Page 111 of 376

111 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as 
the key in the starter switch is turned to 
position1. The control system enables you 
to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control 
system to find out when your vehicle is 
next due for service, to set the language 
for messages in the instrument cluster 
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Main odometer
3Trip odometer
4Automatic transmission program mode
5Current gear selector lever position
6Digital clock
iThe displays for the audio systems 
(radio, CD player, cassette player) will 
appear in English, regardless of the 
language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic 
conditions must always be his /her primary 
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, 
selecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions 
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet 
(approximately 13.5 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 112 of 376

112 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display 
and the settings in the control system 
(page 111) are controlled by the buttons 
on the multifunction steering wheel.Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is 
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each 
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found 
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under 
AUDIO
, for example). These 
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your 
vehicle.
1
Multifunction display in the speed-
ometerOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting 
the volumeç
down / to decrease
æ
up / to increase
3
Telephone*í
to take a call
ì
to end a call
4
Menu systemsè
for next menu
ÿ
for previous menu
5
Moving within a menuj
for next display
k
for previous display 
     
        
        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 117 of 376

117 Controls in detail
Control system
Select radio station
Turn on the radio (
page 168). 
Vehicles with COMAND*: 
Refer to separate operating instruc-
tions.
Press button
è
 or
ÿ
 repeatedly 
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the display.
1Station frequency
2Waveband setting
3Setting for station selection using 
memory
Press button
k
 or
j
 repeatedly 
until the desired station is found.
The type of search depends on the 
setting for the station tuning 
(
page 128):
The next stored station is selected 
(SP)
Station searchOperate the CD player*
Turn on the radio and select the CD 
player (
page 178). 
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to 
separate operating instructions.
Press button
è
 or
ÿ
 repeatedly 
until the settings for the CD currently 
being played are shown in the display.
1Current track
2Current CD (for CD changer*)
Press button
k
 or
j
 repeatedly 
until the desired track is selected.
iYou can only store new stations using 
the corresponding feature on the radio 
(page 173). 
Vehicles with COMAND*: 
Refer to separate operating instruc-
tions.
You can also operate the radio in the 
usual manner.
iTo select a CD from the magazine, 
press a number on the audio system or 
the COMAND* system key pad located 
in the center dashboard. 
     
        
        Page 118 of 376

118 Controls in detailControl systemOperate the cassette player
Turn on the radio and select the 
Casette player (
page 174). 
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to 
separate operating instructions.
Press button
è
 or
ÿ
 repeatedly 
until the settings for the cassette 
currently being played are shown in the 
display.
1Current side
Press button
j
 to fast forward to 
the next track.
Press button
k
 to rewind the 
cassette to the beginning of the current 
track.
NAVI menu
The
NAV
 menu contains the functions 
needed to operate your navigation system.
Press button
è
 or
ÿ
 repeatedly 
until you see the messageNAV
 in the 
display.
If the navigation system is switched off, 
the message 
NAV OFF
 is shown in the 
display. 
If the navigation system is on, the 
message 
NAV ACTIVE
 is shown in the 
display.
Please refer to the COMAND* manual for 
instructions on how to activate the route 
guidance system*.
Malfunction memory menu
Use the malfunction memory menu to scan 
malfunction and warning messages that 
may be stored in the system. What 
information is shown in the display 
depends on whether malfunctions have 
actually occurred.
iTo select the reverse side of the tape, 
press button below track number on 
the audio system display, or enter 
request on the COMAND* system 
located in the center dashboard.
Warning!
G
Malfunction and warning messages are only 
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction 
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain 
systems and do not replace the owner’s 
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain 
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all 
required maintenance and safety checks 
performed on the vehicle and by bringing 
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center to address the malfunction and 
warning messages (
page 261). 
     
        
        Page 121 of 376
121 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can 
be changed within the various menus. 
Detailed instructions on making individual 
settings can be found on the following 
pages.INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
LIGHTING
VEHICLE
CONVENIENCE
Set time (hours)
Set daytime running lamp mode 
(USA only)
Set station selection mode 
(radio)
Activate easy-entry/exit feature
Set time (minutes)
Set locator lighting
Set automatic locking
Set key dependency
Select time display mode
Exterior lamps delayed shut-off
Set parking position for exterior 
rear view mirror
Select temperature display 
mode
Interior lighting delayed shut-off
Select speedometer display 
modeSelect languageSelect display (speed display or 
outside temperature) 
     
        
        Page 128 of 376

128 Controls in detailControl system
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press
æ
 or
ç
 to select the 
desired lamp-on time period. You can 
select:
0 s
, the delayed shut-off feature is 
deactivated
5 s,
 10 s
, 15 s
 or 
20 s
, the delayed 
shut-off feature is activatedVehicle submenu
Access the 
VEHICLE
 submenu via the 
SETTINGS
 menu. Use the 
VEHICLE
 submenu 
to make general vehicle settings. The 
following functions are available:
Setting station selection mode
Use the 
PRESS BUTTON IN AUDIO MODE 
function to select the manual or memory 
station selection mode for the radio 
(page 117).
Move the selection marker with 
the
æ
 or
ç
 button to the 
VEHICLE
 submenu.
Press button
j
 or
k
 repeatedly 
until you see this message in the 
display: 
PRESS BUTTON IN AUDIO MODE
.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press
æ
 or
ç
 to select the 
desired station selection mode. You 
can select:
STATION SEARCH
MEMORY
 selects next stored station
Function
Page
Set station selection mode 
(radio)
see 
below
Set automatic locking
129