Page 127 of 474

126 Controls in detailLightingDeactivating 
Press the= symbol on rocker 
switch3.
The interior lighting remains switched 
off, even when you
unlock the vehicle
open a door 
remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch
Manual control
Switching all front interior lights on and 
off
Press theW symbol on rocker 
switch3.
The front interior lights come on.
Press rocker switch3 to center 
position to activate the automatic 
control.Switching rear interior lights on and off
Press buttonV.
The lights in the rear passenger 
compartment come on.
Press buttonV again.
The lights in the rear passenger 
compartment go out.
Switching front reading lamp on and off
Press right or left buttonX.
The right reading lamp comes on.
Press right or left buttonX again.
The right reading lamp goes out.
Door entry lamps
The appropriate door entry lamp switches 
on if a door is opened in darkness and if 
the interior lighting is switched to auto-
matic function.
The entry lamp switches off automatically 
when the door is closed.Trunk lamp
The trunk lamp switches on if the trunk is 
opened.
If you leave the trunk open for an extended 
period of time, the trunk lamp will switch 
off automatically after approximately 
10 minutes.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter 
switch to position0 and switch off the 
exterior headlamps, the door entry 
lamps will remain lit for approximately 
5minutes. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 131 of 474

130 Controls in detailControl systemThe control system is activated as soon as 
the SmartKey in the starter switch is 
turned to position1. The control system 
enables you to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control 
system to find out when your vehicle is 
next due for service, to set the language 
for messages in the instrument cluster 
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Current program mode (automatic 
transmission*)
4Current gear selector lever 
position/gear range (automatic trans-
mission*)
5Digital clock
6Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
iThe displays for the audio systems 
(radio, 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, 
selecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions 
permit 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 
(approximately 14 m) every second. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 141 of 474

140 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be 
displayed in the order in which they 
have occurred. For malfunction and 
warning messages, see “Vehicle status 
messages in the multifunction display” 
(page 358).
Should the vehicle’s system record any 
conditions while driving, the number of 
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display when the SmartKey in the 
starter switch is turned to position0 or 
removed from the starter switch.
Settings menu
In the 
Settings
 menu there are two 
functions:
The function 
Reset to factory 
settings
, with which you can reset all 
the 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.Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of all 
submenus to the factory settings.
Press the reset button in the 
instrument cluster (
page 127) for 
approximately 3 seconds.
The request to press the reset button 
once more to confirm appears in the 
multifunction display.
Press the reset button once more.
The functions of all the submenus will 
reset to factory settings.
iThe vehicle status message memory 
will be cleared when you turn the 
SmartKey in the starter switch to 
position1 or2. You will then only see 
high-priority messages in the multi-
function display (
page 358). 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 151 of 474

150 Controls in detailControl system
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to select 
manual operation (
Manual
) or daytime 
running lamp mode (
Constant
) 
activated.
With daytime running lamp mode activated 
and the exterior lamp switch in 
positionM orU, the low beam 
headlamps are switched on when the 
engine is running.In low ambient light conditions the 
following lamps will switch on additionally:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime 
running lamp mode, see “Lighting” 
(
page 118).Set locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated 
and the exterior lamp switch in 
positionU, the following lamps will 
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked with the SmartKey:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the 
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking 
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps 
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with 
buttonæ orç to the 
Lighting
 
submenu.
iFor safety reasons, resetting the set-
tings to factory settings (
page 140) 
while driving will not deactivate the 
daytime running lamp mode.
The following message appears in the 
multifunction display:
Lighting - Cannot be completely 
reset to factory sets. while 
driving.
 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 153 of 474

152 Controls in detailControl system
Press buttonæ orç to switch 
the delayed shut-off feature 
off
 or 
on.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionU before turning off the 
engine (
page 118).
The headlamps delayed shut-off 
feature is activated.
You can temporarily deactivate the 
delayed shut-off feature:
Before exiting the vehicle, turn the 
SmartKey in the starter switch to 
position0.
Then turn it to position2 and back to 
position0.
The delayed shut-off feature is 
deactivated. It will reactivate as soon 
as you reinsert the SmartKey in the 
starter switch.Set interior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether or not the 
interior lighting to remains lit during dark-
ness for appriximately 10 seconds after 
you have removed the SmartKey from the 
starter switch.
Move the selection marker with 
buttonæ orç to the 
Lighting 
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the message 
Int. light delay 
off
 appears in the multifunction 
display.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch 
the delayed shut-off feature 
off
 or 
on.
Vehicle submenu
Access the 
Vehicle
 submenu via the 
Settings
 menu. Use the 
Vehicle
 submenu 
to make general vehicle settings.
The following function is available:
Set automatic locking
Use this function to activate or deactivate 
the automatic central locking. With the 
automatic central locking system 
activated, the vehicle is centrally locked at 
vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph 
(15 km/h).
Move the selection marker with 
buttonæ orç to the 
Vehicle
 
submenu.
Function
Page
Set automatic locking
152
 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 156 of 474
155 Controls in detail
Control system
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up 
statistical data on your vehicle.
The following information is available:Fuel consumption statistics after start
Press buttonÿ orè repeatedly 
until the first function of the trip 
computer menu appears in the 
multifunction display.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly 
until the message 
After start
 appears 
in the multifunction display.
1Distance driven since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average speed since start
4Average fuel consumption since start
Function
Page
Fuel consumption statistics after 
start
155
Fuel consumption statistics 
since last reset
156
Distance to empty
156
iAll statistics stored since the last 
engine start will be reset approximately 
4 hours after the SmartKey in the 
starter switch is turned to position0 or 
removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the 
SmartKey back to position1 or2 
within this time period. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 161 of 474

160 Controls in detailManual transmissionManual transmission is standard 
equipment on select models and not 
available on all models.
For information on driving with a manual 
transmission, see “Manual transmission” 
(page 48).
Warning!
G
For vehicles equipped with a manual trans-
mission, getting out of your vehicle with the 
gearshift lever not engaged in first or 
reverse gear and parking brake engaged is 
dangerous.
Also, when parked on an incline, an engaged 
first or reverse gear alone may not prevent 
your vehicle from moving, possibly hitting 
people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to 
engaging first or reverse gear (
page 58).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels 
towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where 
combustible materials such as grass, hay or 
leaves can come into contact with the hot 
exhaust system, as these materials could be 
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey 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 move the gearshift lever, which could 
result in an accident and/or serious injury.Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift 
in order to obtain braking action. This could 
result in drive wheel slip and reduced 
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not 
prevent this type of loss of control. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 165 of 474

164 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission*Gear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position 
Gear selector lever position 
when the vehicle is parked. Place 
gear selector lever in positionP 
only when vehicle is stopped. 
The park position is not intended 
to serve as a brake when the 
vehicle is parked. Rather, the 
driver should always set the 
parking brake in addition to 
placing the gear selector lever in 
positionP to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be 
removed from the starter switch 
with the gear selector lever in 
positionP. With the SmartKey 
removed, the gear selector lever 
is locked in positionP.
If the vehicle’s electrical system 
is malfunctioning, the gear 
selector lever could remain 
locked in positionP 
(page 392).
í
Reverse gear 
Place gear selector lever in 
positionR only when vehicle is 
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the 
engine to the drive axle. When 
the brakes are released, the 
vehicle can be moved freely 
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while 
driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or 
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever toN 
only if the vehicle is in danger of 
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive 
The transmission shifts 
automatically. All forward gears 
are available.