Page 26 of 521

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal 
indicator lamp
2
vABS/ESP
® warning 
lamp
375
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
153
5
lDistance warning lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*: 
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates when the 
ignition is on. It should go out 
when the engine is running.
380
6
KRight turn signal 
indicator lamp
7
Coolant temperature 
indicator with:
151
•Coolant temperature 
warning lamp
379
Item
Page
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental 
Restraint System (SRS) 
indicator lamp
 383
-Antilock Brake System 
(ABS) indicator lamp
374
380
BLow beam headlamp 
indicator lamp
54
AHigh beam headlamp 
indicator lamp
145
9
Main odometer with:
Gear selector lever 
position
50
Program mode
189
a
Clock with:
168
;Brake warning lamp, 
USA only
376
3Brake warning lamp, 
Canada only
376
Item
Page
úEngine malfunction 
indicator lamp, 
USA only
377
±Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp, 
Canada only
377
HCombination low tire 
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale*
381
qPreglow indicator 
lamp, Diesel engine 
only
51
b
Fuel display with:AFuel reserve warning 
lamp
380
c
Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer
151
Adjusting instrument 
cluster illumination
150
Confirming new time 
settings
168 
     
        
        Page 37 of 521

36 Getting startedUnlockingStarter switch positions SmartKey
Starter switch0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical 
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except low beam headlamp 
indicator lamp, high beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, and turn signal indicator 
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the 
instrument cluster fails to come on 
when the ignition is switched on, have 
it checked and replaced if necessary. If 
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or 
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps 
in instrument cluster” (
page 374).
3Starting position
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. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 38 of 521

37 Getting started
Unlocking
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Starting with the 
SmartKey” (
page 50).SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the gear selector lever corresponds 
to turning the SmartKey to the various 
starter switch positions.
If you firmly depress the brake pedal dur-
ing pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button, the engine starts automatically.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except low 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and 
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. The indicator and warning lamps 
(except low beam headlamp indicator 
lamp, high beam headlamp indicator 
lamp, and turn signal indicator lamps if 
activated) should go out when the en-
gine is running. This indicates that the 
respective systems are operational.iThe SmartKey can only be removed 
from the starter switch with the gear 
selector lever in position P.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the 
starter switch, the starter battery may 
not be sufficiently charged.
Check the battery and charge it if 
necessary (
page 452).
Get a jump start (
page 454).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the SmartKey from 
the starter switch when the engine is 
not in operation.
iThe function of the SmartKey overrules 
the KEYLESS-GO function. 
     
        
        Page 39 of 521

38 Getting startedUnlockingKEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO start/ 
stop button, the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status 0 (a s wit h S ma rtK ey  re-
moved).
Position 1 
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
once.
This supplies power for some electrical 
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or position 2)
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
twice.
This supplies power for all electrical 
consumers. All lamps in the instrument 
cluster (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp indi-
cator lamp, and turn signal indicator 
lamps unless activated) come on. If a 
lamp in the instrument cluster fails to 
come on when the ignition is switched 
on, have it checked and replaced if nec-
essary. If a lamp in the instrument clus-
ter remains on after starting the engine 
or comes on while driving, see “Lamps 
in instrument cluster” (
page 374).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button
once again, the ignition (position2) 
is switched on.
twice, the power supply is again 
switched off.
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off. 
     
        
        Page 40 of 521
39 Getting started
Unlocking
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, 
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*” 
(page 51).iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except low 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high 
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and 
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. The indicator and warning lamps 
(except low beam headlamp indicator 
lamp, high beam headlamp indicator 
lamp, and turn signal indicator lamps if 
activated) should go out when the en-
gine is running. This indicates that the 
respective systems are operational. 
     
        
        Page 42 of 521

41 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located 
on the front doors.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat fore and aft adjustment
5Backrest tilt
Switch on the ignition (
page 36). 
or
Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward 
in direction of arrow4.
Adjust a comfortable seating position 
that still allows you to reach the accel-
erator/brake pedal safely. The position 
should be as far to the rear as possible, 
consistent with ability to properly oper-
ate controls.Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down in direc-
tion of arrow3 until your upper legs 
are lightly supported.
Backrest tilt
Press the switch forward or backward 
in direction of arrow5 until your arms 
are slightly angled when holding the 
steering wheel.
Seat height
Press the switch up or down in direc-
tion of arrow2.
iThe memory function (
page 138) lets 
you store the settings for the seat posi-
tion together with the settings for the 
steering wheel and the exterior rear 
view mirrors.
!When moving the seat, make sure 
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could 
damage the seats. 
     
        
        Page 44 of 521

43 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel adjustment
The stalk for steering wheel adjustment is 
located on the lower left of the steering 
column.
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out
Move stalk in direction of arrows1 
until a comfortable steering wheel posi-
tion is reached with your arms slightly 
bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down
Move stalk in direction of arrows2.
Make sure your legs can move freely 
and all the displays (incl. malfunction 
and indicator lamps) on the instrument 
cluster are clearly visible.Easy-entry/exit feature
This feature allows for easier entry into and 
exit from the vehicle. When entering and 
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in 
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activat-
ed or deactivated in the 
Convenience
 sub-
menu of the control system (
page 175).
iThe memory function (
page 138) lets 
you store the settings for the steering 
wheel together with the settings for the 
exterior rear view mirrors and the 
driver’s seat position. 
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become 
trapped or injured by the moving steering 
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is 
activated. 
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of 
the following:
Move steering column stalk.
Press one of the memory buttons or the 
memory button M (
page 139).
 
     
        
        Page 45 of 521

44 Getting startedAdjustingWith the easy-entry/exit feature activated, 
the steering wheel will return to its last set 
position when you:
close the driver’s door with the ignition 
switched on,
or
insert the SmartKey into the starter 
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO* 
start/stop button (
page 38) once 
with the driver’s door closedWith the easy-entry/exit feature activated, 
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you:
remove the SmartKey from the starter 
switch,
or 
open the driver’s door with the 
SmartKey in starter switch position 0 
or 1 or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button (
page 38) in position 1.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Children could open the driver’s door and 
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit 
feature, which could result in an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
iThe last set steering wheel position is 
stored when
the ignition is switched off
the position is stored in memory 
(page 139)
iIf the current position for the steering 
wheel is in the uppermost tilt position, 
the steering wheel will no longer be 
able to move upward when the 
easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly in-
terrupted when the engine is started.Warning!
G
Let the system complete the adjustment 
procedure before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. All steering wheel adjustment must be 
completed before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. Driving off with the steering wheel still 
adjusting could cause the driver to lose con-
trol of the vehicle.