Page 116 of 474

114 Controls in detailSeats
When entering the vehicle, with the 
easy-entry/exit feature activated, the 
steering wheel or, depending on your se-
lection, the steering wheel and driver’s 
seat will return to their last set memory po-
sition or a factory-set maximum forward 
position when you
close the driver’s door with the ignition 
switched on
insert the SmartKey into the starter 
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO* start 
stop button once with the driver’s door 
closed
iIf the current position for the steering 
wheel is in the uppermost tilt position, 
the steering wheel will no longer be 
able to move upward when the 
easy-entry/exit feature is activated. 
If the current seat position falls into a 
factory-set position range and the sys-
tem recognizes the current seat posi-
tion to be rearward enough for easy 
entry and exit, the driver’s seat will not 
move to the rear when the 
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
iFor safety reasons, the driver’s seat will 
not return to its last set position with 
the easy-entry/exit feature activated if 
the system recognizes the last set posi-
tion as an extreme forward position. In-
stead, the driver’s seat will remain at or 
move to a factory-set maximum for-
ward position. To again fully return the 
driver’s seat to your last set position or 
to memory position, adjust the seat to 
the desired position or press and hold 
the respective memory position button 
(page 120).  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 122 of 474

120 Controls in detailMemory function
With the memory switch you can store up 
to three different settings per SmartKey or 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
The following settings are saved for each 
stored position:
Driver’s seat and backrest position
Steering wheel position
Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror 
position
Passenger side exterior rear view mir-
ror position
These key-dependent memory settings 
can be deactivated if desired 
(
page 158).The memory switch is located on the door.
M Memory button
1, 2, 3 Stored positions
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
or
Open the respective door.
!Prior to operating the vehicle, the driv-
er should check and adjust the seat 
height, seat position fore and aft, and 
seat backrest angle if necessary, to en-
sure adequate control, reach and com-
fort. The head restraint should also be 
adjusted for proper height. See also the 
section on airbags (
page 63) for 
proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to 
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the interior and 
exterior rear view mirrors should be 
adjusted for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small 
children should be seated in a properly 
secured restraint system that complies 
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standard 213.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while 
driving. Activating the memory function 
while driving could cause the driver to lose 
control of the vehicle. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 123 of 474

121 Controls in detail
Memory function
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats, steering wheel and 
exterior rear view mirrors to the de-
sired position (
page 39).
Press memory buttonM.
Release memory button and press a 
stored position button1, 2, or3 within 
three seconds.
All the settings are stored at the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory
On memory switch, press and hold 
stored position button1, 2 or3 until 
the seat, steering wheel and exterior 
rear view mirrors have fully moved to 
the stored positions.Storing exterior rear view mirror 
parking position
For easier parking, you can adjust the 
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror so 
that you can see the right rear wheel as 
soon as you engage reverse gearR.
For information on activating the parking 
position feature, see “Setting parking posi-
tion for exterior rear view mirror” 
(page 158).
iReleasing the button immediately 
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.
iYou can store a parking position for the 
passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror for each SmartKey or SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO*. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 126 of 474

124 Controls in detailLightingManual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking 
lamps can be switched on or off with the 
exterior lamp switch.Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of 
the ambient light:
Low beam headlamps
Tail lamps
Parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
iWith the SmartKey removed from the 
starter switch or the engine turned off 
with KEYLESS-GO* and the driver’s 
door open, a warning sounds if the 
parking lamps or the low beam head-
lamps are switched on. 
The message $ 
Turn off lamps
 
appears in the multifunction display.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode 
activated (mandatory in Canada) and 
the engine running, the low beam head-
lamps cannot be switched off manual-
ly.
To activate the daytime running lamp 
mode, see “Setting daytime running 
lamp mode (USA only)” (
page 152).
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from 
oncoming traffic. 
the headlamps will not be automatically 
switched on under foggy conditions. 
To minimize risk to you and to others, acti-
vate headlamps by turning exterior lamp 
switch to B when driving or when traffic 
and / or ambient lighting conditions require 
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only 
switch from position U to B with the 
vehicle at a standstill. Switching from U 
to B will briefly switch off the head-
lamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient 
lighting conditions may result in an acci-
dent.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an 
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for 
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all 
times. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 127 of 474

125 Controls in detail
Lighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch 
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button pressed once, only 
the parking lamps will switch on and off 
automatically.
When the engine is running, the low 
beam headlamps, the tail and parking 
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the 
side marker lamps will switch on and 
off automatically.Daytime running lamp mode
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low 
beam headlamps are switched on auto-
matically.
In low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly:
Tail lamps
Parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lampsFor nighttime driving you should turn the 
exterior lamp switch to positionB to 
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
iThe fog lamps cannot be switched on 
with the exterior lamp switch in posi-
tion U. To switch on the fog lamps, 
turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion B.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode 
activated and the exterior lamp switch 
in positionM, the highbeam head-
lamps cannot be switched on.
The highbeam flasher is available at all 
times. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 130 of 474

128 Controls in detailLightingCombination switch
The combination switch is located on the 
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch toB 
or toU (
page 123).
Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high 
beam headlamps.
The high beam indicator lamp A in 
the instrument cluster comes on.
Pull the combination switch in direction 
of arrow 2 to its original position to 
switch off the high beam headlamps.
The high beam indicator lamp A in 
the instrument cluster goes out.
High beam flasher 
Pull the combination switch briefly in 
direction of arrow2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be 
switched on at all times, even with the 
SmartKey removed from the starter switch 
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on au-
tomatically when an airbag deploys.
The switch is located on the dashboard be-
tween the center air vents.
1Hazard warning flasher switch 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 131 of 474

129 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on the hazard warning 
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher 
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off the hazard warning 
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1 
again.
Interior lighting
1Left reading lamp
2Right reading lamp
3Interior lighting on/off
4Slide switch for interior lighting controlAutomatic control 
Activating
Slide switch4 to the left.
Interior lamps are switched on in dark-
ness when you 
unlock the vehicle
open a door
remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch
open the trunk
In addition, the entry/exit lamps in the 
door trays will come on when you open 
a door.
The interior lamps are switched off af-
ter a preset time (
page 155).
iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set 
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective turn signals will operate when 
the ignition is switched on.iIf the hazard warning flasher was 
switched on automatically because of 
an airbag that has deployed, press haz-
ard warning flasher switch 1 once to 
switch it off.
iIf the door remains open, the interior 
lamps switch off automatically after ap-
proximately five minutes. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 132 of 474

130 Controls in detailLightingDeactivating
Slide switch4 to the right.
The interior lighting and the entry/exit 
lamps remain switched off in darkness, 
even when you
unlock the vehicle
open a door
remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch
open the trunkManual control
Switching lamps on
Press switch3.
The interior lighting switches on.
Switching lamps off
Press switch3 again.
The interior lighting switches off.
Courtesy lighting
For better orientation in the dark, courtesy 
lamps will illuminate the interior of your ve-
hicle as follows:
With parking lamps switched on:
the door handles
the driver and passenger footwells
With SmartKey in starter switch position1:
the door handles
the center console
iThe setting selected for the interior 
lighting is used for the trunk lighting as 
well. 
If you leave the trunk lid open for an ex-
tended period of time, the trunk light-
ing will switch off automatically after 
approximately ten minutes.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter 
switch to position0 and switch off the 
exterior headlamps, the door handle 
lamps will remain lit for approximately 
five minutes.