Page 44 of 481

43 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel Steering wheel adjustment
The stalk for steering wheel adjustment is
located on the lower left of steering
column.
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on the ignition (page 36).
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out
Move stalk forward or back in direction
of arrow 1 until a comfortable steer-
ing wheel position is reached with your
arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down
Move stalk up or down in direction of
arrow 2.
Make sure your legs can move freely
and all the displays (including malfunc-
tion and indicator lamps) on the
instrument cluster are clearly visible.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch, or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the steering
wheel adjustment feature can be operated
when the driver’s door is open. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
iThe memory function (page 126) lets you
store settings for the steering wheel together
with the settings for the exterior rear view mir-
rors and the seat position.
Page 45 of 481

44 Getting started
Adjusting
Easy-entry/exit feature
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle. When entering and
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be
activated or deactivated in the
Convenience submenu of the control
system (
page 162).With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to its last set
position when you:
close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on,
or
insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 37) once
with the driver’s door closed.With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you:
remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch,
or
open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position0
or1 or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 37) in position1.
Warning!G
You must make sure that no one can be-
come trapped or injured by the moving
steering wheel when the easy-entry / exit
feature is activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of
the following:
Move steering wheel adjustment stalk
(
page 43).
Press the memory position switch
(
page 126).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.iThe last set steering wheel position is stored
when
the ignition is switched off.
the position is stored in memory
(
page 127).
Page 51 of 481

50 Getting started
Driving
after approximately 60 seconds if you
do not push latch plate 1 into
buckle3.
if your door is opened.
if you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position 0.
if you release a front seat backrest and
fold it forward.
Starting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 168).
Warning!G
The seat belt presenter must be retracted
while the vehicle is in motion. Only when the
seat belt presenter is retracted can the seat
belt be properly positioned on the body and
protect the occupant as intended.
Warning!G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause un-
consciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive with at least one window
fully open.
Page 52 of 481

51 Getting started
Driving
Starting with the SmartKey
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Do not depress accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 (
page 36) and release it
again immediately (“touch-start”).
The engine then starts automatically.
For information on turning off the engine
with the SmartKey, see (
page 61).Starting with KEYLESS-GO*You can start your vehicle without the
SmartKey in the starter switch using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the
gear selector lever.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Do not depress accelerator.
Depress the brake pedal during the
starting procedure.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Warning!G
As long as the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
i s i n y o u r v e h i c l e , t h e v e h i c l e c a n b e s t a rt e d .
Therefore, never leave children unattended
in the vehicle, as they could otherwise acci-
dentally start the engine.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle.
Page 53 of 481

52 Getting started
Driving
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
1USA only
2Canada only
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
once.
The engine starts if the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is in the vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off the en-
gine with KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 61).Starting difficulties
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time,
it can no longer be turned in the switch. In
this case, the steering is locked.
To unlock, remove SmartKey from
starter switch and reinsert.
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey, turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Repeat the starting procedure
(
page 50).
Remember that extended starting at-
tempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (page 425).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Page 54 of 481
53 Getting started
Driving
Parking brake
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedalRelease the parking brake by pulling on
release handle1.
The indicator lamp; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the clock
goes out.
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, which could result in an acci-
dent and/or serious personal injury.
Page 58 of 481

57 Getting started
Driving
Single wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow1 to the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 past the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 312).
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when the
vehicle is at a standstill and a door is opened.
This protects persons getting into or out of the
vehicle from being sprayed.
Intermittent wiping will be continued when
all doors are closed
and
the gear selector lever is in position D or R
or
the wiper setting is changed using the com-
bination switch.
iTo prevent smears on the windshield, or
noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with wind-
shield washer fluid every now and then even
when it is raining.
!If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off immediate-
ly.
For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location and,
remove SmartKey from starter switch
or
turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
open the driver’s door (with the driver’s
door open, starter switch is in position 0,
same as with SmartKey removed from
starter switch)
before attempting to remove any blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at all in com-
bination switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the next high-
er wiper speed
have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Page 60 of 481

59 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.Parking brake
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury, or
damage to the vehicle or the vehicle
drivetrain, as a result of vehicle movement,
always do the following before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle:
Keep right foot firmly on brake pedal.
Firmly depress parking brake pedal.
Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.
Slowly release brake pedal.
When parked on an incline, always turn
the front wheels towards the road curb.
Turn the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button.
Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Warning!G
Do not engage the parking brake while the
vehicle is in motion. Doing so can cause the
rear wheels to lock up. You could lose con-
trol of the vehicle and cause an accident. In
addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not
light up when the parking brake is engaged,
which could endanger other road users.