Page 27 of 418
26 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
KEYLESS-GO* start / stop 
button
33
2
Gear selector lever for 
automatic transmission
46
3
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF 
indicator lamp
71
4
Thumbwheel for setting 
distance in Distronic*
206
5
Distance warning func-
tion* on / off switch
206
6
Program mode selector for 
automatic transmission
163
7
Ashtray
227
Lighter
228 
     
        
        Page 33 of 418

32 Getting startedUnlockingUnlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
If your vehicle is equipped with the 
KEYLESS-GO function, your vehicle checks 
whether the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is 
valid when you grasp the door handle. If 
your SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid, 
the doors will unlock, and you can open 
them.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the 
KEYLESS-GO function.
Grasp the outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The 
locking knobs on the doors move up.
If the SmartKey is inside the vehicle, press-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on 
the gear selector lever corresponds to 
turning the SmartKey to the various starter 
switch positions.iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the 
vehicle, no further than approximately 
3 feet (1 meter) away from the door. 
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and 
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended 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 34 of 418

33 Getting started
Unlocking
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button1, the vehicle’s 
on-board electronics have status 0 (as with 
SmartKey removed).The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.
Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button1 once.
This supplies power to some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button1 twice.
This supplies power to all electrical 
consumers. All the lamps in the instru-
ment cluster come on.
For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 91). 
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, 
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*” 
(
page 46).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button 
once again, the ignition (position2) 
is switched on
twice, the power supply is again 
switched off
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off. 
     
        
        Page 39 of 418

38 Getting startedAdjustingthe respective backrest is not engaged in its 
lock. Carefully slow down, and drive with 
caution to an area which is in a safe distance 
from the roadway. Always provide sufficient 
room behind the backrest and fold the back-
rest all the way back until it locks in place.
Keep the area around head restraints clear 
of articles (e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the 
folding operation of the head restraints.
The warning message is no longer displayed 
as soon as the backrest is locked in place. If 
both backrests are locked in place and the 
warning message is still displayed, have the 
system checked at an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, 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.
Never place hands under seat or near any 
moving parts during a seat adjustment pro-
cedure.
!The automatic seat slide is provided 
with a safety feature.
The automatic process is interrupted, if 
the backrest of the sliding seat is 
pushed against an occupant or object. 
The seat will slide forward and stop.
Investigate and correct the cause of in-
terruption.
Now use memory button (
page 116) 
or seat adjustment switch (page 35) 
to bring seat into desired position.
When folding the backrest forward 
from a reclined position, and then fold-
ing it back, the backrest stops in a 
more upright position for the safety of 
any rear-seat passenger. Adjust the 
backrest until your arms are slightly an-
gled when holding the steering 
wheel (
page 35).
 
     
        
        Page 47 of 418

46 Getting startedDrivingStarting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the 
Smartkey in the starter switch using the 
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the 
gear selector lever.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Depress the brake pedal during the 
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button1 once.
The engine starts automatically if the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in the 
vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine 
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off the en-
gine with KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 56).
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described, 
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the 
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter 
switch to position0 and repeat starting 
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with 
KEYLESS-GO: Close any doors that 
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO.
or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as 
radio signals from another source may 
be interfering with the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO.
Repeat the starting procedure 
(page 45). Remember that extended 
starting attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 351).
If the engine does not start after several 
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the 
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center. 
     
        
        Page 49 of 418

48 Getting startedDriving
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator.Once the vehicle is in motion, the 
automatic central locking system engages 
and the locking knobs drop down.
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution. 
This allows the catalytic converter to reach 
its operating temperature faster.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 247).
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift 
in order to obtain braking action. This could 
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!In order to avoid damaging the trans-
mission,
wait for the gear selection process 
to complete before setting the vehi-
cle in motion.
place the gear selector lever in 
positionR only when the vehicle is 
stopped.
!If you hear a warning signal and a mes-
sage in the multifunction display ap-
pears when driving off, you have 
forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.!Do not run cold engine at high engine 
speeds. Running a cold engine at high 
engine speeds may shorten the service 
life of the engine.
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes 
premature brake and drivetrain wear.iYou can open a locked door from the 
inside. Open doors only when condi-
tions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system 
(page 153).
 
     
        
        Page 52 of 418

51 Getting started
Driving
Single wipe
Press switch briefly in the direction of 
arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time 
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press switch in the direction of 
arrow1 past the resistance point.
The windshield wiper operates with 
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer 
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system” 
(
page 269)
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off 
immediately.
For safety reasons, 
turn off the engine by turning 
the SmartKey to position0 and 
withdraw SmartKey from starter 
switch
or
turn off the engine by pressing 
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button and open the driver’s 
door (with the driver’s door 
open, starter switch is in 
position0, same as with 
SmartKey removed from starter 
switch)
before attempting to remove any 
blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on 
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at 
all in switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the 
next highest wiper speed
have the windshield wipers 
checked at the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center 
     
        
        Page 53 of 418

52 Getting startedDrivingProblems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires
An ignition cable may be damaged.
The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.
Unburned gasoline may have entered 
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as 
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is above 
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer 
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible 
and turn off the engine. Allow engine 
and coolant to cool.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 266).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
Notify local fire and / or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the
major assemblies
fuel system
engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger 
a warning message in the multifunction 
display (
page 306).