the right side is for Euro parking?

 

X1^, the settings are for collision avoidance according to which side of the road your parking/standing. It allows you to light up the side of the car closest to traffic when pulled over. Cheers!

 

...as if oncoming traffic is going to know what that means.
I guess if the hazard lignts fail, then we have a back up.

 

It's so you can drive along with just one side lit until the cop pulls you over for a tail light out.
Then you can mess with his head by quickly turning the switch to park before he gets out and walks up.
"What's the problem, officer ? "

 

No, no. they are "One side only" parking/marker lights. NOT for use when in motion.

 

Actually, they're required by law in Europe. When you are parked on an unlit street at night, in the direction of traffic flow, you're supposed to show lights front and back, on the side furthest from the kerb. Hence one side for RHD (England) the other side for LHD, (rest of Europe), and they're known as parking lamps.
They should only come on when the ignition is off.

 

I can't comment for Europe, but the UK rules don't mention only having lights lit on the side furthest from the kerb. Every car I've driven has had side (parking) lights, but the Xfire is the only one that allows left/right selection.

 

Check the regs again, it's an old law dating back to when there weren't many street lights, and when parked you were supposed to show lights on the 'road' side of the car. At one time Halfords used to sell a small light that clipped to the window, and you powered from the cigarette lighter, which showed an amber light at the front, and red at the rear.
They may have taken the law off the books, but I doubt it, if the crossfire is equipped to meet it.
I left the UK in 1995, but remember these 'useless laws' when I was a kid


Parking at night

248
You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.
[Laws CUR reg 101 & RVLR reg 24]
249
All vehicles MUST display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph (48 km/h).
[Law RVLR reg 24]
250
Cars, goods vehicles not exceeding 1525 kg unladen weight, invalid carriages, motorcycles and pedal cycles may be parked without lights on a road (or lay-by) with a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) or less if they are
· at least 10 metres (32 feet) away from any junction, close to the kerb and facing in the direction of the traffic flow
· in a recognised parking place or lay-by
Other vehicles and trailers, and all vehicles with projecting loads, MUST NOT be left on a road at night without lights.
[Laws RVLR reg 24 & CUR reg 82(7)]
251
Parking in fog. It is especially dangerous to park on the road in fog. If it is unavoidable, leave your parking lights or sidelights on.
252
Parking on hills. If you park on a hill you should
· park close to the kerb and apply the handbrake firmly
· select a forward gear and turn your steering wheel away from the kerb when facing uphill

 

That excerpt from the highway code is all I could find too but it doesn't define what it means by "parking lights". It was some time ago when I took my test, but I remembered parking lights being the side lights i.e. on both sides of the car. My dad helped me out with this one, he's been driving for 53 years and spent many of those years as a driving instructor. Turns out the minimum is to have the offside illuminated. You can't park against the flow of traffic, so that means the side furthest from the kerb. Both sides is fine, hence why most cars don't offer the option of one side without the other.

 

Off side is the term I was looking for ......... ................ not as in football either.
ask him if he remembers the aftermarket type ...........of course this could just be the rambling of a senile old man ........

 

as others have mentioned, parking lights used in Europe. And most cars I've seen over here have them.

 

2002 SLK32
- Dyno-Tuned by Eurocharged // Code3 Pulley, Intake, Belt Wrap // Wavetrac LSD // NW oil catch can // Custom Intercooler Reservoir
- Port & Polished Y-Pipe w/ boost guage // 16x7 Voxx MG3's w/ 255/50-16 MT ET Street Radials // Best 1/4 mile: 12.173 @ 114.43

2002 slk32 isnt this a chrysler crossfire forum not a mercedes forum?

 

Thanks for the feedback!!! Don't think I'll ever intentionally use this feature...

 

Do they automatically turn off? And since I'm in America would I use the ones on the left or right? I want to start using mine lol

 

Turn on the side that shows traffic you are parked or hanging out, regardless of what side of the road you are on. You could be on a one way street hanging out on either side, right?