29 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Combination switch
High beam
Corner-illuminating lamps
Windshield wipers
Turn signals
367
368
372
382
2Lever for
Cruise control
DISTRONIC Plus*
406
411
3Horn
4Multifunction steering wheel257
5Instrument cluster30
6Steering wheel gearshift
control400
7Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission389
ItemPage
8Control panel with
Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
Vehicle level control
switch
Electronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP®) switch
Parktronic*/Park Assist*
deactivation switch
Swivel COMAND display
COMAND/instrument
cluster display
illumination
50
429
71
434,
438
83
83,
402
9COMAND display81
aOverhead control panel37
bAutomatic climate control
Center console 244,
453
36
ItemPage
cGlove box lock470
dCover of compartment with
CD/DVD changer
PCMCIA card slot
111
112
eControl system34
fStarter switch
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button336
337
gSteering wheel adjustment
Heated steering wheel* 351
352
hHeadlamp cleaning button367
jElectronic parking brake384
kHood lock release512
lDriver’s door control panel38
mNight View Assist*446
nExterior lamp switch363
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51 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Self-test Occupant Classification
System
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2 or pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once or
twice (
page 337), the 59
indicator lamp1 located in the dash-
board illuminates. If an adult occupant is
properly sitting on the front passenger
seat and the system senses the occupant
as being an adult, the 59 indi-
cator lamp will illuminate and go out after
approximately 6 seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the system
senses the front passenger seat as being
empty, the 59indicator lamp
will illuminate and not go out.
Warning!G
If the =indicator lamp and the
59 indicator lamp are lit at the
same time, there is a malfunction in the
Occupant Classification System. The front
passenger front air bag will be deactivated
in this case.
In order to ensure proper operation of the
air bag system and OCS:
Have the system checked as soon as
possible by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Do not place more than 4.4 lbs (2 kg)
into the ruffled storage bag on the back
of the front passenger seat. Otherwise,
the OCS may not be able to properly
approximate the occupant weight
category.
Do not place objects under and/or
around the front passenger seat.
Do not hang anything from or attach any
items to the seats.
Do not stuff objects such as books be-
tween the middle console and the front
passenger seat.
Do not move the front passenger seat
backwards against stiff objects.
Sit properly belted in a position that is
as upright as possible with your back
against the seat backrest.
Do not lean on the armrests or lift your-
self from the seat by using the handle
over the door as this may cause the OCS
to be unable to correctly approximate
the occupant weight category.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Read and observe all warnings in this
chapter.
Warning!G
If the 59 indicator lamp should
not illuminate, the system is not functioning.
You must see an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the front
passenger seat.
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63 Safety and Security
Panic alarm
Panic alarm
1Â button
Activating
Press and hold  button for at least
1 second.
An audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps will operate briefly.
Deactivating
Press  button again.
or
Insert the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* in starter switch.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 337).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be inside the vehicle.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
ProCarManuals.com
70 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see “Practical hints”
section (
page 572) and (page 580).
Warning!G
Never switch off the ESP® when you see the
ESP® warning lamp v flashing in the in-
strument cluster. In this case proceed as fol-
lows:
While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.
While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.
Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
Warning!G
The ESP® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
iDISTRONIC Plus* and cruise control are
switched off when the ESP® engages.
iThe ESP® will only function properly if you
use wheels of the recommended tire size
(
page 678).
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* in position0
or1) when
the electronic parking brake is being tested
on a brake test dynamometer
the vehicle is being towed with the
front/rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
ProCarManuals.com
78 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Disarming: Unlock your vehicle with
the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash once to in-
dicate that the alarm system is dis-
armed.
Tow-away alarm
Depending on production date, your vehi-
cle may not be equipped with the tow-away
alarm.
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.To cancel the alarm after it has been trig-
gered, see “Canceling the alarm”
(
page 78).
Arming: Lock your vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about 30 seconds.
Disarming: Unlock your vehicle with
the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*.
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm
feature, switch off the tow-away alarm be-
fore towing the vehicle, or when parking ona surface subject to movement, such as a
ferry or auto train.
To switch off the tow-away alarm, see
“Switching the tow-away alarm on/off”
(
page 243).
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm, do one of the follow-
ing:
Insert the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch.
Press the Œ or ‹ button on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Grasp an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton (
page 337).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must
be inside the vehicle.
iIf the turn signal lamps does not flash three
times one of the following elements may not be
properly closed:
a door
the trunk
Close the respective element and lock the vehi-
cle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automatically
again after approximately 40 seconds if no door
was opened.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response Center is ini-
tiated automatically by the Tele Aid system
(
page 482) provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated and that neces-
sary mobile phone, power supply and GPS
coverage are available.
iWhen you unlock your vehicle, the tow-away
protection disarms automatically.
The tow-away alarm remains disarmed until you
lock your vehicle again.
ProCarManuals.com
256 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position2 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 337) is in position2. The control
system enables you to:
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to call up statistical data
on your vehicle, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Line for main menus
2Text field in multifunction display
Settings, functions, submenus as well as
any malfunctions are shown to you in the
text field.
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
ProCarManuals.com
267 Control systems
Instrument cluster control system
Press s or # to start dialing.
If several entries are present for the
same name, they are all shown.
Select the desired entry.
Press s or # to start dialing.
The message “Connecting call…” ap-
pears on the multifunction display, as
well as the dialed telephone number or
name as long as it is stored in the
phone book.
The dialed number is saved in the “Di-
aled numbers” list.
Once a connection has been estab-
lished, the name appears on the multi-
function display, provided that it has
been stored in the phone book, other-
wise the dialed telephone number ap-
pears.Redialing
The control system stores the most recent-
ly dialed phone numbers. This eliminates
the need to search through your entire
phone book.Log on to the network (page 265).
Press s to switch to the number
and/or name last dialed in the redial
memory.
Press % or $ to select the de-
sired number and/or name.
Press s or # to start dialing.
Once a connection has been estab-
lished, the name appears in the multi-
function display, provided that it has
been stored in the phone book, other-
wise the dialed telephone number ap-
pears.
iIf you do not want to dial from the phone
book, press t or L. In the multifunction
display appears again “Ready” or “Ready (Roam-
ing)”.
iIf you press and hold % or $ for
more than 1 second, the system scrolls
rapidly through the list of names.
If you press and hold % or $ for more than
4 seconds, the control system shows the first
four entries of the letter next used. Release the
button to stop the quick search. The search
stops automatically at the end of the list.
ProCarManuals.com
328 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO
You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(
page 322).
The starter switch is located under the
KEYLESS-GO button. Pull the
KEYLESS-GO button out in order to ac-
cess the starter switch.
You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with button ‹).
Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.
Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:
Electronic items such as a mobile
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO
Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.
To lock or unlock the vehicle, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within ap-
proximately 3 ft (1 m) of a door or the
trunk lid.
If the vehicle has been parked for more
than 72 hours, you must pull an outside
door handle in order to activate the
KEYLESS-GO function.
In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.
The KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
must be inserted in the starter
switch (
page 337).
The brake pedal must be firmly de-
pressed. Do not depress the accel-
erator.
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle, the system may no longer recog-
nize the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
The vehicle then cannot be locked or
the engine started via the KEYLESS-GO
system.
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is re-
moved from the vehicle (e.g. if passen-
ger exits the vehicle with the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO)
when pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button or trying to lock
the vehicle with the outside door
handle the message
“Key not recognized” appears in the
multifunction display
with the engine running, the mes-
sage “Key not recognized” appears
in the multifunction display while
driving off
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