Page 142 of 474

140 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).
1Reset buttonJ 
The instrument cluster is activated when 
you:
open a door
turn on the ignition
press the reset buttonJ1
switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of 
the control system (
page 163).
Instrument cluster illumination
1Knob for adjusting instrument cluster 
illumination
Use knob1 to adjust the illumination 
brightness for the instrument cluster.
Press knob1. 
The knob will pop out.
To brighten illumination
Turn knob1 in the instrument cluster 
clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn knob1 in the instrument cluster 
counterclockwise.
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 143 of 474

141 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature gauge
During severe operating conditions, 
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C), 
i.e. close to the red zone of the tempera-
ture gauge.
The engine should not be operated with 
the coolant temperature above 248°F 
(120°C), i.e. in the red zone of the coolant 
temperature gauge. Doing so may cause 
serious engine damage which is not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip 
odometer display.
If it is not displayed, press the è or 
ÿ button on the multifunction 
steering wheel repeatedly until the trip 
odometer appears (
page 143).
Press and hold reset buttonJ 
(page 140) until the trip odometer is 
reset.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which 
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously 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 triggers 
a warning in the multifunction display 
(page 359). 
     
        
        Page 144 of 474

142 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply 
is interrupted if the engine is operated 
within the red marking.
S 55 AMG
The tachometer of the S 55 AMG does not 
have a red marking denoting excessive en-
gine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply 
is interrupted if the engine is operated at 
an excessive engine speed.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in 
the instrument cluster (
page 24). For in-
formation on how to select the unit of the 
displayed temperature, i.e. degrees 
Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F), 
see “Selecting temperature display mode” 
(
page 163).
The temperature sensor is located in the 
front bumper area. Due to its location, the 
sensor can be affected by road or engine 
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-ature can only be verified by comparison to 
a thermometer placed next to the sensor, 
not by comparison to external displays 
(e.g. bank signs, etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your 
garage), you will notice a delay before the 
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat 
radiated from the engine during idling or 
slow driving.
Clock
The time is indicated in the instrument 
cluster in the tachometer display.
You can adjust the clock using the 
COMAND system. Refer to separate 
COMAND operating instructions.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine 
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and 
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy, 
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. 
     
        
        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 160 of 474

158 Controls in detailControl systemFuel consumption since last reset
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until you see the first function of the 
trip computer menu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see this message in the dis-
play: 
AFTER RESET
.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average fuel consumption since last re-
set
4Average speed since last resetResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until you see the first function of the 
Trip computer menu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see the reading that you want 
to reset in the display.
Press and hold the reset buttonJ in 
the instrument cluster (
page 140) 
until the value is reset to 0.Call up range (distance to empty)
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until you see the first function of the 
Trip computer menu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until you see this message in the dis-
play: 
RANGE
.
In the display you will see the calculat-
ed range based on the current fuel tank 
level. 
     
        
        Page 162 of 474

160 Controls in detailControl systemSettings menu
In the 
SETTINGS
 menu there are two func-
tions:
The function 
TO  RESET PRESS R BUT-
TON FOR 3 SEC.
, with which you can re-
set all settings to the original factory 
settings.
A collection of submenus with which 
you can make individual settings for 
your vehicle.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until the 
SETTINGS
 menu appears in the 
multifunction display.The following settings and submenus are 
available:Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all sub-
menus to the factory settings.
Press the reset buttonJ in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 140) for approxi-
mately three seconds.
In the multifunction display you will see 
the request to press the reset 
buttonJ again to confirm.
Press the reset buttonJ again.
The functions of all the submenus will 
reset to factory settings.
Function
Page
Resetting all settings
160
Submenus in the Settings menu
161
Resetting the functions of a sub-
menu
161
Instrument cluster submenu
163
Lighting submenu
164
Vehicle submenu
168
Convenience submenu
169
iThe settings you have changed will not 
be reset unless you confirm the action 
by pressing the reset buttonJ a sec-
ond time.
Due to safety reasons, resetting all of 
the settings while driving will not reset 
all of the values in the 
LIGHTING
 or the 
VEHICLE
 menu. 
     
        
        Page 164 of 474
162 Controls in detailControl systemThe table below shows what settings can 
be changed within the various menus. De-
tailed instructions on making individual 
settings can be found on the following pag-
es.INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
LIGHTING
VEHICLE
CONVENIENCE
Select temperature display 
mode
Set daytime running lamp mode 
(USA only)
Set automatic locking
Set key-dependency
Select multifunction display 
mode
Set locator lighting
Limiting opening height of trunk 
lid*
Activate easy-entry/exit feature
Select language
Exterior lamps delayed shut-off
Set parking position for exterior 
rear view mirror
Select tire inflation pressure 
unit
Interior lighting delayed shut-off
Set fold-in function for exterior 
rear view mirrorsAdjusting the drive-dynamic 
seat