Contents
Automatic central locking .............. 87
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 88
Seats.................................................... 89
Easy-entry/exit feature* ................ 89
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints ............... 90
Rear seat head restraints ............... 91
Heated seats* ................................ 93
Memory function*................................ 95
Storing positions into memory ....... 96
Recalling positions from memory ... 96
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ............................. 97
Lighting ................................................ 98
Exterior lamp switch ....................... 98
Combination switch...................... 102
Hazard warning flasher................. 102
Interior lighting ............................. 103
Instrument cluster ............................. 105
Instrument cluster illumination..... 105
Coolant temperature display ........ 106
Trip odometer............................... 107
Tachometer .................................. 107
Outside temperature indicator ..... 107
Control system .................................. 109Multifunction display .................... 109
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 110
Menus .......................................... 112
Standard display menu ................ 114
AUDIO menu ................................ 114
NAVI* menu ................................. 117
Malfunction memory menu .......... 117
Settings menu .............................. 118
Trip computer menu ..................... 132
TEL menu* ................................... 134
Manual transmission ......................... 137
Shifting into reverse ..................... 138
Automatic transmission* ................... 139
One-touch gearshifting................. 140
Gear ranges.................................. 141
Gear selector lever position ......... 142
Program mode selector switch..... 144
Accelerator position ..................... 145
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 145
Good visibility .................................... 146
Rear view mirrors ......................... 146
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 148
Sun visors .................................... 148
Rear window defroster ................. 149
Climate control .................................. 150Setting the temperature............... 153
Adjusting
air distribution and volume .......... 153
Defrosting .................................... 154
Air recirculation mode.................. 154
Deactivating the
climate control system................. 155
Air conditioning............................ 156
Ventilated storage compartment . 157
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents...................... 158
Audio system ..................................... 159
Audio and telephone, operation ... 159
Operating safety .......................... 159
Operating and display elements... 160
Button and soft key operation...... 162
Operation ..................................... 162
Radio operation ........................... 165
Satellite radio (SAT)* (USA only) .. 168
Cassette operation ...................... 172
CD changer* operation ................ 175
Telephone* operation .................. 179
Power windows ................................. 186
Opening and closing the windows 186
Synchronizing power windows ..... 188
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof* ........ 189
21 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Headlamp washer switch*
148
2
Combination switch
48
Turn signals
48
Windshield wipers
49
High beam
102
3
Cruise control lever
194
4
Instrument cluster
22,
105
5
Multifunction steering
wheel
24,
110
6
Horn
7
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate op-
erating instructions
8
Overhead control panel
27
9
Glove box lid release
200
Item
Page
a
Glove box lid
200
b
Center console
25
c
Starter switch
31
d
Steering wheel adjustment
handle, manual
38
e
Hood lock release
236
f
Parking brake pedal
46
g
Power window switches
186
h
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk, electrical*
38
j
Parking brake release
46
k
Door control panel
28
l
Exterior lamp switch
48, 98
m
Exterior mirror adjustment
40
28 At a glanceDoor control panel
Door control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
85
2
Memory function (for stor-
ing seat, exterior rear view
mirror and steering wheel
settings)
95
3
Seat adjustment
35
4
Switches for opening/clos-
ing front door windows
186
44 Getting startedDriving
Ensure that the seat belt is always fit-
ted snugly. You should avoid wearing
bulky clothing, such as winter coats,
when traveling in the vehicle.
Starting the engine Manual transmission
Gearshift pattern for manual transmissionFor more information, see “Manual trans-
mission” (
page 137).
Warning!
G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) which are not properly ven-
tilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes
are entering the vehicle while driving, have
the cause determined and corrected imme-
diately. If you must drive under these condi-
tions, drive only with at least one window
fully open.
57 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Airbags
Warning!
G
In the event that the SRS malfunction indica-
tor lamp comes on during driving or does
not come on at all, the SRS may not be op-
erational. For your safety, we strongly rec-
ommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have
the system checked; otherwise the SRS may
not be activated when needed in an acci-
dent, which could result in serious or fatal
injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in inju-
ry.
Improper work on the restraint systems, in-
cluding incorrect installation and removal,
can lead to possible injury through an unin-
tended activation of the SRS.
In addition, through improper work there is
a risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended airbag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be per-
formed by qualified technicians. Contact
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential
of injury and fatality in certain frontal
impacts (front airbags), or side impacts (side
impact airbags and head protection window
curtain airbags). However, no system avail-
able today can totally eliminate injuries and
fatalities.
The activation of the SRS temporarily releas-
es a small amount of dust from the airbags.
This dust, however, is neither injurious to
your health, nor does it indicate a fire in the
vehicle. The dust might cause some tempo-
rary breathing difficulty for people with asth-
ma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this,
you may wish to get out of the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
airbags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear your
seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and ensure that it is properly
positioned on your body.
Since the airbag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the airbag. Oc-
cupants who are unbelted, out of position or
too close to the airbag can be seriously in-
jured by an airbag as it inflates with great
force in the blink of an eye:
Sit properly belted in an upright position
with your back against the seat back-
rest.
59 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
quarter trim panels where the side air-
bag inflates. This could result in serious
injuries or death should the side airbag
be activated.
(2) Always sit upright, properly use the seat
belts and use an appropriately sized in-
fant or child restraint system for all chil-
dren 12 years old or under.
(3) Always wear seat belts properly.
If you believe that, even with the use of
these guidelines, it would be safer for your
rear seat occupants to have both rear side
airbags deactivated, then deactivation can
be accomplished upon your written request
to do so at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center at an additional cost.
Please contact your local authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call our Customer
Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) for details.
iAirbags are designed to activate only in
certain frontal impacts (front airbags)
and in side impacts (side impact and
head protection window curtain air-
bags) which exceed preset thresholds.
Only during these types of impacts, if of
sufficient severity to meet the deploy-
ment tresholds, will they provide their
supplemental protection.
The driver and passengers should
always wear their seat belts. Otherwise
it is not possible for airbags to provide
their supplemental protection.
In cases of other frontal impacts,
angled impacts, roll-overs, other side
impacts, rear collisions, or other acci-
dents, the airbags will not be activated.
The driver and passengers will then be
protected by the fastened seat belts.
We caution you not to rely on the pres-
ence of the airbags in order to avoid
wearing your seat belt.
Your vehicle was originally equipped
with airbags that are designed to acti-
vate in certain impacts exceeding a
preset threshold to reduce the poten-
tial and severity of injury. It is important
to your safety and that of your passen-
ger that you replace deployed airbags
and repair any malfunctioning airbags
to ensure that the vehicle will continue
to provide supplement crash protec-
tion for occupants.
61 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
When you sell your vehicle we strongly
urge you to give notice to the subsequent
owner that it is equipped with an SRS by
alerting them to the applicable section in
the Operator’s Manual.
Front airbags
Driver and passenger airbags are de-
ployed:
in the event of a frontal impact
if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
independently of the side impact air-
bags
The airbags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protect-
ed by the fastened seat belts.The front passenger airbag will only be de-
ployed if:
the front passenger seat is occupied
the PASS. AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
in the center console is not lit
(page 67)
the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment threshold.
1Driver airbag
2Passenger airbagSide impact airbags, window curtain
airbags
The side impact airbags and window cur-
tain airbags are deployed:
on the impacted side of the vehicle
in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold
independently of the front airbags
The side impact airbags and window cur-
tain airbags are not deployed in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment threshold.!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9kg) on the front passenger
seat. This could cause the front or side
impact airbag on the front passenger
side to deploy in a crash which exceeds
the system’s deployment threshold.
62 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyThe front passenger side impact airbag will
only deploy if the system senses that the
front passenger seat is occupied.
1Window curtain airbag
2Side impact airbagsSeat belts
When the engine is started, the seat belt
non-usage warning lamp< illuminates
to remind you and your passengers to fas-
ten your seat belts. If the driver’s seat belt
is not fastened before the engine is
started, the seat belt non-usage warning lamp< illuminates and a warning
chime sounds for approximately
six seconds when the engine is started.
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in
most states and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts fas-
tened whenever the vehicle is in motion.
For more information on seat belts see
“Fastening the seat belt” (
page 41).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 65).
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear and pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passengers should
always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are properly wearing
your seat belt. Airbags can only protect as
they are designed if the occupants are prop-
erly wearing their seat belts.