Page 134 of 416
134 Controls in detailControl systemMenus, submenus and functions
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 3
Menu 4
Menu 5
Menu 6
Menu 7
Menu 8
Commands/submenusStandard dis-
play
AUDIO
Telephone*
NAVI
Distronic*
Trip computer
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Call up FSS
Select radio
station
Load phone
book
Activate
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Fuel consumption
statistics after
start
Call up malfunc-
tion messages
Reset to factory
settings
Check tire pres-
sure*
Operate CD
player
Search for
name in
phone book
Fuel consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Check engine oil
level
Call up range
Lighting sub-
menu
Digital speed-
ometer
Vehicle sub-
menuConvenience
submenu
Page 143 of 416
143 Controls in detail
Control system
Distronic activated
When Distronic is activated,
DISTRONIC
and the set speed are seen in the display.
1Distronic activated
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up sta-
tistical data on your vehicle. The following
information is available:Fuel consumption statistics after start
Press button
ÿ
or
è
repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
Trip computer menu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
display:
AFTER START
.
1Distance driven since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average fuel consumption since start
4Average speed since start
Function
Page
Fuel consumption statistics after
start
see
below
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset
144
Call up range (distance to empty)
145
Page 144 of 416

144 Controls in detailControl system
Fuel consumption since last reset
Press button
ÿ
or
è
repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
AFTER RESET
.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average fuel consumption since last re-
set
4Average speed since last resetResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press button
ÿ
or
è
repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
Trip computer menu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see the reading that you want
to reset in the display.
Press and hold the reset button
J
in
the instrument cluster (
page 22) un-
til the value is reset to
0.
iThe
AFTER START
display will flash until
a distance of approximately 1 mile (1.6
km) has been covered or two minutes
have elapsed since the engine was re-
started. During this period, you can in-
corporate the values for the previous
journey by pressing
J
in the instru-
ment cluster.
If button
J
is not pressed, the AFTER
START values are set to 0.
Page 146 of 416

146 Controls in detailControl system
Press button
k
or
j
.
The stored messages will now be dis-
played in the order in which the mal-
functions have occurred. See the
“Practical hints” section for malfunc-
tion and warning messages
(
page 296).
Should any malfunctions occur while driv-
ing, the number of malfunctions will reap-
pear in the display when the SmartKey in
the starter switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch.
Settings menu
In the
SETTINGS
menu there are two func-
tions:
The function
TO RESET: R BUTTON FOR
3 SEC.
, with which you can reset all
settings to the original factory settings.
A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.
Press button
è
or
ÿ
repeatedly
until the
SETTINGS
m e n u a p p e a r s i n t h e
display.Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all sub-
menus to the factory settings.
Press the reset button
J
in the instru-
ment cluster for approximately three
seconds.
In the display you will see the request
to press the reset button J
again to
confirm.
Press the reset button
J
again.
The functions of all the submenus will
reset to factory settings.
iThe message memory will be cleared
when you turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch to position1 or2. You
will then only see high priority messag-
es in the malfunction display
(page 296).
iThe settings you have changed will not
be reset unless you confirm the action
by pressing the reset button
J
a sec-
ond time.
Due to safety reasons, resetting all of
the settings while driving will not reset
all of the values in the
LIGHTING
or the
VEHICLE
menu.
Page 147 of 416
147 Controls in detail
Control system
Submenus in the Settings menu
Press button
k
or
j
.
In the display you see the collection of
the submenus.
Press button
ç
or
æ
.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.
The submenus are arranged by hierarchy.
Scroll down with the
ç
button, scroll up
with the
æ
button.
Move within the submenus with the
k
or
j
button to the individual functions.
The settings themselves are made with
buttonæ
or
ç
.Resetting the functions of a submenu
For each submenu you can reset all the
functions to the factory settings.
Move to a function in the submenu.
Press the reset button
J
(page 22)
in the instrument cluster for approxi-
mately three seconds.
In the display you will see the request
to press the reset button
J
again to
confirm.
Press the reset button
J
again.
All functions of the submenu will reset
to factory settings.
Page 151 of 416

151 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
LIGHT-
ING
submenu.
Press button
j
or
k
repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
LAMP CIRCUIT HEADLAMP MODE
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press
æ
or
ç
to select manual
or daytime running lamp (constant)
mode. This function is not available in
countries where daytime running
lamps are mandatory.With daytime running lamp mode se-
lected and the exterior lamp switch at
position0, the following lamps will
come on automatically when the en-
gine is turned on:
Parking lamps and low beam head-
lamps
License plate lamps (in low ambient
light conditions) Setting locator lighting
During darkness, the following lamps will
come on when the exterior lamp switch is
in position
U
, the locator lighting fea-
ture is activated, and the vehicle is un-
locked by remote control:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened. It switches off au-
tomatically after a period of approximately
40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
the
æ
or
ç
button to the
LIGHT-
ING
submenu.
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to
another position, the corresponding
lamp(s) will switch on.
For safety reasons, resetting the LIGHTING
submenu to factory settings
(
page 147) while driving will not re-
set the daytime running lamp mode.
In the display you will then see the mes-
sage:
LIGHTING – CANNOT BE TOTALLY
RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS WHILE
DRIVING.
Page 196 of 416

196 Controls in detailDriving systems
Driving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:
Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed
AIRMATIC adjusts the vehicle suspen-
sion characteristics automatically and
controls the vehicle level.
ABC* with vehicle level control sys-
tems, with which you can change vehi-
cle suspension characteristics
Parktronic*, which serves as a parking
assistant
For information on the BAS, ABS, and ESP
driving systems, see “Driving safety sys-
tems” (
page 76).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set any speed
above 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 20).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must remain at all
times responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the traffic, road
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.
The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.
The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.
Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.
Page 198 of 416

198 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function)
Briefly push the cruise control lever to
position4.
The cruise control will resume the last
set speed.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display for approximately 5 sec-
onds, and the corresponding speedometer
segments from the selected speed to the
vehicle’s maximum speed are illuminated.Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever to
position1 and hold it up until the de-
sired speed is reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed
Depress the cruise control lever to
position2 and hold it down until the
desired speed is reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow1.
Slower
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow2.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to preset
speed could cause an accident and/or seri-
ous injury to you and others.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing),
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the transmission will au-
tomatically downshift if the engine’s
braking power does not slow the vehi-
cle sufficiently.