Page 123 of 442

121 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as 
the SmartKey in the starter switch is 
turned to position1. The control system 
enables you to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control 
system to find out when your vehicle is 
next due for service, to set the language 
for messages in the instrument cluster 
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Current program mode
4Current gear selector lever 
position/gear range
5Digital clock
6Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
iThe displays for the audio systems 
(radio, CD player) will appear in English, 
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic 
conditions must always be his/her primary 
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, 
selecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions 
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet 
(approximately 14 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 127 of 442
125 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Vehicle status 
message memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone*
(page 126)
(page 127)
(page 130)
(page 130)
(page 132)
(page 148)
(page 150)
Commands/submenusDigital speedometer 
or outside tempera-
ture
Select radio 
station
Activate route 
guidance
Call up vehicle mal-
function, warning 
and system status 
messages stored in 
memory
Reset to factory 
settings
Fuel consumption 
statistics after 
start
Load phone 
book
Call up maintenance 
service display
Select satellite 
radio station* 
(USA only)
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consumption 
statistics since 
the last reset
Search for 
name in 
phone book
Check engine oil 
level
Operate the 
CD player* 
Time/Date 
submenu
Call up range
Lighting 
submenuVehicle 
submenuConvenience 
submenu 
     
        
        Page 132 of 442

130 Controls in detailControl systemNAV* menu
The
NAV
 menu contains the functions 
needed to operate your navigation system.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the message
NAV
 appears in the 
multifunction display.
If the navigation system is switched off, 
the message
NAV OFF
 appears in the 
multifunction display. 
If the navigation system is on, different 
messages, depending on the current 
state of the navigation system, appear 
in the multifunction display.
Please refer to the COMAND* manual for 
instructions on how to activate the route 
guidance system*.
Vehicle status message memory menu
Use the vehicle status message memory 
menu to scan malfunction and warning 
messages that may be stored in the 
system. Such messages appear in the mul-
tifunction display and are based on condi-
tions or system status the vehicle’s system 
has recorded.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the vehicle status message 
memory appears in the multifunction 
display.Warning!
G
Malfunction and warning messages are only 
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction 
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain 
systems and do not replace the owner’s 
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain 
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all 
required maintenance and safety checks 
performed on the vehicle and by bringing 
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center to address the malfunction and 
warning messages (
page 309). 
     
        
        Page 133 of 442

131 Controls in detail
Control system
No vehicle status messages
If no conditions are recorded in memory, 
the message in the multifunction display 
is: 
No message
Vehicle status messages have been 
recorded
If conditions have occured causing status 
messages to be recorded, the number of 
messages appears in the multifunction 
display:
1Number of messages
Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be 
displayed in the order in which they 
have occured. For malfunction and 
warning messages, see “Vehicle status 
messages in the multifunction display” 
(page 309).
Should the vehicle’s system record any 
conditions while driving, the number of 
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display when the SmartKey in the 
starter switch is turned to position0 or 
removed from the starter switch.
iThe vehicle status message memory 
will be cleared when you turn the 
SmartKey in the starter switch to 
position1 or2. You will then only see 
high-priority messages in the multi-
function display (
page 309). 
     
        
        Page 148 of 442
146 Controls in detailControl system
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch 
the automatic central locking 
On or 
Off
.Convenience submenu
Access the 
Convenience
 submenu via the 
Settings
 menu. Use the 
Convenience
 
submenu to change the settings for a 
number of convenience features.
The following functions are available:Activating easy-entry/exit feature*
Use this function to activate and 
deactivate the easy-entry/exit feature 
(
page 98). 
Function
Page
Activating 
easy-entry/exit feature*
146
Setting key-dependency
147
Setting parking position* for 
exterior rear view mirror
148
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become 
trapped or injured by the moving steering 
wheel and driver’s seat when the 
easy-entry/exit feature is activated. 
To cancel seat/steering wheel movement, 
do one of the following:
Press seat adjustment switch* 
(page 30).
Move steering column stalk* 
(page 40).
Press memory position switch* 
(page 107).
 
     
        
        Page 152 of 442

150 Controls in detailControl systemResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until the first function of the Trip 
computer menu appears in the 
multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the reading that you want to reset 
appears in the multifunction display.
Press and hold the reset button in the 
instrument cluster (
page 117) until 
the value is reset to0.Calling up range (distance to empty)
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until the first function of the Trip 
computer menu appears in the 
multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the message 
Distance
 appears in 
the multifunction display.
The calculated range based on the 
current fuel tank level appears in the 
multifunction display.
TEL menu*Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road must always 
be his/her primary focus when driving. For 
your safety and the safety of others, we 
recommend that you pull over to a safe 
location and stop before placing or taking a 
telephone call. If you choose to use the 
telephone while driving, please use the 
hands-free device and only use the 
telephone when weather, road and traffic 
conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from 
using a cellular telephone while driving a 
vehicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet 
(approximately 14 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 156 of 442

154 Controls in detailManual transmissionManual transmission is standard 
equipment on select models and not 
available on all models.
For information on driving with a manual 
transmission, see “Manual transmission” 
(page 46).
Warning!
G
For vehicles equipped with a manual trans-
mission, getting out of your vehicle with the 
gearshift lever not engaged in first or 
reverse gear and parking brake engaged is 
dangerous.
Also, when parked on an incline, an engaged 
first or reverse gear alone may not prevent 
your vehicle from moving, possibly hitting 
people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to 
engaging first or reverse gear (
page 54).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels 
towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where 
combustible 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.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it 
with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children 
could move the gearshift lever, which could 
result in an accident and/or serious injury.Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift 
in order to obtain braking action. This could 
result in drive wheel slip and reduced 
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not 
prevent this type of loss of control. 
     
        
        Page 159 of 442

157 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission*
1Current gear range/gear selector lever 
position
2Current program mode
The current gear range/gear selector lever 
position and program mode (
C/S) 
or (
M/C/S) appear in the multifunction 
display.An additional indication of the current gear 
selector lever position can be found on the 
cover of the shifting-gate.
The indicators come on when you activate 
a switch (e.g. unlocking the vehicle or 
opening a door) and go out after approxi-
mately 15 minutes.
When the gear selector lever is in 
positionD, you can influence transmission 
shifting by:
limiting the gear range
changing gears manuallyWarning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector 
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is 
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not 
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could 
accelerate quickly forward or reverse. You 
could lose control of the vehicle and hit 
someone or something. Only shift into gear 
when the engine is idling normally and when 
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.