
185 Contents – Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of radio 
transmitters ............................... 186
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km)  ................................. 187
Maintenance ................................... 187
Tele Aid  ........................................... 188
Catalytic converter  ........................ 198
Emission control  ............................ 199
Steering lock  ...................................200
Starting and turning off 
the engine  ..................................202
Automatic transmission  ...............203
Parking brake  ................................. 212Driving instructions .......................213
Drive sensibly - Save Fuel  .........213
Drinking and Driving  ................213
Pedals ...........................................213
Power assistance .........................214
Brakes ...........................................214
Driving off ....................................215
Parking ......................................... 216
Tires .............................................. 216
Snow chains  ................................ 219
Winter driving instructions  ...... 219
Block heater ................................ 221
Standing water  ........................... 221
Passenger compartment  ........... 221
Traveling abroad  ........................ 221Cruise control  .................................222
Brake assist system (BAS)  ............225
Antilock brake system (ABS)  .......227
Four wheel electronic traction
system (4MATIC)  ......................229
Electronic stability
program (ESP)  ...........................230
Parking assist (Parktronic)  ..........234
What you should know at the
gas station  ..................................239
Check regularly and before 
a long trip ................................... 241 

202 Starting and turning off the enging
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Starting and turning off the engine
Before Starting
Ensure that parking brake is engaged and that selector 
lever is in position “P” or “N”. Turn electronic key in 
steering lock to position 2.
Starting
Do not depress accelerator.
Briefly turn electronic key in steering lock clockwise to 
the stop and release. The starter will engage until the 
engine is running.
If engine will not run, and the starting procedure stops, 
turn electronic key completely to the left and repeat 
starting the engine.
After several unsuccessful attempts, have the system 
checked at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.Important!
Due to the installed starter non-repeat feature, the 
electronic key must be turned completely to the left 
before attempting to start the engine again.
In areas where temperatures frequently drop below 
-4
°F(–20
°C) we recommend that an engine block heater 
be installed. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will 
advise you on this subject, see page 221.
Turning off
Turn the electronic key in the steering lock to position 0 
to stop the engine.
The electronic key can only be removed with the 
selector lever in position “P”. 

221 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Block heater (for Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Standing water
Caution!
Do not drive through flooded areas or water of unknown 
depth.
If you must dr ive t hrough standing water,  dr ive 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 damage is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Passenger compartment
Traveling abroad
Abroad, there is a widely-spread Mercedes-Benz service 
network at your disposal. If you plan to travel 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.
Wa r n i n g !
Always fasten items being carried as securely as 
possible.In an accident, during hard braking or sudden 
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 objects. 

337 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Economy ..................................................................... 129
Front center console compartment ventilation .... 133
Rear passenger compartment adjustable 
air outlet  ................................................................ 134
Rear window defroster  ............................................. 130
Residual engine heat utilization (REST)  ............... 132
Special settings  ......................................................... 129
Automatic transmission  ...............................................203
Emergency operation  ............................................... 211
Fluid level ................................................................... 274
Program mode selector switch  ............................... 210
Selector lever position ..............................................206
Transmission selector lever, manually 
unlocking .............................................................. 296
BBabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system ..................... 65
Self-test ......................................................................... 65
BAS (Brake assist system)  ............................................ 225
Malfunction indicator lamp ..................................... 247
Battery .............................................................................289
Battery recycling ....................................................... 290
BATTERY / ALTERNATOR - malfunction and 
warning messages  ....................................................252
Block heater  .................................................................... 221BRAKE ASSIST - malfunction and warning 
messages ................................................................... 253
Brake assist system (BAS)  ........................................... 225
Malfunction indicator lamp  .................................... 247
Brake fluid  ..................................................................... 330
BRAKE FLUID - malfunction and warning
messages ................................................................... 254
BRAKE LINING WEAR - malfunction and warning 
messages ................................................................... 254
Brake pad wear .............................................................. 254
Brake warning lamp  ..................................................... 245
Brake fluid low  ......................................................... 245
Brakes  .................................................... 214, 225, 227, 230
Bulbs
Replacing bulbs  ........................................................ 297
CCapacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.  .............................. 328
Cargo tie-down rings  ..................................................... 178
Catalytic converter ......................................................... 198
CD changer ...................................................................... 148
Audio systems ..............................................................97
Cellular telephone .......................................................... 179
Center console  .................................................................. 20 

344 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
RRadio
Audio Systems  ............................................................. 97
Radio transmitters  ......................................................... 186
Rain sensor  ..................................................................... 123
Reading lamps rear compartment ............................... 160
Rear view mirrors  ............................................................ 82
Antiglare night position ............................................. 82
Exterior ......................................................................... 83
Inside ............................................................................ 82
Parking position .......................................................... 85
Storing mirror positions in memory  ........................ 84
Rear window defroster  .................................................. 130
Rear window wiper/washer  ......................................... 124
Rear-facing bench seat  .................................................. 175
Remote control  ................................................................. 27
Battery replacement  ................................................. 304
REMOVE KEY - malfunction and warning
messages .................................................................... 259
Replacement keys
Obtaining ..................................................................... 25
Replacing bulbs .............................................................. 297
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......................................308
Reporting Safety Defects  ................................................ 15
Residual engine heat utilization (REST)  .................... 132Roadside assistance  ......................................................... 10
Roadside assistance call
See Tele Aid  ............................................................... 188
Roof rack .......................................................................... 311
SSafety guidelines for the seat belt, emergency 
tensioning device and airbag  .................................... 75
Seat belts  ...........................................................................57
Fastening ......................................................................59
Rear-facing bench seat  ............................................... 61
Seat belt nonusage warning system .........................58
Unfastening .................................................................. 62
Warning lamp  ........................................................... 248
Seat belts and integrated restraint system  ..................57
Seat heater  ........................................................................ 52
Vehicles with seat ventilation  ................................... 54
Vehicles without seat ventilation  ............................. 53
Seat ventilation  ................................................................55
Seats ...................................................................................42
Memory function .........................................................45
Multicontour seat  ........................................................ 51
Power seats front .........................................................42