59 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(page 52).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (page 125).
Turning off the engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Turning off with the SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
(page 34) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.
Press the seat belt release button
(page 47).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
Turning off the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton (
page 35) to shut off the engine.With the driver's door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the
driver’s door opened, the starter switch
is set to position0, same as SmartKey
removed from starter switch
(
page 34).
Press the seat belt release button
(page 47).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to position P.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the curb.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.iWith the SmartKey removed and the
driver’s door open, a warning sounds if
the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not
switched off.
!If you hear a warning signal, you have
either
forgotten to turn off the lights be-
fore opening the driver’s door
or
tried to turn off the engine while the
gear selector lever is not inP.
Turn off the lights or place the gear se-
lector lever inP.
60 Getting startedParking and lockingLocking
Locking with the SmartKey
After exiting the vehicle press the lock
button‹ on the SmartKey
(page 32).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down.
For more information, see “SmartKey”
(
page 90).Locking with KEYLESS-GO*
1Lock button on the outside door handle
After exiting the vehicle, press lock
button1 on the outside door handle
or on the trunk lid (
page 99).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down.
For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 94).
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it 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.
iOpening a door causes the windows on
that side of the car to open slightly.
They will return to the up position when
the door is closed.
62 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are:
Seat belts
Emergency tensioning device
Air bags
Child seats
Child seat recognition
Lower anchors and tethers for children
(LATCH)
As independent systems, their protective
effects work in conjunction with each oth-
er.The 1 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on
for about four seconds when you turn
the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1 or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 35) once. It
then goes out briefly, comes on again
and remains lit until you start the en-
gine.
for about four seconds when you start
the engine by turning the SmartKey or
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button.The restraint systems are fully operational
if the 1 indicator lamp is not lit when
the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been de-
tected if the 1 indicator lamp:
fails to extinguish after approximately
four seconds.
does not come on at all.
comes on after the engine was started
or while driving.
For safety reasons, we strongly recom-
mend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to
have the system checked.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 333).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 72).
iThe 1 indicator lamp remains lit if
the SmartKey is turned to position 2
and left there or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button is pressed twice. The
indicator lamp will go out when you
start the engine.
74 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyBabySmart
TM1 air bag deactivation
system
The 58 indicator lamp is located on
the lower part of the center console.
1Indicator lampSpecial BabySmart
TM compatible child
seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are
required for use with the BabySmart
TM
air bag deactivation system. With the spe-
cial child seat properly installed, the pas-
senger front air bag will not deploy.
The 58 indicator lamp1 located
on the lower part of the front center con-
sole will be illuminated, except with the
SmartKey removed or in starter switch
position0.Self-test BabySmart
TM2
without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2 or pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 35) once or twice, the 58
indicator lamp comes on for approximately
six seconds and then goes out.
If the 58 indicator lamp should not
come on or is continuously lit, the system
is not functioning. You must see an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center before seat-
ing any child on the front passenger seat.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 334).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle; even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system. Unsupervised chil-
dren in a child restraint system may use ve-
hicle equipment and cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.1BabySmart
TMis a trademark of Siemens Automo-
tive Corp.
iThe system does not deactivate the
side impact air bag and the emergency
tensioning device.
2BabySmart
TMis a trademark of Siemens Automo-
tive Corp.
78 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Blocking of rear window operation
The override switch is located on the driv-
er’s door.
1Override switch
Activating override switch
Slide override switch 1 to the right.
A dot becomes visible. The functions in
the rear are disabled.Deactivating override switch
Slide override switch 1 to the left.
The functions in the rear are enabled
again.
An incorrectly mounted child seat may come
loose during an accident which could result
in serious injury or death to the child.
Damaged or impact damaged child seats or
child seat mounting fittings must be re-
placed.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system.
iOperation of the rear windows with the
switches located in the driver’s door is
still possible.
Warning!
G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children may otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it 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.
83 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(page 331).Switching off the ESP
To improve the vehicle's traction, turn off
the ESP in driving situations where it would
be advantageous to have the drive wheels
spin and thus cut into surfaces for better
grip such as:
starting out on slippery surfaces and in
deep snow in conjunction with snow
chains
in sand or gravel
Warning!
G
The ESP cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.iDistronic* is switched off when ESP is
activated.iThe ESP will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size (
page 404).
!Because of the ESP’s automatic opera-
tion, the engine and ignition must be
shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button* in position0 or1)
when
the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer
the vehicle is being towed with the
front/rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
Warning!
G
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.iDistronic* cannot be activated when
the ESP has been deactivated.
85 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Turn off the engine by means of the
start/stop button (
page 35) on the
gear selector lever.
Open the driver’s door.
The immobilizer is activated.Deactivating
With the SmartKey
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is deactivated.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Start the engine by means of the
start/stop button (
page 35) on the
gear selector lever.
The immobilizer is deactivated.
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens:
a door
the trunk
the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element (a door, for example) is immedi-
ately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle
the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key
someone opens a door from the inside
if the vehicle was locked from the out-
side with the SmartKey
someone opens the trunk lid with the
emergency release button
iIn case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
87 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
With the SmartKey
Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
or
Press the Œ or ‹ button on the
SmartKey.
The alarm is canceled.
With KEYLESS-GO*
Grasp the outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be within 3 ft. (1 m) of the vehicle.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 35).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be inside the vehicle.
The alarm is canceled.
Tow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.Arming tow-away alarm
Lock your vehicle.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about 30 seconds.
Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm,
switch off the tow-away alarm feature be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on
a surface subject to movement, such as a
ferry or auto train.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
by the Tele Aid system (
page 243)
provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated, and
that necessary cellular service and GPS
coverage are available.