2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E WAGON ESP

95 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Note on driving with the SBC

Following extended periods of only
minor loads to your brake system, you
should occasionally apply the brakes
when traveling at high speeds. This
improves the grip of the brake pads.


After driving on wet or snow-covered
roads, you should apply your brakes
firmly before parking your vehicle. This
produces heat which serves to dry the
brake disks and help prevent corro-
sion.


On long and steep grades, shift to a
lower gear (gear range1, 2, or 3) to
prevent the brakes from overheating
and to reduce brake wear.


After hard braking, it is advisable to
drive on for some time so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes fast-
er.


Only Mercedes-Benz approved compo-
nents (e.g. brake pads) should be
installed on your vehicle. Brake pads
not approved by Mercedes-Benz may
impair the safety of your vehicle.Four wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC) with the ESP
Models with all-wheel-drive only.
The 4MATIC improves vehicle’s ability to
use available traction, e.g. during winter
operation in mountains under snowy
conditions, by applying power to all four
wheels.
Warning!
G
Be very careful not to endanger other road
users when you apply the brakes.
Warning!
G
If you see the ESP warning lampv flash-
ing in the speedometer, proceed as follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible


While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP cannot prevent accidents resulting
from excessive speed.

96 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
!
Do not tow with one axle raised.
Otherwise the transfer case can be
damaged, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.!Performance testing must only be con-
ducted on a two-axle dynamometer.
Otherwise the transfer case can be
damaged, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!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.
Active braking action through ESP may
otherwise seriously damage the front
or rear axle brake system.
Operational tests with the engine
running can only be conducted on a
two-axle dynamometer.

98 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsAnti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the tailgate


the hood.
The alarm will stay on, even if the activat-
ing element (a door, for example) is imme-
diately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle.


opening the vehicle with the mechani-
cal key.


someone opens a door from the inside
if the vehicle was locked from the out-
side with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO.Arming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed within approxi-
mately ten seconds after locking the vehi-
cle with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash three times to
indicate that the alarm system is activated.
The indicator lamp in the central locking
switch (
page 27) begins to flash after
arming the alarm system.Disarming the alarm system
The alarm system is disarmed when you
unlock your vehicle with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO*. The turn signal lamps flash
once to indicate that the alarm system is
deactivated.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system* (
page 269) provid-
ed Tele Aid service was subscribed to
and properly activated, and that neces-
sary cellular service and GPS coverage
are available.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not flash
three times, one of the following ele-
ments may not be properly closed:

a door


the tailgate
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.

99 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Canceling 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*

Pull 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 the tow-away alarm
When you lock your vehicle, the tow-away
alarm is automatically armed after about
30 seconds.
When you unlock your vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms automatical-
ly.
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
Tele Aid system* (
page 269), provid-
ed that the Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated, and
that necessary cellular service and GPS
coverage are available.

102 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.Locking and unlocking
For more information on locking and un-
locking, see “Getting started” (
page 32)
and (
page 56).
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key. The locking
tabs for the mechanical key portion of the
two SmartKeys are a different color to help
distinguish each key unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks

the doors


the tailgate


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹ Lock button
2Š Unlock button* for the tailgate
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 86)

115 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Front doors
Pull on door handle2 on the respec-
tive front door to open door.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
Rear doors

Pull up locking knob1 on the respec-
tive rear door to unlock door.

Pull on door handle2 on the respec-
tive rear door to open door.
Opening the tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
A minimum height clearance of 6.76 ft
(2.06 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens.
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance.
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*: to stop the opening proce-
dure, press buttonŠ on the
SmartKey. The tailgate stops moving.iThe tailgate can also be opened using
the Š button on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally when closed (
page 117).
To confirm locking all turn signal lamps
flash three times.

118 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking1Strap in vehicles with folding bench
seat
Pull the tailgate down from the inside of
the vehicle using strap1.
Closing the tailgate from the outside
(vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system* you can close the tailgate sepa-
rately from the outside using the tailgate
closing switch.1Tailgate closing switch

Press tailgate closing switch 1 briefly.
The tailgate closes.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens
slightly.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo
compartment opening when closing the tail-
gate. Be especially careful when small chil-
dren are around.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as visibility
blockage, exhaust fumes may enter the ve-
hicle interior.iTo prevent an inadvertent lockout, do
not place the SmartKey in the cargo
compartment.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
To prevent a possible inadvertent lock-
out, the tailgate will open automatically
if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is rec-
ognized inside the vehicle or in the car-
go compartment.
iYou can also close the tailgate by hand.

119 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate from the outside
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system* you can close the tailgate sepa-
rately from the outside using the tailgate
closing switch.
1Tailgate closing switch
Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you.

Press tailgate closing switch 1 briefly.
The tailgate closes.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:

press the tailgate closing switch1


press the Š button on the SmartKey


pull the remote tailgate switch (on the
driver’s door)
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the remote tailgate switch
can be operated. Therefore, do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as visibility
blockage, exhaust fumes may enter the ve-
hicle interior.iDo not place the SmartKey in the open
cargo compartment. You may lock
yourself out.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it.
To confirm locking all turn signal lamps
flash three times.