Parking Light???

**SLKman** · 01-11-2007

I am wondering what the purpose of the individual parking light operation is for, on our cars?

If you turn your headlight switch to the left one notch, only the right parking light comes on.

If you turn the knob 1 more notch to the right, only the left side parking light comes on.

I am sure it is covered in my manual but I have never looked it up.

Any ideas?

SLKman

**etyu** · 01-11-2007

Depends on which side of the street you're parked. The lighted side should be towards the street and the non-lit side towards the curb. I believe it's a European thing, not commonly used in the US.

**SLKman** · 01-11-2007

For what purpose?

Flat tire = flashers

parked, car running = parking lights

Maybe to be left "on", over night, on side of road, thus using less battery??

I got it!!!

1 click... Machine guns come out of hood!

2 click... Oil slick out back of trunk for tail gaters!

SLKman

**etyu** · 01-11-2007

I guess so others can be aware that there's a car parked ahead at night. I like your options better.

bazzle · 01-12-2007

Some countries this is a legal req if parked on the street.
Used to be in UK when I lived there as a kid.

Bazzle

**DesignoSLK** · 01-13-2007

Having rescently taken my Germany driver's test...PHEW...the reason for the left and/or right parking light setting has been stated partially correct. It IS used for visibility for parking on streets and dependent on which side of the street (one-way street) you park on.

In addition, if you park within a certain distance of a light pole with particular markings, it is required by law to use the parking light because the pole marking indicates the street light shuts off at a particular time during the night.

It probably wouldn't be a bad thing to do even in the States if you want more visibility when parking at night. And no, it will not drain your battery with overnight use.

mtiede · 01-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesignoSLK

...
It probably wouldn't be a bad thing to do even in the States if you want more visibility when parking at night....

I suppose it would help the thieves locate which cars are worth enough to steal

**DesignoSLK** · 01-25-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtiede

I suppose it would help the thieves locate which cars are worth enough to steal

Hmmm...probably more truth to that than you want to think about.

dagd · 02-14-2007

I use the single parking light here in the UK if I park on an unlit street (common here in the UK outside town).

cyberdrakon · 02-14-2007

hm...i always wondered how long could the light stay on for...anyone know?

Elwood · 02-15-2007

Unsure but on the R170 but I presume it will be until the battery runs flat as it's a manual turn of the switch with no electronics to bring it back to it's off position.

01-11-2007	#1 (permalink)
SLKman Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Texas Vehicle: 2000 Copper Designo Sport Posts: 1,063 Country: Thanks: 261 Thanked 73 Times in 35 Posts	Parking Light??? I am wondering what the purpose of the individual parking light operation is for, on our cars? If you turn your headlight switch to the left one notch, only the right parking light comes on. If you turn the knob 1 more notch to the right, only the left side parking light comes on. I am sure it is covered in my manual but I have never looked it up. Any ideas? SLKman __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 2000 SLK230 copper Designo Sport To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-11-2007	#2 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,280 Country: Thanks: 377 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	Depends on which side of the street you're parked. The lighted side should be towards the street and the non-lit side towards the curb. I believe it's a European thing, not commonly used in the US. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

01-11-2007	#3 (permalink)
SLKman Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Texas Vehicle: 2000 Copper Designo Sport Posts: 1,063 Country: Thanks: 261 Thanked 73 Times in 35 Posts	For what purpose? Flat tire = flashers parked, car running = parking lights Maybe to be left "on", over night, on side of road, thus using less battery?? I got it!!! 1 click... Machine guns come out of hood! 2 click... Oil slick out back of trunk for tail gaters! SLKman __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 2000 SLK230 copper Designo Sport To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-11-2007	#4 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,280 Country: Thanks: 377 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	I guess so others can be aware that there's a car parked ahead at night. I like your options better. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

01-13-2007	#6 (permalink)
DesignoSLK Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Vehicle: 2000 Designo SLK230 Posts: 1,681 Country: Thanks: 92 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Having rescently taken my Germany driver's test...PHEW...the reason for the left and/or right parking light setting has been stated partially correct. It IS used for visibility for parking on streets and dependent on which side of the street (one-way street) you park on. In addition, if you park within a certain distance of a light pole with particular markings, it is required by law to use the parking light because the pole marking indicates the street light shuts off at a particular time during the night. It probably wouldn't be a bad thing to do even in the States if you want more visibility when parking at night. And no, it will not drain your battery with overnight use. __________________ Kevin An American in Germany... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. '00 SLK230 Designo copper, '06 Saturn Vue, Cessna 172 (pilot)

01-12-2007	#5 (permalink)
bazzle Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Vehicle: slk230 1998 Other Toys: Mercedes A Class W169, A 200 E Sport, (Cazzles) Posts: 211 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Some countries this is a legal req if parked on the street. Used to be in UK when I lived there as a kid. Bazzle

02-14-2007	#9 (permalink)
dagd Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey UK Vehicle: 2001 SLK230 Posts: 43 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I use the single parking light here in the UK if I park on an unlit street (common here in the UK outside town).

02-14-2007	#10 (permalink)
cyberdrakon Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SoCal, USA Vehicle: SLK55 2006 Other Toys: 560SEC 1990, CLK500 2005 Posts: 1,400 Country: Thanks: 24 Thanked 63 Times in 42 Posts	hm...i always wondered how long could the light stay on for...anyone know?

02-15-2007	#11 (permalink)
Elwood SLK World Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Co. Durham Vehicle: SLK 230 1998 Posts: 91 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Unsure but on the R170 but I presume it will be until the battery runs flat as it's a manual turn of the switch with no electronics to bring it back to it's off position.

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