Page 9 of 162

 
Contents
 
9
 
Passenger safety systems:
 
Airbags52
Transporting children safely54
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory58
 
Driving:
 
Ignition lock59
Starting the engine59
Switching off the engine61
Parking brake61
Manual transmission62
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic*63
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp 
flasher66
Washer/wiper system/Rain 
sensor*67
Cruise control*68
 
Everything under control:
 
Odometer70
Tachometer70
Energy control70
Fuel gauge71
Engine coolant temperature 
gauge71
Service interval display72
Check Control72
Clock73
Computer74
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience:
 
Park Distance Control (PDC)*76
Automatic Stability Control plus 
Traction (ASC+T)*77
Dynamic Stability Control 
(DSC)*79
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)*81
Flat Tire Monitor*82
 
Lamps:
 
Parking lamps/Low beams85
Instrument lighting86
High beams/Standing lamps86
Fog lamps*87
Interior lamps87
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving:
 
Air conditioning88
Automatic climate control*92
Roller sun blind*96
 
Interior conveniences:
 
Premium sound system*97
Glove compartment97
Storage compartments98
Cellular phone*99
Ashtray, front*100
Ashtray, rear*100
Clothes hooks101
 
Loading and transporting:
 
Through-loading system102
Ski bag*103
Cargo loading104
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack*105
 
Controls and features
 
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        Page 21 of 162

 
21
 
Steering wheel with multifunction buttons*
 
These buttons let you operate the fol-
lowing functions quickly and without 
being distracted from traffic conditions:
 
>
 
Selected radio functions
 
>
 
The cruise control
 
>
 
Selected telephone functions
 
>
 
The voice recognition system.
The controls are active only when 
the corresponding systems and 
accessories are switched on.
 
<
 
Press briefly:
Receive a phone call, initiate dialing, 
terminate a call.
Extended pressure:
Switch voice recognition on and off.
Switch between phone and radio, cas-
sette and CD.
Forward:
 
>
 
Radio
Press briefly: station scan in FM band
Extended pressure: station search
 
>
 
CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search function 
in track
 
>
 
Cassette
Press briefly: jump to next track or 
stop fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
 
>
 
Phone
Scan personal phone book.
Rewind: same functions as forward.
Volume.
Cruise control: select a stored setting.
Cruise control: store and accelerate + 
or decelerate and store –.
Cruise control: activate/interrupt/deac-
tivate.
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
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        Page 36 of 162

36
To open from the inside*If the luggage compartment lid has not 
been locked separately, you can open it 
with this button in the footwell on the 
driver's side when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
To closeThe handle recesses in the interior trim 
panel of the luggage compartment lid – 
see arrows – make it easier to pull the 
lid down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the 
travel path of the luggage com-
partment lid is clear when it is closed, 
following the same precautions as with 
all closing procedures.<
Operate the vehicle only when the 
luggage compartment lid is 
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes 
could penetrate the interior of the vehi-
cle.<
Should it be absolutely necessary to 
operate the vehicle with the luggage 
compartment lid open:
1. Close all windows. Shut the slid-
ing/tilt sunroof
2. Greatly increase the quantity of air 
coming from the air conditioning or 
automatic climate control system, 
see page 88 or 92.
Luggage compartment lid
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        Page 63 of 162

63
Automatic transmission with Steptronic*You can drive as with a normal auto-
matic transmission. In addition, you can 
also shift manually.
When you move the selector lever from 
the D position to the left into the M/S 
range, the performance-oriented shift 
programs of the automatic transmission 
are engaged. Steptronic enters the 
manual selection mode and executes 
the desired shift whenever you tap the 
selector lever in the direction indicated 
by + or –. Whenever you want to use 
the automatic mode again, just shift the 
selector lever toward the right to posi-
tion D.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel 
consumption is lowest when driving in 
position D.Selector lever positionsP R N D M/S + –Starting the engineThe engine can only be started in selec-
tor lever positions P – for Park – or N – 
for Neutral.
Range selectionA detent prevents inadvertent shifts to 
the Reverse or Park selector lever posi-
tions. To disengage the detent, press 
the button on the front side of 
the selector lever button – see arrow.
While the vehicle is stationary and 
before shifting out of Park or Neu-
tral, depress the footbrake in order to 
disengage the selector lever's lock 
mechanism – Shiftlock.
Hold the footbrake down until starting 
off. Otherwise the vehicle will "creep" 
when a drive position is engaged.<
To prevent the vehicle from start-
ing off on its own, always move 
the selector lever to position P and 
engage the parking brake before leav-
ing your vehicle with the engine run-
ning.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended 
with the engine running. An unattended 
vehicle with a running engine repre-
sents a safety hazard.<
PParkSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary. Transmission locks to prevent rear 
wheels from turning.RReverseSelect only when the vehicle is station-
ary.NNeutralSelect only when stopping for an 
extended period.DDrive – automatic shift programThis position is designed for driving 
under all normal operating conditions. 
All forward gears are available.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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71
Fuel gaugeOnce the indicator lamp stays on con-
tinuously, there are still approx. 
2 gallons/8 liters of fuel in the fuel tank.
Fuel tank capacity approx. 
16.6 gallons/63 liters.
Certain operating conditions, such as 
those encountered in mountainous 
areas, may cause the needle to fluctu-
ate slightly.
Fill the fuel tank before it is com-
pletely empty. Driving to the last 
drop of fuel can prevent the engine 
from operating properly and result in 
damage.<
When you switch on the ignition, the 
indicator lamp lights up briefly as an 
operation check.
Engine coolant temperature gaugeBlueThe engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds.RedWhen you switch on the ignition, the 
warning lamp comes on briefly as an 
operation check.
If the lamp comes on during normal 
vehicle operation: the engine has over-
heated. Stop and switch the engine off 
immediately and allow it to cool down.
To check coolant level, refer to 
page 122.
Between the blue and red zonesNormal operating range. The needle 
may rise as far as the edge of the red 
sector during normal operation.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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        Page 88 of 162
88Controlling the climate for pleasant driving
Air conditioning
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        Page 89 of 162
89
1Air onto the windshield and the side 
windows
2Air for the upper body area91
3Air to the footwell
4Air supply/Blower90
5Temperature90
6Air distribution90
7Rear window defroster90
8Air conditioning90
9Outside air/Recirculated-air 
mode90Air conditioning
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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        Page 90 of 162

90
Air supply/Blower
You can select blower speeds 
from 1 to 4. The heating and 
ventilation become more and 
more effective as the air sup-
ply settings are increased. In position  0, 
the blower and the heater are switched 
off. The outside air supply is blocked in 
position 0.
Temperature
In order to increase the tem-
perature of the passenger 
compartment, turn to the right 
toward the red zone. The tem-
perature of the incoming air is kept con-
stant.
Air distribution
You can direct air to flow onto 
the windows  , toward your 
upper body   or into the 
footwell  . All intermediate 
settings are possible. In the   setting, 
there is a low flow of air onto the win-
dows to keep them free of condensa-
tion.
Rear window defroster
When the rear window defroster 
is activated, the indicator lamp 
comes on. The rear window defroster 
switches off automatically.
You can have your vehicle pro-
grammed in such a way that the 
rear window defroster switches on 
automatically. This occurs within 5 min-
utes after starting the engine when out-
side temperatures are below approx. 
397/+46.<
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and – depending on the 
temperature setting – rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the wind-
shield may fog over briefly when the 
engine is started. Air conditioning helps 
prevent the windows from fogging up.
Condensation forms during opera-
tion of the air conditioning system, 
which then exits under the vehicle. 
Traces of condensed water on the 
ground underneath the vehicle are thus 
normal.<
Outside air/Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant 
external odors by temporarily 
blocking the supply of outside air. The 
system then recirculates the air cur-
rently within the vehicle.
If the windows should fog over in 
the recirculated-air mode, switch 
this mode off and increase the air sup-
ply as required.<
Air conditioning
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