Page 28 of 376
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 
     
        
        Page 31 of 376

31 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing SmartKey 
The steering is locked when the Smart-
Key is removed from the starter switch. 
If necessary, move steering wheel 
slightly to allow the locking mechanism 
to engage.
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical 
consumers) and driving position
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch and lock 
the vehicle. Do not leave children unattend-
ed in the vehicle, or with access to an un-
locked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle 
equipment may cause an accident and/or 
serious personal injury.iVehicles with automatic transmission: 
The SmartKey can only be removed 
from the starter switch with the gear 
selector lever in positionP.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the 
starter switch, the battery may not be 
sufficiently charged.
Check the battery and charge it if 
necessary (
page 307).
Get a jump start (
page 310).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery, al-
ways remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch when the engine is not in 
operation. 
     
        
        Page 32 of 376

32 Getting startedAdjusting
AdjustingSeats
The seats can be adjusted either manually 
or electrically, depending on the vehicle’s 
equipment.Warning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and 
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before 
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving. 
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause 
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat 
back reclined. Sitting in an excessively re-
clined position can be dangerous. You could 
slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you 
slide under it, the belt would apply force at 
the abdomen or neck.
That could cause serious or fatal injuries. 
The seat back and seat belts provide the 
best restraint when the wearer is in an up-
right position and belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body. Your seat must be 
adjusted so that you can correctly fasten 
your seat belt (
page 41).
Never place hands under the seat or near 
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch and lock 
your vehicle.
The power seats* can also be operated with 
the driver’s or passenger door open. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or 
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may 
cause an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.
Warning!
G
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 ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise 
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or 
fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children 
are safer when properly restrained in the 
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children 
must ride in back seats and be seated in an 
appropriate infant or child restraint system, 
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s 
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via 
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in 
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions. 
     
        
        Page 33 of 376

33 Getting started
Adjusting
Manual seat adjustment
1Backrest tilt
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustmentSeat fore and aft adjustment
Lift handle4.
Slide seat to the desired position.
Allow handle4 to reengage.
Check for proper engagement before 
driving.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating posi-
tion that still allows you to reach the accel-
erator/brake pedal safely. The position 
should be as far rearward as possible, 
consistent with ability to properly operate 
controls.Seat cushion tilt
Turn handwheel3 forward or back-
ward until your upper legs are lightly 
supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Turn handwheel1 forward or back-
ward until your arms are slightly angled 
when holding the steering wheel.
Seat height
Pull handle2 up  to rai se  se at c us hion.
Push handle2 down to lower seat 
cushion.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints 
are not properly secured in the vehicle and 
the child is not properly secured in the child 
restraint.
iWhen moving the seats, be sure that 
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could 
damage the seats. 
     
        
        Page 35 of 376

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Power seat* adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located 
in each door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Backrest tilt
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position1 or2 (
page 31).
or
Open the driver’s or passenger door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward 
in the direction of arrow4.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating 
position that still allows you to reach 
the accelerator / brake pedal safely. 
The position should be as far to the rear 
as possible, consistent with ability to 
properly operate controls.Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down in the 
direction of arrow3 until your upper 
legs are lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Press the switch forward or backward 
in the direction of arrow5 until your 
arms are slightly angled when holding 
the steering wheel.
Seat height
Press the switch up or down in the 
direction of arrow2.
iWhen moving the seat, be sure that 
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seat. Otherwise you could 
damage the seat.
The memory function* (
page 95)  
lets you store the settings for the seat 
position together with the setting for 
the steering wheel and the exterior rear 
view mirrors. 
     
        
        Page 37 of 376

37 Getting started
Adjusting
Folding backrest forward
Pull release lever1 forward and fold 
the seat backrest forward.
Vehicles with manual seat adjustment:
If necessary, press the head restraint 
downward while tilting the backrest 
forward.Folding backrest back
Fold and press the backrest rearward 
until it engages in driving position. 
Vehicles with manual seat adjustment:
If necessary, pull the head restraint out 
while tilting the seat back.
For more information, see “Seats” 
(
page 89).
Steering wheel
iVehicles with power seat*: The head 
restraints will automatically move 
down.
iVehicles with power seat*: The head 
restraint returns to its previous posi-
tions.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing, or driving without the adjustment 
locked could cause the driver to lose control 
of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch and lock 
your vehicle.
The electrical steering wheel adjustment 
feature* can also be operated with the driv-
er’s door open. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an 
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 40 of 376

40 Getting startedAdjustingExterior rear view mirrorsThe buttons are located above the exterior 
lamp switch.
1Adjustment button
2Passenger side mirror
3Driver’s side mirror
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lights in the instrument cluster 
come on.
Press button3 for the left mirror or 
button2 for the right mirror.
Push adjustment button1 up, down, 
left or right according to the setting de-
sired.For more information, see “Rear view mir-
rors” (
page 146).    
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passenger 
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror 
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface 
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror 
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
side rear view mirror or glance over your 
shoulder before changing lanes. !Electrolyte drops coming into contact 
with the vehicle paint finish can only be 
completely removed while in their 
liquid state by applying plenty of water.
iThe memory function* (
page 95) lets 
you store the setting for the exterior 
rear view mirrors together with the set-
tings for the steering wheel and seat 
positions.
!If an exterior rear view mirror was forc-
ibly pushed forward (hit from the rear) 
or forcibly pushed backward (hit from 
the front), reposition it by applying firm 
pressure until it snaps into place. 
The mirror housing is now properly po-
sitioned and you can adjust the mirror 
normally.iAt low ambient temperatures, the mir-
rors will be heated automatically. 
     
        
        Page 43 of 376

43 Getting started
Driving
1Latch plate
2Release button
3Buckle
With a smooth motion, pull the belt 
from the belt outlet.
Place the belt over your shoulder.
Push latch plate1 into buckle3 until 
it clicks.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to 
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion 
up.
Belt outlet height adjustment
1Button for belt outlet height adjust-
ment
To raise, slide belt outlet upward.
To lower, press button1 and slide 
belt outlet downward.Proper use of seat belts
Do not twist the belt when fastening.
Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder 
portion is located as close as possible 
to the middle of the shoulder (it should 
not touch the neck or pass under the 
arm). For this purpose, you can adjust 
the height of the belt outlet.
Position the lap belt as low as possible 
on your hips (over hip joint) and not 
across the abdomen.
Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-
right position.
Never use a seat belt for more than one 
person at a time.
Do not fasten a seat belt around a per-
son and another object at the same 
time.
Check your seat belt during travel to 
ensure that it is properly positioned.