Opening and closing
34
Closing
The handle recesses on the interior trim of the
luggage compartment lid make it easier to pull
down.
Make sure that the closing path of the
luggage compartment lid is clear, as oth-
erwise injuries may result.<
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood or the luggage com-
partment lid is opened
>To movements inside the vehicle: Interior
motion sensor, refer to the information fur-
ther below
>When the car's inclination changes, for
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to
towing away
>When there is an interruption in the power
supply from the battery.
The system responds to unauthorized vehicle
entry and attempted theft by simultaneously
activating:
>An acoustic alarm, which lasts for a period
of approx. 30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers, which operate
for approx. 5 minutes
*
>The high beams, which flash on and off in
the same rhythm.
Arming and disarming
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
The system indicates that it has been correctly
armed by switching on the hazard warning
flashers for a single cycle and by emitting an
acoustic signal.
Even when the alarm system is armed, you can
open the luggage compartment lid by means of
the button on the remote control, refer to
page30. When you subsequently close the lug-
gage compartment lid it is again locked and
monitored.
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control, refer
to page30, or
>insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp under the inside rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
doors, hood or luggage compartment lid are
not properly closed. Even if you do not close
the alerted area, the system begins to mon-
itor the remaining areas, and the indicator
lamp flashes continuously after approx. 10
seconds. However, the interior motion sen-
sor is not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
your vehicle has not been disturbed while
you were away.
Controls
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>If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until the remote control is inserted in the
ignition, but for no longer than approx.
5 minutes: your vehicle has been disturbed
while you were away.
Tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm
system reacts, e.g. to attempts to steal a wheel
or tow the vehicle.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and glass sunroof
must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following
situations:
>In duplex garages
>When transporting on car-carrying trains
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor
Press the button on the remote control
twice in a row.
The indicator lamp comes on for approx. two
seconds, then begins to flash steadily. The tilt
alarm sensor and the interior motion sensor are
switched off until the next time the vehicle is
unlocked and subsequently locked again.
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when
closing the windows and keep them in
your field of vision until they are shut.
When leaving the car, take the remote control
out of the ignition lock and close the doors, oth-erwise children could operate the power win-
dows and possibly injure themselves.<
Opening, closing
>Press the switch to the resistance point.
The window continues to open as long as
you keep the switch pressed.
>Briefly press the switch beyond the resis-
tance point.
The window opens automatically. Briefly
press the switch again to stop the opening
movement.
You can close the windows in the same manner
by pulling the switch.
There are separate switches in the rear seat
armrests.
After switching off the ignition
You can still operate the windows:
>In radio readiness, for approx. 15 minutes
>For about one minute when the remote
control is removed or the ignition and radio
readiness are switched off, as long as nei-
ther front door has been opened
For information on convenient operation via the
remote control or door lock, refer to page30
or31.
Take the remote control with you when
you leave the car, otherwise children
could operate the electric windows and possi-
bly injure themselves.<
Anti-trapping mechanism
If the closing force of an electric window
exceeds a specific value as it closes, the closing
Adjustments
38
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In con-
junction with the safety belts, the head
restraints and the airbags, the seated position
has a major influence on your safety in the event
of an accident. To ensure that the safety sys-
tems operate with optimal efficiency, we
strongly urge you to observe the instructions
contained in the following section.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page46.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your
hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions,
to minimize the risk of injury to the hands or
arms in the event of the airbag being triggered
off.
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the
front passenger side as a storage area. Make
sure that the front passenger is sitting correctly
and does not rest feet or legs on the instrument
panel, otherwise leg injuries can occur if the
front airbag is triggered. Never let an occu-
pant's head rest near or on a side airbag
because the inflating airbag could cause a seri-
ous or fatal injury.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions, inju-
ries resulting from contact with airbags cannot
be fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This effect is usually only tem-
porary.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page82.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way
that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-
erwise, there is a risk of injury should an acci-
dent occur.<
Safety belt
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the
safety belt as an additional safety device, but
they do not represent a substitute.
At all times, occupants should sit upright
and be properly restrained: infants and
small children in appropriate child-restraint sys-
tems; larger children and adults using the safety
belts. Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow infants or
small children to ride in a passenger's lap.
Expectant mothers should also wear the safety
belt, making sure that the strap in the pelvic
a r e a i s w e l l d o w n o n t h e h i p s a n d d o e s n o t p r e s s
against the abdominal region of the body.
Do not route the belt across your neck, or run it
across sharp edges. Be sure that the belt does
not become caught or jammed. The safety belt
should not be twisted and must be positioned
firmly over the pelvis and shoulder, as close to
the body as possible. It should not pass over
hard or fragile objects, otherwise the belt in the
pelvic area could slide over the hips in the event
of a head-on collision and injure the lower abdo-
men. Avoid wearing bulky clothing and regularly
pull the belt in the upper-body area taut, other-
wise its restraining effect could be impaired.<
Safety belts, refer to page43.
Adjustments
44 The positions of the exterior mirrors are stored
for the remote control currently used
*, refer to
Personal Profile, page29.
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually, if
necessary: press the edge of the glass.
To prevent the exterior mirrors on this
vehicle from being damaged, always fold
them in by hand before entering an automatic
car wash.<
Automatic heating*
At outside temperatures below a certain limit,
both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
while the engine is running or the ignition
switched on.
Passenger-side mirror tilt function* –
automatic curb monitor
Activating
1.Push the mirror selector switch to the posi-
tion for the driver's-side mirror 1.
2.Engage reverse gear or move the selector
lever to position R.
The glass of the mirror on the passenger
side tilts slightly down. This allows the
driver to see the area immediately adjacent
to the vehicle – such as a curb – when park-
ing, etc.
Deactivating
Push the mirror selector switch to the position
for the passenger-side mirror 2.
Interior rearview mirror
Turn the knob underneath the mirror to reduce
glare from the headlamps of cars behind you
when driving at night.
Automatically dimming mirrors, refer to
page107.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel position
while the car is in motion, or an accident
may result from any unexpected movement.<
1.Fold the lever down.
2.Move the steering wheel to the preferred
height and angle to suit your seated posi-
tion.
3.Swing the lever back up.
Electric steering wheel lock
The steering wheel locks or unlocks automati-
cally when the remote control is removed or
inserted, refer to page49.
Controls
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Programmable buttons on the steering
wheel
You can program the buttons to suit your per-
sonal preferences:
These settings are stored for the remote con-
trol currently in use.
iDrive concept, refer to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Vehicle settings" and press the
controller.
4.Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press
the controller.
A list showing various functions is dis-
played:
>"Navigation voice instructions"
Voice messages from the navigation
system
>"Air recirculation on / off"
Permanent shut-off of outside air, refer to Automatic recirculated-air control
AUC on page91
>"Mute on / off"
To mute the audio sources
>"Monitor on / off"
Switching Control Display on/off
>"Telephone list"
Switch between any menu and tele-
phone
>"Next entertainment source"
To change the audio source
5.Select the desired function and press the
controller.
6.Select a button, if appropriate, and press
the controller.
.
You can operate the selected function using the
corresponding button.
Operating function
Briefly press the appropriate button in the
steering wheel.
Voice instructions of navigation system:
>Switch voice instructions on/off:
Press button for longer
>To repeat the last voice instruction:
Press the button briefly
>To cancel a voice instruction during an
announcement:
Press the button briefly
Controls
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Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
>Radio readiness switches on.
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
>The electric steering wheel lock disen-
gages audibly.
Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock before you move the vehicle, as oth-
erwise the electric steering wheel lock will not
disengage and you will not be able to steer the
car.<
Removing the remote control from the
ignition lock
Press the remote control in briefly; it is ejected a
short way.
At the same time:
>The ignition switches off if it was on before-
hand.
>The electric steering wheel lock engages
audibly.
Automatic transmission
You cannot take out the remote control unless
the selector lever is in the P position: interlock.
Start/stop button
7
Each time the start/stop button is pressed,
radio readiness or the ignition is switched on or
off.
Do not depress the brake pedal or the
clutch pedal, otherwise the engine will
start.<
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
The time and the outside temperature are dis-
played in the instrument cluster.
Radio readiness is switched off automatically:
>Immediately when the remote control is
removed from the ignition lock
Ignition on
Most of the indicator and warning lamps in the
indicator area1 of the instrument cluster, refer
to page13, light up and remain on for different
lengths of time.
Radio readiness and ignition switched
off
All indicator and warning lamps in the instru-
ment cluster go out.
Starting the engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms, as
otherwise the inhaling of toxic exhaust
gases can cause unconsciousness and death.
Driving
50 The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
place the transmission in idle or move the
selector lever to position P and apply the hand-
brake to prevent the car from moving.<
When starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicle remains stationary.
Instead, begin to drive immediately at a moder-
ate engine speed.
Do not press either the brake pedal or the
clutch pedal until you are ready to start
the engine. The engine is started immediately
when you briefly touch the start/stop button
and depress the brake pedal if the car has auto-
matic transmission, or the clutch pedal if the car
has manual transmission.<
7
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Press the clutch pedal.
If the clutch pedal is not depressed,
the engine will not start.<
3.Briefly press the start/stop button.
The starter is operated automatically for a cer-
tain time, and operation ceases automatically as
soon as the engine has started.
Automatic transmission
1.Press the brake pedal.
2.Move the selector lever to position P or, if
the ignition is switched on, to position N.3.Briefly press the start/stop button.
The starter is operated automatically for a cer-
tain time, and operation ceases automatically as
soon as the engine has started.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator
pedal halfway down when starting the engine:
>If the engine does not start on the first
attempt, for instance when it is extremely
hot or cold.
>The engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. + 57/–156, at high
altitudes, above approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated start attempts in which
the engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is
not burned or inadequately burned and there is
a danger of overheating and damaging the cat-
alytic converter.<
Switching off the engine
Do not take the remote control out of the
ignition lock while the vehicle is rolling, as
otherwise the steering wheel lock will engage
when you turn the steering wheel.
Always take the remote control with you when
you leave the vehicle.
When parking on a downhill incline, apply the
handbrake, as otherwise the vehicle could roll
away.<
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.With the car at a standstill, briefly press the
start/stop button.
3.Shift into first gear or reverse.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selec-
tor lever to position P.
2.Briefly press the start/stop button.
3.Apply the handbrake.
Controls
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Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to prevent
the vehicle from rolling while parked; it brakes
the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp is lit, and when you
drive off an acoustic signal sounds in
addition. The handbrake is still applied.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and
lower the lever.
In exceptional cases, if the handbrake has
to be used to slow or stop the car, do not
pull the lever up too hard. In doing so, continu-
ously press the button of the handbrake lever.
Too violent an application of the handbrake
could lock the rear wheels and cause the rear of
the car to swerve.
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is applied.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally apply the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.<
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, press
the gearshift lever to the right. Otherwise
the engine could be damaged if you inadvert-
ently shift into 3rd or 4th gear.<
Reverse gear
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a
slight resistance has to be overcome.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic*
In addition to fully automatic operation, you can
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to
page52.
Vehicle parking
To prevent the vehicle from rolling,
always select position P and apply the
handbrake before leaving the vehicle with the
engine running.<
Disengaging the remote control
In order to remove the remote control from the
ignition lock, you must first move the selector
lever to position P and switch off the engine:
interlock.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –