ContentsSafety and Security........................... 59
Occupant safety................................... 60
Air bags .......................................... 61
Seat belts ....................................... 66
Children in the vehicle .................... 70
Panic alarm* ........................................ 80
Activating ....................................... 80
Deactivating ................................... 80
Driving safety systems ......................... 81
ABS ................................................ 81
BAS ................................................ 82
ESP ................................................. 83
Anti-theft systems................................ 86
Immobilizer..................................... 86
Anti-theft alarm system* ................ 86
Tow-away alarm* ........................... 87
Controls in detail............................... 89
Locking and unlocking ......................... 90
SmartKey ....................................... 90
Opening the doors from the inside . 94
Opening the trunk lid ..................... 95
Closing the trunk lid ....................... 95
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 96
Automatic central locking .............. 97
Locking and unlocking from the
inside ............................................. 98
Seats ................................................. 100
Easy-entry/exit feature* .............. 100
Removing and installing front seat
head restraints ............................. 102
Rear seat head restraints ............. 103
Seat heating* ............................... 106
Memory function* ............................. 107
Storing positions into memory ..... 108
Recalling positions from memory . 108
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 109Lighting ............................................. 110
Exterior lamp switch .................... 110
Combination switch ..................... 114
Cornering fog lamps*................... 114
Hazard warning flasher ................ 116
Interior lighting ............................ 117
Instrument cluster ............................. 119
Instrument cluster illumination .... 119
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 120
Trip odometer .............................. 121
Tachometer .................................. 121
Outside temperature indicator ..... 121
Control system .................................. 123
Multifunction display.................... 123
Multifunction steering wheel........ 124
Menus .......................................... 126
Standard display menu ................ 128
AUDIO menu ................................ 129
NAV* menu .................................. 131
Vehicle status message memory
menu............................................ 132
Settings menu .............................. 133
Trip computer menu..................... 151
TEL menu* ................................... 153
Contents
Manual transmission ......................... 157
Shifting into reverse ..................... 158
Automatic transmission* ................... 159
One-touch gearshifting................. 160
Gear ranges ................................. 161
Gear selector lever position ......... 162
Automatic shift program .............. 164
Driving tips ................................... 165
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 166
Good visibility .................................... 167
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 167
Rear view mirrors ......................... 167
Sun visors .................................... 169
Rear window defroster ................. 170
Climate control .................................. 172
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 175
Setting the temperature ............... 175
Adjusting air distribution and
volume ......................................... 176
Defrosting .................................... 177
Air recirculation mode.................. 177
Air conditioning ............................ 179
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents...................... 180Automatic climate control* ................ 182
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 185
Setting the temperature................ 185
Adjusting air distribution............... 186
Adjusting air volume ..................... 187
Defrosting ..................................... 188
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 188
Air recirculation mode .................. 189
Charcoal filter ............................... 191
Air conditioning............................. 192
Residual heat and ventilation
(available on automatic climate
control panel design A only).......... 193
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 194Audio system...................................... 195
Audio and telephone, operation .... 195
Operating safety ........................... 195
Operating and display elements ... 196
Button and soft key operation ...... 198
Operation...................................... 198
Radio operation ............................ 203
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 208
CD mode....................................... 213
GSM network phones ................... 220
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 227
Emergency calls “911” ................. 234
Power windows .................................. 237
Opening and closing the windows 237
Synchronizing power windows ...... 240
23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Cruise control lever
247
2
Multifunction steering
wheel
26
124
3
Horn
4
Instrument cluster
24
119
5
Overhead control panel
29
6
Glove box lid release
254
Item
Page
7
Glove box lock
254
8
Center console
27
9
Starter switch
33
a
Hood lock release
291
b
Steering wheel adjustment
handle (manual)
41
c
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk (electrical)*
41
d
Parking brake pedal
50, 56
e
Door control panel
30
Item
Page
f
Parking brake release
50
g
Combination switch
Turn signals
52
High beam
52
Windshield wipers
53
h
Exterior lamp switch
51
110
j
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
42
k
Headlamp washer switch*
167
29 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Rear interior lighting
on/off
118
2
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
241
3
Right reading lamp on/off
118
4
Interior lighting control
118
5
Hands-free microphone for
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) and telephone*
220
260
264
6
Interior rear view mirror
42
167
7
Garage door opener*
269
8
Left reading lamp on/off
118
9
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) button
261
30 At a glanceDoor control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
94
2
Memory function* (for
storing seat, exterior rear
view mirror and steering
wheel settings)
107
3
Seat adjustment*
38
4
Switches for opening/clos-
ing door windows
237
35 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
Seats
The seats can be adjusted either manually
or electrically, depending on the vehicle’s
equipment.Warning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck.
That could cause serious or fatal injuries.
The seat back and seat belts provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in a nearly
upright position and belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body. Your seat must be
adjusted so that you can correctly fasten
your seat belt (
page 44).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the power seats* can be op-
erated when the respective door is open.
Therefore, 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.
Warning!
G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant, or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child. For additional
information, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 70).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.
38 Getting startedAdjustingPower seat* adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
in each door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Backrest tilt
Switch on the ignition (
page 33).
or
Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow4.
Adjust seat to 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.Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow3 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow5 until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
Seat height
Press the switch up or down in the
direction of arrow2.
Head restraint height
Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1.
!W h e n m o v i n g t h e s e a t s , m a k e s u r e t h a t
there are no items in the footwell or
behind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.iThe memory function* (
page 107)
lets you store the settings for the seat
position together with the setting for
the steering wheel and the exterior rear
view mirrors.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way
that it is as close to the head as possi-
ble.
42 Getting startedAdjustingAdjusting 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 (inclusive mal-
function and indicator lamps) on the in-
strument cluster are clearly visible.
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.Interior rear view mirror
Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
For more information, see “Rear view mir-
rors” (
page 167).
Exterior rear view mirrors
iThe memory function* (
page 107)
lets you store the setting for the steer-
ing wheel together with the setting for
the seat position and exterior rear view
mirrors.
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident, liquid electrolyte
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their
liquid state and by applying plenty of
water.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
side rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.