Page 177 of 409

176 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionManual gearshift program
In the manual gearshift programM you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel (
page 174) or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 168).
Activating manual gearshift program
Turn program mode selector switch1
(page 173) to the MAN setting.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. The letter
M
appears in the right multifunction dis-
play and the lamp in program mode se-
lector switch3 (
page 176) comes
on. Automatic shifting is switched off.
The gear range is not limited.Selecting manual gearshift program
3Program selector switch for the manual
gearshift program
I Sport For sporty driving
II Super Sport For very sporty driving
III Race For racing-like driving
1
The individual shifting programs differ with
regard to spontaneity, response time, and
shifting smoothness.
Turn program selector switch3 to the
desired setting (I, II or III).
1Please always drive carefully and obey applicable
speed limits.
iThe currently selected manual gear-
shift program (I, II or III) does not ap-
pear in the right multifunction display.
The current setting is indicated only on
the program mode selector switch 3.
Page 178 of 409

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting
Press button1 (
page 174) on the
left side of the steering wheel.
or
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission shifts to the next low-
er gear.
The current gear selector position ap-
pears in the right multifunction display
(page 117).Upshifting
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
iWhen you brake or stop, the transmis-
sion shifts down to a gear from which
you can easily accelerate or take off.
!In the manual program modeM, the
transmission will not upshift, even if
the engine has reached its overrevving
range. Shift up to the next gear before
the engine has reached its overrevving
range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red
marking on the tachometer
(page 28). Otherwise the engine
could be damaged which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Page 179 of 409

178 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Press button2 (
page 174) on the
right side of the steering wheel.
or
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
The current gear selector position ap-
pears in the right multifunction display
(page 117).
If the red gearshift indicator lamp>
comes on in the speedometer display
(
page 29), shift to the next higher gear.
The fuel supply will otherwise be interrupt-
ed to prevent the engine from overrevving. Deactivating manual gearshift program
Turn program mode selector switch1
(page 173) to the C or S setting.
The selected gearshift program ap-
pears in the right multifunction display.Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Move gear selector lever toP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Move gear selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Page 206 of 409
205 Controls in detail
Useful features
Removing the cellular phone from the
cellular phone cradle
1Release button
2Remove the cellular phone
Press the release button1 and re-
move the cellular phone in direction of
arrow 2 from the cellular phone
cradle.Inserting the cellular phone in the cellu-
lar phone cradle
Remove the round aerial contact cover
on the back of the cellular phone.
1Insert the cellular phone
2Connector contact
3Cellular phone cradle
Slide the lower end of the cellular
phone in direction of arrow 1 into con-
nector contact2 on cellular phone
cradle3.4Release button
5Engage the cell phone in cellular phone
cradle
Push the top of the cellular phone in di-
rection of arrow5, until the lug on the
cellular phone release button4 en-
gages.
The battery will be charged depending
on its charge status and the position of
the SmartKey in the starter switch. The
charging process is shown in the cellu-
lar phone display.
Page 210 of 409

209 Controls in detail
Useful features
System self-check
Initially, after switching on the ignition,
malfunctions are detected and indicated
(the indicator lamps in the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• and the
Information button¡ stay on longer
than 10 seconds or do not come on). The
message
Tele Aid – Drive to workshop
appears for approximately 10 seconds in
the multifunction display.Emergency calls
An emergency call is initiated
automatically following an accident in
which the emergency tensioning devices
(ETDs) or airbags have deployed.
An emergency call can also be initiated
manually by opening the cover next to the
inside rear view mirror labeled SOS, then
briefly pressing the button located under
the cover.
For more information, see “Initiating an
emergency call manually” (
page 211).
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated,
the audio system is muted and the se-
lected mode (radio or CD) pauses. The
cellular phone (if installed) switches
off. If you must use this phone, we rec-
ommend that you use it only with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Remove the phone from the cradle and
place the call. The multifunction display
in the instrument cluster is available for
use. After the Tele Aid call has ended,
the optional cellular phone switches on
again. A PIN entry might be necessary.
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamps in the SOS button, in
the Roadside Assistance button, and/or in
the Information button do not come on dur-
ing the system self-check, or if any of these
indicators remain illuminated continuously
in red and/or the message
Tele Aid -
Drive to workshop
is displayed in the
multifunction display after the system
self-check, a malfunction in the system has
been detected.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined
above, the system may not operate as ex-
pected. Have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Page 211 of 409

210 Controls in detailUseful featuresOnce the emergency call is in progress, the
indicator lamp in the SOS button will begin
to flash. The message
Connecting call
appears in the multifunction display. When
the connection is established, the mes-
sage
Call connected
appears in the multi-
function display. All information relevant to
the emergency, such as the location of the
vehicle (determined by the GPS satellite lo-
cation system), vehicle model, identifica-
tion number and color are generated.
A voice connection between the Response
Center and the occupants of the vehicle
will be established automatically soon af-
ter the emergency call has been initiated.
The Response Center will attempt to deter-
mine more precisely the nature of the acci-
dent provided they can speak to an
occupant of the vehicle.The Tele Aid system is available if
it has been activated and is operation-
al. Activation requires a subscription
for monitoring services, connection
and cellular air time
the relevant cellular phone network
and GPS signals are available and pass
the information on to the Response
CenteriLocation of the vehicle on a map is only
possible if the vehicle is able to receive
signals from the GPS satellite network
and pass the information on to the
Response Center.
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamp in the SOS button is
flashing continuously and there was no
voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could
not initiate an emergency call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network is not available).
The message
Call failed!
appears in the
multifunction display for approximately
10 seconds.
Should this occur, assistance must be sum-
moned by other means.
Page 212 of 409

211 Controls in detail
Useful features
Initiating an emergency call manually
1Cover
2SOS button
Briefly press on cover1.
The cover will open.
Press SOS button2 briefly.
The indicator lamp in SOS button2
will flash until the emergency call is
concluded.
Wait for a voice connection to the
Response Center.
Close cover1 after the emergency
call is concluded.Roadside Assistance button •
The Roadside Assistance button• is
located in the center armrest cover.
1Roadside Assistance button•
Open the center storage compartment
(page 201).
Press and hold the button1 (for long-
er than 2 seconds)
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance dispatcher will be initiated.
The button will flash while the call is in
progress. The message Connecting call
will appear in the
multifunction display.
Warning!
G
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle, ve-
hicle in a dangerous road location), please
do not wait for voice contact after you have
pressed the emergency button. Carefully
leave the vehicle and move to a safe loca-
tion. The Response Center will automatically
contact local emergency officials with the
vehicle’s approximate location if they re-
ceive an automatic SOS signal and cannot
make voice contact with the vehicle occu-
pants.
Page 213 of 409

212 Controls in detailUseful featuresWhen the connection is established, the
message
Call connected
appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.
Describe the nature of the need for as-
sistance.
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. For services such
as labor and/or towing, charges may ap-
ply. Refer to the Roadside Assistance
Manual for more information.These programs are only available in the
USA:
Sign and Drive services: Services such
as jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire are ob-
tainable.iThe indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• remains illumi-
nated in red for approximately
10 seconds during the system
self-check after switching on the igni-
tion (together with the SOS button and
the Information button¡).
See system self-check (
page 209) if
the indicator lamp does not come on in
red or stays on longer than approxi-
mately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• is illuminated
continuously and there was no voice
connection to the Response Center es-
tablished, then the Tele Aid system
could not initiate a Roadside
Assistance call (e.g. the relevant cellu-
lar phone network is not available). The
message
Call failed!
appears in the
multifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be ter-
minated using the ìbutton on the
multifunction steering wheel.