Page 139 of 376

139 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
Automatic transmission*
For more information on driving with an au-
tomatic transmission, see “Automatic 
transmission*” (
page 45).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear 
shifting process to your individual driving 
style by continually adjusting the shift 
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current 
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the 
automatic transmission reacts by 
adjusting its gear shift program.The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:
the gear selector lever positionD with 
gear ranges4, 3, 2, 1 (
page 141)
the selected shift program (C/S) 
(page 144)
the position of the accelerator pedal 
(page 145)
the vehicle speed
The current gear selector lever position 
and shift program (
C/S) appear in the 
multifunction display (page 109).
An additional indication of the current gear 
selector lever position can be found on the 
cover of the shifting-gate. The indicators 
come on when you activate a switch (e.g. 
unlocking the vehicle or opening a door) 
and go out after approximately 
15 minutes.When the gear selector lever is in 
positionD, you can influence transmission 
shifting by:
limiting the gear range
changing gears manually
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission 
upshifting is delayed. This allows the 
catalytic converter to heat up more 
quickly to operating temperature.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector 
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is 
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not 
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could 
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You 
could lose control of the vehicle and hit 
someone or something. Only shift into gear 
when the engine is idling normally and when 
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 142 of 376

142 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Gear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position 
Gear selector lever position 
when the vehicle is parked. Place 
gear selector lever in positionP 
only when vehicle is stopped. 
The park position is not intended 
to serve as a brake when the 
vehicle is parked. Rather, the 
driver should always set the 
parking brake in addition to 
placing the gear selector lever in 
positionP to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be 
removed from the starter switch 
with the gear selector lever in 
positionP. With the SmartKey 
removed, the gear selector lever 
is locked in positionP.
If the vehicle’s electrical system 
is malfunctioning, the gear 
selector lever could remain 
locked in positionP 
(page 291).
í
Reverse gear 
Place gear selector lever in 
positionR only when vehicle is 
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the 
engine to the drive axle. When 
the brakes are released, the 
vehicle can be moved freely 
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while 
driving.
If the ESP is deactivated or 
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever toN 
only if the vehicle is in danger of 
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive 
The transmission shifts 
automatically. All five forward 
gears are available. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 143 of 376

143 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any 
other reason with gear selector lever 
inN can result in transmission damage 
that is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear 
selector lever not fully engaged in positionP 
is dangerous. Also, positionP alone is not 
intended to or capable of preventing your 
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people 
or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to 
shifting to positionP (
page 46).
When parked on an incline, turn the front 
wheels towards the road curb.
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.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it 
with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children 
could move the gear selector lever from 
positionP, which could result in an accident 
and/or serious personal injury. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 172 of 376

172 Controls in detailAudio systemCassette operation
Playing cassettes
Press3button.
The display panel folds down and the 
cassette compartment becomes ac-
cessible.
Insert cassette into the cassette com-
partment until it engages and tap it 
gently.
The cassette will be pulled in automati-
cally. The system switches to cassette 
mode. Side 1 will be played and 
SIDE 1
 
appears in the display. Side 1 is the 
side of the cassette which is facing up-
ward. The cassette deck will automati-
cally detect the type of tape. 
Fold display panel back up and press 
gently on the display panel frame to 
lock it in place.
or
If a cassette is already in the 
mechanism, pressjbutton.Track selection
Press the
TRK
 key.
The current track will be displayed as  
SIDE 1
 or 
SIDE 2
.
You can switch sides at any time.
The side will be changed automatically 
at the end of the tape.
!Do not press directly on the display 
face. Otherwise the display will be 
damaged.
iA warning signal will sound after 
20 seconds if the display panel is left in 
the down position. Fold display panel 
back up. If the display panel is not 
closed, a warning signal will sound and 
the radio will be muted. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 173 of 376

173 Controls in detail
Audio system
Cassette eject
Press eject button3.
The display folds down and the cas-
sette is ejected. The system will switch 
back to radio mode automatically.
Fold display panel back up and press 
gently on the display panel frame to 
lock it.Track search
Track search forward
Pressfbutton.SEEK FWD
  will appear in the display. 
Track search will run the tape forward 
to the start of the next track and switch 
to Play.Track search backward
Pressebutton.SEEK RWD
 will appear on the display. 
Track search will run the tape back-
ward to the start of the track currently 
playing and switch to Play.
Stopping track search
Pressd, c, f or 
ebutton.
The cassette will switch over to Play.
!Do not press directly on the display 
face. Otherwise the display will be 
damaged.iThe cassette will not be ejected when 
the system is switched off or switched 
to another operating mode.
iThe beginning of a track can only be 
found if there is pause of at least 
four seconds between tracks. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 180 of 376

180 Controls in detailAudio systemSwitching on the telephone
Pressh button.
If you have programmed an unlock 
code for the telephone, you must enter 
the code now.
Enter the desired telephone number 
using buttons 4 to M.
If necessary, correct number entered 
with the 
CLR
 key. Press key briefly to 
delete the last digit entered; press key 
and hold to delete the complete num-
ber.
Press the
OK key after entering correct 
code.
The telephone is unlocked. If you have 
entered the wrong code, you must re-
peat the entering procedure with the 
correct code.Switching off the telephone
Pressh button repeatedly until PHONE OFF
 appears in the display.
The receiving symbol in the display 
disappears.
Adjusting the volume
Turn control knoba during tele-
phone operation.
The volume increases or decreases de-
pending on the direction in which the 
knob is turned.Placing a call
Entering a telephone number and 
starting the dialing process
Enter the desired telephone number 
using buttons4 to M.
The number can have up to 32 digits, 
but only 13 of these are visible on the 
display.
If necessary, correct number entered with 
the CLR
 key.
Press key briefly to delete the last digit 
entered.
Press key and hold to delete the com-
plete number.
After correct telephone number has 
been entered, press the
SND
 key.
iThe volume can be adjusted separately 
for the telephone*, voice control sys-
tem* and radio. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 184 of 376

184 Controls in detailAudio systemEmergency call
Press button4 longer than 
one second.
A call will be placed to the saved num-
ber (e.g. 911).
You can make an emergency call to an 
emergency rescue station with a mobile 
communications network.
The emergency call will be placed as long 
as the corresponding mobile communica-
tions network is available. To do this, 
switch the telephone on if this has not al-
ready been done.The call will also be placed even if the un-
lock code is not entered.
Emergency calls may not be possible with 
all telephone networks or if certain net-
work services and/or telephone functions 
are active. Check with your local network 
operation company. It may take some time 
to set up an emergency call.
To use this function you must ensure that 
the number stored in memory location 1 is 
the number to be dialed in case of emer-
gency.
If an emergency call cannot be connected, 
the message
SYSTM BUSY
 appears.Accepting an incoming call
Accepting an incoming call in telephone 
mode
With an incoming call, a ringing tone can 
be heard and the caller’s telephone num-
ber, or the name under which this tele-
phone number has been saved in the 
telephone book, appears on the display. If 
the caller’s number is not transmitted, 
CALL
 will appear in the display.
Press the
SND
 key to accept call.
!Please be aware that the 911 emergen-
cy call system is a public service. Using 
it without due cause is a criminal of-
fense. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 186 of 376

186 Controls in detailPower windows
Power windowsOpening and closing the windows
The side windows can be opened and 
closed electrically. The switches for all the 
side windows are on the driver’s door. The 
switch for the passenger door is on the 
passenger door.
1Left front window
2Right front window
Turn SmartKey in the starter switch to 
position1 or2.
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure there 
is no danger of anyone being harmed by the 
closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or, 
if switch was pulled past the resistance 
point and released, by either pressing or 
pulling the respective switch.
If the window encounters an obstruction 
t h a t  b l o c k s  i t s  p a t h  i n  a  c i r c u m s t a n c e  w h e r e  
you pulled the switch past the resistance 
point and released it to close the window, 
the automatic reversal function will stop the 
window and open it slightly.
If the window encounters an obstruction 
t h a t  b l o c k s  i t s  p a t h  i n  a  c i r c u m s t a n c e  w h e r e  
you are closing the window by pulling and 
holding the switch, or by pressing and hold-
ing button‹ on the SmartKey, the auto-
matic reversal function will not operate
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from starter switch, and lock your 
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in 
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked 
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment can cause an accident and/or serious 
personal injury.iYou can also open or close the win-
dows using the:
SmartKey (summer opening/con-
venience feature) (
page 188).
buttonO in the control panel of 
the climate control (
page 151).