Page 58 of 376

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 re-
straint system.
Children 12 years old and under must 
never ride in the front seat, except in a 
Mercedes-Benz authorized 
BabySmart
TM 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.
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injuries to you or other occu-
pants.
If you sell your vehicle you are responsible 
to make the buyer aware of these points. Be 
sure to give the buyer this Operator’s Manu-
al.
Warning!
G
Accident research shows that the safest 
place for children in an automobile is in the 
rear seat. Should you choose to place a child 
12 years old or under in the front passenger 
seat of your vehicle, you must properly use 
a BabySmart
TM child restraint which will 
turn off the passenger front airbag. 
BabySmart
TM will not, however, turn off any 
side impact airbag.
It should be noted that with respect to both 
front and rear side impact airbags there is a 
possibility for a side airbag related injury if 
occupants, especially children, are not prop-
erly seated or restrained when next to a side 
airbag which needs to deploy rapidly in a 
side impact in order to do its job.
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please 
follow these guidelines: 
(1) Occupants, especially children, should 
never place their bodies or lean their 
heads in the area of the door or rear
 
     
        
        Page 98 of 376
98 Controls in detailLighting
LightingFor information on how to switch on the 
headlamps and use the turn signals, see 
the “Getting started” section (
page 48).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the 
dashboard to the left of the steering wheelMOff
UAutomatic headlamp mode
CParking lamps (also side marker 
lamps, tail lamps, license plate 
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When engine is run-
ning, the low beam is also switched 
on.
BLow beam plus parking lamps or 
high beam headlamps (combination 
switch pushed forward).
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one 
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two 
stops)
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles 
drive on the other side of the road than 
the country where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps 
modified for symmetrical low beams. 
Relevant information can be obtained 
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. 
     
        
        Page 116 of 376

116 Controls in detailControl system
Operate the CD player*
Turn on the radio and select the CD 
player (
page 175). Vehicles with CO-
MAND*: Refer to separate operating in-
structions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the settings for the CD currently 
being played are shown in the display.
1Current track
2Current CD (for CD changer*)
Press buttonk orj repeatedly 
until the desired track is selected.Operate the cassette player*
Turn on the radio and select the cas-
sette player (
page 116). Vehicles 
with COMAND*: Refer to separate op-
erating instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the settings for the cassette cur-
rently being played are shown in the 
display.
1Current side
Press buttonj to fast forward to 
the next track.
Press buttonk to rewind the cas-
sette to the beginning of the current 
track.
iFeature description is based on prelim-
inary information available at time of 
printing.
For more information on satellite radio 
operation, see “Satellite radio (SAT)* 
(USA only)” (
page 168) 
Vehicles with COMAND*: Refer to sep-
arate operating instructions.
iTo select a CD from the magazine, 
press a number on the audio system or 
the COMAND* system key pad located 
in the center dashboard. 
     
        
        Page 117 of 376

117 Controls in detail
Control system
NAVI* menu
The 
NAVI
 menu contains the functions 
needed to operate your navigation system.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until you see the message 
NAVI
 in the 
display.
If the navigation system is switched off, 
the message 
NAVI OFF
 is shown in the 
display. 
If the navigation system is on, the mes-
sage 
NAVI ACTIVE
 is shown in the dis-
play.
Please refer to the COMAND* manual for 
instructions on how to activate the route 
guidance system*.
Malfunction memory menu
Use the malfunction memory menu to scan 
malfunction and warning messages that 
may be stored in the system. What infor-
mation is shown in the display depends on 
whether malfunctions have actually oc-
curred.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until you see the malfunction message 
memory in the display.
No malfunction messages
If no malfunctions have occurred, the mes-
sage in the display is: 
NO MALFUNCTION
iTo select the reverse side of the tape, 
press button below track number on 
the audio system display, or enter re-
quest on the COMAND* system locat-
ed in the center dashboard.
Warning!
G
Malfunction and warning messages are only 
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction 
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain 
systems and do not replace the owner’s 
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain 
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all 
required maintenance and safety checks 
performed on the vehicle and by bringing 
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center to address the malfunction and 
warning messages (
page 264). 
     
        
        Page 148 of 376
148 Controls in detailGood visibilityHeadlamp cleaning system*
The switch is located on the left side of the 
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer switch
Switch on ignition. 
Press switch1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a 
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer 
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system” 
(
page 243).
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare 
while driving.
Swing sun visors down when you expe-
rience glare.1Mounting
2Mirror cover
3Mirror lamp*
4Sun visor
To use mirror, lift up cover2.
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed 
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare 
can endanger you and others.
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, disengage sun visor from 
mounting1 and pivot to the side.
The mirror lamp*3 will switch off. 
     
        
        Page 158 of 376
158 Controls in detailClimate controlRear passenger compartment adjustable air vents
1Left center air vent
2Thumbwheel for air volume control for 
center air vents
3Right center air ventTo open center air vents:
Turn thumbwheel2 upward.iThe temperature at the air vents for 
rear passenger compartment1 
and3 is the same as at the dashboard 
center air vents.