Page 144 of 506

142 Controls in detailInstrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 24).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you
open a door
turn on the ignition
press the reset button (
page 24)
switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 157).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button (
page 24) to adjust
the illumination brightness for the instru-
ment cluster.
To brighten illumination
Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster clockwise (
page 24).
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.To dim illumination
Turn the reset button in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise (
page 24).
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.
Page 145 of 506

143 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature indicator
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tempera-
ture may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 145).
If it is not displayed, press the è or
ÿ repeatedly until the trip odome-
ter appears.
Press and hold the reset button on the
instrument cluster (
page 24) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
iExcessive coolant temperature trigger
a warning in the multifunction display
(page 361).
Page 147 of 506

145 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 148).
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 148 of 506

146 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system
(page 145) are controlled by the buttons
on the multifunction steering wheel.Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under
Audio
, for example). These
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your
vehicle.
1
Multifunction display in the speed-
ometerOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting
the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a calltto end a call
4
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display
Page 149 of 506
147 Controls in detail
Control system
It is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being ar-
ranged in a circular pattern.
If you press buttonè orÿ re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
menu one after the other.
If you press buttonk orj re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
function display, one after the other, in
the current menu.In the
Settings
menu, instead of functions
you will find a number of submenus for
calling up and changing settings. For in-
structions on using these submenus, see
the “Settings menu” section (
page 154).
The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in you vehicle.The menus are described on the following
pages.
Page 152 of 506

150 Controls in detailControl systemStandard display menu
You can select the functions in the stan-
dard display menu with buttonk
orj.
The following functions are available:Display digital speedometer
Press buttonj twice.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
Audio
menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently turned
on, the message
AUDIO off
is shown in the
display.
The following functions are available:Select radio station
Turn on the radio. Refer to separate op-
erating instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the display.
1Waveband setting
2Station frequency
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired station is found.
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
Function
Page
Call up digital speedometer
150
Call up maintenance display
343
Check tire pressure*
322
Check engine oil level
305
Function
Page
Select radio station
150
Select satellite radio station*
151
Operate CD player
151
Page 153 of 506

151 Controls in detail
Control system
Select satellite radio station*
The satellite radio is treated as a radio ap-
plication.
Select SAT radio with the correspond-
ing softkey in the radio menu.
1SAT mode and preset number
2Setting for station selection using
memory
3Channel name or number
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired channel is found.Operate the CD player
Turn on the radio and select the CD
player. Refer to separate operating in-
structions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played are shown in the display.
1Current CD (for CD changer*)
2Current track
Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
iYou can only store new stations using
the corresponding feature on the radio,
see separate operating instructions.
You can also operate the radio in the
usual manner.
iAdditional optional satellite radio
equipment and a subscription to satel-
lite radio service provider are required
for satellite radio operation. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
details and availability for your vehicle.
For more information, refer to separate
COMAND operating instructions.
iTo select a CD from the magazine,
press a number on the COMAND
system SmartKey pad located in the
center console.
Page 154 of 506

152 Controls in detailControl systemNAV* menu
The
Nav
menu contains the functions
needed to operate your navigation system.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the message
NAV
in the
display.
If the navigation system is switched off,
the message
NAV off
is shown in the
display.
If the navigation system is switched on,
the message
NAV Active
is shown in
the display.
Please refer to the COMAND manual for in-
structions on how to activate the route
guidance system.
Distronic* menu
Use the Distronic menu to display the cur-
rent settings for your Distronic system.
What information is shown in the display
depends on whether the Distronic system
is active or inactive.
Please refer to the “Driving systems” sec-
tion of this manual (
page 235) for in-
structions on how to activate Distronic.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following two
pictures in the display.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard display in the display.
1Vehicle ahead, if detected
2Actual distance to vehicle ahead
3Preset distance threshold to vehicle
ahead
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
function