
36 Central locking system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Locking and unlocking with remote control
Unlocking:
Press transmit buttonŒ. All turn signal lamps blink 
once to indicate that the vehicle is unlocked.
The remote control can be programmed for two kinds of 
unlocking modes (see below):
Selective unlocking mode –
Press transmit buttonŒonce to unlock driver’s door 
and fuel filler flap.
Press transmit buttonŒ twice to unlock both doors, 
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Global unlocking mode –
Press transmit buttonŒonce to unlock both doors, 
fuel filler flap, and trunk.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will 
remain locked, see page 53.
The presently active unlocking mode (selective or 
global) can only be determined by unlocking the vehicle 
with the remote control (see below for changing mode).If within 40 seconds of unlocking with the remote 
control, neither door nor trunk is opened, the electronic 
key is not inserted in the starter switch, or the central 
locking switch is not activated, the vehicle will 
automatically lock.
Locking:
Press transmit button‹ once. All turn signal lamps 
blink three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked. If 
they do not blink three times, a door or trunk is not 
properly closed.
Note:
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked by pressing 
the transmit button, then it may be necessary to change 
the batteries in the electronic main key (if ok, battery 
check lamp in electronic main key will light briefly 
when pressing transmit button) or to synchronize the 
remote control, see pages 363 and 365. 

37 Central locking system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Choosing global or selective mode on remote control
Press and hold transmit buttons‹ andŒ 
simultaneously for approx. 6 seconds to reprogram the 
remote control. Battery check lamp will blink two times 
indicating the completed mode change.
Opening the trunk
The trunk lid will swing open automatically. You should 
always make sure there is sufficient clearance.
A minimum height clearance of 6 ft. (1.85 m) is 
required to open the trunk lid.
Press transmit buttonŠ until trunk lid is open.Important!
Do not place remote control in trunk since trunk is 
locked when the lid is closed if the vehicle is centrally 
locked.
Notes:
If the trunk was previously locked separately, it will 
remain locked, see page 53.
Vehicles with optional trunk lid 
opening/closing system (see page 58):
The switch operated opening/closing procedure can be 
immediately halted by pressing buttonŠ on the 
electronic main key. 

38 Central locking system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
KEYLESS-GO
Important!
For the KEYLESS-GO-system to function properly, the 
operator should observe the following:
•The driver should carry the KEYLESS-GO-card with 
him/her.
•To avoid radio transmission interference, never store 
the KEYLESS-GO-card together with other electronic 
items (e.g. cellular telephones, other KEYLESS-GO-
cards) or metallic objects (e.g. coins, metal foil).
•To lock or unlock the vehicle, the card must be 
recognized by the system as being located outside 
the vehicle. The card must be in close proximity to a 
door or the trunk lid (approx. 3 ft. [1 m]). To activate 
the start/stop button function, the KEYLESS-GO-
card must be recognized by the system as being 
located inside the vehicle.
•If the KEYLESS-GO-card is positioned farther away 
from the vehicle (e.g. inside clothing or a briefcase) 
and can no longer be recognized by the system, the 
vehicle cannot be locked or the engine started via 
the KEYLESS-GO-system.•If the KEYLESS-GO-card is removed from the vehicle 
while the engine is running, or by placing the card 
in front of the center armrest (see page 190), the 
message “CHIP-CARD – NOT RECOGNIZED!” will 
appear repeatedly in the multifunction display, 
seepage318.
Find the card or change its present location (e.g. 
place it on the front passenger seat or insert it in 
shirt pocket).
•If the message “CHIP-CARD – NOT RECOGNIZED” 
is ignored for an extended period of time (approx.15 
minutes), the engine could stop by itself during a 
vehicle stop (e.g. traffic light). The vehicle can then 
no longer be centrally locked or the engine 
restarted. You must first find the card or change its 
present location (e.g. place it on the front passenger 
seat or insert it in shirt pocket). Start the engine 
again. See page 224.
•Do not forget, the engine can be started by anyone 
with a KEYLESS-GO-card that is left inside the 
vehicle. Leaving the chip-card behind when exiting 
and locking the vehicle, the message “CHIP-CARD –
STILL IN VEHICLE” appears in the multifunction 
display, see page 318. 

100 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Safety guidelines for the seat belt, emergency 
tensioning retractor and airbag
Wa r n i n g !
• Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly 
stressed in an accident must be replaced and 
their anchoring points must also be checked. 
Use only belts installed or supplied by an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.• Airbags and “ETR’s” are designed to function 
on a one-time-only basis. An airbag or 
emergency tensioning retractor (ETR) that was 
activated must be replaced.• No modifications of any kind may be made to 
any components or wiring of the “SRS”. This 
includes changing or removing any component 
or part of the “SRS”, the installation of 
additional trim material, badges etc. over the 
steering wheel hub, front passenger airbag 
cover, door trim panels, or door frame trims, 
and installation of additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near “SRS” 
components and wiring. Keep area between 
airbags and occupants free from objects (e.g. 
packages, purses, umbrellas, etc.). 
• Do not pass belts over sharp edges.• Do not make any modification that could 
change the effectiveness of the belts.• Do not use handles or coat hooks above doors 
and rear windows for placing such items as 
coat hangers etc..• An airbag system component within the 
steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has 
inflated. Do not touch.• Improper work on the system, including 
incorrect installation and removal, can lead to 
possible injury through an unintended 
activation of the “SRS”.• In addition, through improper work there is a 
risk of rendering the “SRS” inoperative or 
causing unintended airbag deployment. Work 
on the “SRS” must therefore only be performed 
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 

151 Tire inflation pressure monitor
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Notes:
Following a tire inflation pressure reactivation process 
the real tire inflation pressures are displayed only after 
a few minutes travel time.
Possible differences between readings of a tire pressure 
gauge of an air hose, e.g. gas station equipment, and the 
vehicle’s multifunction display can occur. The vehicle’s 
multifunction display of the tire inflation pressure 
monitor is a more precise reading.Activation of tire inflation pressure monitor
Activation of tire inflation pressure monitor is 
necessary if tire inf lation pressure is being changed, 
wheels or tires are replaced, or new wheels are installed 
on the vehicle. 
Tire inf lation pressure should be checked and corrected 
according to the label affixed inside the fuel filler flap. 
For a detailed description, refer to page 345.
Turn electronic key in starter switch to position 2 (the 
engine must not be running).
Notes:
When checking the tire inflation pressure of the road 
wheels, also check the spare tire. 
The tire inflation pressure of the spare wheel, mounted 
or not mounted, is not monitored by the tire inflation 
pressure monitor.
See page 335 for location of the spare wheel, and 
page 345 for tire inflation pressure. 

160 Combination switch
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Combination switch
1Low beam
(exterior lamp switch positionB)
2High beam
(exterior lamp switch positionB)3High beam flasher (high beam available 
independent of exterior lamp switch position)
4Turn signals, right
5Turn signals, left
To signal minor directional changes, such as changing 
lanes on a highway, move combination switch brief ly to 
the point of resistance only and release. The turn 
signals blink three times.
To operate the turn signals continuously, move the 
combination switch past the point of resistance (up or 
down). The switch is automatically canceled when the 
steering wheel is turned to a large enough degree.
Turn signal failure
If one of the turn signals fails, the turn signal indicator 
system f lashes and sounds at a faster than normal rate.
P54.25-2388-26
5
2
1
4
3
4
5 

261 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Additional driving hints
Important!
When starting the engine, Distronic goes through an 
initialization and self-test phase. 
The most likely cause for a malfunctioning system is 
caused by a dirty sensor (located behind the hood 
grille), especially at times of snow and ice or heavy rain. 
In such a case, Distronic will switch off, and the 
message “DISTRONIC – CLEAN SENSOR!” appears in 
the multifunction display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic sensor see 
page 378.
The following are some sample situations which may 
influence the functions of Distronic.
Wa r n i n g !
Distronic works to maintain the speed selected by 
the driver unless a moving obstacle proceeding 
directly ahead of it in the same travel direction is 
detected (e.g. following another vehicle ahead at a 
distance set by Distronic). This means that:• your vehicle can pass another vehicle after you 
change lanes,• while in a sharp turn or if the vehicle in front 
is in a sharp turn, Distronic could lose sight of 
a vehicle traveling in front of it, then your 
vehicle could accelerate to the previously 
selected speed.Distronic regulates only the distance between your 
vehicle and those directly ahead, but does not 
register stationary objects in the roadway, e.g.: 
• a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam.
• a disabled vehicle.
• an oncoming vehicle.
The driver must always be on the alert and observe 
all traffic and intercede with steering and braking 
inputs as necessary.Wa r n i n g !
Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy road 
conditions.