Page 53 of 456
52 Getting startedDrivingFor more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 259).
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the exterior lamp switch toB.
The green indicator lampC in the
exterior lamp switch comes on.
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 125).High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open doors only when condi-
tions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system
(page 162).
Page 54 of 456
53 Getting started
Driving
Push combination switch in the direc-
tion of arrow1.
The high beam headlamps are switched
on.
The high beam headlamp
indicatorA in the tachometer
comes on.
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 125).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch up1 or
down2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampL orK flashes in the in-
strument cluster (
page 24).
The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
iTo signal minor directional changes,
e.g. passing or changing lanes, move
combination switch to point of resis-
tance only and release. The turn signal
flashes three times.
Page 56 of 456

55 Getting started
Driving
Single wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in
the direction of arrow1 to the resis-
tance point.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow1 past the resistance
point.
The windshield wiper operates with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 282).
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front
door is opened. This protects persons
getting into or out of the vehicle from
being sprayed.
Intermittent wiping will be continued
when
all doors are closed
and
the gear selector lever is in
positionD or R
or
the wiper setting is changed using
the combination switch
iTo prevent smears on the windshield,
wipe with windshield washer fluid every
now and then even when it is raining.!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.
For safety reasons, stop the vehicle
in a safe location,
remove SmartKey from the
starter switch
or
turn off the engine by pressing
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 35) and open
the driver’s door (with the driv-
er’s door open, starter switch is
in position0, same as with
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 the combination 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 59 of 456

58 Getting startedParking and lockingParking brake
1Parking brake pedal
2Release handle
Step firmly on parking brake1.
When the engine is running, the indica-
tor lamp ; (USA only) or
3(Canada only) in the instrument
cluster will be illuminated.
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(page 52).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (page 125).
Turning off the engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake and/or move the gear selec-
tor lever to positionP, either of which could
result in an accident and/or serious injury.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 48).
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to position P.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the curb.
Page 126 of 456

125 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 52)
and “Turn signals” (
page 53).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
M
Off
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 127)
U
Automatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 127)
C
Parking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
B
Low beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the combi-
nation switch is pushed forward)
and parking lamps.
ˆ
Standing lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚
Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
C
Indicator lamp for parking lamps
‡
Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†
Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Page 127 of 456

126 Controls in detailLightingManual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch. For exterior lamp
switch, see (
page 125).Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:
Low beam headlamps
Tail and 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 low beam headlamps
are switched on.
The message
TURN OFF LIGHTS
appears in the multifunction display.
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 in a safe location.
Switching from U to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
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.iThe front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
cannot be switched on manually with
exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps, turn exterior
lamp switch to positionB and pull
the exterior lamp switch to first or sec-
ond stop (
page 128).
Page 128 of 456

127 Controls in detail
Lighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch po-
sition 1 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 exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on. In
low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly:
tail and 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.
Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a 3-minute delay.
When the engine is running, and you
turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps
switch on additionally.
turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime run-
ning lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 379).USA only
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)” (
page 159).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to position C
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 379).
Locator lighting and night security illu-
mination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section under “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 160) and “Setting night security il-
lumination” (
page 160).
Page 129 of 456

128 Controls in detailLightingSwitching on fog lamps
Switching on front fog lamps
Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 52).
Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps are switched on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
lamp switch comes on (
page 125).
Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps are switched off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
lamp switch goes out (
page 125).Switching on rear fog lamp (driver’s side
only)
Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 128).
Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
lamp switch comes on (
page 125).
Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
lamp switch goes out (
page 125).
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position U to B with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from U to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding permis-
sible lamp operation.
iFog lamps cannot be switched on with
exterior lamp switch in position
U
.
For switching on the fog lamps, turn ex-
terior lamp switch to position
B
.