
4 Contents
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters  .....................232
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  .................................233
Maintenance  ...................................233
Tele Aid  ...........................................234
Catalytic converter  ........................244
Emission control  ............................245
Starter switch  .................................246
Starting and turning off
the engine  ..................................248
Manual transmission  ....................249
Automatic transmission  ............... 251
Parking brake  .................................260
Driving instructions  ...................... 261
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel ........ 261
Drinking and driving ................. 261
Pedals  ........................................... 261
Power assistance  ........................262
Brakes  ..........................................262
Driving off  ...................................263
Parking  ........................................264Tires  ............................................. 265
Snow chains  ............................... 267
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................ 268
Deep water  .................................. 270
Passenger compartment  ............271
Traveling abroad  .........................271
Cruise control  ................................ 272
Brake assist system (BAS) ............ 275
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ...........................................276
Electronic stability program
(ESP)  ........................................... 278
What you should know 
at the gas station  ...................... 282
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ...................... 284
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator lamps 
in the instrument cluster  ........ 286
On-board diagnostic system  ........ 286
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp  ............................ 286Brake warning lamp  ..................288
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS) indicator lamp  ....289
Fuel reserve warning .................290
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp ............................. 291
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............292
Seat belt nonusage 
warning lamp  ............................292
Malfunction and 
indicator lamp in 
the center console .....................292
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....292
Malfunction and 
warning messages in the 
multifunction display  ...............293
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE  ................295
BATTERY  / ALTERNATOR ........296
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM  ....297
BRAKE ASSIST  ...........................297
BRAKE PAD WEAR  ....................298
BRAKE FLUID .............................298
PARKING BRAKE  .......................299
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23 Instruments and controls
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Hood lock release, see page 318
2Parking brake pedal, see page 260
3Steering wheel adjustment (manual), see page 88
4Parking brake release, see page 260
5Exterior lamp switch, see page 143
6Combination switch, see page 148
7Exterior mirror adjustment switch, see page 91
8Headlamp washer button, see page 147
9Cruise control switch, see page 27210Multifunction steering wheel, see page 102
Horn (with electronic key in starter switch 
position 1 or 2)
11Instrument cluster, see page 98
12Voice recognition system switch, see separate 
operating instructions
13Starter switch, see page 246
14Glove box lid release, see page 208
15Glove box lock, see page 208
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231 Contents - Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters  .....................232
The first 1 000 miles 
(1 500 km)  .................................233
Maintenance  ...................................233
Tele Aid  ...........................................234
Catalytic converter  ........................244
Emission control  ............................245
Starter switch  .................................246
Starting and turning off
the engine  ..................................248
Manual transmission  ....................249
Automatic transmission  ............... 251
Parking brake  .................................260Driving instructions ...................... 261
Drive sensibly – Save Fuel  ....... 261
Drinking and driving  ................ 261
Pedals  .......................................... 261
Power assistance ........................ 262
Brakes .......................................... 262
Driving off ................................... 263
Parking  ........................................ 264
Tires  ............................................. 265
Snow chains  ............................... 267
Winter driving 
instructions  ................................ 268
Deep water  .................................. 270
Passenger compartment  ............271
Traveling abroad  .........................271Cruise control  .................................272
Brake assist system (BAS)  ............275
Antilock brake system 
(ABS)  ........................................... 276
Electronic stability program
(ESP)  ...........................................278
What you should know 
at the gas station  .......................282
Check regularly and 
before a long trip  ......................284
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268 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to 
drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt acceleration, braking 
and steering maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control 
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, move 
selector lever to position “N” or in case of manual 
transmission declutch. Try to keep the vehicle under 
control by corrective steering action.
Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect braking 
efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary 
to produce the normal brake effect. We therefore 
recommend depressing the brake pedal periodically 
when traveling at length on salt-strewn roads. This can 
bring road salt impaired braking efficiency back to 
normal. A prerequisite is, however, that this be done 
without endangering other drivers on the road.If the vehicle is parked af ter being driven on salt treated 
roads, the braking ef f iciency should be tested as soon as 
possible after driving is resumed while observing the 
safety rules in the previous paragraph.
Wa r n i n g !
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure 
that snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and 
from around the vehicle with engine running. 
O t h e rw i s e ,  d e a d ly  c a r b o n  m o n ox i d e  ( CO )  ga s e s  m ay  
enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness 
and death.To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a 
window slightly on the side of the vehicle not 
facing the wind.
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272 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Cruise control
The cruise control allows you to drive in a more relaxed 
manner, for example over long distances, as it 
automatically maintains the set speed by actively 
regulating the throttle setting.
Any given speed above approximately 25 mph
(40 km / h) can be maintained with the cruise control by 
operating the lever.1Accelerate and set:
Lift lever briefly to set speed. Hold lever up to 
accelerate.
2Decelerate and set:
Depress lever briefly to set speed.
Hold lever down to decelerate.
Normally the vehicle is accelerated to the desired 
speed with the accelerator.
Speed is set by briefly pushing the lever to 
position 1 or 2. The accelerator can then be 
released.
The speed can be increased (e.g. for passing) by 
using the accelerator. After the accelerator is 
released, the previously set speed will be resumed 
automatically.
If a set speed is to be increased or decreased 
slightly, e. g. to adapt to the traf f ic f low, hold lever in 
position 1 or 2 until the desired speed is reached, or 
briefly tip the lever in the appropriate direction for 
increases or decreases in 0.6 mph (1 km / h) 
increments. When the lever is released, the newly 
set speed remains.
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273 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 3Canceling
To cancel the cruise control, briefly push lever to 
position 3.
When you step on the brake pedal or the vehicle 
speed drops below approximately 25 mph 
(40 km / h), for example when driving upgrade, the 
cruise control will be canceled.
If the cruise control cancels by itself and remains 
inoperative until the engine is restarted, have the 
system checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center as soon as possible.4Resume
If the lever is briefly pushed to position 4 when 
driving at a speed exceeding approximately 25 mph
(40 km / h), the vehicle resumes the speed which 
was set prior to the cancellation of the cruise 
control.
The last memorized speed is canceled when the 
electronic key in the starter switch is turned to 
position 1 or 0.
Important!
Moving gear selector lever to position “N” switches the 
cruise control off.
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274 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Notes:
If the engine does not brake the vehicle sufficiently 
while driving on a downgrade, the speed you set on the 
cruise control may be exceeded. In this case the 
following will assist in maintaining the set cruise 
controlled speed:Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Downshift occurs (max. to 3rd gear) to maintain the set 
cruise controlled speed by using the engine’s braking 
power.
As soon as the grade eases, the automatic transmission 
shifts up again dependent on the selector lever position.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
The set cruise controlled speed is switched off when 
declutching exceeds four seconds during downshifting a 
gear.
Nevertheless, in some cases you may have to step on the 
brake pedal to slow down. In this case the cruise control 
is switched off.
Use the lever to resume the previously set speed.
Wa r n i n g !
Only use the cruise control if the traffic and 
weather conditions make it advisable to travel at a 
steady speed.• The use of cruise control can be dangerous on 
winding roads or in heavy traffic because 
conditions do not allow safe driving at a steady 
speed.
• The use of cruise control can be dangerous on 
slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire adhesion 
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.The “Resume” function should only be operated if 
the driver is fully aware of the previously set speed 
and wishes to resume this particular preset speed.
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295 Malfunction and warning messages
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index DISPLAY DEFECTIVE (engine control unit)
* C = Category, see page 293This message is displayed to indicate that the 
information being relayed by the engine control unit is 
no longer complete. The display for coolant temperature 
gauge, tachometer, or the cruise control may have failed.DISPLAY DEFECTIVE (several systems)
* C = Category, see page 293The displays for several systems have failed. Some 
systems themselves may also have failed.
Line 1 Line 2 C*
VISIT WORKSHOP! DISPLAY FAULTY 2
Line 1 Line 2 C*
VISIT WORKSHOP!  DISPLAY FAULTY 2
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