Page 128 of 489

127 Controls in detailSeats
Seat ventilation*
Both switches for the front seats are
located in the center console.
1Seat ventilation switchThe blue indicator lamps in the switch1
show which ventilation level you have
selected:
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
All lamps in the instrument cluster
come on.
Switching on seat ventilation
Press seat ventilation switch1.
Three blue indicator lamps come on.
Press seat ventilation switch1
repeatedly until the desired seat venti-
lation level is reached.Switching off seat ventilation
Press seat ventilation switch1
repeatedly until all blue indicator lamps
go out.
Level3
Three indicator lamps on
2
Two indicator lamps on
1
One indicator lamp on
off
No indicator lamp on
iThe seat ventilation for the driver’s seat
is automatically set to the highest level
if activated via summer opening
feature (
page 249).
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps on
the seat ventilation switch1 are flash-
ing, there is insufficient voltage due to
too many electrical consumers being
switched on. The seat ventilation
switches off automatically.
The seat ventilation will switch back on
again automatically as soon as
sufficient voltage is available.
Page 136 of 489

135 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination 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 to
positionB orU (
page 131).
Push the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).
Pull the combination switch in the di-
rection of arrow2 to its original posi-
tion to switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in
the direction of arrow2.Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(CLK with Bi-Xenon* headlamps)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 131)
or
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 131)
or
the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 133)
Page 141 of 489

140 Controls in detailInstrument clusterFor a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(page 24).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you
open a door
switch on the ignition (
page 36)
press the reset button1
switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 155).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button1 to adjust the
illumination brightness for the instrument
cluster.To brighten illumination
Turn reset button1 clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button1 counterclock-
wise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.
Page 142 of 489

141 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature indicator
The coolant temperature indicator is on
the right side in the instrument cluster
(page 24).
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the stan-
dard display in the multifunction dis-
play (
page 148).
If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel repeatedly until the standard dis-
play appears (
page 144).
Press and hold the reset button on the
instrument cluster (
page 140) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
!Excessive coolant temperature triggers
a warning in the multifunction display
(page 385) and the red coolant warn-
ing lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 364).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
iDuring severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant
temperature may rise close to 248°F
(120°C).
Page 143 of 489

142 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 24) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Clock
In vehicles with Audio 20, the clock can be
set via the control system (
page 157).
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is indicated in the
multifunction display (
page 144).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious
engine damage that is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the time in
COMAND, refer to the separate
COMAND operating instructions.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
Page 144 of 489

143 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button is in
position1. The control system enables you
to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player etc.) will appear in En-
glish, 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 (approxi-
mately 14 m) every second.
Page 153 of 489

152 Controls in detailControl systemShould 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. With
KEYLESS-GO*, turn off the engine by
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button and open the driver’s door.
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 140) for
approximately three 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 switch on the
ignition (
page 36). You will then only
see high-priority messages in the multi-
function display (
page 370).
Page 154 of 489

153 Controls in detail
Control system
Submenus in the Settings menu
Press buttonj.
The collection of the submenus
appears in the multifunction display.
Press buttonç.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.
The submenus are arranged by hierarchy.
Scroll down with buttonç, scroll up
with buttonæ.
With the selection marker on the desired
submenu, use buttonj to access the
individual functions within that submenu.
Once within the submenu, you can use
buttonj to move to the next function
or buttonk to move to the previous
function within that submenu.The settings themselves are made with
buttonæ orç.
Resetting the functions of a submenu
For each submenu you can reset all the
functions to the factory settings.
Move to a function in the submenu.
Press the reset button (
page 140) in
the instrument cluster for approxi-
mately three seconds.
The request to press the reset button
once more to confirm appears in the
multifunction display.
Press the reset button once more.
All functions of the submenu will reset
to factory settings.
iThe settings you have changed will not
be reset unless you confirm the action
by pressing the reset button a second
time. After approximately five seconds,
the
Settings...
menu reappears in
the multifunction display.
For safety reasons, the following
function is not reset while driving:
the
Lamp circuit headlamp
func-
tion in the
Lighting
submenu.
iThe settings you have changed will not
be reset unless you confirm the action
by pressing the reset button a second
time. After approximately five seconds,
the
Settings
menu reappears in the
multifunction display.