Page 217 of 394

217 Controls in detail
Loading
Folding the backrest rearward
5Left locking indicator
6Right locking indicator
Fold backrest4 rearward until it engag-
es.
Fold seat cushions3 rearward until
they lock into position.
If a backrest is not locked into position, a
red indicator5 or 6 will be visible.
Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the backrest.
Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle oc-
cupants and luggage/cargo should not ex-
ceed the vehicle capacity weight indicated
on the certification tag which can be found
on the left door pillar.
Warning!
G
If a red indicator is visible with the backrest
up, then the backrest is not properly locked
into position.
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied, or the ex-
tended trunk compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo.
Page 218 of 394

218 Controls in detailLoadingThe handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
Always place items being carried against
front or rear seat backrests, and fasten
them as securely as possible.
The heaviest portion of the cargo should al-
ways be kept as low as possible since it in-
fluences the handling characteristics of
the vehicle.
Cargo tie-down rings
Four rings (arrows) are located in the cargo
compartment.
Carefully secure cargo by applying
even load on all rings with rope of suffi-
cient strength to hold down the cargo.
Always follow loading instructions
(page 217).
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when transporting cargo. Put luggage or car-
go in the trunk if possible. Do not pile lug-
gage or cargo higher than the seat backs.
Do not place anything on the shelf below the
rear windows.
Never drive vehicle with trunk open. Deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter ve-
hicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.
Page 234 of 394

234 Controls in detailUseful features
Remote door unlock
In case you have locked your vehicle unin-
tentionally (e.g. key inside vehicle), and the
reserve key is not handy:
Contact the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
You will be asked to provide your pass-
word which you provided when you
completed the subscriber agreement.
Then return to your vehicle and pull the
trunk recessed handle for a minimum
of 20 seconds until the SOS button is
flashing.
The message
Emergency call –
Call connected appears in the multi-
function display.
As an alternative, you may unlock the vehi-
cle via Internet using the ID and password
sent to you shortly after the completion of
your Acquaintance Call.T h e R e s p o n s e C e n t e r w i l l t h e n u nl o c k y o u r
vehicle with the remote door unlocking
feature.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated,
the audio system or the COMAND* sys-
tem audio is muted and the selected
mode (radio, tape or CD) pauses. The
optional cellular phone (if installed)
switches off. If you must use this
phone, the vehicle must be parked. Dis-
connect the coiled cord and place the
call. The COMAND* navigation system
(if engaged) will continue to run. The
display in the instrument cluster is
available for use and spoken com-
mands are only available by pressing
the RPT button on the COMAND* unit.
A pop-up window will appear in the CO-
MAND* display to indicate that a
Tele Aid call is in progress.
iThe remote door unlock feature is avail-
able if the relevant cellular phone net-
work is available.
The SOS button will flash and the mes-
sage
Emergency call –
Call connected
will appear in the mul-
tifunction display to indicate receipt of
the door unlock command.
Once the vehicle is unlocked, a Re-
sponse Center specialist will attempt
to establish voice contact with the ve-
hicle occupants.
If the trunk recessed handle was pulled
for more than 20 seconds before door
unlock authorization was received by
the Response Center, you must wait
15 minutes before pulling the trunk re-
cessed handle again.
Page 247 of 394

247 Operation
Driving instructions
For more information on winter driving
(page 264).
Standing water
Passenger compartmentDriving abroad
Abroad, there is a widely-spread
Mercedes-Benz service network at your
disposal. If you plan to drive into areas
which are not listed in the index of your
Mercedes-Benz Center directory, you
should request pertinent information from
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
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 the
engine running. Otherwise, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle in-
terior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the ve-
hicle not facing the wind.Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. In-
dicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice.
!Do not drive through flooded areas or
water of unknown depth.
If you must drive through standing wa-
ter, drive slowly to prevent water from
entering the passenger compartment
or the engine compartment. Water in
these areas could cause damage to
electrical components or wiring of the
engine or transmission, or could result
in water being ingested by the engine
through the air intake, causing severe
internal engine damage. Any such dam-
age is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
The trunk is the preferred place to carry ob-
jects.
Page 301 of 394
301 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
L
defective
Visit workshop!
One or more main functions of the Tele
Aid system are malfunctioning.
Have the Tele Aid system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tele Aid battery
Visit workshop!
The emergency power battery for the Tele
Aid system is malfunctioning. If the vehi-
cle battery is also dead, Tele Aid will not
be operational.
Have the Tele Aid system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
ì
Function
Not available
This display appears if button
ì
or
í
on the multifunction steering wheel
is pressed and the vehicle is not equipped
with a telephone.
Ê
Close trunk lid!
This message will appear whenever the
trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.
W
Washer fluid
Check level
The fluid level has dropped to about
1/3 of
total reservoir capacity.
Add washer fluid (
page 259).
Page 305 of 394
305 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Where will I find...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is stored in left hand side of
the trunk.
Loosen Velcro fastener1.
Remove first aid kit2.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit is stored in the com-
partment underneath the trunk floor.
The following is included:
Towing eye bolt
Alignment bolt
Wheel wrench
Vehicle jack
Wheel boltsRemoving the vehicle tool kit
Lift up the trunk floor cover.
Loosen retaining screw 1 in the middle
of storage well casing2. Remove stor-
age well casing2.
Remove vehicle tool kit storage well
casing5.
1Retaining screw
2Storage well casing
iCheck expiration dates and contents
for completeness at least once a year
and replace missing/expired items.
Page 306 of 394

306 Practical hintsWhere will I find...?3Arrow
4Minispare wheel
5Vehicle tool kit storage well casing
6Vehicle tool kit
Wheel wrench
Vehicle jackVehicle jackThe vehicle jack is stored in the space un-
derneath the trunk floor together with the
vehicle tool kit in the vehicle tool kit stor-
age well casing.
Remove the vehicle jack from its com-
partment.
Push the crank handle up.
iArrow3 on vehicle tool kit storage well
casing5 must point in the direction of
travel. Otherwise you cannot place the
storage well casing on top and secure
the Minispare wheel with retaining
screw 1 (
page 305).
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on a level surface. Make sure that the jack
arm is fully seated in the jack take-up brack-
et. Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.
Page 307 of 394
307 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Turn the crank handle clockwise until it
engages (operational position).
Before storing the vehicle jack in its com-
partment:
It should be fully collapsed
The handle must be folded in (storage
position)
Minispare wheel
The Minispare wheel is located in the com-
partment underneath the trunk floor.
1Vehicle tool kit
Wheel wrench
Jack
2Arrow
3Minispare wheel
4Vehicle tool kit storage well casingRemoving the Minispare wheel
Lift trunk floor cover and engage trunk
floor handle in upper edge of trunk.
Loosen the retaining screw
(page 305) in the middle of storage
well casing. Remove the storage well
casing.
Remove vehicle tool kit storage well
casing4.
Remove Minispare wheel3.