Page 155 of 400
155 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel
The storage compartment between the 
front seats can be ventilated (
page 160).
Item
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for left center air vent
2
Left center air vent, adjustable
3
Right center air vent, adjustable
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for right center air vent 
5
Air volume control for side air vent
6
Side air vent, adjustable
7
Side defroster vent, fixed
8
Climate control paneliFor draft-free ventilation, move the 
sliders for the center air vents2, 3 
and6 to the middle position.
Item
1
Air volume control
2
Left-side temperature control
3
Right-side temperature control
4
Air distribution control
5
Rear window defroster
6
AC cooling on/off (AC
OFF
)
7
Air distribution and air volume 
(automatic mode)
8
Air recirculation
9
Defrosting 
     
        
        Page 156 of 400

156 Controls in detailClimate controlThe climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate 
the climate control system in either the au-
tomatic or manual mode. The system cools 
or heats the interior depending on the se-
lected interior temperature and the cur-
rent outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and 
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through 
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no 
cooling) if the modeAC
OFF
 is selected 
(
page 160).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls2 and3 
(page 155) to separately adjust the air 
temperature on each side of the passenger 
compartment. You should raise or lower 
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air 
that enters the passenger compartment 
through the air vents in the footwell can be 
very hot or very cold (depending on the set 
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite on unprotected skin in the immediate 
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient 
distance between unprotected parts of the 
body and the footwell air vents. If necessary, 
change the air flow using the air distribution 
controls to direct the air away from the foot-
well air vents (
page 157).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up, 
impairing visibility and endangering you and 
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air 
pollution) may require replacement of 
the filter before its scheduled interval. 
A clogged filter will reduce the air 
volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate 
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the 
windshield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing 
objects on the air flow-through exhaust 
slots below the rear window. 
     
        
        Page 157 of 400

157 Controls in detail
Climate control
Increasing
Turn the temperature control2 or3 
slightly to the right.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Turn the temperature control2 or3 
slightly to the left.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution and volume
Use air distribution control4 
(page 155) to adjust the air distribution. 
The following symbols are found on the 
controls:
Use the air volume control1 
(page 155) to adjust the air volume. You 
can select between six air volume speeds.Adjusting manually
Press buttonU (
page 155).
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.
Select any of the six air volume speeds 
and the air distribution.
Adjusting automatically
Press buttonU (
page 155).
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on. The air distribution and 
volume is adjusted automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on 
(page 47).
Switch to manual mode.
Turn the air distribution control 
toa orY.
iWhen operating the climate control 
system in automatic mode, you will 
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center, 
side and rear passenger 
compartment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windows
X
Directs air into the entire 
vehicle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells 
     
        
        Page 158 of 400

158 Controls in detailClimate controlDefrosting
Activating
Press buttonP (
page 155). 
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
or
Switch off air recirculation, if selected. 
Press buttonO (
page 155). 
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.
Close center air vents (
page 155).
Open left and right side air vents 
(page 155) and adjust side air vents 
upwards.Deactivating
Press buttonP (
page 155).
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out. Defrosting is turned off.
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent 
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle 
from the outside. This setting cuts off the 
intake of outside air and recirculates the 
air in the passenger compartment.Activating
Press buttonO (
page 155).
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
iThese settings should only be selected 
for a short time.
Warning!
G
When the outside temperature is 
below 41°F (5°C), only switch to air 
recirculation mode for short periods to 
prevent window fogging.
iIf you keep buttonO pressed the 
side windows and sliding/pop-up roof* 
will close.Warning!
G
Never operate the side windows and the 
sliding/pop-up roof* if there is the 
possibility of anyone being harmed by the 
closing procedure.
In the event that the closing procedure 
causes potential danger, the closing of the 
side windows can be immediately halted by 
pressing or pulling the respective window 
switch. The closing of the sliding/pop-up 
roof* can be immediately halted by moving 
the sliding/pop-up roof* switch in the 
overhead control panel in any direction. 
     
        
        Page 159 of 400

159 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press buttonO (
page 155).
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.
The air recirculation mode is deactivated 
automatically:
after five minutes if the outside 
temperature is below 
approximately 41°F (5°C)
after five minutes if the air conditioning 
is turned off
after 30 minutes if the outside 
temperature is above 
approximately 41°F (5°C)At outside temperatures above 79°F 
(26°C) the system will not automatically 
switch back to outside air. A quantity of 
outside air is added after approximately 
30 minutes.
Deactivating the climate control 
system
Deactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 155) 
to position0. 
Reactivating
Set air volume control1 (
page 155) 
to any speed.
The closing of the side windows and 
sliding/pop-up roof* can be reversed by 
again pressing and holding theO button.iThe air recirculation mode is activated 
automatically at high outside tempera-
tures.
If you have turned off the air condi-
tioning (
page 160) or the outside 
temperature is below 41°F (5°C), the 
air recirculation mode will not switch 
on automatically.
iIf you keep buttonO pressed the 
side windows and sliding/pop-up roof* 
will return to their previous position. 
     
        
        Page 160 of 400

160 Controls in detailClimate controlAir conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while 
the engine is running and cools the interior 
air to the temperature set by the operator.
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate 
control system. The air in the vehicle will 
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button± (
page 155). 
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can 
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button± (
page 155). 
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.
The air conditioning uses the 
refrigerant R134a. This refrigerant is free 
of CFC’s which are harmful to the ozone 
layer.
Ventilated storage compartment
The front center console storage compart-
ment has its own air vent that allows for 
cooling ventilation when the automatic 
climate control system is activated.
1Lever
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and 
not an indication of a malfunction.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned 
on again, this indicates that the air 
conditioning is losing refrigerant. The 
compressor has turned itself off.
Have the air conditioning checked at 
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
iYou should keep this air vent closed 
when outside temperatures are low. 
     
        
        Page 163 of 400

163 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
Automatic climate control panel
Item
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for left center air vent
2
Left center air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for adding outside air
4
Right center air vent, adjustable
5
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for right center air vent 
6
Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for side air vent
7
Side air vent, adjustable
8
Side defroster vent, fixed
9
Automatic climate control paneliFor draft-free ventilation, move the 
sliders for the center air vents2, 4 
and7 to the middle position.
Item
1
Temperature control, left, raising
2
Left-side air distribution control 
(automatic or manual mode)
3
Activated charcoal filter
4
Display
5
Right-side air distribution control 
(automatic or manual mode)
6
Temperature control, right, raising
7
Temperature control, right, 
lowering
8
Rear window defroster
9
AC cooling on/off (AC
OFF
)
Residual heat/ventilation
a
Air volume control
b
Automatic climate control on/off 
(complete system)
c
Air recirculation
d
Defrosting
e
Temperature control, left, lowering 
     
        
        Page 164 of 400

164 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control*The automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can 
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The 
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature 
and the current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and 
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through 
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no 
cooling) if theAC
OFF
 mode is selected 
(
page 170).
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate 
control, the air that enters the passenger 
compartment through the air vents in the 
footwell can be very hot or very cold 
(depending on the set temperature). This 
may cause burns or frostbite on unprotected 
skin in the immediate area of the air vents. 
Always keep sufficient distance between 
unprotected parts of the body and the foot-
well air vents. If necessary, change the air 
flow using the air distribution controls to 
direct the air away from the footwell air 
vents (
page 166).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for 
heating and cooling given on the following 
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up, 
impairing visibility and endangering you and 
others.