Page 9 of 464

9
Product information
Introduction
Product information
Please observe the following in your own 
best interest:
We recommend using genuine 
Mercedes-Benz parts as well as conversion 
parts and accessories explicitly approved 
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine 
their reliability, safety and special suitabili-
ty for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for 
other products and therefore cannot be 
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies 
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety, 
performance or reliability of your vehicle. 
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts as well as 
conversion parts and accessories ap-
proved by us are available at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will 
receive comprehensive information, also 
on permissible technical modifications, 
and where proper installation will be per-
formed. 
     
        
        Page 64 of 464

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyThe front passenger head-thorax airbag 
will only deploy if the system senses that 
the front passenger seat is occupied.Rear side-impact airbags
1Rear side-impact airbag
The rear side-impact airbags1 are de-
ployed: 
on the impacted side of the vehicle
in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold
independently of the front airbags
The rear side-impact airbags1 are not 
deployed in impacts which do not exceed 
the system’s deployment threshold.
Seat belts
When the engine is started, the seat belt 
non-usage warning lamp < illuminates 
to remind you and your passengers to fas-
ten your seat belts. If the driver’s seat belt 
is not fastened before the engine is start-
ed, the seat belt non-usage warning lamp 
< illuminates and a warning chime 
sounds for approximately six seconds 
when the engine is started.
The use of seat belts and infant and child 
restraint systems is required by law in all 
50 states, the District of Columbia, the 
U.S. territories and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle 
occupants should have their seat belts fas-
tened whenever the vehicle is in motion.
Information on fastening seat belts is 
found in the “Getting started” section 
(page 40).
Warning!
G
For the front seats, only use seat covers that 
have been approved by Mercedes-Benz for 
this model. Other seat covers may prevent 
the head-thorax bags from deploying 
correctly. 
     
        
        Page 129 of 464

129 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as 
the SmartKey in the starter switch is 
turned to position1 or as soon as the 
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button is in 
position1. The control system enables you 
to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next 
due for service, to set the language for 
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Automatic transmission program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever position
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player, cassette player) will ap-
pear in English, regardless of the 
language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic 
must always be his /her primary focus when 
driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 13.5 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 146 of 464

146 Controls in detailControl system
With daytime running lamp mode se-
lected and the exterior lamp switch at 
position0, the following lamps will 
come on automatically when the en-
gine is turned on:
Parking lamps and low beam head-
lamps
License plate lamps (in low ambient 
light conditions) Setting locator lighting
During darkness, the following lamps will 
come on when the exterior lamp switch is 
in position U, the locator lighting fea-
ture is activated, and the vehicle is un-
locked by remote control:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Front fog lamps
To activate locator lighting:
Make sure the function surround light-
ing is set to 
on, see (
page 146).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U.
The locator lighting switches off when the 
driver’s door is opened. It switches off au-
tomatically after a period of approximately 
40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with 
theæ orç button to the 
Light-
ning 
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see this message in the dis-
play: 
Function Surround lighting
.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Pressæ orç to select the de-
sired setting.
The locator lighting will be switched on 
or off.
iIf you turn the exterior lamp switch to 
another position, the corresponding 
lamp(s) will switch on.
For safety reasons, resetting the Lighting
 submenu to factory settings 
(
page 140) while driving will not re-
set the daytime running lamp mode.
In the display you will then see the mes-
sage: 
Lighting – Cannot be com-
pletely reset to factory settings 
while driving
.
 
     
        
        Page 156 of 464

156 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the desired name appears in the 
display.
The stored names are displayed in as-
cending or descending alphabetical or-
der.
Press buttoní.
The system dials the selected phone 
number.
If connection is successful, the 
name of the party you called and 
the duration of the call will appear 
in the display.
If no connection is made, the con-
trol system stores the dialed num-
ber in the redial memory.Redialing
The control system stores the most recent-
ly dialed phone numbers. This eliminates 
the need to search through your entire 
phone book.
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until you see the 
Tel
 menu in the dis-
play.
Press buttoní.
In the display you see the first number 
in the redial memory.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the desired name appears in the 
display.
Press buttoní.
The control system dials the selected 
phone number.
iIf you press and holdj ork for 
longer than one second, the system 
scrolls rapidly through the list of names 
until you release the button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by 
pressingì.
iIf you do not want to use the telephone, 
press buttonì.
 
     
        
        Page 163 of 464

163 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Program mode selector switch
The program mode selector switch is 
located on the lower part of the center 
console.
1Program mode selector switch
S Sport For standard driving
C Comfort For comfort driving
Press the program mode selector 
switch 1 repeatedly until the letter of 
the desired shift program appears in 
the multifunction display (
page 129).
SelectCfor comfort driving:
The vehicle starts out in second 
gear (both forward and reverse) for 
gentler starts. This does not apply if 
full throttle is applied or gear 
range1 is selected.
Traction and driving stability are 
improved on icy roads.
Upshifts occur earlier even when 
you give more gas. The engine then 
operates at lower rpms and the 
wheels are less likely to spin.
The power transmission ratio for 
gear selector lever positionR 
changes depending on the program 
mode selected (SorC).
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the 
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle  Later upshifting
Kickdown 
Use kickdown when you want maximum 
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of 
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower 
gear.
Ease on the accelerator when you have 
reached the desired speed. 
The transmission shifts up again.
!Never change the program mode when 
the gear selector lever is out of 
positionP. This could result in a 
change of driving characteristics for 
which you may not be prepared. 
     
        
        Page 166 of 464
166 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionEmergency operation (Limp Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the 
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp 
home (emergency operation) mode. In this 
mode, only second gear and reverse gear 
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.
Move gear selector lever toP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least ten seconds before 
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Move gear selector lever to positionD 
(for second gear) orR.
Have the transmission checked at an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as 
soon as possible. 
     
        
        Page 174 of 464

174 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlThe automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can 
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The 
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature 
and the current 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 ° mode is selected 
(
page 181).
Warning
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents in the 
footwell can be very hot or very cold (de-
pending on the set temperature). This may 
cause burns or frostbite on unprotected skin 
in the immediate area of the air vents. Al-
ways keep sufficient distance between un-
protected 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 footwell air vents 
(page 176).
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 pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter 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 ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust 
slots below the rear window.