2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 steering column controls

47 Getting started
Driving
Switching on headlampsExterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the switch toB.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 119).
Turn signals and high beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signal, right
2Turn signal, left
Press the combination switch up1 or
down2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp L or K flashes in the in-
strument cluster.High beam

Push the combination switch forward.
The high beam headlights are switched
on.
The high beam symbolA in the
tachometer comes on.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 123).
iTo signal minor directional changes,
move combination switch to point of
resistance only and release. The turn
signal flashes three times.

108 Controls in detailSeats
SeatsInformation on seat adjustment can be
found in the “Getting started” section
(page 35).
Easy-entry / exit feature*
With the easy-entry / exit feature activat-
ed, 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 start-
er switch or you have pressed the Key-
less-Go* start/stop button 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 sub-
menu of the control system (
page 150).
Warning!
G
You must ensure that no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel and 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 removed 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 move-
ment, do one of the following:

Press seat adjustment switch
(page 28).


Move steering column stalk
(page 37).


Press the memory switch
(page 28).

123 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasher
Switching on high beams
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 119).

Push the combination switch in
direction1.
The high beam indicatorA on the
instrument cluster is illuminated
(page 22).
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be activat-
ed with the ignition switched on or off. It is
activated automatically when an airbag is
deployed.
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.1Hazard warning flasher switch

151 Controls in detail
Control system
After entering the vehicle, the steering
wheel and seat will move into the position
stored in memory when

the driver’s door is closed


you put the SmartKey in the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button*


you press the appropriate stored posi-
tion button on the memory switch
(page 117).

Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to
the
Convenience
submenu.

Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see this message in the dis-
play:
Function Easy-entry feature
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Pressæ orç to change the
easy-entry / exit setting.
The following settings are available for the
easy-entry / exit feature
Warning!
G
You must make sure that no one can be-
come trapped or injured by the moving
steering wheel and the driver’s seat when
the easy-entry / exit feature is in operation
and the driver’s door is being opened or the
SmartKey is removed 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 personal injury.
iTo cancel seat / steering wheel move-
ment, do one of the following:

Press seat adjustment switch
(page 35).


Move the steering column stalk
(page 37).


Press the memory button
(page 117).
off
The
easy-entry / exit
feature is deactivat-
ed
Steering col.
Only the steering
column is moved.
Steering col. +
seat

Both the steering
column and the
seat are moved.

211 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The following driving systems are ex-
plained on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed


Airmatic* adjusts the vehicle suspen-
sion characteristics automatically and
controls the vehicle level


Parktronic system*, which assists the
driver during parking maneuvers
The BAS, ABS, ESP and SBC are described
in the “Safety and Security” section
(
page 74).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set any speed
over 20 mph (30 km / h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 20).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

218 Controls in detailDriving systemsDistronic deactivated
If Distronic is deactivated you can see the
standard display of Distronic in the multi-
function display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
functionDistronic activated
If you turn Distronic on, you will see the set
speed in the multifunction display for
about five seconds. If Distronic is
activated, you can see the following dis-
play in the multifunction display.
1Distronic activatedCruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means
of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column.
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Deactivate Distronic
4Resume at previously set speed

436 Index
Locking and unlocking 88
Loss of 91
Opening and closing the slid-
ing/pop-up roof* with 202
Opening and closing windows
with 199
Opening the panorama sliding/pop-up
roof* with SmartKey 208
positions in starter switch 31
Remote controls 88, 92
Restoring to factory setting 90, 94
Selective setting 89, 94
Starting the engine 44
Unlocking with 30
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 91
Global locking and unlocking 94
Locking the vehicle 96
Loss of 96
Messages in display 335
Remote controls 91
Turning off the engine 53
Unlocking with 32
Smartkey-dependency memory
Settings 152Snow chains 296
Solar panel* 210
Spare fuses 385
Spare parts service 388
Spare wheel 350
Speed
Saving current 212
Speed settings
Cruise control 213
Distronic* 219, 220
Speedometer
Displays 216
Settings units 141
Speedometer display mode
Selecting 141
Split rear bench seat* 236
Sporty driving style 226
SRS 415
SRS indicator lamp 23, 56, 316
Standing lamps 119
Replacing bulbs 362
Standing water 274
Starter switch 31
Positions 31Starting difficulties 45
Starting position 31
Starting the engine 43
Steering column
Height adjustment 37
Length adjustment 37
Steering gear oil
Message in display 347
Steering wheel
Adjusting 37
Cleaning 308
Electrical adjustment 37
Stolen vehicle
Tracking services 258
Stopping
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof 207
Sliding/pop-up roof* 202
Windows 199
Storage compartments
Glove box 242
Storage space under armrest 244
Storing (Memory function*)
Positions into memory 117