Page 48 of 399

48 Getting startedDrivingSingle wipe
Press switch briefly in the direction of
arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Push 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 267).
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.
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Page 50 of 399

50 Getting startedParking and locking
Parking and lockingYou have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.
Parking brake
1Parking brake
2Release handle
Step firmly on parking brake1.
When the engine is running, the indica-
tor lamp ; (USA only) or 3
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
will be illuminated.
Warning!
G
Wait until the vehicle is stationary before re-
moving the key from the starter switch. The
vehicle cannot be steered when the key is
removed.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to stop or steer the vehi-
cle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:
Keep right foot on brake pedal.
Firmly depress parking brake pedal.
Move the selector lever to positionP.
Slowly release brake pedal.
When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.
Turn the key to starter switch position0
and remove, or press start- / stop button
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Take the key or the SmartKey with KEY-
LESS-GO* (if so equipped) and lock ve-
hicle when leaving.
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Page 51 of 399

51 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the switch toM (
page 46).
More information can be found in the
"Controls in detail" section (
page 112).
Turning off the engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the Smart-
Key with KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) with
you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Children could
release the parking brake and/or move the
gear selector lever from positionP, either of
which could result in an accident or serious
injury.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the selector
lever not fully engaged in positionP is dan-
gerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP.
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the curb.
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Page 52 of 399

52 Getting startedParking and lockingTurning off with the key
Turn the key in the starter switch to
position0 and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
Press the seat belt release button
(page 41).
After exiting the vehicle press the lock
button‹ on the key (
page 30).
The locking knobs on the doors move
down. The turn signal indicators light
up briefly.More information can be found in the
"Controls in detail" section (
page 86).
iThe SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) can only
be removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP.!With the SmartKey removed and the
driver’s door open, a warning sounds if
the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not
switched off.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, ensure that there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch and lock your ve-
hicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle may
cause serious personal injury.
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Page 53 of 399

53 Getting started
Parking and locking
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO*
Place the gear selector lever in P.
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton until the engine shuts off.
With the driver's door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the
driver’s door opened, the starter switch
is set to position0, same as key re-
moved from starter switch
(page 31).
Press the seat belt release button
(page 41).1Lock button on the door handle
After exiting the vehicle, press lock
button1 on the door handle or on the
trunk lid.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down. The turn signal indicators light
up briefly
!If you hear a warning signal you have ei-
ther
forgotten to turn off the lights, or
not put the gear selector lever inP
before opening the driver’s door.
Turn off the lights or place the gear se-
lector lever inP.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, ensure that there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 54 of 399
54 Getting startedParking and lockingMore information can be found in the
"Controls in detail" section (
page 89).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the Smart-
Key with KEYLESS-GO* (if so equipped) with
you, and lock your vehicle. Do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause serious
personal injury.
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Page 65 of 399

65 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Automatic comfort-fit feature seat belt
An automatic comfort-fit feature for front
seats reduces the retracting force of the
seat belts when they are in normal use.
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:
Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child and recommended for
use by Mercedes-Benz.
Ensure that the infant or child is prop-
erly secured by a belt at all times while
the vehicle is in motion.
Infant and child restraint seats and infor-
mation on choosing an appropriate re-
straint system can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Infant and child restraint systems
Use only a BabySmart
TM compatible child
restraint for the front passenger seat in
this vehicle.
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.All lap-shoulder belts except the driver’s
seat belt have special seat belt retractors
for secure fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child re-
straint instructions for mounting. Then pull
the shoulder belt out completely and let it
retract. During seat belt retraction, a ratch-
eting sound can be heard to indicate that
the special seat belt retractor is activated.
The belt is now locked. Push down on child
restraint to take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. The seat
belt can again be used in the usual man-
ner.
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
!Do not place objects heavier than 20
lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger seat.
This could cause the front or side im-
pact airbag on the front passenger side
to deploy in a crash which exceeds the
system's deployment threshold.
iInformation on child seats with mount-
ing fittings for tether anchorages
(page 69).
For information on LATCH-type child
seat mounts (
page 70).
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Page 69 of 399

69 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Installation of infant and child restraint
systems
This vehicle is equipped with tether an-
chorages for a top tether strap at each of
the rear seating positions.Not foldable rear seat backrest
Vehicles without foldable rear seat back-
rests
Remove cover1 from anchorage ring.
Guide tether strap between head re-
straints.
Securely fasten the hook2 to the an-
chorage ring3.Foldable rear seat backrest*
Vehicles with foldable rear seat backrests
Fold rear seat backrest slightly for-
ward.
Guide tether strap between head re-
straints.
Securely fasten the hook2 to the an-
chorage ring3.
Swing rear seat backrest to the rear un-
til it engages.
Check the rear seat backrest to be
locked in its upright position
(page 302).
Warning!
G
Do not place powered-on laptops, cell
phones and like electronic devices on the
front passenger seat. Signals from such de-
vices may interfere with the BabySmart
TM
system. Such signal interference may cause
the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
not to come on during self-test or be contin-
uously lit, indicating that the system is not
functioning.
iFor safety, make sure that the hook2
has attached to the ring3 beyond the
safety catch.
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