Page 56 of 400

56 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 92 of 400

92 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 133).
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 93 of 400

93 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 97 of 400
97 Controls in detail
Seats
Installing rear seat head restraints
Insert head restraint and push it down 
until it engages.
Push button1 and adjust head 
restraint to desired position.
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. 
     
        
        Page 134 of 400

134 Controls in detailControl systemActivating 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 door
However, 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.
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 serious 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 100) 
     
        
        Page 368 of 400

368 Index
Head restraint height, front seats
Manual seat 34
Power seat* 35
Head restraint height, rear seats 94
Head restraint tilt, front seats
Manual seat 34
Power seat* 36
Head restraint tilt, rear seats 96
Head restraints, rear seats
Folding back 95
Folding back with release 
switch 95
Placing upright 95
Instrument cluster illumination 109
Interior rear view mirror 38
Manual seat 33
Mirrors 38
Multicontour seat* 97
Power seat* 35
Rear seat head restraints 94Seat belt height 42
Seat cushion depth 97
Seat cushion tilt
Manual seat 33
Power seat* 35
Seat fore and aft adjustment
Manual seat 33
Power seat* 35
Seat height
Manual seat 33
Power seat* 35
Seats 32
Steering column height, 
electrical* 38
Steering column height, 
manual 37
Steering column length, 
electrical* 38
Steering column length, 
manual 37
Steering wheel 36Air conditioning (cooling)
Turning off
Automatic climate control* 170
Climate control 160
Turning on
Automatic climate control* 170
Climate control 160
Air conditioning refrigerant 352
Air distribution
Adjusting
Automatic climate control* 166
Climate control 157
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure
Air recirculation mode
Activating
Automatic climate control* 167
Climate control 158
Deactivating
Automatic climate control* 168
Climate control 159 
     
        
        Page 374 of 400

374 IndexCoolant 257, 356
Adding 257
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 
quantity 356
Capacities 350
Checking level 257
Messages in display 287–289
Temperature 248
Temperature display 110
Coolant level
Checking 257
Cruise control 206, 362
Canceling 207
Driving downhill 207
Driving uphill 207
Fine adjustment 208
Message in display 290
Setting current speed 207
Setting speeds 208
Cruise control lever 206
Cruising range, fuel 355Cup holder
Cleaning 271
In front of seat armrest 217
In rear seat armrest 218
Customer Assistance Center see CAC
D
Daytime running lamp mode 104
Setting 129
Deactivating
Air conditioning (cooling)
Automatic climate control* 170
Climate control 160
Air recirculation mode
Automatic climate control* 168
Climate control 159
Alarm 79
Anti-theft alarm system* 79
Automatic climate control* 163
Central locking (control system) 133
Climate control 155
Climate control system 159Cruise control 207
Defrosting
Automatic climate control* 167
Climate control 158
Engine with the SmartKey 52
ESP 75
Exterior lamps 103
Exterior lamps delayed shut-off 131
Front fog lamps 131
Hazard warning flasher 106
Headlamps 51
Interior lighting delayed shut-off 132
Rapid seat heating* 98
Rear window defroster 153
Seat heating* 98
Tow-away alarm* 80
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging
Windshield
Automatic climate control* 166
Climate control 157 
     
        
        Page 377 of 400

377 Index
ETD 63, 362
Safety guidelines 58
Ethanol fuel
At the gas station 249
Requirements 354
Switching fuels 354
Exterior lamp switch 46, 102
Exterior lamps
Delayed shut-off 131
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 38
Parking position* for 136
F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 127
Fastening the seat belts 40
Filler neck
C 230 Kompressor Sport 256
C 240, C 320, and C 32 AMG 256Fine adjustment
Cruise control 208
First aid kit 300
Flat tire 317
Lowering the vehicle 321
Minispare wheel 302
Mounting the Minispare wheel 317
Preparing the vehicle 317
Flexible fuel vehicles 354
At the gas station 249
Switching fuels 354
Flexible Service System see FSS
Fog lamp, rear
Message in display 294
Replacing bulb 311
Switching on 105
Fog lamps, front
Messages in display 294
Replacing bulbs 310
Switching on 105Four wheel electronic traction 
system (4MATIC) with ESP 77
4MATIC 77
Front airbags 59
Front lamps
Bi-Xenon* type 313
Halogen-type 312
Messages in display 293–296
Replacing bulbs 310, 312
Switching on 102
Front seat head restraints
Installing
Manual seat 93
Power seat* 94
Manual seat 93
Power seat* 94
Removing
Manual seat 93
Power seat* 94
Front seats
Heating* 98