
1 Contents
IntroductionProduct information  .......................... 7
Operator’s manual  ............................. 8
Where to find it  ................................ 13
Reporting Safety Defects  ................ 15Instruments and controlsInstruments and controls  ............... 18
Center console  .............................. 20
Overhead control panel  ............... 21OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 24
Start lock-out  .................................... 26
General notes on the central 
locking system ............................. 26
Central locking system  ................... 27
Radio frequency and infrared 
remote control  .............................. 27
Opening and closing windows 
and sliding/pop-up roof from 
outside ........................................... 30Panic button  ..................................31
Mechanical keys  ...........................31
Doors ................................................. 32
Central locking switch .................... 34
Automatic central locking .............. 35
Emergency unlocking in case of 
accident ........................................ 35
Tailgate .............................................. 36
Antitheft alarm system ................... 39
Tow-away alarm  ................................41
Power seats front  ............................. 42
Front seat head restraints .............. 48
Rear seat head restraints  ............... 49
Multicontour seat  .............................51
Seat heater ........................................ 52
Seat ventilation ................................ 55
Seat belts and integrated restraint 
system .......................................... 57
Seat belts  .......................................... 57
Seat belt nonusage warning
system .......................................... 58
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation 
system .......................................... 65Self-test BabySmart
TM without 
special child seat installed  ......... 65
Supplemental restraint 
system (SRS)  ................................ 66
Emergency tensioning 
device (ETD) ................................. 67
Airbags .............................................. 68
Safety guidelines for the seat belt, 
emergency tensioning device and 
airbag ............................................ 75
Infant and child restraint
systems ......................................... 77
Steering wheel adjustment  ............ 81
Rear view mirrors  ............................ 82
Instrument cluster  ........................... 86
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ................. 92
Trip and main odometer, vehicle 
speed, FSS and engine oil level 
display .......................................... 96
Audio systems  .................................. 97
Radio .............................................. 97
CD player  ....................................... 98
Cassette player  ............................. 99
Telephone ........................................ 100 

3 Contents
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  ................................. 212
Driving instructions  ...................... 213
Drive sensibly - Save Fuel  ......... 213
Drinking and Driving  ................ 213
Pedals ........................................... 213
Power assistance  ........................ 214
Brakes .......................................... 214
Driving off  ................................... 215
Parking ........................................ 216
Tires ............................................. 216Snow chains  ................................ 219
Winter driving instructions  ...... 219
Block heater ................................ 221
Standing water  ........................... 221
Passenger compartment  ........... 221
Traveling abroad  ........................ 221
Cruise 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
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator lamps in 
the instrument cluster  ............. 244
On-board diagnostic system ..... 244Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................244
Brake warning lamp  ..................245
Supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................246
Fuel reserve and fuel cap 
placement warning  ....................246
Electronic stability program (ESP) 
— warning lamp  ..........................247
BAS / ESP malfunction indicator 
lamp ..............................................247
ABS malfunction indicator 
lamp ..............................................248
Seat belt warning lamp  .............248
Malfunction and indicator lamp in 
the center console .....................249
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....249
Malfunction and warning messages 
in the multifunction display  ...250
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE  ................ 251
BATTERY / ALTERNATOR .........252
ABS-SYSTEM ...............................253
BRAKE ASSIST  ...........................253
BRAKE LINING WEAR  ..............254 

5 ContentsWindow cleaning / glass
sunroof ......................................... 317
Wiper blades  ............................... 317
Light alloy wheels  ...................... 318
Instrument cluster  ..................... 318
Steering wheel and gear selector 
lever .............................................. 318
Cup holder ................................... 318
Seat belts  ..................................... 318
Headliner ..................................... 318
Upholstery ................................... 319
Hard plastic trim items  ............. 319
Plastic and rubber parts ............ 319
Technical dataSpare parts service  ....................... 322
Warranty coverage  ........................ 322
Identification labels  ...................... 323
Layout of poly-V-belt drive  ........... 324
Technical data  ................................ 325
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - 
capacities ................................... 328
Engine oils ...................................... 330
Engine oil additives  ...................... 330
Air conditioner refrigerant  .......... 330
Brake fluid ...................................... 330
Premium unleaded gasoline  ........ 331
Fuel requirements  ........................ 331
Gasoline additives  ......................... 332
Coolants .......................................... 332
Consumer information  ................. 334
IndexIndex ................................................336 

22 Contents – Operation
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 24
Start lock-out  .................................... 26
General notes on the central 
locking system ............................. 26
Central locking system  ................... 27
Radio frequency and infrared 
remote control  .............................. 27
Opening and closing windows 
and sliding/pop-up roof from 
outside ........................................... 30
Panic button  .................................. 31
Mechanical keys  ........................... 31
Doors .................................................. 32
Central locking switch  .................... 34
Automatic central locking  .............. 35
Emergency unlocking in case of 
accident ........................................ 35
Tailgate .............................................. 36
Antitheft alarm system  ................... 39
Tow-away alarm ................................ 41
Power seats front  ............................. 42
Front seat head restraints  .............. 48Rear seat head restraints  ............... 49
Multicontour seat  .............................51
Seat heater ........................................ 52
Seat ventilation ................................ 55
Seat belts and integrated restraint 
system .......................................... 57
Seat belts  .......................................... 57
Seat belt nonusage warning
system .......................................... 58
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation 
system .......................................... 65
Self-test BabySmart
TM without 
special child seat installed  ......... 65
Supplemental restraint
system (SRS)  ............................... 66
Emergency tensioning 
device (ETD)  ................................ 67
Airbags .............................................. 68
Safety guidelines for the seat belt, 
emergency tensioning device and 
airbag ........................................... 75
Infant and child restraint
systems ........................................ 77
Steering wheel adjustment  .............81
Rear view mirrors  ........................... 82Instrument cluster  ........................... 86
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ................. 92
Trip and main odometer, vehicle 
speed, FSS and engine oil level 
display .......................................... 96
Audio systems  .................................. 97
Radio .............................................. 97
CD player  ....................................... 98
Cassette player  ............................. 99
Telephone ........................................ 100
Telephone book  .......................... 100
Redialing ..................................... 102
Incoming call  .............................. 104
Navigation system .......................... 105
Trip computer ................................. 106
Malfunction message memory  .... 108
Individual settings ..........................110
Setting the audio volume  ..............113
Flexible service system (FSS)  .......114
Engine oil level indicator ...............117
Engine oil consumption  .................118
Exterior lamp switch  ......................119
Night security Illumination  ......... 120 

42 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power seats front
To operate the front power seat adjustment switches, 
turn electronic key in steering lock to position 1 or 2 
(with the driver’s or front passenger’s door open, the 
power seats can also be operated with the electronic key 
removed or in steering lock position 0).
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving. 
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause the 
driver to lose control of the vehicle.Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest 
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position 
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat 
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt 
would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That 
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The 
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint 
when the wearer is in an upright position and the 
belt properly positioned on the body.Never place hands under seat or near any moving 
parts while a seat is being adjusted.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
electronic key from the steering lock, and lock your 
vehicle.The power seats can also be operated with the 
driver’s or front passenger door open. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle or with access 
to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle 
equipment may cause an accident and/or serious 
personal injury. 

46 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Recalling positions from memory
To recall a seat / head restraint / steering wheel and 
exterior rear view mirror position, push and hold 
position button “1”, “2” or “3” until seat / head restraint /
steering wheel and exterior rear view mirror movement 
has stopped. The seat / head restraint / steering wheel 
and exterior rear view mirror movement stops when the 
position button is released.
Caution!
Do not operate the power seats using the memory 
button if the seat backrest is in an excessively reclined 
position. Doing so could cause damage to front or rear 
seats.
First move the backrest to an upright position.Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust 
the seat height for proper vision as well as fore / aft 
placement and backrest angle to ensure adequate 
control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head 
restraint should also be adjusted for proper height. See 
also airbag section for proper seat positioning.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure 
adequate control, reach, operation, and comfort.
Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should be 
adjusted for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be 
seated in a properly secured restraint system that 
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and rear view 
mirror adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts 
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion. 

47 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger-
side front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury can result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in the back 
seats and be seated in an appropriate infant or 
child restraint system, which is properly secured 
with the vehicle’s seat belt and top tether strap, 
fully in accordance with the child seat 
manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint. 

57 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats, 
emergency tensioning devices for all outboard seat 
belts, dual front airbags, door mounted side impact 
airbags and head protective window curtain airbags. 
Their protective functions are designed to complement 
one another.
Seat belts
Important
Laws i n mo st states and all Canadi an provi nc es require 
seat belt use.
All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. 
territories and all Canadian provinces require the use of 
child restraints that comply with U.S. Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and Canadian Motor 
Ve h i c l e  S a f e t y  S t a n d a r d  213 .
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly 
recommend their use.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger 
front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system, which is properly secured with 
the vehicle’s seat belt and top tether strap, fully in 
accordance with the child seat manufacturer’s 
instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint.