Page 23 of 464

23 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
L
Left turn signal indi-
cator lamp
48
2
v
ESP warning lamp
316
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display 
with:
129
Basic display with outside 
temperature display
134,
144
Status indicator with mal-
function warning message
134,
138
Trip odometer
127
5
l
Distance warning 
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates with the 
ignition on. It should go out 
when the engine is running.
316
Item
Page
6
K
Right turn signal indi-
cator lamp
48
7
Coolant temperature indi-
cator with:
127
Ï 
Coolant temperature 
warning lamp
315,
329
8
Tachometer with:
127
1
Supplemental 
restraint system 
indicator lamp
318,
339
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) warning 
lamp
312
<
Seat belt non-usage 
warning lamp
318,
339
A
High beam headlamp 
indicator
123
9
Main odometer with:
Gear selector lever posi-
tion 
129
Program mode 
129
Item
Page
a
Clock with:
144
;
Brake warning lamp, 
except Canada
313
3
Brake warning lamp, 
Canada only
?
Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp
314
C
Roll bar warning lamp
b
Fuel display with:W
Fuel reserve warning 
lamp
317
c
Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer
126
Adjusting instrument 
cluster illumination
126
Confirming new time set-
tings
144 
     
        
        Page 46 of 464

46 Getting startedDrivingParking brake 
1Parking brake pedal
2Parking brake release handle
Release the parking brake by pulling on 
handle2.
The indicator lamp ; (USA only) 
or3 (Canada only) in the clock 
goes out.Driving
Depress the brake pedal.
Move gear selector lever in 
positionDorR.
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator 
pedal.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the automat-
ic 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 earlier.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you and 
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an 
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the 
parking brake, which could result in an acci-
dent and/or serious personal injury.
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 149).
!If you hear a warning signal when driv-
ing off, you have forgotten to release 
the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.iWait for the gear selection process to 
complete before setting the vehicle in 
motion. 
     
        
        Page 107 of 464

107 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Separately unlocking the trunk
Pull the mechanical key out of the 
SmartKey (
page 348).
Insert the mechanical key in the trunk 
lid lock.
Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise to neutral position1.
You can now open the trunk 
(page 98).
A minimum height clearance of 5.41 ft 
(1.65 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
Automatic central locking
The doors and the trunk automatically lock 
when the ignition is switched on and the 
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of ap-
proximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are 
safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic locking 
using the control system (
page 149).
For more information on towing the vehi-
cle, see “Towing the vehicle” (page 390).
Warning!
G
Only drive with the trunk closed. Among oth-
er dangers, such as your view being blocked, 
exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle 
interior.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an 
accident if the force of the impact ex-
ceeds a preset threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when 
the ignition is switched on and the 
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of 
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or 
more. You could therefore lock yourself 
out when the vehicle
is pushed or towed
is on a test stand 
     
        
        Page 126 of 464

126 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument 
cluster can be found in the “At a glance” 
section of this manual (
page 22).
The instrument cluster is activated when 
you
open a door
turn on the ignition
press the reset button, see 
(page 126)
switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of 
the control system (
page 142).
Instrument cluster illumination
1Reset button
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster.To brighten illumination
Turn reset button1 in the instrument 
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button1 in the instrument 
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is 
dimmed or brightened automatically to 
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
also be adjusted automatically when 
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior 
lamps. 
     
        
        Page 144 of 464

144 Controls in detailControl systemSelecting display (speed display or out-
side temperature) for standard display
Move the selection marker with 
theæ orç button to the 
Instr. 
cluster
 submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see this message in the dis-
play: 
Basic display
.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Pressæ orç to select the dis-
play permanently shown in the multi-
function display.Time submenu
This function is only available in vehicles 
with audio system.
Access the 
Time
 submenu via the 
Settings
 
menu. Use the 
Time
 submenu to change 
the time display settings. The following 
functions are available:Set time (hours)
Move the selection marker with 
theæ orç button to the 
Time
 
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see this message in the dis-
play: 
Clock, hours
.
The selection marker is on the hour set-
ting.
Pressæ orç to set the hour.
Press the reset button in the instru-
ment cluster to confirm.
The hour is set and stored.
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the time, re-
fer to the separate COMAND operating 
instructions.
Function
Page
Set time (hours)
144
Set time (minutes)
145 
     
        
        Page 145 of 464

145 Controls in detail
Control system
Set time (minutes)
Move the selection marker with 
theæ orç button to the 
Time
 
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see this message in the dis-
play: 
Clock, minutes
.
The selection marker is on the minute 
setting.
Pressæ orç to set the minutes.
Press the reset button in the instru-
ment cluster to confirm.
The minutes are set and stored.Lighting submenu
Access the 
Lighting
 submenu via the 
Set-
tings
 menu. Use the 
Lighting 
submenu 
to change the lamp and lighting settings on 
your vehicle. The following functions are 
available:Setting daytime running lamp mode 
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with 
theæ orç button to the 
Light-
ing
 submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see this message in the dis-
play: 
Lamp circuit headlamp
.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Pressæ orç to select 
manual
 or 
daytime running lamp (
constant
) 
mode. This function is not available in 
countries where daytime running 
lamps are mandatory.
Function
Page
Set daytime running lamp mode 
(USA only)
145
Set locator lighting
146
Exterior lamps delayed 
switch-off
147
Interior lighting delayed 
switch-off
148
 
     
        
        Page 345 of 464

345 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Vehicle jackThe vehicle jack is stored in the space un-
derneath the trunk floor together with the 
vehicle tool kit in the vehicle tool kit stor-
age well casing.
Remove the vehicle jack from its com-
partment.
Push the crank handle up.
Turn the crank handle clockwise until it 
engages (operational position).
Before storing the vehicle jack in its com-
partment:
It should be fully collapsed
The handle must be folded in (storage 
position)
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking 
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets 
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help 
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift 
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never 
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported 
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from 
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always 
firmly set parking brake and block wheels 
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the 
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is 
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack 
on a level surface. Make sure the jack arm is 
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket. Al-
ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient ca-
pacity jackstands before working under the 
vehicle. 
     
        
        Page 377 of 464
377 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Front turn signal lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 287).
Twist bulb socket1 counterclockwise 
and pull out.
Push bulb into socket, turn counter-
clockwise and remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push in and 
twist clockwise.
Reinsert bulb socket in lamp and twist 
clockwise.Parking and standing lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 287).
Turn housing cover2 counterclock-
wise and remove.
Pull out the bulb socket with the bulb.
Pull the bulb out of the bulb socket.
Insert a new bulb in the socket.
Reinstall the bulb socket.
Align housing cover and click into 
place.
Side marker lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.
Carefully slide lamp towards rear.
Remove front end first.
Twist bulb socket counterclockwise 
and pull out.
Pull bulb out of the bulb socket.
Insert new bulb in socket.
Reinstall bulb socket, push in and twist 
clockwise.
To reinstall lamp, set rear end in 
bumper and let front end snap into 
place.