Page 25 of 506
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 
     
        
        Page 27 of 506

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal indi-
cator lamp
2
vABS/ ESP warning 
lamp
357
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
145
5
lDistance warning 
lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*: 
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates with the 
ignition on. It should go out 
when the engine is running.
361
6
KRight turn signal indi-
cator lamp
7
Coolant temperature indi-
cator with:•Coolant temperature 
warning lamp
361
Item
Page
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental Re-
straint System 
indicator lamp
 364
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator 
lamp
356
362
BLow beam headlamp 
indicator lamp
50
AHigh beam headlamp 
indicator lamp
137
9
Main odometer with:
Selector lever position
46
Program mode
179
a
Clock with:
159
;Brake warning lamp, 
USA only
358
3Brake warning lamp, 
Canada only
358
Item
Page
?Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp, USA 
only
359
±Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp, Cana-
da only
359
HTire inflation pres-
sure warning lamp*
363
qPreglow indicator 
lamp, Diesel engine 
only
47
b
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warning 
lamp
362
c
Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer
143
Adjusting instrument 
cluster illumination
142
Confirming new time set-
tings
159 
     
        
        Page 28 of 506
26 At a glanceMultifunction steering wheel
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display in 
speedometer
145
Operating control sys-
tem
146
2
Selecting the submenu or 
setting the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a call
to dial a calltto end a call
to reject an incom-
ing call
Item
Page
4
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
5
Moving within a menu: 
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display 
     
        
        Page 29 of 506
27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Dual-zone automatic cli-
mate control
192
4-zone automatic climate 
control*
204
2
COMAND system, see sep-
arate operating instruc-
tions
3
Seat heating*, front pas-
senger side
127
Seat ventilation*, front 
passenger side
128
4
Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP) control switch
89
5
Central locking switch
119
Item
Page
6
Opening/closing button 
for storage tray or CD 
changer*, see separate op-
erating instructions
263
7
Rear seat head restraints 
switch, folding down
124
8
Rear window sunshade 
switch*
89
9
Seat heating*, driver’s side
127
Seat ventilation*, driver’s 
side
128
a
Hazard warning flasher 
switch
138
b
Front passenger front air 
bag off indicator lamp 
78 
     
        
        Page 30 of 506
28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
268
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button
35
3
Selector lever for 
automatic transmission
46,
178
4
Parking assist (Parktronic 
system)* deactivation 
switch
250
5
Adaptive damping system 
(ADS)* switch
247
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control 
switch*
248
7
Thumbwheel for setting 
distance in Distronic*
242
8
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
243
9
Program mode selector 
switch for automatic trans-
mission
179 
     
        
        Page 31 of 506
29 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Rear interior lighting 
on/off
139
2
Automatic interior lighting
139
3
Front interior lighting 
on/off
139
4
Temperature sensor 
5
Right reading lamp on/off
139
6
Tilt/sliding sunroof* or 
tilt/sliding panel*
223,
226
Item
Page
7
Tele Aid (emergency call 
system) button
271
8
Rear view mirror
186
9
Reading lamps
139
a
Garage door opener
279
b
Tow-away alarm button
95
c
Ambient lighting
165
d
Interior lighting
e
Left reading lamp on/off
139 
     
        
        Page 34 of 506

32 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an 
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions.
If you are already familiar with the basic 
functions described here, the “Controls in 
detail” section will provide you with further 
information. The corresponding page refer-
ences are located at the end of each seg-
ment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 84)
Press unlock button Œ on the 
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The ve-
hicle unlocks. The locking knobs in the 
doors move up. The anti-theft alarm 
system is disarmed.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey 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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause 
an accident and/or serious personal injury.iThe SBC brake system is activated 
(page 90). 
     
        
        Page 35 of 506

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Get in the vehicle and insert the 
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and 
unlocking” (
page 98). 
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
With KEYLESS-GO you can open and start 
your vehicle without using the buttons on 
the SmartKey.
Pull the outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The ve-
hicle unlocks. The locking knobs on the 
doors move up. The anti-theft alarm 
system is disarmed.
Get in the vehicle.
For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 102).
Starter switch positions
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the 
vehicle, no further than approximately 
3 feet (1 meter) away from the door. 
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.iThe SBC brake system is activated 
(page 90).
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. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may 
cause an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.