Page 188 of 441

187 Controls in detail
Audio system
Audio system
Audio and telephone, operation
These instructions are intended to help 
you become familiar with your 
Mercedes-Benz audio system. They con-
tain useful tips and a detailed description 
of the user functions.Operating safety
Warning!G
In order to avoid distraction which could 
lead to an accident, the driver should enter 
system settings with the vehicle at a 
standstill and operate the system only when 
road and traffic conditions permit. Always 
pay full attention to traffic conditions first 
before operating system controls while 
driving.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your car is 
covering a distance of 44 feet 
(approximately 14 m) every second.
Warning!G
Any alterations made to electronic 
components can cause malfunctions.
The radio, amplifier, CD changer*, satellite 
radio*, and telephone* are interconnected. 
When one of the components is not opera-
tional or has not been removed/replaced 
properly, the function of other components 
may be impaired.
This condition might seriously impair the 
operating safety of your vehicle.
We recommend that you have any service 
work on electronic components carried out 
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 
     
        
        Page 189 of 441
188 Controls in detail
Audio system
Operating and display elements 
     
        
        Page 190 of 441
189 Controls in detail
Audio system
ItemPage
1CD changer mode selector
AUX mode selector201
193
2Single CD mode selector 204
3Radio mode selector
4Mute function (radio)196
Pause (CD)208
5Volume distribution192
6Sound settings191
7Display
8Alphanumeric keypad
ItemPage
9Speed dialing memory 
(telephone) in descending 
order
aAccepting a call
(telephone)212
bTelephone mode selector208
cSpeed dialing memory 
(telephone) in ascending 
order210
dTerminating a call
(telephone)213
eCD slot
fCD ejection204
ItemPage
gSoft keys190
hVolume190
jSwitching on/off190
kManual tuning/seek tuning 
(radio)195
Track search, reverse (CD)207
lManual tuning/seek tuning 
(radio)195
Track search,
fast forward (CD)207 
     
        
        Page 191 of 441

190 Controls in detail
Audio system
Button and soft key operation
In these instructions, the alphanumeric 
keypad (right side of radio panel) and the 
function buttons (left side of radio panel) 
are referred to as “buttons”. The four keys 
below the display panel are referred to as 
“soft keys”.Operation
Switching the unit on/off
Switching on
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position1 or2. 
If the audio system was on as you 
removed the SmartKey from the starter 
switch, the audio system will 
automatically come back on as you 
turn the SmartKey to position1 or2.
or
Press M button.Switching off
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
or
Press M button.
Adjusting the volume
Turn rotary control of N button.
The volume will increase or decrease 
depending on the direction turned.
!Do not press directly in the display face. 
Otherwise, the display will be damaged.
iIf the radio is switched on without the Smart-
Key in the starter switch, it will automatically 
switch off again after approx. 30 minutes.
If your vehicle is equipped with a telephone, the 
display may prompt you to enter your PIN (GSM 
network) or code (TDMA or CDMA network).
iShould excessively high temperatures occur 
while the audio system is being operated, the 
display will dim. If temperatures continue to rise, 
HIGH TEMP will appear in the display, after which 
the audio system will be switched off for a 
cooling-down period.
iIf your vehicle equipment includes a Mer-
cedes-Benz specified mobile telephone*, you 
can adjust its volume separately from the volume 
of the audio system while the telephone is being 
used. 
     
        
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191 Controls in detail
Audio system
Adjusting sound functions
The bass and treble functions are called up 
by pressing the O button.
Settings for bass and treble are stored 
separately for the AM and FM wavebands, 
weather band, CD mode and telephone 
mode.
Bass
Press O button repeatedly until 
BASS appears in the display.
Press + or– soft key to increase or 
decrease tone level accordingly.
or
Press RES soft key briefly to reset bass 
tones to their center level.The radio switches back to the 
standard radio menu 8 seconds after 
the last soft key is pressed.
Adjusting treble
Press O button repeatedly until 
TREBLE appears in the display.
Press + or– soft key to increase or 
decrease tone level accordingly.
or
Press RES soft key briefly to reset treble 
tones to their center level.
The radio switches back to the 
standard radio menu 8 seconds after 
the last soft key is pressed.Sound system*
You can either program the sound settings 
manually (
page 191) or choose settings 
via preset sound characteristics.
You can select from among the following 
settings:
STANDARD: conventional stereo sound.
SURROUND: the sound is set for better 
three-dimensional acoustic character-
istics.
SPEECH: the sound is optimized for the 
spoken word.
Press O button repeatedly until 
STANDARD, SURROUND, or SPEECH appears 
in the display.
Press X or Y soft key repeatedly 
until the desired sound setting has 
been reached.
The sound is set accordingly.
or
 
     
        
        Page 193 of 441

192 Controls in detail
Audio system
Press RES soft key briefly.
The sound setting is reset depending 
on the sound source activated.
Radio mode: STANDARD
CD/AUX mode: SURROUND
Telephone: SPEECH
The radio switches back to the 
standard radio menu 8 seconds after 
the last soft key is pressed.
Returning sound functions to factory 
settings
Press O button to call up settings 
menu in the display.
Press RES soft key briefly; the respec-
tive sound function is reset to its center 
level.
or
Press and hold RES soft key until RESET 
appears in the display.
The sound settings for bass and treble 
are returned to their center level and 
the volume is set to a predefined level.
Vehicles with sound system*:
The sound setting is reset depending 
on the sound source activated.
Radio mode: STANDARD
CD/AUX mode: SURROUND
Telephone: SPEECH
The radio switches back to the 
standard radio menu 4 seconds 
after the last soft key is pressed.
Adjusting volume distribution
Call up fader and balance functions by 
pressing the P button.Fader
Press P button repeatedly until 
FADER appears in the display.
Press V or W soft key.
The volume is distributed accordingly 
between the front and rear of the 
vehicle.
or
Press RES soft key briefly.
The fader is reset to its center level.
The radio switches back to the 
standard radio menu 8 seconds after 
the last soft key is pressed.
 
     
        
        Page 194 of 441

193 Controls in detail
Audio system
Adjusting balance
Press P button repeatedly until 
BALANCE appears in the display.
Press X or Y soft key.
The volume is distributed between the 
left and right sides of the vehicle.
or
Press RES soft key briefly.
The balance is reset to its center level.
The radio switches back to the 
standard radio menu 8 seconds after 
the last button is pressed.Returning volume distribution to 
factory settings
Press P button to call up settings 
menu in the display.
Press RES soft key briefly; the 
respective volume distribution is reset 
to its center (flat) level.
or
Press and hold RES soft key until RESET 
appears in the display.
The volume distribution settings for 
fader and balance are set to their 
center level.
The radio switches back to the 
standard radio menu 4 seconds after 
the last soft key is pressed.Telephone* muting
If your vehicle equipment includes a 
Mercedes-Benz specified mobile 
telephone*, you can adjust its volume 
separately from the volume of the audio 
system while the telephone is being used.
Connecting an external audio source 
(AUX) to the radio*
An optional dealer-installed cinch-connec-
tor* for connecting an external audio 
source may become available for your 
vehicle model. Feature description is 
based on preliminary information at time 
of printing. Contact an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center for availability.
You can adjust the volume (page 190), 
the sound settings (
page 191) and the 
volume distribution (
page 192) for the 
AUX input.
Calling up AUX mode
Press and hold Q button until AUX 
appears in the display. 
     
        
        Page 195 of 441

194 Controls in detail
Audio system
Canceling AUX mode
Press any audio source button.
Radio operation
Selecting radio mode
Press b button.
Calling up wavebands
You can choose from among the FM, AM, 
and WB wavebands.
Weather band (
page 196).
Calling up wavebands for radios 
without SAT
Press FM or AM soft key to switch 
between FM and AM.
The FM and AM wavebands are called 
up one after another.
or
Press WB soft key.
The weather band menu is called up.
The waveband currently selected 
appears in the upper left-hand corner 
of the display.
Calling up wavebands for radios 
with SAT
Press FM, AM, or WB soft key repeatedly 
until desired waveband has been 
selected.
The FM, AM, and WB wavebands are 
called up one after another.
The waveband currently selected 
appears in the upper left-hand corner 
of the display.
Selecting a station
The following options are available for 
selecting a station:
Direct frequency input (page 194)
Manual tuning (page 195)
Automatic seek tuning (page 195)
Scan search (page 195)
Station memory (page 195)
Automatic station memory (Autostore) 
(
page 196)
The station search proceeds in the 
following frequency increments:
200 kHz in FM range
10 kHz in AM range
Direct frequency input
Select desired waveband.
Press * button.
Enter desired frequency with 
buttons1to R.
iFM waveband: 87.7......107.9 MHz
AM waveband: 530......1 710 KHz