
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
8Instrument cluster12
11Ignition lock57
12Buttons
* on the steering wheel13Horn: the entire surface
14Adjusting the steering wheel51
16Releasing the hood214
17Opening the tailgate/luggage compartment 
lid
*
7
Turn signals61
High beams, headlamp flasher99
Roadside parking lamps
*99
Computer74
Settings and information about the 
vehicle76
Instrument lighting100
9
Windshield wipers62
Rain sensor
*62
Sports Wagon:
Rear window wiper63
10Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine57
Telephone
*:
>Press: accepting and ending a 
call, starting dialing
* selected 
phone numbers. Redialing if 
no phone number is selected
>Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*22
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and 
lists with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable51 
Individually programmable51 
15
Cruise control
*64
Active cruise control
*66
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Driving
62 Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator 
lamp indicates that a turn signal indicator 
has failed.<
Indicating a turn briefly
Press the lever as far as the resistance point for 
as long as you wish to indicate a turn.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever as far as the resistance point.
The turn signals flash three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the   menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to 
the uppermost field. Turn the controller 
until "Lighting" is selected and press the 
controller.
6.Select "Triple turn signal" and press the 
controller.
 Triple turn signaling is activated.
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or 
rain sensor
*
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
5Setting speed for intermittent wipe, or sen-
sitivity of the rain sensor
Switching on wipers
Press the lever upward, arrow 1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system switches to operation in the inter-
mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system switches to normal speed when the 
vehicle is stationary.
Intermittent wipe or rain sensor*
If the car is not equipped with a rain sensor, the 
intermittent-wipe time is a preset.
If the car is equipped with a rain sensor, the time 
between wipes is controlled automatically and 
depends on the intensity of the rainfall. The 
sensor is mounted on the windshield, directly in 
front of the interior rearview mirror.
ProCarManuals.com 

Controls
 63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Activating intermittent wipe or rain 
sensor
Press the button, arrow3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Setting speed for intermittent wipe or 
sensitivity of the rain sensor
Turn knurled wheel5 up or down.
Deactivating intermittent wipe or rain 
sensor
Press the button again, arrow3. 
The LED goes out.
Deactivate the rain sensor before enter-
ing an automatic car wash. Failure to do 
so could result in damage caused by undesired 
wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
Pull the lever, arrow 4.
Washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield and 
the wipers are operated for a short time.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched 
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and 
appropriate intervals.
Do not use the washers if there is any 
danger that the fluid will freeze on the 
windshield. If you do, your vision could be 
obscured. Antifreeze should therefore be 
added to the fluid, refer to Washer fluid. 
Do not use the washers when the washer fluid 
reservoir is empty, otherwise you will damage 
the washer pump.<
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated 
automatically while the engine is running or the 
ignition is switched on
*.
Sports Wagon: rear window wiper
1Intermittent operation. When reverse gear 
is engaged, the system switches to contin-
uous operation.
2Cleaning the rear window
The rear window wiper does not move if the 
lever is in position 1 before the ignition is 
switched on.
To switch on the rear window wiper:
1.Move the lever to its home position.
2.Reselect the desired position.
Do not use the washers when the washer 
fluid reservoir is empty, otherwise you will 
damage the washer pump.<
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. 
Always keep it well away from sparks and 
open flames, and store it in the tightly closed 
original container, well out of the reach of chil-
dren. Comply with the instructions on the con-
tainer.<
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Giving and receiving assistance
232 the vehicle by the tow fitting. Otherwise the tow 
fitting and the vehicle could be damaged.<
Access to screw thread
Rectangular cover panel in bumper:
Press on the upper edges of the cover panel.
Front
Rear
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition is switched on, 
refer to page57, otherwise the low-beam 
headlamps, tail lamps, turn signal indicators and 
windshield wipers may be unavailable. If the 
electrical system fails, do not attempt to tow-
start or tow away the car. The electric steering 
wheel lock cannot be disengaged and the car is 
not steerable. Jump starting, refer to page230. 
Power steering assistance is not available when 
the engine is not running. Thus, braking and 
steering will require increased effort.<
Switch on the hazard warning flashers, depend-
ing on local regulations.
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in idle position.
Automatic transmission
Selector lever in position N.
Changing selector lever positions, refer to 
page60.
Do not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph 
or 70 km/h and a towing distance of 
90 miles/150 km, otherwise the automatic 
transmission may be damaged.<
Towing methods
In come countries, it is illegal to tow your vehicle 
with a tow bar or tow rope on public highways.
Please familiarize yourself with the relevant 
towing regulations for the country in which you 
are driving.
With a tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter 
than the towed vehicle, otherwise it may 
be impossible to maintain control.<
The tow fittings used should be on the same 
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an angle, 
please observe the following:
>Clearance and maneuvering capability will 
be sharply limited during cornering.
>The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it is 
attached offset.
Attach the tow bar to the tow fittings only, 
as attaching it to other parts of the vehicle 
could result in damage.<
With a tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make 
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated 
stresses on vehicle components when 
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps. 
Attach the tow rope to the tow fittings only, as 
attaching it to other parts of the vehicle could 
result in damage.<
ProCarManuals.com 

Everything from A - Z
254 Individually programmable 
buttons on steering 
wheel51
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire 
inflation pressure202
Inflation pressure monitoring, 
refer to Tire Pressure 
Monitor TPM91
Information
– on another location137
– on country137
– on current position137
– on destination location137
Information menu, refer to 
i menu18
"Information on 
destination"138
"Info sources"78
Initializing
– active steering94
– after power failure227
– compass, refer to 
Calibrating109
– Flat Tire Monitor FTM90
– glass sunroof40
– panorama glass roof42
"Input map"136
Installation location
– CD changer170
– drive for navigation DVD and 
audio CD130
– telephone110
Instructions for navigation 
system, refer to Voice 
instructions146
Instrument cluster12
Instrument lighting100
Instrument panel, refer to 
Cockpit10
Integrated key28
Integrated universal remote 
control107
Interesting destination for 
navigation137
"Interim time"85
Interior lamps100
– remote control30
Interior motion sensor36Interior rearview mirror51
– automatic dimming 
feature51
– compass108
Interlock, refer to Disengaging 
the remote control59
Intermittent mode of the 
wipers62
J
Jacking points227
Joystick, refer to iDrive16
Jumpering, refer to Jump 
starting230
Jump starting230
K
Key, refer to Integrated key/
remote control28
Keyless go, refer to 
Convenient access36
Keyless opening and closing, 
refer to Convenient 
access36
Key Memory, refer to Personal 
Profile28
Kick-down60
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic60
Knock control201
L
Lamps
– automatic headlamp 
control97
– parking lamps/low beams97
Lamps and bulbs, replacing 
bulbs222
"Language / Units"77
"Language / Units" in 
navigation146
"Languages" in 
navigation146
"Languages"on the control 
display85Lap-and-shoulder belt, refer 
to Safety belts49
Lashing eyes, refer to 
Securing cargo125
Last destinations, refer to 
Destination list138
"Last seat pos."49
LATCH child-restraint fixing 
system55
LED Light-emitting 
diodes222
Length, refer to 
Dimensions237
License plate lamp, replacing 
bulbs226
Light-emitting diodes 
LED222
Lighter112
– connecting electrical 
appliances112
"Lighting"62,98
Lighting
– instruments100
– lamps and bulbs222
– vehicle, refer to Lamps97
Light-metal alloy wheels, care, 
refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Light switch97
"Limit"84
Limit, refer to Speed limit84
Load securing equipment, 
refer to Securing cargo125
Lock buttons, doors, refer to 
Locking32
Locking
– adjusting confirmation 
signal30
– from inside32
– from outside30
– without remote control, refer 
to Convenient access36
Locking and unlocking doors
– confirmation signals30
– from inside32
– from outside29
Low beams97
– automatic97
– replacing bulbs222
ProCarManuals.com 

Reference 263
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Voice phone book187
Volume156
– audio sources156
– fuel tank, refer to 
Capacities241
– mobile phone180
– speed-dependent 
control157
– voice instructions147
W
Warning and indicator 
lamps13
Warning messages, refer to 
Check Control82
Warning triangle230
Washer fluid63
– content of the reservoir64
Washer fluid reservoir64
Washing the car, refer to 
Caring for your vehicle 
brochure
Waste tray, refer to 
Ashtray112
Water on roads, refer to 
Driving through water123
Waveband with the radio160
"WB"156
Wear indicators in tires, refer 
to Minimum tread depth211
Weights239
Wheel/tire combination, refer 
to Correct wheels and 
tires212
Wheelbase, refer to 
Dimensions237
Wheels, new212
Wheels and tires202
Width, refer to 
Dimensions237
Windows38
– convenience operation30
– opening, closing38
– operation with convenient 
access37
– pinch protection system39
– rear window35
– safety switch39Windows, indicator on Control 
Display16
Windshield
– cleaning63
– defrosting and removing 
condensation104
Windshield wash62
– filling capacity, reservoir241
– nozzles63
– rear window63
– reservoir for washer fluid64
– washer fluid64
Windshield wiper blades, 
changing221
Windshield wipers, blades, 
care, refer to Caring for your 
vehicle brochure
Windshield wipers, refer to 
Wiper system62
Winter tires213
– setting speed limit84
– storage213
Wiper blade replacement221
Wiper system62
"With highways" in 
navigation141
Wooden trim, refer to Caring 
for your vehicle brochure
Word-matching principle for 
navigation142
Work in the engine 
compartment214
Wrench/screwdriver, refer to 
Onboard tool kit221
X
xDrive88
Xenon lamps
– replacing bulbs222
Y
Your individual vehicle
– settings, refer to Personal 
Profile28
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