Page 24 of 521
23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
53, 61
2
Hood lock release
 319
3
Steering wheel adjustment 
stalk
 43
Heated steering wheel*
 283
4
Parking brake release
 53
5
Combination switch
Turn signals
55
Windshield wipers
56
High beam
55
6
Door control panel
32
7
Exterior lamp switch
141
Item
Page
8
Headlamp washer button*
197
9
Steering wheel gearshift 
control (E55 AMG only)
191
a
Cruise control lever
Cruise control
243
Distronic*
247
b
Instrument cluster
24,
150
c
Multifunction steering 
wheel
26,
154
d
Horn
e
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate 
operating instructions
Item
Page
f
Starter switch
36
g
Front Parktronic* warning 
indicator
263
h
Overhead control panel
29
j
Mobile phone/Glasses box
276
k
Glove box lid release, glove 
box lock
276
l
Glove box
276
m
Center console
27 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 27 of 521
26 At a glanceMultifunction steering wheel
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display in 
speedometer
153
Operating control system
154
2
Selecting the submenu or 
setting the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a call
to dial a calltto end a call
to reject an incoming 
call
Item
Page
4
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 28 of 521
27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Dual-zone automatic 
climate control, USA only
202
4-zone automatic climate 
control*
214
2
COMAND system, see sepa-
rate operating instructions
3
Seat heating*, front passen-
ger side
135
Seat ventilation*, front pas-
senger side
136
4
Electronic Stability Program 
(ESP
®) control switch
96
5
Central locking switch
130
Item
Page
6
Opening/closing button for 
storage tray or CD chang-
er*, see separate operating 
instructions
276
7
Rear seat head restraints 
switch, folding down
131
8
Rear window sunshade 
switch*
200
9
Seat heating*, driver’s side
135
Seat ventilation*, driver’s 
side
136
a
Hazard warning flasher 
switch
146
b
Front passenger front air 
bag off indicator lamp 
85 
         
        
        
     
        
        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 30 of 521
29 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Rear interior lighting on/off
147
2
Automatic interior lighting
147
3
Front interior lighting on/off
147
4
Temperature sensor 
5
Right reading lamp on/off
147
6
Tilt/sliding sunroof* or 
tilt/sliding panel*
236,
239
7
Tele Aid (emergency call 
system) button
286
Item
Page
8
Rear view mirror
197
9
Reading lamps
147
a
Garage door opener
293
b
Tow-away alarm button
103
c
Ambient lighting
172
d
Interior lighting
e
Left reading lamp on/off
147 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 33 of 521
32 At a glanceDoor control panel
Item
Page
1
Door handle
119
2
Seat adjustment
41
3
Memory function (for stor-
ing seat, exterior mirror and 
steering wheel settings)
138
4
Exterior rear view mirror ad-
justment
45
5
Switches for opening/clos-
ing front and rear side win-
dows, rear window override 
switch 
231
6
Remote trunk release 
switch, Trunk opening/clos-
ing system*
121 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 35 of 521

34 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an 
overview of the vehicle’s most basic 
functions.
If you are already familiar with the basic 
functions described here, the “Controls in 
detail” section will provide you with further 
information. The corresponding page refer-
ences are located at the end of each seg-
ment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 91)
Press unlock button Œ on the 
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic signal sounds once 
(if equipped and feature activated).
For more information, see “Factory 
setting” (
page 108).
The locking knobs in the doors 
move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it 
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause 
an accident and/or serious personal injury. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 36 of 521

35 Getting started
Unlocking
Get in the vehicle and insert the 
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and 
unlocking” (
page 106). 
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
With the KEYLESS-GO function, you can 
lock and unlock the vehicle without using 
the remote control buttons on the 
SmartKey and start the engine without in-
serting the SmartKey in the starter switch.
Pull an outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic signal sounds once 
(if equipped and feature activated).
For more information, see “Factory 
setting” (
page 114).
The locking knobs in the doors 
move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Get in the vehicle.
For more information, see “SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 111).
iThe electrohydraulic brake system is 
activated (
page 97).
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO must be outside the 
vehicle, no further than approximately 
3 feet (1 meter) away from the door. Warning!
G
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. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
iThe electrohydraulic brake system is 
activated (
page 97).