Page 156 of 399
153 Climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Display and controls
2Air volume control for left center air outlet
3Center air outlet, left, adjustable
4Thumbwheel for adding outside air at air outlets for 
center, left and right sides, as well as dashboard top 
center and rear passenger compartment
5Center air outlet, right, adjustable6Air volume control for right center air outlet
7Air volume control and air outlet on dashboard top 
center
8Air volume control for side air outlet
9Side air outlet, adjustable
10Side defroster outlet, fixed 
     
        
        Page 159 of 399

156 Climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Basic setting – automatic mode
In the automatic mode the climate control cools or heats 
the interior depending on outside temperature and the 
selected interior temperature. With the automatic mode 
switched off, the air volume and distribution can still be 
set manually.
Press U button. Air volume and distribution are 
controlled automatically.
We recommend to set the left and right temperature 
to 72
°F (22
°C). Please make changes from this setting to 
suit your personal requirements.
Heating mode:
To lower headroom temperature, use thumbwheel
(4, page 152).
Air conditioning mode:
Open air outlets at dashboard top center (7, page 152) 
for an even air distribution.Special settings (use only for short duration)
Air distribution and air volume, manual
Press U button. The indicator lamp in the button will 
go out.
The air distribution for the right and left side operate 
together.
Select any of the six air volume speeds and the air 
distribution.
Air distribution, manual:
hAir from the center, side, dashboard top center 
and rear passenger compartment air outlets.
jAir from the windshield, side defroster and rear 
passenger compartment air outlets.
kAir from the center, side, footwell, rear footwell 
and rear passenger compartment air outlets.
To return to automatic mode:
Press the U button. The indicator lamp in the button 
illuminates. 
     
        
        Page 160 of 399

157 Climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Defrosting
Press the P button. The indicator lamp in the button 
illuminates.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected. Press 
buttonO, the indicator lamp in the button will go 
out.
Close center air outlets.
Turn wheels (8, page 152) up to open left and right side 
air outlets (9, page 152). Adjust side air outlets upward.
Pressing the switch again returns the system to the 
previous setting.Windows fogged up on the inside
Switch off the economy mode, if selected. Press 
buttonS. The indicator lamp in the button will go 
out.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected. Press 
buttonO. The indicator lamp in the button will go 
out.
Set blower to the maximum blower speed.
Press the P button. The indicator lamp in the button 
illuminates.
Increase temperature setting.
Open the side air outlets (9, page 152) and direct them 
onto the side windows.
Windshield fogged up on the outside
Switch on the windshield wiper.
Close air outlet at dashboard top center.
Switch to manual mode.
Turn air distribution control switch to positionh 
ork. 
     
        
        Page 164 of 399
161 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Display and controls
2Air volume control for left center air outlet
3Center air outlet, left, adjustable
4Thumbwheel for adding outside air at air outlets for 
center, left and right sides, as well as dashboard top 
center and rear passenger compartment
5Center air outlet, right, adjustable6Air volume control for right center air outlet
7Air volume control and air outlet on dashboard top 
center
8Air volume control for side air outlet
9Side air outlet, adjustable
10Side defroster outlet, fixed 
     
        
        Page 167 of 399

164 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Notes:
Do not obstruct the air flow by placing objects on the air 
flow-through exhaust slots below the rear window.
Also keep the air intake grill in front of the windshield 
free of snow and debris.
The storage compartment between the front seats can be 
ventilated. See page 171 for notes on ventilating the 
storage space under the armrest in the center console.
The air conditioner switches itself off for its own 
protection if refrigerant is lost. No cooling will then take 
place. Economy mode S cannot be switched off. Have 
the air conditioner checked by a Mercedes-Benz Center 
should this happen.
If the vehicle interior has been heated by direct sunlight 
and is very hot, ventilate the interior (open door or 
windows for a short period) before driving off.
Dust filter
Nearly all dust particles and pollen are filtered out 
before outside air enters the passenger compartment 
through the air distribution system.Basic setting – automatic mode
In the automatic mode the automatic climate control 
cools or heats the interior depending on the direction 
and strength of the sunlight, outside temperature and 
the selected interior temperature of the vehicle. With 
the automatic mode switched off, the air volume and 
distribution can still be set manually.
Briefly press left or right U button. The h, j 
and k symbols will no longer be visible.
The economy mode and air recirculation functions will 
be switched off. The automatic blower will be activated 
at the same time.
We recommend to set the temperature switches on the 
left and right to 72
°F (22
°C). Please make changes from 
this setting to suit your personal requirements.
Heating mode:
To lower headroom temperature, use thumbwheel
(4, page 160).
Air conditioning mode:
Open air outlets at dashboard top center (7, page 160) 
for an even air distribution. 
     
        
        Page 168 of 399

165 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Special settings (use only for short duration)
Air distribution, manual
Press left or right U button. The button pops out, the 
h, jand ksymbols are visible. Turn the 
button to select the air distribution desired.
hAir from the center, side, dashboard top center 
and rear passenger compartment air outlets.
jAir from the windshield, side defroster and rear 
passenger compartment air outlets.
kAir from the center, side, footwell, rear footwell 
and rear passenger compartment air outlets.
To return to automatic mode:
Press left or right U button. The h, j 
andk symbols will no longer be visible.Air volume, manual
Seven blower speeds are available.
Press rightQ or leftM side of air volume control 
switch until the requested blower speed is attained. 
The display “AUTO” disappears and the automatic mode 
is switched off. The selected blower speed is shown in 
the display.
To return to automatic mode:
Press left or right U button until it clicks in. The 
h, j andk symbols will no longer be visible. 
     
        
        Page 169 of 399

166 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Defrosting
Press the P button. The indicator lamp in the button 
illuminates.
Maximum heated and automatically controlled amount 
of air is directed to the defroster and windshield air 
outlets.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected: Press 
buttonO. The indicator lamp in the button will go 
out.
Pressing the P button again returns the system to 
the previous setting.Windows fogged up on the inside
Switch off the economy mode, if selected: 
Press buttonS. The indicator lamp in the button will 
go out.
Switch off air recirculation, if selected: 
Press buttonO. The indicator lamp in the button will 
go out.
Set blower to the maximum blower speed.
Increase temperature setting.
Open the side air outlets and direct them onto the side 
windows.
Windshield fogged up on the outside
Switch on the windshield wiper.
Close air outlet at dashboard top center (7, page 161).
Switch to manual mode.
Turn air distribution control switch to positionh 
ork. 
     
        
        Page 174 of 399
171 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Front center console storage compartment 
ventilation
The front center console compartment has its own air 
outlet.
To open: Raise lever (1).
To close: Lower lever (1).The air volume is dependent on the setting of:
•air distribution control,
•air volume control,
•air outlets in the dashboard.
The air temperature is about the same as that of the 
dashboard air outlets. It cannot be regulated separately.
Notes:
The compartment can get very warm due to its confined 
space. When storing heat sensitive objects in the 
compartment, close the air outlet while heating the 
passenger compartment.
Do not allow articles to obstruct the air outlet in the 
storage compartment.