402 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyUnlocking the vehicle
If you are unable to unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, open the driver’s door and
the trunk using the mechanical key.
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab1 in the direction of
the arrow and slide mechanical key2
out of the housing.Unlocking the driver’s door
1Unlocking
Insert the mechanical key into the driv-
er’s door lock until it stops.
Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise to position1.
The driver’s door is unlocked.
iUnlocking driver’s door and/or the
trunk with the mechanical key will trig-
ger the anti-theft alarm system. To can-
cel the alarm, insert the SmartKey or
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in the
starter switch.
428 Practical hintsFlat tire
Screw union nut5 onto the tire valve.
Insert electrical plug3 into vehicle
cigarette lighter socket (
page 258).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever once
without depressing the brake pedal.
Press I on electric air pump switch2.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.
Inflate the tire to approximately 51 psi
(3.5 bar).
This takes about 5 minutes for the col-
lapsible tire. Air hose4 and union
nut5 can become hot during infla-
tion. Exercise proper caution to avoid
burning yourself when using the equip-
ment.
Press 0 on electric air pump switch2.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
or
Press KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
on the gear selector lever twice without
depressing the brake pedal.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.
If the tire inflation pressure is above
51 psi (3.5 bar), release excess tire in-
flation pressure using the vent screw.
Detach the electric air pump.
Stow electrical plug3 and air hose4
behind flap1 and place the air pump
back in the trunk.
!Do not operate the air pump longer
than 8 minutes without interruption.
Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again
after it has cooled off.
Warning!
G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes, etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
432 Practical hintsBattery
Disconnecting the battery
Depress parking brake firmly or move
gear selector lever to positionP.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the start/stop button until
the engine shuts off.
Open the driver’s door.
Warning!
G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!
G
The electro-hydraulic brake system requires
electrical power to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. The same applies if
battery is disconnected. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes may only be applied to
the front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adjust your driving style according-
ly. For more information, refer to
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(page 89).
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery
you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect
the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP
438 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleWarning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:
the engine will not run
there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system
there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in the starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes may only be applied to
the front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adapt your driving style according-
ly. For more information, refer to
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(page 89).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the steering system. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is nec-
essary to steer the vehicle. Adapt your driv-
ing accordingly.
iTo signal turns while being towed with
the hazard warning flasher in use, turn
SmartKey in starter switch to
position2 and activate the combina-
tion switch for the left or right turn
signal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.
439 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
Front of vehicle
1Cover on right side of front bumper
To remove cover:
Press mark on cover in direction of ar-
row.
Lift cover off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approximately
9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm (if
equipped) (
page 95).
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (page 122).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
iThe selector lever will remain locked in
positionP and the SmartKey will not
turn in the starter switch if the battery
is disconnected or discharged. For
more information see “Battery”
(page 431) or “Jump starting”
(page 435).
Manual unlocking of the transmission
selector lever (
page 404).
490 IndexParktronic* 475
Cleaning system sensors 347
Malfunctioning 245
Warning sounds 245
Parts service 444
Passenger compartment
Interior lighting 141
Interior rear view mirror 44
Main fuse box 442
Parcel net in the front passenger
footwell 254
Passenger safety see occupant safety 64
Pedals 279
Phone number*
Redialing 175
Plastic parts, cleaning 349
Poly-V-belt drive 475
Layout 447
Positions (Memory function*)
Recalling from memory 132
Storing into memory 132
Potential problems associated with
underinflated and overinflated
tires 321
Power assistance 280
Power outlet 259Power seat
Adjusting backrest tilt 40
Adjusting head restraint height 41
Adjusting head restraint tilt 41
Adjusting seat cushion tilt 40
Adjusting seat height 40
Memory function 131
Seat fore and aft adjustment 40
Power tilt/sliding sunroof 219
Messages in display 392
Opening/closing 219
Opening/closing in an
emergency 406
Stopping 220
Synchronizing 221
Power train 476
Power washer 343
Power windows 214
Automatic opening/automatic
closing 216
Cleaning 347
Operating 214
Rear door window, Blocking
operation 82
Side windows 214
Synchronizing 216Practical hints 352
Problems
While driving 56
With vehicle 17
Product information 9
Production options weight 333
Program mode selector switch 476
Automatic transmission 182
PSI 333
PULSE function (Massage function) 128
Push-start see Tow-start
R
Radio
Selecting satellite radio stations*
(USA only) 154
Selecting stations 153
Radio transmitters 287
Range (distance to empty) 172
Rear door window
Blocking operation 82
Rear fog lamp
Switching on 138
Rear lamp 412
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
492 IndexSeats 124
Adjusting 39
Drive-dynamic seat* 127
Easy entry/exit feature* 42
Heating* 128
Multicontour seat* 126
Ventilation* 130
Securing cargo 250
Selecting display 161
Selector lever
Lock 49, 176
Message in the display 369
Position (automatic
transmission) 176
Self-test
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 79
Tele Aid 263
Service and warranty information 10
Service life
Tires 302
Setting
Date 163
Temperature (interior) 203Settings
Date 163
Factory, KEYLESS-GO* 107
Factory, SmartKey 100
Individual, Vehicle 157
Menus and submenus 149
Resetting all, Control system 157
Selective, KEYLESS-GO* 107
Selective, SmartKey 101
Suspension tuning 238
Time 162
Settings menu
Functions in 157
Submenus 158
Shelf below rear window, cleaning 350
Shift lock 477
Shifting
Gear selector lever positions 178
Into optimal gear range
(automatic transmission) 183
Into optimal gear range
(CLS 500) 185
Into optimal gear range
(CLS 55 AMG) 187Side impact air bags 70
Side marker lamps
Cleaning lenses 346
Side windows
Stopping 216
Synchronizing power windows 216
Sidewall 333
Ski sack* (Canada only) 247
SmartKey 98
Battery check lamp 101
Checking the batteries 102, 109
Factory setting 100
Global locking 101
Global locking and unlocking 100
Global unlocking 100
Locking 61
Loss of 103
positions in starter switch 36
Remote control 98
Restoring to factory setting 102, 108
Selective setting 101, 107
Starting the engine 50
Turning off the engine 60
Unlocking with 34