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 37 of 506

35 Getting started
Unlocking
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 switch positions.
If you firmly depress the brake pedal dur-
ing pressing KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton, the engine starts automatically.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
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.
Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO start/ 
stop button, the vehicle's on-board elec-
tronics have status 0 (as with SmartKey re-
moved).Position 1 
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
once.
This supplies power to some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.
iThe function of the SmartKey overrules 
the KEYLESS-GO function.
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. 
     
        
        Page 38 of 506

36 Getting startedUnlockingIgnition (or position 2)
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
twice.
This supplies power to all electrical 
consumers. All 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, see “Lamps in instrument clus-
ter” (
page 356).For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, 
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*” 
(
page 47).
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 506

47 Getting started
Driving
Diesel engine:
M a k e  s u r e  t h e  g e a r  s e l e c t o r  l e v e r  i s  s e t  
to P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position2 (
page 34).
The preglow indicator lampq in the 
instrument cluster comes on.
As soon as the preglow indicator 
lampq goes out, turn the SmartKey 
in the starter switch to position3 
(page 34) and release it.
The engine starts automatically.
Depress the brake pedal.
The selector lever lock is released.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.
For information on turning off the engine 
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 57).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada onlyGasoline engine:
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Depress the brake pedal during the 
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button1 once.
The engine starts automatically if the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in the 
vehicle.
Diesel engine:
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Depress the brake pedal during the 
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button1 once.
iIf the engine is at operating tempera-
ture, the preglow indicator lampq 
may not stay on and you can start the 
engine without preglowing.
 
     
        
        Page 50 of 506

48 Getting startedDriving
The engine begins to preglow and will 
start automatically.
If the engine is at operating temperature, 
the preglow indicator lampq may not 
stay on and you can start the engine with-
out preglowing:
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button1 until the engine is running.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 attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 436).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.
Parking brake 
1Parking brake pedal
2Parking brake release handle
 
     
        
        Page 55 of 506

53 Getting started
Driving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires
An ignition cable may be damaged.
The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.
Unburned gasoline may have entered 
the catalytic converter and damaged it 
(Gasoline engine only).
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as 
soon as possible.
!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 position0 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 
position0, 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 combination switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the 
next highest wiper speed
have the windshield wipers 
checked at the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center 
     
        
        Page 59 of 506

57 Getting started
Parking and locking
After exiting the vehicle press the lock 
button‹ on the SmartKey 
(page 32).
All turn signal lamps flash three times. 
The locking knobs on the doors move 
down. The anti-theft alarm system is 
armed.For more information, see the “Controls in 
detail” section (
page 98).
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 
Place the gear selector lever inP.
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton to shut off the engine.
With the driver's door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the 
driver’s door opened, the starter switch 
is set to position0, same as SmartKey 
removed from starter switch 
(page 33).
Press the seat belt release button 
(page 44).
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always 
keep hands and fingers away from the door 
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are 
around.
Before closing doors, make sure that there 
is no possibility of someone getting caught 
in a door during closing.
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 may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
!If you hear a warning signal, you have 
either
forgotten to switch off the vehicle’s 
exterior lamps before opening the 
driver’s door,
or
tried to turn off the engine while the 
gear selector lever is not inP.
Turn off the lights or place the gear se-
lector lever inP.
 
     
        
        Page 81 of 506

79 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Self-test Occupant Classification Sys-
tem
After turning the SmartKey in the starter 
switch to position1 or2 or pressing the 
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once or 
twice, the 75 indicator lamp1 
located in the center console illuminates. If 
an adult occupant is properly sitting on the 
front passenger seat and the system sens-
es the occupant as being an adult, the 
75 indicator lamp will illuminate 
and go out after approximately six sec-
onds. 
If the seat is not occupied and the system 
senses the front passenger seat as being 
empty, the 75 indicator lamp will 
illuminate and not go out. For more information, see the “Practical 
hints” section (
page 374).
Do not place objects under and / or 
around the front passenger seat.
Do not hang anything from or attach any 
items to the seats.
Do not stuff objects such as books be-
tween the middle console and the front 
passenger seat.
Do not move the front passenger seat 
backwards against stiff objects.
Sit properly belted in a nearly upright 
position with your back against the seat 
backrest.
Do not lean on the armrests or lift your-
self from the seat by using the handle 
over the door as this may cause the OCS 
to be unable to correctly approximate 
the occupant weight category.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced 
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Read and observe all warnings in this 
chapter.
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamp should not illuminate, 
the system is not functioning. You must see 
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center before 
seating any child on the front passenger 
seat.Warning!
G
Never place anything between seat cushion 
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces 
the effectiveness of the Occupant Classifi-
cation System. The bottom of the child seat 
must make full contact with the passenger 
seat cushion. An incorrectly mounted child 
seat could cause injuries to the child in case 
of an accident, instead of increasing protec-
tion for the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for 
installation of child seats.