2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E WAGON warning light

126 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate and locking the
vehicle from the outside (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system* and KEYLESS-GO, you can close
the tailgate and lock the vehicle simulta-
neously from the outside using the
KEYLESS-GO locking/closing switch.
1KEYLESS-GO locking/closing switch
Make sure you have SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.

Press switch 1 briefly.

The tailgate closes.


All turn signal lamps flash three
times.


The locking knobs in the doors
move down.


The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens
slightly.
Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
removed from the vehicle, the tailgate clos-
ing switch can be operated. Therefore, do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked visi-
bility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle
interior.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it.
To confirm locking all turn signal lamps
flash three times.
iYou can also close the tailgate by hand.iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lock-
out, the tailgate will open automatically
if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is rec-
ognized inside the vehicle.


143 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 54)
and see “Turn signals” (
page 54).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switchMOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 144)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 144)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)BLow beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the combi-
nation switch is pushed forward)
and parking lamps
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
¥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 where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.iVehicles equipped with active
Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon headlamps moni-
tor your steering angle and driving
speed, then automatically shift their
beams to either side to better follow
the curvature of the road ahead, in-
creasing usable illumination over con-
ventional headlamps.
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
Switch off lamps
ap-
pears in the multifunction display.

144 Controls in detailLightingManual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps

Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 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 licence plate lamps and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
Daytime running lamp mode

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are automatically
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 lamps
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
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 toB when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromU toB 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.

146 Controls in detailLightingFog lamps
Front fog lamps

Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 143).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps are switched on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 24).

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps are switched off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)

Switch on the front fog lamps.

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to sec-
ond stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 24).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
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 head-
lamps on. Fog lamps should only be
used in conjunction with low beam
headlamps. Consult your State or Prov-
ince Motor Vehicle Regulations regard-
ing permissible lamp operation.
iFog lamps cannot be switched on with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU. For switching on the fog
lamps, turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.

147 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB or U (
page 143).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion 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 direction
of arrow2 to its original position 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
direction of arrow2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is locat-
ed on the upper part of the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switch

148 Controls in detailLightingSwitching on hazard warning flasher
Press the hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting in the front
1Left front reading lamp on / off
2Rear interior lighting on / off
3Automatic control on / off
4Front interior lighting on / off
5Right front reading lamp on / off
6Ambient lighting
7Interior lighting
8Front reading lampsThe controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
Automatic control
Activating

Press automatic control switch3.
The interior lighting switches on in
darkness when you:

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a door


open the tailgate
The interior lighting switches off automati-
cally following an adjustable time delay.
iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective left or right turn signals will
operate when the ignition is switched
on.iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch1 once to
switch it off.
iLeaving an interior light switch in the
ON position for extended periods of
time with the engine turned off could
result in a discharged battery.

151 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
A full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
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 modify the instrument cluster set-
tings in the instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 168).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button1 to adjust the illu-
mination brightness for the instrument
cluster.
Warning!
G
If the instrument cluster or the multifunction
display, or both, are inoperative or malfunc-
tioning, warning messages will not be re-
layed when potential danger exists. This
may cause you and others to be unaware of
certain risks and/or personal injury.
Contact the nearest 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.

188 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionStopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.

Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling and/or on a hill:

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:

Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.

Accelerate gently.

Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Working on the vehicle
Gear ranges
With the gear selector lever in positionD
and driving in the automatic shift
programC orS (
page 189), you can
select a gear range for the automatic
transmission to operate within:
Gear selector lever (page 190):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the gear selector lever to the left (D-), and
reverse the gear range limit by pressing
the gear selector lever to the right (D+).
Steering wheel gearshift control
(E 55 AMG only) (
page 191):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the respective downshift button on the
steering wheel gearshift control, and
reverse the gear range limit by pressing
the respective upshift button on the
steering wheel gearshift control.
The selected gear range appears in the
multifunction display (page 184). If you
press on the accelerator when the engine
Warning!
G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move gear selector lever
to positionP. Otherwise the vehicle could
roll away.