Page 26 of 442
26 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
246
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button
33
3
Selector lever for automat-
ic transmission
43,
161
4
Parking assist (Parktronic 
system)* deactivation 
switch
229
5
Adaptive damping system 
(ADS)* switch
226
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control 
switch*
227
7
Thumbwheel for setting 
distance for Distronic*
221
8
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
222
9
Program mode selector for 
automatic transmission
164 
     
        
        Page 32 of 442

32 Getting startedUnlockingUnlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
If you have the KEYLESS-GO function, your 
vehicle checks whether the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO is valid when you pull the 
door handle. If your SmartKey is valid, the 
doors will unlock, and you can open them.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the 
KEYLESS-GO function.
Pull the door handle.
The turn signal lamps flash once. The 
locking knobs on the doors move up.
The SBC brake system is activated.
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 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. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 33 of 442

33 Getting started
Unlocking
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board 
electronics have status 0 (as with Smart-
Key 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 but-
ton once.
This supplies power to some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power to all electrical 
consumers. All the lights in the instru-
ment cluster come on.
More information can be found in the 
“Controls in detail” section (
page 91). 
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, 
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO” 
(
page 44).
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 35 of 442

35 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located 
on the front doors.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Backrest tilt
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position1 or2 (
page 31)
or
Press the KEYLESS GO* start/stop 
button once or twice (
page 33).
or
Open the driver’s or passenger door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward 
in the direction of arrow4.
Adjust a comfortable seating position 
that still allows you to reach the 
accelerator / brake pedal safely. The 
position should be as far to the rear as 
possible, consistent with ability to 
properly operate controls.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints 
are not properly secured in the vehicle and 
the child is not properly secured in the child 
restraint.
iWhen moving the seat, be sure there 
are no items in the footwell or behind 
the seats. Otherwise you could damage 
the seats.
The memory function (
page 116) lets 
you store the setting for the seat posi-
tion together with the setting for the 
steering wheel and the exterior rear 
view mirrors. 
     
        
        Page 37 of 442

37 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel Steering wheel adjustment
The stalk for steering wheel adjustment is 
located on the steering column (lower left).
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position1 or2.
or
Press the KEYLESS GO* start/stop 
button once or twice.
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out
Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow1 until a comfortable 
steering wheel position is reached with 
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down
Move stalk up or down in the direction 
of arrow2.
Make sure your legs can move freely 
and that all the displays (incl. malfunc-
tion and indicator lamps) on the instru-
ment cluster are clearly visible.
For more information, see “Heated steer-
ing wheel*”(
page 248). 
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of 
the vehicle.
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 steering wheel adjustment feature can 
also be operated with the driver’s door 
open. Do not leave children unattended in 
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked 
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious 
personal injury.
iThe memory function (
page 116) lets 
you store the setting for the seat posi-
tion together with the setting for the 
steering wheel and the exterior rear 
view mirrors.  
     
        
        Page 44 of 442

44 Getting startedDrivingStarting with the SmartKey
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
to P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position3 and hold until the engine 
starts (
page 31).
Depress the brake pedal.
The selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine 
with the SmartKey, see “Turning off en-
gine” (
page 52).Starting 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 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 with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 53).
iYou can also use the “touch-start” 
function. Turn the SmartKey to 
position3 and release it again immedi-
ately. The engine then starts automati-
cally. 
     
        
        Page 49 of 442

49 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
Push switch in the direction of 
arrow1 past the resistance point.
The windshield wipers operate with 
washer fluid.
Information on filling up the washer reser-
voir can be found in the “Operation” sec-
tion (page 288).
!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 51 of 442

51 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive. 
You have properly stopped and parked 
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.
Parking brake
1Parking brake
2Release handle
Step firmly on parking brake1.
When the engine is running, the warn-
ing lamp ; (USA only) or 3 
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster 
will be illuminated.
Warning!
G
Wait until the vehicle is stationary before re-
moving the SmartKey from the starter 
switch. The vehicle cannot be steered when 
the SmartKey is removed.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no 
power assistance for the brake and steering 
systems. In this case, it is important to keep 
in mind that a considerably higher degree of 
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or 
leaves can come into contact with the hot 
exhaust system, as these materials could be 
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off 
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:
Keep right foot on brake pedal.
Firmly depress parking brake pedal.
Move the selector lever to positionP.
Slowly release brake pedal.
When parked on an incline, turn front 
wheel towards the road curb.
Turn the SmartKey to starter switch 
position0 and remove, or press 
start- / stop button (vehicles with KEY-
LESS-GO*).
Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* and lock vehicle when 
leaving.