Contents
Loading .............................................. 248
Roof rack* .................................... 248
Ski sack (Canada only) ................. 249
Split rear bench seat .................... 252
Loading instructions ..................... 254
Cargo tie-down rings* .................. 255
Useful features .................................. 256
Storage compartments................. 256
Cup holders .................................. 258
Ashtrays ....................................... 260
Cigarette lighter ........................... 262
Power outlet ................................. 263
Telephone*................................... 263
Tele Aid* ...................................... 264
Garage door opener ..................... 273
Operation......................................... 281
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 282
Driving instructions............................ 283
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 283
Drinking and driving ..................... 283
Pedals .......................................... 283
Power assistance ......................... 283
Brakes .......................................... 284
Driving off .................................... 285
Parking ......................................... 285
Tires ............................................. 286
Hydroplaning ................................ 287
Tire traction.................................. 287
Tire speed rating .......................... 288
Winter driving instructions ........... 288
Standing water ............................. 289
Passenger compartment .............. 290
Driving abroad.............................. 290
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 290
Catalytic converter ....................... 291
Emission control .......................... 291
Coolant temperature .................... 292At the gas station .............................. 293
Refueling ...................................... 293
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 294
Engine compartment ......................... 297
Hood ............................................ 297
Engine oil ..................................... 298
Transmission fluid level ................ 301
Coolant level ................................ 301
Battery ......................................... 303
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 304
Tires and wheels................................ 305
Important guidelines .................... 305
Tire care and maintenance........... 306
Direction of rotation..................... 308
Loading the vehicle ...................... 308
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 315
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 317
Tire labeling ................................. 321
Load identification ....................... 325
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 326
Maximum tire load ....................... 327
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 328
33 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positions SmartKey
Starter switch
0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.
1Power supply for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except low beam headlamp
indicator lamp, high beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (page 350).
3Starting position
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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
34 Getting started
Unlocking
i
When you switch on ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except
low beam headlamp indicator lamp,
high beam headlamp indicator lamp,
and turn signal indicator lamps unless
activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp indi-
cator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps if activated) will go out when the
engine is running. This indicates that
the respective systems are operational.
i
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.
!
If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.
Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 411).
Get a jump start (page 415).
To prevent accelerated vehicle battery
discharge or a completely discharged
battery, always remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch when the en-
gine is not in operation.
52 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 is
above 248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the en-
gine. Allow engine and coolant to cool.
Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 301).
!
If anything blocks the windshield
wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch
them off immediately.
For safety reasons, stop the vehicle
in a safe location and remove
SmartKey from starter switch
before attempting to remove any
blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If the windshield wipers fail to function
at all with combination switch in
positionI,
set the combination switch to the
next higher wiper speed
have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center
60 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are
Seat belts
Emergency tensioning device
Air bags
Child seats
Child seat recognition
Lower anchors and tethers for children
(LATCH)
As independent systems, their protective
effects work in conjunction with each
other.The1 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 24) comes on:
for about 4 seconds when you turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1.
for about 4 seconds when you start the
engine by turning the SmartKey.The1 indicator lamp goes out shortly
after you start the engine. This shows that
the restraint systems are operational.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the1 indicator lamp:fails to extinguish after approximately
4 seconds.
does not come on at all.
comes on after the engine was started
or while driving.
For safety reasons, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to
have the system checked.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 356).i
For information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and
restraint systems for infants and
children, see “Children in the vehicle”
(
page 72).
i
The1 indicator lamp remains lit if
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position2 and left there. The
indicator lamp will go out when you
start the engine.
129 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4Menu5Menu6Menu7
Standard
displayAUDIONAV*Vehicle status
message memorySettingsTrip computerTelephone*
(page 130)(page 131)(page 134)(page 134)(page 135)(page 150)(page 152)
Commands/submenus
Run Flat
Indicator*
(Canada only)Select radio
stationShow route guid-
ance instructions,
current direction
traveledCall up vehicle mal-
function, warning and
system status messag-
es stored in memory
1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Reset to
factory
settingsFuel consumption
statistics after
startLoad phone
book
Digital speed-
ometer or out-
side temperatureSelect satellite
radio station*
(USA only)Instrument
cluster sub-
menuFuel consumption
statistics since
the last resetSearch for
name in
phone book
Call up main-
tenance service
displayOperate
CD player* Time/Date
submenuDistance to emp-
ty
Check engine oil
levelLighting
submenu
Vehicle
submenu
Convenience
submenu
130 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer
and the trip odometer are shown in the
multifunction display.
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
If another display is shown instead of the
standard display:
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until you see the standard display.
Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.The following functions are available:Display digital speedometer or outside
temperature
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until you see the digital speedometer.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
1Digital speedometerFunctionPage
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada
only)318
Call up digital speedometer or
outside temperature130
Call up maintenance service
display338
Check engine oil level299
i
Select either the display of the digital
speedometer or the outside tempera-
ture indicator (
page 139).
168 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Move gear selector lever toP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Move gear selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.