Page 60 of 505

59 Getting started
Parking and locking
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal
Step firmly on parking brake pedal2.
When the engine is running, the
warning lamp;(USA only)
or3(Canada only) in the clock will
be illuminated.
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(
page 54).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 126).
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake and/or move the gear selec-
tor lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
PositionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects. Always set the parking brake in ad-
dition to shifting to positionP (
page 172).
When parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.
Getting out of your vehicle without taking
the above measurements to secure it is
dangerous.
Page 61 of 505

60 Getting started
Parking and locking
Turning off the engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Apply the parking brake (page 58).Turning off the engine with the
SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 (
page 36).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.Turning off the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton to shut off the engine.
With the driver's door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the
driver’s door opened, the starter switch
is set to position0, same as SmartKey
removed from starter switch
(
page 36).
iAlways set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels towards the
curb.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the gear selector lever in
positionP.
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have tried
to turn off the engine while the gear selector le-
ver was not inP.
In addition, the message
Selector lever in
Park
appears in the multifunction display.
Place the gear selector lever inP.
Page 62 of 505

61 Getting started
Parking and locking
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(
page 48).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
LockingExit the vehicle, take the SmartKey or
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with
you, and close all doors and the trunk
lid.
!M a k e s u r e t h e s e a t b e l t r e t r a c t s f u l l y s o t h a t
the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get
caught or pinched in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and
impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or
cause damage to the door and/or door trim pan-
el. Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limit Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iIf you hear a warning signal you have
forgotten to switch off the headlamps before
opening the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Turn off lamps
appears in the multifunction display. Vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO*, this message is only dis-
played for approximately 1 second. It is then
overwritten by the message,
Please do not
forget key
.
Switch off the headlamps.
iOpening a door causes the windows on that
side of the car to open slightly. They will return to
the up position when the door is closed.
Page 63 of 505
62 Getting started
Parking and locking
Locking with the SmartKey
Press lock button‹on the
SmartKey (
page 34).
With the trunk and both doors closed:
All turn signal lamps flash three
times.
An acoustic signal sounds three
times.
For more information, see “Factory
setting” (
page 100).
The locking knobs in the doors
move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “SmartKey”
(
page 98).Locking with KEYLESS-GO*
1Lock button
Press lock button1 on an outside
door handle.With the trunk and both doors closed:
All turn signal lamps flash three
times.
An acoustic signal sounds three
times.
For more information, see “Factory
setting” (
page 100).
The locking knobs in the doors
move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 101).
Page 76 of 505

75 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, the 56 indicator lamp
located in the center console illuminates. If
an adult occupant is properly sitting on the
front passenger seat and the system
senses the occupant as being an adult,
the56 indicator 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 56 indicator lamp will
illuminate and not go out. More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 376).
Seat belts
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, the
U.S. territories and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts
fastened whenever the vehicle is in
motion.
For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belts” (
page 47).
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 56 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.
Warning!G
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the Occupant Classifi-
cation System. The bottom of the child seat
must make full contact with the passenger
seat cushion. An incorrectly mounted child
seat could cause injuries to the child in case
of an accident, instead of increasing protec-
tion for the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of child seats.
iFor information on infants and children trav-
eling with you in the vehicle and restraint sys-
tems for infants and children, see “Children in
the vehicle” (
page 82).
Page 87 of 505

86 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Blocking of rear side window operation
You can block the rear side window
operation (for instance when you have
children riding in the rear passenger
compartment).
The override switch is located on the door
control panel of the driver’s door.
1Deactivating override switch
2Activating override switch
3Override switchActivating override switch
Slide override switch3 to the right in
direction2.
The rear side windows can no longer be
operated using the respective switch
located in the rear trim panels.
Deactivating override switch
Slide override switch3 to the left in
direction1.
The rear side windows can be operated
using the respective switch located in
the rear trim panels.
For more information, see “Power win-
dows” (
page 249).
Warning!G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children may otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised ac-
cess to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iOperation of the rear side windows with the
switches located on the door control panel of the
driver’s door is still possible.
Page 88 of 505

87 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 37).
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.
Page 92 of 505

91 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see the "Practical
hints" section (
page 372) and
(
page 380).
Warning!G
Never switch off the ESP® when you see the
ESP® warning lamp v flashing in the
instrument cluster. In this case, proceed as
follows:
While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.
While driving, ease upon 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 by the exist-
ing road and tire conditions. 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
capabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dan-
gerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine must be turned off (SmartKey in
starter switch position0 or1 or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position0 or1) when
the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer
the vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
iThe ESP® will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended tire
size (
page 466).