Page 6 of 441

Contents
Vehicle status
message memory menu ............... 130
Settings menu .............................. 131
Trip computer menu..................... 144
TEL menu* ................................... 146
Manual transmission ......................... 149
Shifting into reverse ..................... 150
Automatic transmission* ................... 151
Gear selector lever ....................... 151
Shifting procedure ....................... 152
Gear selector lever positions ....... 153
Driving tips ................................... 155
Gear ranges ................................. 156
Automatic shift program .............. 157
One-touch gearshifting................. 158
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 159
Good visibility .................................... 160
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 160
Rear view mirrors ......................... 160
Sun visors .................................... 161
Rear window sunshade* .............. 162
Rear window defroster ................. 163Climate control ................................... 164
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 167
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 167
Setting the temperature................ 168
Adjusting air
distribution and volume ................ 168
Adjusting air volume ..................... 169
Front defroster.............................. 169
Air recirculation mode .................. 170
Air conditioning............................. 172
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 173
Automatic climate control .................. 174
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 177
Operating the automatic
climate control system
in automatic mode ........................ 177
Setting the temperature................ 178
Adjusting air distribution............... 178
Adjusting air volume ..................... 179
Front defroster.............................. 179
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 180
Air recirculation mode .................. 181Charcoal filter ............................... 183
Air conditioning ............................ 184
Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only)................................ 185
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 186
Audio system...................................... 187
Audio and telephone, operation .... 187
Operating safety ........................... 187
Operating and display elements ... 188
Button and soft key operation ...... 190
Operation...................................... 190
Radio operation ............................ 194
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 197
CD mode....................................... 201
GSM network phones ................... 208
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 214
Emergency calls “911” ................. 219
Power windows .................................. 221
Opening and closing
the windows ................................. 221
Synchronizing power windows ...... 222
Summer opening feature .............. 223
Convenience closing feature......... 223
Page 28 of 441
27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper partItemPage
1Seat heating*, driver’s side106
2Rear window sunshade
switch*162
3ESP® control switch85
4Hazard warning flasher
switch – switching on/off115
5Central locking switch100
Central unlocking switch100
6Switch for folding back rear
seat head restraints103
7Anti-theft alarm system
indicator lamp*90
ItemPage
8Seat heating*, passenger
side106
9Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp68,
332,
339
aAudio system,187
or
COMAND* (see separate
operating instructions)
bAutomatic climate control*174
Climate control164
Rear window defroster163
Page 92 of 441
91 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control
Audio system
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features
Page 164 of 441

163 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Switch on the ignition (page 32).
Always raise or lower the sunshade fully
for its support against the window frame.
Raising or lowering the sunshade
Press switch1 briefly.
The sunshade is raised or lowered com-
pletely.
Stopping the raising or lowering
procedure
Press switch1 again.
The sunshade stops.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the
defroster as soon as the rear window is
clear.
The defroster is automatically deactivated
after approximately 6 to 17 minutes of op-
eration depending on the outside tempera-
ture.
Switch on the ignition (page 32).Activating
Press buttonF or 1 in the
climate control panel (
page 165) or
automatic climate control panel*
(
page 175).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press buttonF or 1 again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
!Make sure that the movement of the rear
window sunshade is not restricted by objects on
the rear window shelf. Otherwise, the sunshade
or the objects could be damaged.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before
driving. Visibility could otherwise be
impaired, endangering you and others.!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, this
means that too many electrical consumers are
operating simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system re-
sponds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster automatically turns itself
back on.
Page 165 of 441
164 Controls in detail
Climate control
USA standard equipped with climate control, depending on vehicle production date. Canada standard equipped with climate control.
Page 166 of 441
165 Controls in detail
Climate control
USA only (depending on vehicle production
date)
Canada only
Item
1Left side defroster vent, fixed
2Left side air vent, adjustable
3Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side air vent
4Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
5Left center air vent, adjustable
6Right center air vent, adjustable
7Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
8Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side air vent
9Right side air vent, adjustable
aRight side defroster vent, fixed
bClimate control panel
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for the center air vents and side air vents to the
middle position.
Item
1Air volume control
2Left side temperature control
3Right side temperature control
4Air distribution control
5Rear window defroster
6AC cooling on/off
7Air distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)
8Air recirculation
9Front defroster
Page 167 of 441

166 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. You can oper-
ate the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if theA/C mode is deactivated
(
page 172).
Warning!G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite on unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents. Always keep sufficient distance be-
tween unprotected parts of the body and the
air vents. If necessary, use the air distribu-
tion control (
page 168) to direct the air to
air vents in the vehicle interior that are not
in the immediate area of unprotected skin.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 223). The climate control will then
adjust the interior temperature to the set value
much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
Do not obstruct air flow by placing objects on the
air flow-through exhaust slots below the rear
window.
Page 168 of 441

167 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating the climate control
system
Deactivating
Set air volume control1 (page 165)
to position0.
Reactivating
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
Set air volume control1 (page 165)
to any speed.
The previous settings are once again in
effect.Operating the climate control system
in automatic mode
Activating
Press buttonU (page 165) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
Use temperature controls2 and3
(
page 165) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The temperature of the vehicle interior
is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press buttonU (page 165) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The automatic operation of air vol-
ume and air distribution switches off.
Warning!G
When the climate control is switched off, the
outside air supply and circulation are also
switched off. Only choose this setting for a
short time. Otherwise the windows could
fog up, impairing visibility and endangering
you and others.
iWhen operating the climate control system
in automatic mode, you will only rarely need to
adjust the temperature, air volume and air distri-
bution.
In automatic mode, the dehumidify function is
switched on when the system is cooling. If nec-
essary, this function can be switched off by
pushing the2 button.