Page 29 of 481
28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button
35
2
Gear selector lever for 
automatic transmission
46
3
Front passenger front 
air bag off indicator lamp
73
4
Thumbwheel for setting dis-
tance in Distronic*
225
5
Distance warning function* 
on/off button
225
6
Lower storage compart-
ments
7
Program mode selector for 
automatic transmission
179 
     
        
        Page 36 of 481

35 Getting started
Unlocking
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Starting with the 
SmartKey” (
page 46).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 KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton, the engine starts automatically.
KEYLESS-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.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the 
starter switch, the battery may not be 
sufficiently charged.
Check the battery and charge it if 
necessary (
page 408).
Get a jump start (
page 411).
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 37 of 481

36 Getting startedUnlockingPosition 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board 
electronics have status 0 (as with 
SmartKey removed).
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 (except high beam headlamp 
indicator 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 340).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button, 
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*” 
(
page 47).
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.iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except 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 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 48 of 481

47 Getting started
Driving
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.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be 
located in the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
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 
once.
The engine starts if the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO is in the vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine 
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off the en-
gine with KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 57).
Warning!
G
As long as the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO 
i s  i n  y o u r  v e h i c l e ,  t h e  v e h i c l e  c a n  b e  s t a r t e d .  
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 54 of 481

53 Getting started
Driving
Intermittent wiping
Set the wiper switch to position I.
Single wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in 
the direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time 
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press switch in the direction of 
arrow1 past the resistance point.
The windshield wiper operates with 
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer 
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system 
and headlamp cleaning system*” 
(
page 296).iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when 
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front 
door is opened.
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off 
immediately.
For safety reasons, stop the vehicle 
in a safe location, 
turn off the engine by turning 
the SmartKey to position0 and 
withdraw SmartKey from starter 
switch
or
turn off the engine by pressing 
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button (
page 35) and open 
the driver’s door (with the driv-
er’s door open, starter switch is 
in position0, same as with 
SmartKey removed from starter 
switch)
before attempting to remove any 
blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on 
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at 
all in switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the 
next highest wiper speed
have the windshield wipers 
checked at the nearest authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center 
     
        
        Page 56 of 481

55 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive. 
You have properly stopped and parked 
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no 
power assistance for the brake and the 
steering systems. In this case, it is impor-
tant to keep in mind that a considerably 
h i g h e r  d e g r e e  o f  e f f o r t  i s  n e c e s s a r y  t o  b r a k e  
and steer the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay, or 
leaves can come into contact with the hot 
exhaust system, as these materials could be 
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off 
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:
Keep right foot on brake pedal.
Firmly depress parking brake pedal.
Move the gear selector lever to 
positionP.
Slowly release brake pedal.
When parked on an incline, turn front 
wheel towards the road curb.
Turn the SmartKey to starter switch 
position0 and remove, or press 
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button 
(page 35).
Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle 
when leaving. 
     
        
        Page 58 of 481

57 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM.
For more information, see “Lighting” 
(
page 131).
Turning off the engine 
Place the gear selector lever in 
positionP.
Turning off with the SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
(page 34) to position0 and remove 
it. 
The immobilizer is activated.
Press the seat belt release button 
(page 44).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch 
plate.
Turning off the engine with 
KEYLESS-GO* 
Place the gear selector lever in 
positionP.
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop 
button (
page 35) to shut off the en-
gine.With the driver’s door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the 
driver’s door opened, the starter switch 
is set to position0, same as SmartKey 
removed from starter switch 
(
page 34).
Press the seat belt release button 
(page 44).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch 
plate.
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to position P.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the curb.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed 
from the starter switch with the gear 
selector lever in positionP.iWith the SmartKey removed and the 
driver’s door open, a warning sounds if 
the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not 
switched off.
!If you hear a warning signal, you have 
either
forgotten to turn off the lights be-
fore opening the driver’s door 
or
tried to turn off the engine while the 
gear selector lever is not inP.
Turn off the lights or place the gear se-
lector lever inP. 
     
        
        Page 61 of 481

60 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems 
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are:
Seat belts
Emergency tensioning device
Air bags
Child seats
Child seat recognition
Lower anchors and tethers for children 
(LATCH)
Preventive occupant safety 
(PRE-SAFE
®)
As independent systems, their protective 
effects work in conjunction with each oth-
er.The 1 indicator lamp in the instrument 
cluster comes on
for about four seconds when you turn 
the SmartKey in the starter switch to 
position1 or press the KEYLESS-GO* 
start/stop button (
page 35) once. It 
then goes out briefly, comes on again 
and remains lit until you start the en-
gine.
for about four seconds when you start 
the engine by turning the SmartKey or 
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button.The restraint systems are fully operational 
if the 1 indicator lamp is not lit when 
the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been de-
tected if the1 indicator lamp:
fails to extinguish after approximately 
four seconds
does not come on at all
comes on after the engine was started 
or while driving
For safety reasons, we strongly recom-
mend that you visit an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to 
have the system checked.
iFor information on infants and children 
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle” 
(page 71).
iThe 1 indicator lamp remains lit if 
the SmartKey is turned to position 2 
and left there or the KEYLESS-GO* 
start/stop button is pressed twice. The 
indicator lamp will go out when you 
start the engine.