2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 shift

Contents
Control system .................................. 145
Multifunction display .................... 145
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 146
Menus .......................................... 148
Standard display menu ................ 150
AUDIO menu ................................ 150
NAV* menu .................................. 152
Distronic* menu........................... 152
Vehicle status message memory
menu ............................................ 153
Settings menu .............................. 154
Trip computer menu..................... 170
TEL menu* ................................... 171
Automatic transmission ..................... 174
One-touch gearshifting................. 176
Gear ranges ................................. 177
Gear selector lever position ......... 178
Automatic shift programm ........... 179
Driving tips ................................... 180
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) E 55 AMG ................. 181
Manual shift program E 55 AMG .. 183
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 185Good visibility ..................................... 186
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 186
Rear view mirrors.......................... 186
Sun visors ..................................... 188
Rear window sunshade* ............... 189
Roller sunblind* in the rear doors . 190
Rear window defroster .................. 191
Dual-zone automatic climate control .. 192
Deactivating the dual-zone
automatic climate control system. 197
Setting the temperature................ 197
Adjusting air distribution............... 198
Adjusting air volume ..................... 198
Defrosting ..................................... 199
Air recirculation mode .................. 199
Air conditioning............................. 201
Residual heat and ventilation*
(available on climate control
panel design A only)...................... 202
Heater booster system
(Diesel engine) .............................. 2034-zone automatic climate control* ..... 204
Deactivating the 4-zone
automatic climate control system 209
Setting the temperature ............... 210
Adjusting air distribution .............. 210
Adjusting air volume ..................... 211
Defrosting ..................................... 211
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 212
Air recirculation mode .................. 212
Air conditioning ............................ 214
Residual heat and ventilation
(available on climate control
panel design A only) ..................... 215
Rear air conditioning..................... 216
Heater booster system
(Diesel engine) .............................. 217
Power windows .................................. 218
Opening and closing the windows 218
Synchronizing power windows ...... 220
Summer opening feature .............. 220
Convenience closing feature......... 221
Power tilt /sliding sunroof* ............... 223
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 223
Synchronizing the power tilt/
sliding sunroof .............................. 225

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
48, 55
2
Hood lock release
303
3
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
40
Heated steering wheel*
270
4
Parking brake release
48
5
Combination switch

Turn signals
51


Windshield wipers
51


High beam
50
6
Door control panel
30
7
Exterior lamp switch
133
Item
Page
8
Headlamp washer button*
186
9
Steering wheel gearshift
control (E55 AMG only)
181
a
Cruise control lever

Cruise control
239


Distronic*
235
b
Instrument cluster
24,
142
c
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
146
d
Horn
e
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
f
Starter switch
34
g
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
250
h
Overhead control panel
29
j
Mobile phone/Glasses box
262
k
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
262
l
Glove box
262
m
Center console
27

46 Getting startedDrivingStarting 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 177). Starting with the SmartKey
For information on turning off the engine
with the SmartKey, see “Turning off en-
gine” (
page 56).
Gasoline engine:

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.

49 Getting started
Driving

Release the parking brake by pulling on
handle2.
The warning lamp ; (USA only) or
3 (Canada only) in the instrument
cluster goes out.Driving

Depress the brake pedal.

Move selector lever to positionDorR.

Release the brake pedal.

Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the automat-
ic central locking system engages and the
locking knobs drop down.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion engages at a higher revolution. This al-
lows the catalytic converter (gasoline
engine) or the oxidation catalyst (Diesel
engine) to reach its operating temperature
earlier.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 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 release the parking brake, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
injury.
iWait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
!If you hear a warning signal and a mes-
sage appears in the multifunction dis-
play when driving off, you have
forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.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.

50 Getting startedDrivingFor more information on driving, see “Driv-
ing instructions” (
page 287).
Switching on headlamps
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
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The low beam headlamp indicator
lampB in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
Push combination switch in direction of
arrow1.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 137).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 133).
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector le-
ver out ofP orN if the engine speed is high-
er than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accel-
erate 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 acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.

56 Getting startedParking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(page 50).
For more information, see the “Controls in
detail” section (
page 133).
Turning off 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 44).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP.
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the road 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
and the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display if
the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not
switched off.

92 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
The SBC brake servo assistance switches
off automatically

approximately two minutes after you
turned the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 or removed the
SmartKey


approximately two minutes after you
pressed the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button to turn off the engine or power
supply and opened the driver’s door
(with driver’s door open, the starter
switch is set to position 0, same as
SmartKey removed from starter
switch)


approximately 20 seconds after you
locked the vehicle from outside
Note on driving with the SBC


Following extended periods of only mi-
nor loads to your brake system, you
should occasionally apply the brakes
when traveling at high speeds. This im-
proves 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 in-
stalled on your vehicle. Brake pads not
approved by Mercedes-Benz may im-
pair the safety of your vehicle.
Warning!
G
Have brake pad replacement and other work
on the SBC brake system carried out by
qualified technicians only. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information. The SBC brake system must be
deactivated prior to working on the system.
High pressure is intermittently built up in the
system as part of its automatic self-test. In
addition, the system is automatically acti-
vated when the vehicle is unlocked by
SmartKey, when the driver or passenger
door is opened, when the starter switch is
turned to position
1, when the brake pedal
is depressed or when the parking brake is
released. Failure to deactivate the system
prior to maintenance will cause brake pis-
tons to extend and brake fluid to leak, which
may result in injuries (contusions and acid
burns). Extended brake pistons may also
cause injury.
Warning!
G
Be very careful not to endanger other road
users when you apply the brakes.

135 Controls in detail
Lighting
Canada only:
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute delay.
When the engine is running, and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps
switch on additionally.


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime run-
ning lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 50).USA only:
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)” (
page 162).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to
positionCorB, the manual head-
lamp mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 50).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the exterior lamp switch
in positionM, the high beam head-
lamps cannot be switched on.
The high beam flasher is available at all
times.