Page 31 of 474
29 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Central locking switch
111
2
Hazard warning flasher 
on/off switch
128
3
Central unlocking switch
111
4
Center and side air vent ad-
justment
182
5
COMAND system, see sep-
arate operating instruc-
tions
137
6
Automatic climate control
185
7
Right cup holder
228
8
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button
37
9
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
233
233
a
Left cup holder
228 
     
        
        Page 37 of 474

35 Getting started
Unlocking
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
If your vehicle is equipped with the 
KEYLESS-GO function, your vehicle checks 
whether the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is 
valid when you grasp the door handle. If 
your SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid, 
the doors will unlock and you can open 
them.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the 
KEYLESS-GO function.
Grasp the door handle.
The turn signal lamps flash once. The 
locking knobs on the doors move up. 
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
The SBC brake system is activated.If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is inside 
the vehicle, pressing the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button on the gear selector le-
ver corresponds to turning the SmartKey 
to the various starter switch positions 
(
page 37).
For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 98).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and 
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an 
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the 
vehicle, no further than approx. 3 feet 
(1 meter) away from the door. iIf the vehicle has been parked for more 
than 72 hours, you must pull the out-
side door handle in order to activate 
the KEYLESS-GO function.
iOpening a door causes the windows on 
that side of the car to open slightly. 
They will return to the up-position when 
the door is closed. 
     
        
        Page 39 of 474

37 Getting started
Unlocking
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
You can also use the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey.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 
electronics have the status0 (as with 
SmartKey removed).
Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
This supplies power to some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the 
starter switch, the starter battery may 
not be sufficiently charged.
Check the starter battery and 
charge it if necessary (
page 401).
Get a jump start (
page 406).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the SmartKey from 
the starter switch when the engine is 
not in operation. 
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 40 of 474

38 Getting startedUnlockingIgnition (or Position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power to all electrical 
consumers. All lamps (except high 
beam headlamp indicator lamp and 
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on.
For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 98).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, 
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*” 
(
page 49).
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 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 high beam 
headlamp indicator lamp and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should 
go out when the engine is running. 
     
        
        Page 51 of 474

49 Getting started
Driving
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.KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
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. 
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.
For information on turning off the engine 
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 59).
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 48). Remember that extended 
starting attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 406).
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. 
     
        
        Page 52 of 474

50 Getting startedDrivingParking brake
1Parking brake
2Parking brake release handle
Release the parking brake by pulling on 
handle2.
The indicator lamp;(USA only) or 
3 (Canada only) in the instrument 
cluster goes out. 
Driving
Depress the brake pedal.
Place the gear selector lever in 
positionD orR.
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator 
pedal.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* 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. Children 
could release the parking brake, which 
could result in an accident and/or serious 
injury.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector le-
ver out ofP orN if the engine speed is high-
er than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly 
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accel-
erate quickly forward or in reverse. You 
could lose control of the vehicle and hit 
someone or something. Only shift into gear 
when the engine is idling normally and when 
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
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 damage to the trans-
mission:
Wait for the gear selection process 
to complete before setting the vehi-
cle in motion.
Place the gear selector lever in 
positionD orR only when the vehi-
cle is stopped. 
     
        
        Page 56 of 474

54 Getting startedDrivingSingle wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in 
direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time 
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 past the resistance 
point.
The windshield wipers operate with 
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer 
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system” 
(
page 278).
!If anything blocks the windshield 
wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch 
them off immediately.
For safety reasons,
turn off the engine by turning 
the SmartKey to position 0 and 
withdraw the SmartKey from 
the 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, the starter switch is in po-
sition 0, same as with the 
SmartKey removed from the 
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 switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the 
next higher wiper speed
have the windshield wipers 
checked at the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center 
     
        
        Page 57 of 474

55 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.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as 
soon as possible.The coolant temperature gauge is 
above 248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer 
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible 
and turn off the engine. Allow engine 
and coolant to cool.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 276).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the
major assemblies
fuel system
engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.