Page 24 of 480
23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Parking brake pedal
51
2
Hood lock release
272
3
Parking brake release han-
dle
59
4
Door control panel
32
5
Exterior lamp switch
53, 123
6
Headlamp washer button
177
7
Combination switch
Turn signals
Windshield wipers
High beam
53
54
 129
Item
Page
8
Steering wheel gearshift 
control 
(SL 55 AMG, SL 65 AMG, 
and vehicles with 
Sport Package* only)
170
9
Cruise control lever
Cruise control
Distronic*
204
207
a
Instrument cluster
24, 132
b
Multifunction steering 
wheel
28, 136
c
Lever for voice control sys-
tem*, see separate 
operating instructions
d
Front Parktronic* warning 
indicator
225
Item
Page
e
Digital clock
150
f
Overhead control panel
31
g
Interior storage compart-
ments (locking/unlocking)
230
h
7 indicator lamp
78
j
Glove box
228
k
Center console
29, 30
l
Starter switch
38
m
Horn
n
Steering wheel adjustment 
stalk
Heated steering wheel*
42
235 
     
        
        Page 112 of 480

111 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
1Neutral position
2Locked
Close the trunk (
page 109).
Pull the mechanical key out of the 
SmartKey (
page 385).
Insert the mechanical key in the trunk 
lid lock.
Turn the mechanical key clockwise to 
position2 and remove the mechani-
cal key in that position to lock the 
trunk.
The trunk remains locked even when the 
vehicle is centrally unlocked.
Insert the mechanical key in the trunk 
lid lock.
Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise to neutral position1 and remove 
the mechanical key in that position to 
unlock the trunk.
You can now open the trunk 
(page 108).
Trunk lid emergency release
With the trunk lid emergency release but-
ton, the trunk can be opened from inside 
the trunk.
The emergency release button is located 
on the left side of the trunk.
1Emergency release button
Briefly press emergency release 
button1.
The trunk unlocks and the trunk lid 
opens slightly.
Push up the trunk lid to fully open.
iYou can only cancel the separate trunk 
locking mode by means of the 
mechanical key.
 
     
        
        Page 133 of 480

132 Controls in detailInstrument clusterFor a full view illustration of the instrument 
cluster, see “Instrument cluster” 
(page 24).
The instrument cluster is activated when 
you
open a door
switch on the ignition
press the reset button (
page 24)
switch on the exterior lamps
Opening a door will activate the instrument 
cluster only for about 30 seconds.
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of 
the control system (
page 149).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster 
and the switches on the center console.
1Reset buttonTo brighten illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument 
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument 
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will 
dim.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is 
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient 
light conditions. 
     
        
        Page 185 of 480

184 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAir distribution in automatic mode
You can separately adjust the air distribu-
tion for each side of the passenger com-
partment.
Activating
Press control button2 or 6 
(page 181).
The control button is engaged. The 
U symbol on the control button 
comes on. Air distribution for the re-
spective side of the passenger com-
partment is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press control button 2 or 6 
(page 181) once more.
The control button sticks up slightly. 
The U symbol on the control button 
goes out. Automatic air distribution for 
the respective side of the passenger 
compartment is switched off. Adjust 
the air distribution manually 
(page 185).Air volume in automatic mode
The air volume settings are the same for 
the entire passenger compartment.
Activating
Press control button a (
page 181).
The control button is engaged. The 
U symbol on the control button 
comes on.
Deactivating
Press control button a (
page 181) 
again.
The control button sticks up slightly. 
The U symbol on the control button 
goes out. Adjust the air volume manu-
ally (
page 186).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and7 
(page 181) to separately adjust the air 
temperature on each side of the passenger 
compartment. You should raise or lower 
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C). 
The automatic climate control will adjust 
to the set temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Turn temperature control1 and/or 
7 (
page 181) slightly clockwise.
The automatic climate control system 
will correspondingly adjust the interior 
air temperature.
Decreasing
Turn temperature control1 and/or 
7 (
page 181) slightly counterclock-
wise.
The automatic climate control system 
will correspondingly adjust the interior 
air temperature. 
     
        
        Page 271 of 480
270 OperationAt the gas station
Replace the fuel cap by turning it clock-
wise until it audibly engages. 
Close the fuel filler flap. 
You should hear the latch close shut.Warning!
G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create pres-
sure in the system which could cause a gas 
discharge. This could cause the gas to spray 
back out when removing the fuel pump noz-
zle, which could cause personal injury.
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline 
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating 
of 91  (average of 96 RON / 86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can 
normally be found on the fuel pump.
For more information on gasoline, see 
“Premium unleaded gasoline” 
(page 448) or the Factory Approved 
Service Pamphlet.
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel 
cap open can cause the engine mal-
function indicator lamp ú (USA 
only) or the engine malfunction indica-
tor lamp ± (Canada only) to illumi-
nate.
For more information, see the “Practi-
cal hints” section (
page 335).
 
     
        
        Page 386 of 480
385 Practical hints
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the driver’s door using 
the SmartKey, open the door using the me-
chanical key. 
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab 1 direction of arrow 
and slide the mechanical key 2 out of 
the housing.Unlocking the driver’s door
1Unlocking
Unlock the door with the mechanical 
key. To do so, push the mechanical key 
in the lock until it stops and turn it 
counterclockwise.
iUnlocking your vehicle with the me-
chanical key will trigger the anti-theft 
alarm system. To cancel the alarm, do 
one of the following:
Press button Œ or ‹on the 
SmartKey. 
Insert the SmartKey in the starter 
switch. 
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button (
page 37).
Grasp the outside door handle (ve-
hicles with KEYLESS-GO* only).  
     
        
        Page 387 of 480

386 Practical hintsLocking/unlocking in an emergencyUnlocking the trunk
A minimum height clearance of 
6.2 ft (1.89 m) is required to open the 
trunk lid.
If you are unable to unlock the trunk with 
the SmartKey, open the trunk with the me-
chanical key.
The handle is located above the rear li-
cense plate recess.Trunk lid lock1Unlocking
2Handle
Insert the mechanical key into the 
trunk lid lock.
Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise to position 1 and hold it in this 
position.
Pull the trunk lid handle 2 and lift lid.Unlocking the glove box
Lockable storage areas in the passenger 
compartment include: 
the glove box 
the storage compartment under the 
armrest
the rear storage compartments
If these cannot be unlocked by means of 
the SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*, use the mechanical key to 
unlock the glove box.
iUnlocking your vehicle with the me-
chanical key will trigger the anti-theft 
alarm system. To cancel the alarm, do 
one of the following:
Press button Œ or ‹ on the 
SmartKey. 
Insert the SmartKey in the starter 
switch. 
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button (
page 37).
Grasp the outside door handle (ve-
hicles with KEYLESS-GO* only). 
iTo unlock the remaining storage com-
partments, the cause for the malfunc-
tion of the SmartKey or the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO* must be deter-
mined and corrected, see (
page 99) 
and (
page 104). 
     
        
        Page 389 of 480

388 Practical hintsLocking/unlocking in an emergency1Locking
Insert the mechanical key into the driv-
er’s door lock until it stops.
Turn the mechanical key clockwise to 
position1.
The driver’s door is locked.
Lowering the load assist manually
If the load assist feature does not fully low-
er the retractable hardtop into the trunk 
compartment and you are unable to close 
the trunk lid, follow the instructions below. 
1Hex-socket wrench
2Locking screw
Remove the trunk floor from the trunk.
Lift up the lid located at the lower left 
side of the trunk.
Have a second person lift and hold the 
retracted hardtop.
Using the hex-socket wrench provided 
in the vehicle tool kit, carefully turn the 
locking screw 2 approximately one 
quarter of a turn.
Hook luggage cover into holders 
(page 196).
Let go of the hardtop.
It should gradually lower into the trunk.
When top is completely lowered, return 
locking screw 2 to its original posi-
tion.
Close the lid. 
Replace the trunk floor.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center as soon as possible.!Do not overtighten the screw.