Page 5 of 400

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 139
One-touch gearshifting................. 140
Gear ranges ................................. 141
Gear selector lever position ......... 142
Program mode selector switch..... 143
Accelerator position ..................... 144
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 144
Good visibility .................................... 145
Windshield wipers ........................ 145
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 145
Rear view mirrors ......................... 146
Sun visors .................................... 148
Rear window defroster ................. 149
Climate control .................................. 150
Setting the temperature ............... 152
Adjusting air distribution and
volume ......................................... 153
Defrosting .................................... 154
Air recirculation mode.................. 154
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 155
Air conditioning ............................ 156
Ventilated storage compartment . 156
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents...................... 157Automatic climate control* ................ 158
Setting the temperature................ 161
Adjusting air distribution............... 162
Adjusting air volume ..................... 162
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 163
Defrosting ..................................... 163
Air recirculation mode .................. 163
Charcoal filter ............................... 165
Air conditioning............................. 166
Residual heat and ventilation* ...... 167
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 168
Audio system ...................................... 169
Audio and telephone, operation .... 169
Operating safety ........................... 169
Operating and display elements.... 170
Button and soft key operation....... 172
Operation ...................................... 172
Radio operation ............................ 175
Satellite radio (SAT)* (USA only)... 178
Cassette operation ....................... 182
CD changer* operation ................. 185
Telephone* operation ................... 189
Power windows .................................. 196
Opening and closing the windows. 196
Synchronizing power windows ...... 198Sliding/pop-up roof*.......................... 199
Opening and closing
the sliding/pop-up roof ................ 199
Synchronizing
the sliding/pop-up roof ................ 201
Driving systems .................................. 202
Cruise control ............................... 202
Loading .............................................. 205
Roof rack* .................................... 205
Ski sack* ...................................... 205
Parcel net in cargo compartment . 208
Storage compartment under
cargo compartment floor .............. 209
Retractable luggage cover and
partition net .................................. 209
Split rear bench seat .................... 211
Loading instructions ..................... 213
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 214
Useful features ................................... 215
Interior storage spaces ................. 215
Ashtrays........................................ 219
Cigarette lighter ............................ 220
Electrical outlet............................. 221
Telephone* ................................... 221
Tele Aid* ....................................... 222
Garage door opener ...................... 230
Page 25 of 400
25 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Seat heater*, driver’s side
95
2
Rear window
wiper/washer
49
3
ESP control switch
78
4
Hazard warning flasher
switch – switching on/off
104
5
Central locking switch
89
6
Anti-theft alarm system
indicator lamp
80
Tow-away alarm switch
81
Item
Page
7
Seat heater*, passenger
side
95
8
PASS. AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp
68,
279
9
Audio system,
or
169
COMAND* (see separate
operating instructions)
a
Climate control
150
Automatic climate control*
158
Rear window defroster
149
Page 83 of 400
83 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control*
Audio system
Power windows
Sliding/pop-up roof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features
Page 149 of 400

149 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the
defroster as soon as the rear window is
clear. The defroster is automatically
deactivated after approximately
6 to 17 minutes of operation depending on
the outside temperature.
Activating
Climate control:
Press buttonF (
page 151).
Automatic climate control*:
Press buttonF (page 159).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press buttonF again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before
driving. Visibility could otherwise be
impaired, endangering you and others.
!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts flashing, this means that too
many electrical consumers are
operating simultaneously and there is
insufficient voltage in the battery. The
system responds automatically by
deactivating the rear window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster
automatically turns itself back on.
Page 150 of 400
150 Controls in detailClimate control
Climate control
Page 151 of 400
151 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel
The storage compartment between the
front seats can be ventilated (
page 156).
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 152 of 400

152 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 156).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls2 and3
(page 151) 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 153).
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 153 of 400

153 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 151) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
controls:
Use the air volume control1
(page 151) to adjust the air volume. You
can select between six air volume speeds.Adjusting manually
Press buttonU (
page 151).
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 151).
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