Page 21 of 474

19 Introduction
Vehicle data recording
Vehicle data recording
Information regarding electronic recording devices 
(Including notice pursuant to California Code § 9951)
Please note that your vehicle is equipped with devices that can record vehicle systems data and, if equipped with the Tele Aid system, 
may transmit some data in certain accidents.
This information helps, for example, to diagnose vehicle systems after a collision and to continuously improve vehicle safety. 
DaimlerChrysler may access the information and share it with others 
for safety research or vehicle diagnosis purposes
with the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee
in response to an official request by law enforcement or other government agency
for use in dispute resolution involving DaimlerChrysler, its affiliates or sales/service organization and/or
as otherwise required or permitted by law.
Please check the Tele Aid subscription service agreement for details regarding the information that may be recorded or transmitted 
via that system.  
     
        
        Page 51 of 474

49 Getting started
Driving
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 shifts at a higher engine revolution. 
This allows the catalytic converter to reach 
its operating temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 273).
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.!In order to avoid damaging the trans-
mission,
wait for the gear selection process 
to complete before setting the vehi-
cle in motion.
place the gear selector lever in 
positionR only when the vehicle is 
stopped.
!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.!Do not run cold engine at high engine 
speeds. Running a cold engine at high 
engine speeds may shorten the service 
life of the engine.
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes 
premature brake and drivetrain wear.iYou can open a locked door from the 
inside. Open doors only when condi-
tions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system 
(page 168). 
     
        
        Page 89 of 474

87 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a 
visual and audible alarm is triggered when 
someone opens:
a door
the trunk
the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating 
element (a door, for example) is immedi-
ately closed.The alarm system will also be triggered 
when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle
the vehicle is opened with the 
mechanical key
someone opens a door from the inside 
if the vehicle was locked from the out-
side with the SmartKey
someone opens the trunk lid with the 
emergency release buttonArming the alarm system
The indicator lamp located in the central 
locking switch in on the upper part of the 
front center console.
1Indicator lamp
Lock your vehicle.
The turn signal lamps flash three times 
to indicate that the alarm system is ac-
tivated. The indicator lamp1 flashes 
to indicate that the alarm system is 
armed.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than 
30 seconds, a call to the Response 
Center is initiated automatically by the 
by the Tele Aid system (
page 255) 
provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated, and 
that necessary cellular service and GPS 
coverage are available. 
     
        
        Page 91 of 474
89 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Tow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual 
and audible alarm will be triggered when 
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.Arming tow-away alarm
Lock your vehicle.
The tow-away alarm is automatically 
armed after about 30 seconds.Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm, 
switch off the tow-away alarm feature be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking on 
a surface subject to movement, such as a 
ferry or auto train.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than 
30 seconds, a call to the Response 
Center is initiated automatically by the 
by the Tele Aid system (
page 255) 
provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated and 
that necessary cellular service and GPS 
coverage are available. 
     
        
        Page 145 of 474

143 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 
(page 35) 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
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
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 149 of 474
147 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Standard dis-
play
Menu2
AUDIO
Menu3
Telephone*
Menu4
NAVI
Menu5
Distronic*
Menu6
Trip computer
Menu7
Vehicle status 
message memory
Menu8
Settings
(page 148)
(page 148)
(page 153)
(page 155)
(page 156)
(page 157)
(page 159)
(page 160)
Commands/submenusCall up mainte-
nance service 
display
Select radio 
station 
Load phone 
book
Activate 
route guid-
ance
Call up set-
tings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics 
after start
Call up vehicle mal-
function, warning 
and system status 
messages stored in 
memory
Reset to fac-
tory settings
Check tire in-
flation pres-
sure*
Select satellite 
radio station* 
(USA only)
Search for 
name in 
phone book
Fuel consump-
tion statistics 
since the last 
reset
Instrument 
cluster 
submenu
Check engine 
oil level
Select CD 
track
Select 
number last 
dialed
Call up range
Lighting 
submenu
Digital speed-
ometer
Select MP3-CD 
track
Vehicle 
submenuConvenience 
submenu 
     
        
        Page 150 of 474

148 Controls in detailControl system
Standard 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 the j or k button repeat-
edly until you see the digital speedom-
eter appear in the multifunction 
display.
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 
multifunction display.
The following functions are available:
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 maintenance service 
display
329
Check tire inflation pres-
sure*
307
Check engine oil level
288
Call up digital speedometer 
148
Function
Page
Select radio station
149
Select satellite radio* station 
(USA only)
149
Select CD track
150
Select MP3-CD track
150 
     
        
        Page 151 of 474

149 Controls in detail
Control system
Select radio station
Turn on the radio. Refer to separate 
COMAND operating instructions.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the multifunction display.
1Waveband
2Station frequency
Press buttonk orj repeatedly 
until the desired station is found.Select satellite radio* station 
(USA only)
The satellite radio is treated as a radio ap-
plication.
Select satellite radio with the corre-
sponding key on the COMAND control 
panel (SAT).
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until you see the currently tuned sta-
tion in the multifunction display.
1SAT mode and preset number
2Channel name or number
Press buttonk orj repeatedly 
until the desired channel is found.
iYou can only store new stations using 
the corresponding feature on the radio. 
Refer to separate COMAND 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.