2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E WAGON center console

162 Controls in detailControl systemSelect satellite radio station*
(USA only)
The satellite radio is treated as a radio ap-
plication.
Select SAT radio with the correspond-
ing softkey in the radio menu.
1SAT mode and preset number
2Setting for station selection using
memory
3Channel name or number

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired channel is found.Operate the CD player

Turn on COMAND and select CD. Refer
to separate COMAND operating in-
structions.

Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the settings for the CD currently
being played appear in the multifunc-
tion display.
1Current CD (for CD changer*)
2Current track

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the desired track is selected.
iAdditional optional satellite radio
equipment and a subscription to satel-
lite radio service provider are required
for satellite radio operation. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
details and availability for your vehicle.
For more information, refer to separate
COMAND operating instructions.
iTo select a CD from the magazine,
press a number on the COMAND
system key pad located in the center
console.

189 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
has reached its rpm limit, the transmission
will upshift beyond any gear range limit
selected.
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
C/S) are
indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 184).
Effect
ï
The transmission shifts through
sixth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
î
The transmission shifts through
fifth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
é
The transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
è
The transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
Effect
ç
The transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades


in mountainous regions


under extreme operating
conditions
æ
The transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

194 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
M Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard drivingThe current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
M/C/S)
are indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 184).
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
iFor information on automatic program
modesC orS, see “Automatic shift
program” (
page 189), “Gear selector
lever one-touch gearshifting”
(
page 190), and “Steering wheel
gearshift control one-touch gearshift-
ing” (page 191).

213 Controls in detail
Dual-zone automatic climate control (USA only)
Rear passenger compartment adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the climate
control panel (
page 204).The air vents for the rear passenger
compartment are located in the rear
center console.
1Left center air vent
2Right center air vent
3Thumbwheel for air volume control for
right rear center air vent
4Thumbwheel for air volume control for
left rear center air ventAdjusting air distribution

Push the slide for the left center
vent1 or right center vent2 to the
left, right, up or down.
The air flow is directed in the corre-
sponding direction.
Adjusting air volume

Turn thumbwheel3 or4 up or down.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.
iThe temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment1 and2 is the same as
at the dashboard center air vents.
iFor draft-free ventilation, push
slides1 and2 upward.

229 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
Rear climate control
The rear climate control is adjusted via the
front climate control panel (
page 216) or
(
page 217) or the rear climate control
panel.
The rear climate control panel is located in
the rear center console.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature control rocker
switches4 and6 to separately adjust
the air temperature on each side of the
rear passenger compartment.You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C). The adjusted tem-
perature appears in the display 5. The
rear climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
1Temperature, left
2Temperature, right

Adjust the temperature to the desired
setting for each side of the passenger
compartment using the left and right
temperature buttons.
The temperature in the rear passenger
compartment is adjusted automatical-
ly.
1
Left rear center air vent, adjustable
2
Right rear center air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right rear center air vent
4
Temperature rocker switch, right
5
Display
6
Temperature rocker switch, left
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left rear center air ventiYou can also adjust the rear tempera-
ture using the front climate control
panel (
page 216) or (
page 217).


251 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic deactivates automatically when

you set the parking brake


you drive slower than 20 mph
(30 km /h)


the ESP
® is active (
page 93) or you
deactivate the ESP
®


you move the gear selector lever into
positionN
A signal will sound. The
Distronic off

message appears in the multifunction
display for approximately 5 seconds.Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following dis-
tance for Distronic by varying the time set-
ting between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using
this time setting and the current speed of
your vehicle, Distronic calculates and sets
the required following distance to the vehi-
cle ahead. The set distance will be shown
in the multifunction display.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.1Distance warning function on/off
switch
2Indicator lamp
3Thumbwheel for setting distance
Increasing distance
Increasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a greater following
distance to the vehicle ahead.

Turn thumbwheel3 towards¯.
Warning!
G
Distronic switches off and releases the
brakes when the vehicle decelerates below
the minimum speed of 20 mph (30 km/h)
by operation of the system. At that time the
driver must apply the brakes in order to re-
duce vehicle speed further or bring it to a
stop.
Warning!
G
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving recom-
mendations for safe following distance.

259 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The button is located in the lower section
of the center console.
1Vehicle level control button
2Indicator lamp 
Start the engine (
page 36).

Briefly press button1 to change from
normal level to raised level. When vehi-
cle is at raised level, pressing the but-
ton will return the vehicle to normal
level.
When raised level is set, indicator
lamp2 in the button comes on.
When normal level is set, indicator
lamp 2 in the button goes out.
iAt a speed of approximately above
75 mph (120 km / h) or if the speed
amounts to between 50 mph
(80 km / h) and 75 mph (120 km / h)
for approximately five minutes, the set-
ting raised is canceled. The indicator
lamp 2 in the button goes out.
If you do not drive in this speed range,
the raised level remains stored even if
the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch.

272 Controls in detailUseful featuresStorage compartments Glove box
1Glove box lid release
2Compartment for mobile
phone/glasses
Opening the glove box

Push glove box lid release1.
The glove box lid opens downward.
Closing the glove box

Push glove box lid up to close.Storage compartment in the center
console (no CD changer* installed)
1Opening/closing button

Press button1 to open.
The control panel swings out upward
and the storage compartment extends
out.

Press button1 to close.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when storing objects in the vehicle. Put lug-
gage or cargo in the cargo compartment if
possible. Do not pile luggage or cargo higher
than the seat backs.
Luggage nets cannot secure hard or heavy
objects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
around and injuring vehicle occupants dur-
ing an accident.
iClose the compartment for glasses2
first before closing the glove box.
iNever place any medications in the
storage compartment. If there is a pow-
er failure, the storage compartment
cannot be opened.