Page 6 of 376

ContentsOperation.........................................  221
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) .........  222
Driving instructions ............................  223
Drive sensibly – save fuel .............  223
Drinking and driving .....................  223
Pedals ..........................................  223
Power assistance .........................  224
Brakes ..........................................  224
Driving off.....................................  225
Parking .........................................  225
Tires .............................................  226
Hydroplaning ................................  227
Tire traction ..................................  227
Tire speed rating ..........................  227
Winter driving instructions ...........  228
Standing water .............................  229
Passenger compartment ..............  230
Driving abroad ..............................  230
Control and operation of 
radio transmitter ..........................  230
Catalytic converter .......................  231
Emission control...........................  231
Coolant temperature ....................  232At the gas station ..............................  233
Check regularly and before 
a long trip .....................................  234
Engine compartment .........................  235
Hood ............................................  235
Engine oil .....................................  236
Transmission fluid level ................  238
Coolant level ................................  238
Battery .........................................  240
Windshield washer system and 
headlamp cleaning* system .........  241
Tires and wheels ................................  242
Important guidelines ....................  242
Life of tire.....................................  243
Direction of rotation .....................  243
Checking tire inflation pressure ...  243
Rotating wheels ...........................  244
Winter driving ....................................  245
Winter tires ..................................  245
Block heater (Canada only) ..........  246
Snow chains .................................  246Maintenance......................................  247
Clearing the service indicator ......  247
Service term exceeded ................  247
Calling up the service indicator ....  248
Resetting the service indicator ....  248
Vehicle care.......................................  249
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........  249 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 49 of 376

49 Getting started
Driving
Single wipe
Press switch briefly in the direction of 
arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time 
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press switch in the direction of arrow1 
past the resistance point.
The windshield wiper operates with 
washer fluid.
Information on filling up the washer reser-
voir can be found in the “Operation” sec-
tion (page 241).
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires
An ignition cable may be damaged.
The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.
Unburned gasoline may have entered 
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as 
soon as possible.
!If leaves, snow, etc. block the wind-
shield wipers, switch off the wipers.
For safety reasons, withdraw key 
from starter switch. Remove block-
age.
Turn the windshield wipers on 
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at 
all in switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the 
next highest wiper speed.
have the windshield wipers 
checked at the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 50 of 376
50 Getting startedDrivingThe coolant temperature is over 248°F 
(120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer 
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible 
and turn off the engine. Allow engine 
and coolant to cool.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 238).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the
major assemblies
fuel system
engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 56 of 376

56 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Occupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems 
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are
Seat belts
Emergency tensioning device
Airbags
Child seats
Child seat recognition
Lower anchors and tethers for children 
(LATCH)
As independent systems their protective 
effects work in conjunction with each 
other.The
1
 warning lamp in the instrument 
cluster (page 22) lights up:
for about four seconds when you turn 
the key in the starter switch to 
position1.
for about four seconds when you start 
the engine by turning the key.The warning lamp goes out shortly after 
you start the engine. This shows that the 
restraint systems are operational.
A malfunction in the system has been 
detected if the
1
 warning lamp:
fails to extinguish after approximately 
four seconds.
does not come on at all.
comes on after the engine was started 
or while driving.
For safety reasons, we strongly 
recommend that you visit an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to 
have the system checked.
More information can be found in the 
“Practical hints” section (
page 257).
iFor information on infants and children 
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle” 
(page 65).
iThe warning lamp remains lit if the key 
is turned to position2 and left there. 
The warning lamp will go out when you 
start the engine. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 96 of 376

96 Controls in detailSeatsMulticontour seat*
Some models may be equipped with driv-
er’s multicontour seat. This seat has a 
movable seat cushion and inflatable air 
cushions built into the backrest to provide 
additional lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement, backrest 
cushion height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with regulators on the 
right side of the seat after turning the 
SmartKey in the starter switch to 
position2.1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Side bolster adjustment
Adjusting the multicontour seat in the or-
der listed above is recommended.
Check that the ignition is switched on.
All lamps in the instrument cluster light 
up.The seat cushion movement, backrest 
cushion height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with regulators1, 2 and3.
The side bolsters of the backrest can be 
adjusted with rocker switch4.
Press to the left.
Side support will be increased.
Press to the right.
Side support will be decreased.iWhen the engine is turned off, the last 
cushion setting is retained in memory, 
and the cushion is automatically ad-
justed to this setting when the engine 
is restarted. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 115 of 376
115 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 3
Menu 4
Menu 5
Menu 6
Menu 7
Standard dis-
play
AUDIO
NAVI*
Malfunction 
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone*
Commands/submenusCoolant temper-
ature display
Select radio 
station
Activate route 
guidance
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory 
settings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics 
after start
Load phone book
Digital speedom-
eter
Operate CD 
player*
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consump-
tion statistics 
since the last 
reset
Search for name 
in phone book
Call up FSS
Operate casette 
player
Lighting sub-
menu
Call up range
Check engine oil 
level
Vehicle submenuConvenience 
submenu 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 116 of 376

116 Controls in detailControl system
Standard display menu
You can select the functions in the stan-
dard display menu with button
k
 
or
j
.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer
Press button
j
 twice.
The current vehicle speed is shown in 
the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the 
AUDIO
 menu operate 
the audio equipment which you currently 
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned 
on, the message 
AUDIO OFF
 i s  s h o w n  i n  t h e  
display.
The following functions are available:
iThe headings used in the menus table 
are designed to facilitate navigation 
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the 
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each 
menu will automatically show you 
which part of the system you are in.
Function
Page
Call up coolant temperature 
display
108
Call up digital speedometer 
see 
below
Call up FSS
247
Check engine oil level
236
Function
Page
Select radio station
117
Operate CD player*
117
Operate cassette player
118 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 143 of 376
143 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the transmis-
sion’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle  Later upshiftingKickdown 
Use kickdown when you want maximum 
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of 
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower 
gear.
Ease on the accelerator when you have 
reached the desired speed. 
The transmission shifts up again.Emergency operation (Limp Home 
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the 
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp 
home (emergency operation) mode. In this 
mode only second gear and reverse gear 
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.
Move selector lever toP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least ten seconds before 
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Move selector lever to positionD (for 
second gear) orR.
Have the transmission checked at an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as 
soon as possible.