Page 29 of 521
28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
281
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button
37
3
Gear selector lever for 
automatic transmission
50,
185
4
Parking assist (Parktronic 
system)* deactivation 
switch
263
5
Adaptive Damping System 
(ADS)* switch
259
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control 
switch*
260
7
Thumbwheel for setting 
distance for Distronic*
255
8
Distance warning function* 
on/off switch
256
9
Program mode selector 
switch for automatic 
transmission
189 
     
        
        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 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.
 
     
        
        Page 52 of 521

51 Getting started
Driving
Diesel engine:
M a k e  s u r e  t h e  g e a r  s e l e c t o r  l e v e r  i s  s e t  
to P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position2 (
page 36).
The preglow indicator lampq in the 
instrument cluster comes on.
As soon as the preglow indicator 
lampq goes out, turn the SmartKey 
in the starter switch to position3 
(page 36) and release it.
The engine starts automatically.Starting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the 
SmartKey in the starter switch using the 
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the 
gear selector lever.
For information on turning off the engine 
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 62).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
Gasoline engine:
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Depress the brake pedal during the 
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
iIf the engine is at operating tempera-
ture, the preglow indicator lampq 
may not stay on and you can start the 
engine without preglowing.
Warning!
G
As long as the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO 
is in your vehicle, the vehicle can be started. 
Therefore, never leave children unattended 
in the vehicle, as they could otherwise acci-
dentally start the engine.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you and 
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an 
unlocked vehicle.
 
     
        
        Page 53 of 521

52 Getting startedDriving
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(page 51) once.
The engine starts if the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO is in the vehicle.
Diesel engine:
Make sure the gear selector lever is set 
toP.
Depress the brake pedal during the 
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(page 51) once.
The engine begins to preglow and will 
start automatically.
If the engine is at operating temperature, 
the preglow indicator lampq may not 
stay on and you can start the engine with-
out preglowing:
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button 
(page 51) until the engine is running.Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described, 
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the 
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter 
switch to position0 and repeat starting 
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with 
KEYLESS-GO: Close any doors that 
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO.
Or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as 
radio signals from another source may 
be interfering with the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO.
Repeat the starting procedure 
(page 50). Remember that extended 
starting attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 454).If the engine does not start after several 
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the 
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.