Page 43 of 400

43 Getting started
Driving
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 Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 139).
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
Center.
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.
Page 58 of 400

58 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the airbag cover on
the steering wheel must be at least ten
inches (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not lean with your head or chest
close to the steering wheel or dash-
board.
Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver front airbag inflates.
Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.
Occupants, especially children, should
never lean their heads in the area of the
door where the side airbag inflates. This
could result in serious injuries or death
should the airbag be triggered. Always
sit upright, properly use the seat belts
and appropriate size infant or child
restraint system.
Children 12 years old and under must
never ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM1
compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM
system installed in the vehicle to deacti-
vate the passenger front airbag when it
is properly installed. Otherwise they will
be struck by the airbag when it inflates
in a crash. If this happens, serious or fa-
tal injury will result.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injuries to you or other
occupants.
If you sell your vehicle you are responsible
to make the buyer aware of these points.
Make sure to give the buyer this Operator’s
Manual.
Page 90 of 400

90 Controls in detailSeats
SeatsFor information on seat adjustment, see
“Seats” (
page 32).
Easy-entry/exit feature*
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards and the
driver’s seat moves to the rear.
This allows easier entry into and exit from
the vehicle when the driver’s door is
opened. However, the engine must be
turned off.
When the SmartKey is inserted in the
starter switch and the driver’s door is
closed, the steering wheel and the driver’s
seat return to their last set positions.You can activate the following functions:
Steering column:
Only the steering column is adjusted.
Steering column and seat:
The steering column and the seat are
adjusted.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be
switched on or off in the convenience
submenu of the control system
(
page 132).
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel and the driver’s seat when the
easy-entry/exit feature* is activated, the
driver’s door is being opened and the engine
is turned off or the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Children could open the driver’s
door and unintentionally activate the
easy-entry/exit feature*, which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
iTo cancel seat/steering wheel
movement, do one of the following:
Press the seat adjustment switch*
(page 28)
Move the steering column stalk*
(page 37)
Press the memory button*
(page 28)
Page 91 of 400

91 Controls in detail
Seats
Removing and installing front seat head restraints
For information on head restraint
adjustment, see “Seats” (
page 32).
Front seat head restraints, manual seat
1Release buttonRemoving front seat head restraints
Pull head restraint to its highest
position.
Push release button1 and pull out
head restraint.
Installing front seat head restraints
Insert head restraint and push it down
until it engages.
Push release button1 and adjust
head restraint to desired position.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head
restraint supports the back of the head at
eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.
iTilt the backrest to the rear for easier
removal and installation of the head
restraints.
Page 95 of 400
95 Controls in detail
Seats
Multicontour seat*
This multicontour seat has a movable seat
cushion and inflatable air cushions built
into the backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement, backrest
cushion height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with switches on the right
side of the seat after starting the engine.
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Backrest side bolster adjustment
Start the engine.
Seat cushion depth
Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg using
switch1.
Backrest contour
Adjust the contour of the backrest to
the desired position using switches2
and3.
Backrest side bolsters
Adjust the backrest side bolsters so
that they provide good lateral support
using switch4.
Heated seats*
Both switches for the front seats are
located in the center console.
1Normal heating
2Rapid heating
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
come on.
Page 132 of 400

132 Controls in detailControl systemConvenience submenu
Access the
CONVENIENCE
submenu via the
SETTINGS
menu. Use the
CONVENIENCE
submenu to change the settings for a
number of convenience features. The
following functions are available:
Activating easy-entry/exit feature*
Use this function to activate and
deactivate the easy-entry/exit feature.
When the feature is activated, the steering
wheel and driver’s seat will move back to
facilitate exiting when you
remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
open the driver’s doorHowever, the engine must be turned off. After entering the vehicle, the steering
wheel and seat will move into the position
stored in memory when you
close the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position2.
you put the SmartKey in the starter
switch with the driver’s door closed.
Function
Page
Activate easy-entry/exit
feature*
132
Set key-dependency
133
Set parking position for exterior
rear view mirror
134
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel and the driver’s seat when the
easy-entry/exit feature* is activated and
the driver’s door is being opened and the en-
gine is turned off or the SmartKey is re-
moved from the starter switch.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature*, which could result in an accident
and/or personal injury.
iTo cancel seat/steering wheel
movement, do one of the following:
press the seat adjustment switch*
(page 35)
move the steering column stalk*
(page 37)
press the stored position button*
(page 97)
Page 363 of 400

363 Index
A
ABS 23, 74, 357
Indicator lamp 274
Malfunction indicator lamp 274
Messages in display 284
ABS control 74
Accelerator position,
automatic transmission 144
Accident
In case of 50
Activating
Air conditioning (cooling) 156, 166
Air recirculation mode 154, 163
Anti-theft alarm system 80
Automatic climate control* 159
Central locking (control system) 131
Charcoal filter 165
Climate control 151
Climate control system 155
Defrosting 154, 163
Easy-entry/exit feature 132ESP 78
Exterior headlamps 46
Exterior lamps 101
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 147
Hazard warning flasher 104
Headlamps 46
High beams 104
Ignition 31
Immobilizer 80
Rapid seat heater* 96
Rear fog lamp 102, 103
Rear window defroster 149
Residual heat 167
Seat heater* 96
Tow-away alarm 82
Windshield wipers 47
Adding
Coolant 257
Engine oil 256
Additional turn signals 310Adjustable air vents, rear passenger
compartment 157, 168
Adjusting 32
Air distribution 153, 162
Air volume 153, 162
Backrest tilt 33, 35
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Head restraint height 34, 35, 92
Head restraint tilt 34, 36, 93
Head restraints 93
Instrument cluster illumination 107
Interior rear view mirror 38
Manual seat 33
Mirrors 38
Multicontour seat* 95
Power seat* 35
Rear seat head restraints 92
Seat cushion depth 95
Seat cushion tilt 33, 35
Seat fore and aft adjustment 33, 35
Seat height 33, 35
Page 369 of 400

369 Index
Coolant 257, 352
Adding 257
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 352
Capacities 346
Checking level 257
Messages in display 287, 288
Temperature 248
Temperature gauge 108
Warning lamp 288
Coolant level
Checking 257
Cruise control 202, 358
Canceling 203
Driving downhill 203
Driving uphill 203
Fine adjustment 204
Saving current speed 203
Setting speeds 204
Cruise control lever 202
Cruising range, fuel 351Cup holder
Cleaning 271
In front seat armrest 216
In rear seat armrest 217
Customer assistance system (CAC) 357
D
Daytime running lamp mode 102
Setting 127, 128
Deactivating
Air conditioning 156
Air recirculation mode 155, 164
Alarm 81
Anti-theft alarm system 81
Automatic climate control* 159
Central locking (control system) 131
Charcoal filter 165
Climate control 151
Climate control system 155
Cruise control 203
Defrosting 154, 163ESP 77
Exterior lamps 101
Exterior lamps delayed shut-off 129
Front fog lamps 129
Hazard warning flasher 104
Headlamps 52
Immobilizer 80
Interior lighting delayed shut-off 130
Rapid seat heater* 96
Rear window defroster 149
Seat heater* 96
Tow-away alarm 82
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging
Windshield 153, 162
Defrosting 154, 163
Delayed shut-off
Exterior lamps 129
Interior lighting 130
Dialing
A number (telephone) 138