Page 5 of 376

Contents
Automatic transmission* ...................  138
One-touch gearshifting.................  139
Gear ranges .................................  140
Gear selector lever position .........  141
Program mode selector switch.....  142
Accelerator position .....................  143
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) ......................  143
Good visibility ....................................  144
Rear view mirror...........................  144
Headlamp cleaning system* ........  146
Sun visors ....................................  146
Rear window sunshade* ..............  147
Climate control ..................................  148
Setting the temperature ...............  150
Adjusting air distribution and 
volume .........................................  151
Defrosting ....................................  151
Air recirculation mode..................  152
Rear window defroster .................  153
Deactivating the climate control 
system .........................................  153
Air conditioning ............................  154
Ventilated storage compartment .  155
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents ......................  155Automatic climate control* ................ 156
Setting the temperature................ 158
Adjusting air distribution............... 159
Adjusting air volume ..................... 159
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 160
Defrosting ..................................... 160
Air recirculation mode .................. 160
Charcoal filter ............................... 161
Rear window defroster .................. 162
Air conditioning............................. 163
Residual heat and ventilation* ...... 163
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air vents....................... 164
Audio system ...................................... 165
Audio and telephone, operation .... 165
Operating safety ........................... 165
Operating and display elements.... 166
Button and soft key operation....... 168
Operation ...................................... 168
Radio mode................................... 171
Cassette mode.............................. 174
CD changer* operating mode ....... 178
Telephone* operation ................... 182Power windows ..................................  187
Opening and closing the windows  187
Synchronizing power windows ......  189
Sliding/pop-up roof*..........................  190
Opening and closing the 
sliding/pop-up roof.......................  190
Synchronizing the 
sliding / pop-up roof ......................  192
Driving systems ..................................  193
Cruise control ...............................  193
Loading .............................................. 196
Roof rack* ....................................  196
Ski sack* ......................................  196
Split rear bench seat*...................  199
Loading instructions .....................  202
Useful features ...................................  203
Interior storage spaces .................  203
Ashtrays........................................  207
Cigarette lighter ............................ 208
Telephone* ...................................  208
Tele Aid* .......................................  209
Garage door opener ......................  217 
     
        
        Page 25 of 376
25 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heater*, driver’s side
97
2
Rear window sunshade 
switch
147
3
ESP control switch
75
4
Hazard warning flasher 
switch – switching on/off
104
5
Central locking switch
92
6
Rear seat head restraints 
switch
36
7
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
79
Tow-away alarm switch
80
Item
Page
8
Seat heater*, passenger 
side
97
9
Indicator lamp
7
67,
260
10
Audio system, or
165
COMAND* (see separate 
operating instructions)
11
Climate control
148
Automatic climate control*
156
Rear window defroster
153,
162 
     
        
        Page 83 of 376
83 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control*
Audio system
Power windows
Sliding/pop-up roof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features 
     
        
        Page 148 of 376
148 Controls in detailClimate control
Climate control 
     
        
        Page 149 of 376
149 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel
The storage compartment between the 
front seats can be ventilated (
page 155).
Information about “Rear passenger com-
partment adjustable air vents” 
(
page 155).
Item
1
Air volume control for left center air 
vent
2
Left center air vent, adjustable
3
Right center air vent, adjustable
4
Air volume control for right center 
air vent 
5
Air volume control for side air vent
6
Side air vent, adjustable
7
Side defroster vent, fixed
8
Climate control paneliFor draft-free ventilation, move the slid-
ers for the center air vents to the mid-
dle position.
Item
1
Air volume control
2
Left-side temperature control
3
Right-side temperature control
4
Air distribution control switch
5
Rear window defroster
6
AC cooling on/off (AC
OFF
)
7
Air distribution and air volume 
(automatic)
8
Air recirculation
9
Defrosting 
     
        
        Page 150 of 376

150 Controls in detailClimate controlThe climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate 
the climate control system in either the au-
tomatic or manual mode. The system cools 
or heats the interior depending on the se-
lected interior temperature and the cur-
rent outside temperature.
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and 
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through 
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no 
cooling) if theAC
OFF
 mode is selected 
(
page 154).
Setting the temperature
Use the temperature controls2 and3 
(page 149) to separately adjust the air 
temperature on each side of the passenger 
compartment. You should raise or lower 
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
Increasing
Turn the control slightly to the right.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Turn the control slightly to the left.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up, 
impairing visibility and endangering you and 
others.iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate 
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the 
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust 
slots below the rear window. 
     
        
        Page 151 of 376

151 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting air distribution and volume
Use the air distribution control4 
(page 149) to adjust the air distribution. 
The following symbols are found on the 
controls:
Adjusting manually
Press the
U
 button.
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.
Select any of the six air volume speeds 
using the air volume control1 
(page 149) and the air distribution.Adjusting automatically
Press the
U
 button.
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on. The air distribution and vol-
ume is adjusted automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on.
Switch to manual mode.
Turn the air distribution control 
to
a
 or
Y
.
Defrosting
Activating
Press button
P
. 
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
or
Switch off air recirculation, if selected. 
Press button
O
. 
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.
Close center air vents.
Open left and right side air vents and 
adjust side air vents upwards.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center, 
side and rear passenger 
compartment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windows
X
Directs air into the entire 
vehicle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells
iThese settings should only be selected 
for a short time. 
     
        
        Page 152 of 376

152 Controls in detailClimate controlDeactivating
Press button
P
.
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out. Defrosting is turned off.
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent 
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle 
from the outside. This setting cuts off the 
intake of outside air and recirculates the 
air in the passenger compartment.Activating
Press button
O
.
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
Deactivating
Press button
O
.
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.The air recirculation mode is deactivated 
automatically:
after five minutes if the outside temper-
ature is below approximately 41°F 
(5°C)
after five minutes if the air conditioning 
is turned off
after 30 minutes if the outside temper-
ature is above approximately 41°F 
(5°C)
At outside temperatures above 79°F 
(26°C) the system will not automatically 
switch back to outside air. A quantity of 
outside air is added after approximately 
30 minutes.
Warning!
G
When the outside temperature is 
below 41°F (5°C), only switch to air 
recirculation mode for short periods to 
prevent window fogging.
iIf you keep button
O
 pressed the 
side windows and sliding/pop-up roof* 
will be closed.
The air recirculation mode is activated 
automatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
If you have turned off the air condition-
ing (
page 154) or the outside 
temperature is below 41°F (5°C), the 
air recirculation mode will not switch 
on automatically.
iIf you keep button
O
 pressed the 
side windows and sliding/pop-up roof* 
will be returned to their previous posi-
tion.