
1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information  .......................... 7
Operator’s manual  ............................. 8
Where to find it  ................................ 13
Reporting Safety Defects  ................ 15Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls  ............... 18
Door control panel  ....................... 20
Overhead control panel  ............... 21
Dashboard  ..................................... 22
Center console  .............................. 24OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 28
Start lock-out  .................................... 32
General notes on the
central locking system  ............... 33Central locking system ................... 34
Radio frequency and 
infrared remote control  .............. 34
KEYLESS-GO  ................................ 38
Opening and closing 
windows and
sliding/pop-up roof 
from outside  ................................. 45
Panic button  ................................. 47
Mechanical keys  .......................... 47
Doors  ................................................. 48
Power closing assist for 
doors and trunk lid  .................... 50
Central locking switch .................... 50
Automatic central locking .............. 52
Emergency unlocking
in case of accident  ...................... 52
Trunk ................................................. 53
Trunk lid release switch  ................ 57
Trunk lid release/close switch ...... 58
Trunk lid emergency release  .........61
Antitheft alarm system ................... 62
Tow-away alarm  ............................... 64
Easy-entry/exit feature  .................. 66Front seat adjustment  ..................... 67
Removal and installation
of front seat head restraints  ...... 71
Backrest  ............................................. 72
Lumbar support  ............................... 74
Multicontour backrest ..................... 74
Seat heater  ........................................ 76
Seat ventilation system  ................... 79
Power head restraints, rear  ............ 81
Seat belts and 
integrated restraint system  ....... 82
Seat belts  ........................................... 82
Seat belt nonusage
warning system  ............................ 83
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system  .................... 88
Self-test BabySmart
TM
without special child 
seat installed  ................................. 89
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS)  ................................ 90
Emergency tensioning
retractor (ETR) ............................. 91
Airbags  .............................................. 92 

2 Contents
Safety guidelines for the
seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor
and airbag  .................................. 100
Infant and child
restraint systems ....................... 102
Steering wheel adjustment  .......... 105
Rear view mirrors  .......................... 106
Rear view mirror,
automatic antiglare ................... 106
Memory function  ............................111
Instrument cluster  ..........................114
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ............... 120
Trip and main odometer,
FSS, tire inflation pressure 
monitor and 
engine oil level indicator  ......... 124
Audio systems  ................................ 125
Radio  ............................................ 125
CD player  ..................................... 126
Cassette player  ........................... 127
Telephone  ........................................ 128
Telephone book  .......................... 128
Redialing  ..................................... 130Incoming call ...............................131
Navigation system  ..........................132
Distronic (DTR)  ...............................133
Trip computer  .................................134
Malfunction/warning
message memory  ......................136
Individual settings  .........................138
Setting the audio volume  ............. 146
Flexible service system
(FSS)  ........................................... 147
Tire inflation
pressure monitor  .......................150
Engine oil level indicator  ..............154
Engine oil consumption  ................155
Exterior lamp switch ......................156
Headlamp mode  ..............................157
Night security illumination  ..........158
Headlamp cleaning system  ...........159
Combination switch  .......................160
Hazard warning flasher
switch  ..........................................163
Automatic climate control .............164
Display and controls  ..................166
Dust filter  .....................................167Basic setting  ............................... 168
Special settings  .......................... 169
Air recirculation  ......................... 171
Activated charcoal filter  ............ 172
Economy mode  ........................... 173
Residual engine heat 
utilization  .................................... 174
Switching the automatic 
climate control on and off ......... 175
Front center console storage 
compartment ventilation  .......... 175
Rear window defroster  .................. 176
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air outlets  ................ 177
Power windows ............................... 178
Sliding/pop-up roof  ....................... 181
Interior lighting  ............................. 184
Rear window sunshade  ................. 186
Sun visors  ....................................... 187
Vanity mirrors  ................................ 187
Interior  ............................................ 188
Storage compartments
and armrests  .............................. 188
Glove box  ..................................... 189 

5 ContentsChanging wheels  ...........................340
Tire inflation pressure  ..................345
Battery  .............................................346
Jump starting  ..................................349
Towing the vehicle ......................... 351
Exterior lamps  ................................354
Headlamp assembly ...................355
Taillamp assemblies  ..................358
Standby bulb function ................... 361
Changing batteries 
in the electronic main key .......363
Synchronizing
remote control  ............................365
Changing batteries
in the KEYLESS-GO-card  .........366
Emergency engine
shut-down ...................................368
Fuel filler flap, 
manual release  ..........................368Emergency operation of
sliding/pop-up roof  .................. 369
Replacing wiper blades  ................ 370
Trunk lamp ......................................371
Roof rack  ......................................... 372
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle  ..............................374
Power washer  ............................. 375
Tar stains  .....................................376
Paintwork, painted body 
components  .................................376
Engine cleaning  ..........................376
Vehicle washing  ..........................376
Ornamental moldings  ............... 377
Headlamps, taillamps, 
turn signal lenses  ...................... 377Cleaning the Distronic 
system sensor  .............................378
Cleaning the parktronic 
system sensors  ...........................378
Wiper blades  ...............................379
Light alloy wheels  ......................380
Instrument cluster  ..................... 381
Steering wheel and 
gear selector lever ...................... 381
Cup holder ................................... 381
Seat belts  .....................................382
Headliner and shelf
below rear window .....................382
Leather upholstery .....................382
Hard plastic trim items  .............382
Plastic and rubber parts ............382 

21 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Overhead control panel1Interior lighting, see page 184
2Sliding/pop-up roof, see page 181
3Tele Aid (emergency call system), see page 210
4Hands-free microphone for Tele Aid, telephone and 
voice recognition system
5Rear view mirror, seepage106
6Garage door opener, see page 202
P82.00-2030-27
123
456 

26 Contents - Operation
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 28
Start lock-out  .................................... 32
General notes on the 
central locking system  ............... 33
Central locking system  ................... 34
Radio frequency and infrared 
remote control  .............................. 34
KEYLESS-GO  ................................. 38
Opening and closing 
windows and
sliding/pop-up roof 
from outside  .................................. 45
Panic button  .................................. 47
Mechanical keys  ........................... 47
Doors .................................................. 48
Power closing assist for 
doors and trunk lid  ..................... 50
Central locking switch  .................... 50
Automatic central locking  .............. 52
Emergency unlocking
in case of accident  ...................... 52
Trunk  ................................................. 53
Trunk lid release switch  ................. 57Trunk lid release/close switch ...... 58
Trunk lid emergency release  .........61
Antitheft alarm system ................... 62
Tow-away alarm  ............................... 64
Easy-entry/exit feature  .................. 66
Front seat adjustment ..................... 67
Removal and installation
of front seat head restraints  ......71
Backrest  ............................................ 72
Lumbar support  ................................74
Multicontour backrest  .....................74
Seat heater ......................................... 76
Seat ventilation system  .................. 79
Power head restraints, rear  ............81
Seat belts and 
integrated restraint system  ....... 82
Seat belts  .......................................... 82
Seat belt nonusage
warning system ............................ 83
BabySmart
TM airbag
deactivation system  ................... 88
Self-test BabySmart
TM
without special child 
seat installed  ................................ 89Supplemental restraint
system (SRS)  ................................ 90
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR) ............................. 91
Airbags  .............................................. 92
Safety guidelines for the
seat belt, emergency
tensioning retractor
and airbag  .................................. 100
Infant and child
restraint systems ....................... 102
Steering wheel adjustment  .......... 105
Rear view mirrors  .......................... 106
Rear view mirror,
automatic antiglare  .................. 106
Memory function  ............................ 111
Instrument cluster  ..........................114
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ............... 120
Trip and main odometer,
FSS, tire inf lation pressure 
monitor and 
engine oil level indicator  ......... 124
Audio systems  ................................ 125
Radio  ............................................ 125 

27 Contents - Operation
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index CD player  ..................................... 126
Cassette player  ........................... 127
Telephone  ........................................ 128
Telephone book  .......................... 128
Redialing  ..................................... 130
Incoming call  .............................. 131
Navigation system .......................... 132
Distronic (DTR) ............................... 133
Trip computer  ................................. 134
Malfunction/warning
message memory  ...................... 136
Individual settings ......................... 138
Setting the audio volume .............. 146
Flexible service system
(FSS)  ............................................ 147
Tire inflation
pressure monitor  ...................... 150
Engine oil level indicator .............. 154
Engine oil consumption  ................ 155
Exterior lamp switch  ..................... 156
Headlamp mode  ............................. 157Night security illumination  ..........158
Headlamp cleaning system  ...........159
Combination switch  .......................160
Hazard warning flasher
switch  ..........................................163
Automatic climate control .............164
Display and controls  ..................166
Dust filter  .....................................167
Basic setting  ................................168
Special settings  ...........................169
Air recirculation  ......................... 171
Activated charcoal filter  ........... 172
Economy mode  ........................... 173
Residual engine heat 
utilization .....................................174
Switching the automatic 
climate control on and off  ........ 175
Front center console storage 
compartment ventilation  .......... 175
Rear window defroster  .................. 176
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air outlets  ............... 177Power windows ............................... 178
Sliding/pop-up roof  ....................... 181
Interior lighting  ............................. 184
Rear window sunshade  ................. 186
Sun visors  ....................................... 187
Vanity mirrors  ................................ 187
Interior  ............................................ 188
Storage compartments
and armrests  .............................. 188
Glove box  ..................................... 189
Coat hooks  ...................................... 192
Cup holder  ...................................... 193
Ashtrays  .......................................... 196
Lighter  ............................................. 198
Parcel net in trunk  ........................ 199
Cargo tie-down hooks ....................200
Parcel net in front
passenger footwell  ....................200
Telephone, general  ........................ 201
Garage door opener  .......................202
Infrared reflecting windshield  ....206 

34 Central locking system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Central locking system
Radio frequency and infrared remote control
The electronic main key has an integrated radio 
frequency and infrared remote control.
Due to the extended operational range of the remote 
control, it could be possible to unintentionally lock or 
unlock the vehicle by pressing the transmit button. If 
one of the transmit buttons is pressed, the battery check 
lamp lights up briefly – indicating that the batteries are 
in order. See page 363 for checking batteries.
The vehicle doors, trunk and fuel filler flap can be 
centrally locked and unlocked via remote control.
Opening and closing the windows and sliding/pop-up 
roof and switching on the driver’s seat ventilation can 
only be done with the infrared portion of the remote 
control. Aim transmitter eye at a receiver (6 or 7), press 
and hold transmit buttonŒ or‹, see page 45.
With vehicle centrally locked, the trunk can also be 
opened by using the remote control.
If the electronic key is inserted in starter switch, the 
vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked, and the trunk lid 
cannot be opened with the remote control.1Transmit button
‹Locking
ŒUnlocking
ŠOpening trunk (if not separately locked)
2Lamp for battery check (see page 363 for changing 
batteries if it does not light up brief ly)
3PANIC button
4Transmitter eye
5Locking tab for mechanical key
P80.35-2032-26
24
3
5
1 

39 Central locking system
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index •Opening the driver’s door with the engine shut off 
and no electronic key in the starter switch, the 
message “CHIP-CARD –  DO NOT FORGET” appears 
as a reminder, see page 318. 
Important
In t he c ase of  a m alf unction in the  KEYLESS-GO -system, 
we recommend that you carry the electronic key plus 
mechanical key with you and keep them in a safe place 
so t ha t t hey are a lways h andy. Never leave the el ectronic  
key in the vehicle.Notes:
The KEYLESS-GO-function also permits closing of 
windows and sliding/pop-up roof (convenience feature), 
see page 46.
With the KEYLESS-GO-card in close proximity (approx. 
3 ft. [1 m]) of the vehicle, aiming a jet of water at a door 
handle (e.g. when washing the vehicle) or cleaning 
snow from a door, could lock or unlock the vehicle 
inadvertently.
To prevent a possible inadvertent lockout, the trunk lid 
will open automatically if a KEYLESS-GO-card is 
recognized in the area of the rear shelf or inside the 
trunk.