Page 30 of 498
28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
276
277
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button
35
3
Storage compartment
273
4
Program mode selector 
switch for automatic trans-
mission
Automatic shift 
program
Manual shift program 
(CLK 55 AMG)
170
176
5
Gear selector lever for 
automatic transmission
166 
     
        
        Page 35 of 498

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
If your vehicle is equipped with the 
KEYLESS-GO function, your vehicle checks 
whether the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is 
valid when you pull the door handle. If your 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid, the 
doors will unlock, and you can open them.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the 
KEYLESS-GO function.
Pull the door handle.
The turn signal lamps flash once. The 
locking knobs on the doors move up.I f  t he  S m a r t K e y  w i t h  K E Y L E S S - GO  i s  i n s i d e  
the vehicle, pressing the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button on the gear selector le-
ver corresponds to turning the SmartKey 
to the various starter switch positions.
For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 99).
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the 
vehicle, no further than approx. 3 feet 
(1 meter) away from the door.
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.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO 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. 
     
        
        Page 37 of 498

35 Getting started
Unlocking
For more information, see “SmartKey” 
(page 94).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Starting with the 
SmartKey” (
page 47).SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the gear selector lever corresponds 
to turning the SmartKey to the various 
starter positions.
If you firmly depress the brake pedal dur-
ing pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button, the engine starts automatically.
You can also use the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(U.S. vehicles)
2KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(Canada vehicles)
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the 
starter switch, the battery may not be 
sufficiently charged.
Check the battery and charge it if 
necessary (
page 420).
Get a jump start (
page 423).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the SmartKey from 
the starter switch when the engine is 
not in operation.
iThe function of the SmartKey overrules 
the KEYLESS-GO function. 
     
        
        Page 38 of 498

36 Getting startedUnlockingPosition 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board 
electronics have status0 (as with 
SmartKey removed).
Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
This supplies power to some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power to all electrical 
consumers. All the lamps (except low 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and 
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. If a lamp in the instrument cluster 
fails to come on when the ignition is 
switched on, have it checked and re-
placed if necessary. If a lamp in the in-
strument cluster remains on after 
starting the engine or comes on while 
driving, refer to “Lamps in instrument 
cluster” (
page 354).For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 99).
For information on starting the engine 
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, 
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*” 
(
page 47).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button 
once again, the ignition (position2) 
is switched on.
twice, the power supply is again 
switched off.
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except low 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and 
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. This indicates that the respective 
systems are operational. The indicator 
and warning lamps (except low beam 
headlamp indicator lamp, high beam 
headlamp indicator lamp, and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should 
go out when the engine is running. 
     
        
        Page 49 of 498
47 Getting started
Driving
Automatic transmissionGearshift pattern for automatic 
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever 
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic 
transmission” (
page 165).Starting with the SmartKey
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Do not depress accelerator
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position3 (
page 34) and release it 
again immediately (“touch-start”).
The engine then starts automatically.
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine 
with the SmartKey, see (
page 56).Starting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the 
SmartKey in the starter switch using the 
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the 
gear selector lever.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(U.S. vehicles)
2KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(Canada vehicles)
 
     
        
        Page 50 of 498

48 Getting startedDriving
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Do not depress accelerator.
Depress the brake pedal during the 
starting procedure.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
once.
The engine starts automatically if the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in the 
vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine 
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off the en-
gine with KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 57).Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described, 
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the 
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter 
switch to position0 and repeat starting 
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with 
KEYLESS-GO*: Close any doors that 
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*.
Or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as 
radio signals from another source may 
be interfering with the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*.
Repeat the starting procedure 
(page 46).
Remember that extended starting at-
tempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 423).
If the engine does not start after several 
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the 
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
 
     
        
        Page 52 of 498

50 Getting startedDriving
For more information on driving, see “Driv-
ing instructions” (
page 295).
Switching on headlamps
For more information on headlamps, see 
“Lighting” (
page 124).
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the 
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
iWait for the gear selection process to 
complete before setting the vehicle in 
motion.Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector 
lever out ofPorN 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 in 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.!Simultaneously depressing the 
accelerator pedal and applying the 
brake reduces engine performance and 
causes premature brake and drivetrain 
wear.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift 
in order to obtain braking action. This could 
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!Place the gear selector lever in 
positionRorP only when the vehicle is 
stopped in order to avoid damaging the 
transmission.!Do not run cold engine at high engine 
speeds. Running a cold engine at high 
engine speeds may shorten the service 
life of the engine. 
     
        
        Page 55 of 498

53 Getting started
Driving
Intermittent wiping
Turn the combination switch to 
positionI.
Single wipe
Press combination switch briefly in the 
direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time 
without washer fluid.Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Push combination switch in the direc-
tion of arrow1 past the resistance 
point.
The windshield wipers operate with 
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer 
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system*” 
(
page 315).
iThe intermittent wiping is interrupted 
when the vehicle is at a standstill and a 
door is opened.
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off 
immediately.
For safety reasons,
turn off the engine by turning 
the SmartKey to position 0 and 
withdraw SmartKey from starter 
switch
or
turn off the engine by pressing 
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button and open the driver’s 
door (with the driver’s door 
open, starter switch is in posi-
tion 0, same as with SmartKey 
removed from starter switch)
before attempting to remove any 
blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on 
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at 
all in switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the 
next highest wiper speed
have the windshield wipers 
checked at the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center