Page 50 of 321

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
É
in the instrument cluster
will be illuminated.
Warning!
G
Wait until the vehicle is stationary before re-
moving the key from the steering lock. The
vehicle cannot be steered when the key is
removed.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the steering system. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is nec-
essary to steer the vehicle.
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 position 0
and remove.
Take the key and lock vehicle when leav-
ing.
Page 51 of 321

51 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the combination switch to1
(page 46).
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 102).
Turning off engine
Place the gear selector lever inP.
Turn the key in the steering lock
(page 33) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. Children could release the parking
brake and/or move the gear selector lever
from positionP, either of which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal
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 (
page 50).
When parked on an incline, also turn front
wheel towards the road curb.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.!To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery, al-
ways remove the key from the steering
lock.
Page 52 of 321
52 Getting startedParking and locking
Press the seat belt release button
(page 40).
Move the steering wheel slightly to al-
low the locking mechanism to engage.
After exiting the vehicle press the lock
button
‹
on the remote control
(
page 32).
The turn signals lamps blink three
times and the locking knobs on the
doors move down.More information on parking and locking
can be found in the “Controls in detail”
section (
page 84).
iThe key can only be removed from the
steering lock with the gear selector le-
ver in positionP.
With the key removed and the driver’s
door open, a warning sounds if the ve-
hicles 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.
Page 74 of 321

74 Safety and SecurityDriving and safety systems
LOW RANGE 4-ETS
During off-road driving a special low range
system for the 4-ETS is operational with
transmission in LOW RANGE mode.
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 224) and
(
page 226).
EBP
The EBP enhances braking effectiveness
by allowing the rear brakes to supply a
greater proportion of the braking effort
without a loss of vehicle stability.
Warning!
G
When you see the 4-ETS/ESP-warning lamp v
flashing in the speedometer dial, then
proceed as follows:
While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.
While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.
Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4-ETS cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
!The engine must be shut off when
the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer.
the vehicle is being towed with the
front axle raised.
Otherwise, the 4-ETS will engage the
brakes and seriously damage the brake
system.
iIf the yellow 4-ETS malfunction indica-
tor lamp
{
comes on while the
4-ETS/ESP warning lamp
v
flashes,
the electronic traction system is being
switched off temporarily to prevent
overheating of the drive wheel brakes.
Page 76 of 321

76 Safety and SecurityDriving and safety systemsLOW RANGE – ESP
During off-road driving a special low range
system for the ESP is operational with
transmission in LOW RANGE mode
(page 118).
In the LOW RANGE mode ESP operates in
a traction improving fashion specifically
adapted for off-road driving. At speeds be-low 27 mph (45 km / h), the ESP assists in
over-/understeering, thus improving vehi-
cle traction.
Switching off the ESP
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP in driving situations where it would
be advantageous to have drive wheels spin
and thus cut into surfaces for better grip
such as:
starting out on slippery surfaces and in
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains
in sand or gravel
when driving off-roadWhen the ESP is turned off
engine torque is not limited.
the drive wheels can spin.
This helps the wheels cut into surfaces
for a better grip.
!The engine must be shut off when
the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer.
the vehicle is being towed with the
front axle raised.
Otherwise, the ESP will engage the
brakes and seriously damage the brake
system.
The ESP will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size (
page 279).
Warning!
G
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period with the ESP switched
off. This may cause serious damage to
the drivetrain which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.iTurn ESP on immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply
anymore.
Page 80 of 321
80 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsArming tow-alarm and glass breakage
sensor
When you lock your vehicle, the tow-away
and glass breakage sensor alarm is auto-
matically armed.
Disarming tow-alarm and glass break-
age sensor
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm
feature, switch off the tow-away alarm and
glass breakage sensor before towing the
vehicle, or when parking on a surface sub-
ject to movement, such as a ferry or auto
train.Vehicles with trip computer*
The buttons are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Reset button
2Mode button
3Display
4Glass breakage sensor
Turn key in steering lock to position1
(page 33).
Press button2.
Return key to position0 and remove it
from the steering lock.
Within 30 seconds press button1 or 2.
The display shows
OFF
.
Exit vehicle and lock vehicle with re-
mote control (
page 32).
The tow-away alarm and glass breakage
sensor remain switched off until the key is
inserted in steering lock and turned to
position1.
Page 100 of 321
100 Controls in detailMemory function*Storing positions in memory
Adjust the seat (
page 36) and exteri-
or rear view mirrors (page 38) to the
desired position.
Push memory button2.
Release memory button and press one
of the position buttons1 within three
seconds.
All the settings are stored at the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold one of the position
buttons1 until seat and rear view mir-
rors have fully moved to the stored po-
sitions.Exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tion (passenger side)
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger exterior rear view mirror so that you
can see the right rear wheel as soon as you
engage reverse gearR.
!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.iReleasing the button immediately
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.
Page 101 of 321

101 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Activating parking position
The buttons are on the lower part of the
center console.
1Deactivating parking position
2Activating parking position
3Adjustment button
Switch ignition on (if not already on).
Press button2.
The passenger side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.
Engage reverse gearR.
The passenger side exterior rear view
mirror moves automatically to the
stored parking position. The exterior rear view mirror returns to its
stored driving position:
10 seconds after you put the gear se-
lector lever in positionD
immediately once you exceed a speed
of approx. 6 mph (10 km/h)
immediately when you press the
button1 for driver’s side mirrorStoring parking position
Stop the vehicle.
Switch ignition on (if not already on).
Press button2.
The passenger side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.
Adjust the exterior rear view mirror
with button3 so that you see the rear
wheel and the curb.
Press memory button2 (
page 99).
Within three seconds, press bottom of
adjustment button3.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
iIf the button1 is pressed, the automat-
ic passenger side exterior rear view
parking position is deactivated.
iIf the mirror does move, repeat the
above steps. After the setting is stored
you can move the mirror again.
The selected position will be stored rel-
ative to the position button1
(page 99) pressed.