Page 6 of 491

Contents
Control system ..................................  153
Multifunction display ....................  153
Multifunction steering wheel ........  154
Menus ..........................................  156
Standard display menu ................  158
AUDIO menu ................................  158
NAV* menu ..................................  160
Distronic* menu...........................  160
Vehicle status message 
memory menu ..............................  161
Settings menu ..............................  162
Trip computer menu.....................  178
TEL menu* ...................................  179
Automatic transmission .....................  183
One-touch gearshifting.................  185
Gear ranges .................................  186
Gear selector lever position .........  187
Automatic shift program ..............  188
Driving tips ...................................  189
Emergency operation 
(Limp Home Mode) ......................  190Good visibility ..................................... 191
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 191
Rear view mirror ........................... 191
Sun visors ..................................... 193
Roller sunblind* in the rear doors . 194
Rear window defroster .................. 195
Dual-zone automatic climate control .. 196
Deactivating the dual-zone 
automatic climate control system. 201
Setting the temperature................ 201
Adjusting air distribution............... 201
Adjusting air volume ..................... 202
Defrosting ..................................... 203
Air recirculation mode .................. 204
Air conditioning............................. 206
Residual heat and ventilation* ...... 2074-zone automatic climate control* .....  208
Deactivating the 4-zone 
automatic climate control system  213
Setting the temperature ...............  214
Adjusting air distribution ..............  214
Adjusting air volume .....................  215
Defrosting ..................................... 215
Maximum cooling MAX COOL .......  216
Air recirculation mode ..................  216
Air conditioning ............................ 218
Residual heat and ventilation .......  219
Rear air conditioning.....................  219
Power windows ..................................  221
Opening and closing the windows  221
Synchronizing power windows ......  223
Summer opening feature ..............  223
Convenience closing feature.........  224
Power tilt / sliding sunroof* ................ 225
Opening and closing the power 
tilt / sliding sunroof .......................  225
Synchronizing the power 
tilt / sliding sunroof .......................  227 
     
        
        Page 29 of 491
28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
265
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button
36
3
Selector lever for automat-
ic transmission
47,
183
4
Adaptive damping system 
(ADS)* switch
244
Item
Page
5
Vehicle level control 
switch*
245
6
Thumbwheel for setting 
distance for Distronic*
239
7
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
240
8
Program mode selector for 
automatic transmission
188 
     
        
        Page 48 of 491

47 Getting started
Driving
Starting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic 
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever 
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see the “Controls in 
detail” section (
page 183). Starting with the SmartKey
For information on turning off the engine 
with the SmartKey, see “Turning off en-
gine” (
page 57).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
to P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position3 and hold until the engine 
starts (
page 34).
Depress the brake pedal.
The selector lever lock is released.
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to 
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon 
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas 
(such as a garage) which are not properly 
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas 
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving, 
have the cause determined and corrected 
immediately. If you must drive under these 
conditions, drive only with at least one win-
dow fully open.
iYou can also use the “touch-start” 
function. Turn the SmartKey to 
position3 and release it again immedi-
ately. The engine then starts automati-
cally. 
     
        
        Page 102 of 491
101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Good visibility
Dual-zone automatic climate control
4-zone automatic climate control*
Power windows
Power tilt / sliding sunroof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features 
     
        
        Page 154 of 491

153 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 or as soon as the 
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* is in 
position1. The control system enables you 
to:
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings.
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next 
due for service, to set the language for 
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Automatic transmission program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever position
Above illustration shows the standard dis-
play. 
For more information on menus displayed 
in the multifunction display, see “Menus” 
(page 156).
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, 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, se-
lecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit 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 (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 184 of 491

183 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an 
automatic transmission, see “Automatic 
transmission” (
page 47).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear 
shifting process to your individual driving 
style by continually adjusting the shift 
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current 
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the 
automatic transmission reacts by 
adjusting its gear shift program.
Gearshift pattern for automatic 
transmission
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:
the gear selector lever 
positionD(
page 187) with 
gear ranges (page 186)
the selected shift program (C/S) 
(page 188) 
the position of the accelerator pedal 
(page 189)
the vehicle speed
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission 
upshifting is delayed. This allows the 
catalytic converter to heat up more 
quickly to operating temperature. 
     
        
        Page 185 of 491

184 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission1Current gear range/gear selector lever 
position
2Current program mode
The current gear range/gear selector lever 
position and program mode (
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 manually
Warning!
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.
!Allow engine to warm up under low 
load use. Do not place full load on the 
engine until the operating temperature 
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking 
positionP only when the vehicle is 
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an 
extended period when driving off on 
slippery road surfaces. This may cause 
serious damage to the drivetrain which 
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz 
Limited Warranty. 
     
        
        Page 186 of 491

185 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
One-touch gearshifting 
Even with an automatic transmission you 
can change the gears manually when the 
gear selector lever is in positionD.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to 
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission will shift from the current 
gear to the next lower gear. This action 
simultaneously limits the gear range of the 
transmission (
page 186).Upshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to 
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current 
gear to the next higher gear as permitted 
by the shift program. This action simul-
taneously extends the gear range of the 
transmission.Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold the gear selector lever 
in theD+direction until
D reappears in 
the multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current 
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range 
Press and hold the gear selector lever 
in theD-direction.
The transmission will automatically select 
the gear range suited for optimal 
acceleration and deceleration. This will 
involve shifting down one or more gears.
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.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when 
the gear selector lever is moved to 
theD-direction, the transmission will 
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s 
max. speed would be exceeded.