Page 141 of 442

139 Controls in detail
Control system
Selecting time display mode
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Time/Date
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Clock display
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to set
the
12h
or
24h
time display mode.Selecting automatic time change
(Daylight Saving Time (DST)
summer/Standard time winter)
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Time/Date
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Change-over
Summer / Winter time
appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to select if
the changeover between summer and
winter time should be automatic or
manual.
Setting the date (month)
This function can only be seen with audio
system.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Time/Date
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Date Set MM
appears
in the multifunction display.
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the date,
refer to the separate COMAND
operating instructions.
Page 145 of 442

143 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU, the following lamps will
switch on when the vehicle is unlocked
with the SmartKey during darkness:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
with the SmartKey the lamps will switch off
automatically after approximately
40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Surround lighting
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function
On.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU when exiting the vehicle
(page 109).
The locator lighting feature is
activated.Setting night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off)
Use this function to set whether and how
long you would like the exterior lamps to
illuminate during darkness after exiting the
vehicle and all doors closed.
With the delayed shut-off feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU before the engine is turned
off, the following lamps will switch on after
you have removed the SmartKey from the
starter switch:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
If you do not open a door after removing
the SmartKey from the starter switch, the
lamps will switch off automatically after
approximately 60 seconds.
Page 147 of 442

145 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting interior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether and how
long you would like the interior lighting to
remain lit during darkness after you have
removed the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Int. light delay
off
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to select
the desired lamp-on period.
You can select:
0 sec.
, the delayed shut-off feature
is deactivated.
5 sec.
, 10 sec.
, 15 sec.
or
20 sec.
, the interior lighting de-
layed shut-off feature is activated
with the desired lamp-on period.
Vehicle submenu
Access the
Vehicle
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Vehicle
submenu
to make general vehicle settings.
The following function is available:Setting automatic locking
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the automatic central locking. With the
automatic central locking system
activated, the vehicle is centrally locked at
vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h).
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Vehicle
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Automatic door lk.
appears in the multifunction display.
Function
Page
Setting automatic locking
145
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 149 of 442

147 Controls in detail
Control system
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the Convenience
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Easy-entry feature
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to change
the easy-entry/exit setting.
The following settings are available for
the easy-entry/exit feature:Setting key-dependency
Use this function to set whether the
memory settings for the seats, the steering
wheel and the mirrors should be stored
separately for each SmartKey
(
page 106).
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the Convenience
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Key dependency
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
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.
Off
The easy-entry/exit
feature is
deactivated
Steer. Column
Only the steering
column is moved
St.col.+seat
Both the steering
column and the seat
are moved
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.
Page 162 of 442

160 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Gear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in positionP
only when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended
to serve as a brake when the
vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always set the
parking brake in addition to
placing the gear selector lever in
positionP to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP. With the SmartKey
removed, the gear selector lever
is locked in positionP.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the gear
selector lever could remain
locked in positionP
(page 340).
í
Reverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while
driving.
If the ESP is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever toN
only if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All five forward
gears are available.