Page 161 of 505

160 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting the date (year)
This function can only be seen in vehicles
with audio system.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Time/Date
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Set date year
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the year
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to set the
year.Lighting submenu
Access the
Lighting submenu via the Set-
tings
menu. Use the Lighting submenu
to change the lamp and lighting settings on
your vehicle.
The following functions are available:Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Headlamp mode ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to select
manual operation (
Manual) or daytime
running lamp mode (
Constant) activat-
ed.
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the date in COMAND,
refer to the separate COMAND operating in-
structions.
FunctionPage
Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)160
Setting locator lighting161
Setting night security
illumination162
Setting interior lighting delayed
shut-off163
iThis function is not available in countries
where the daytime running lamp mode is
mandatory and therefore in a constant mode.
Page 162 of 505

161 Controls in detail
Control system
With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM or U the low beam
headlamps are switched on when the
engine is running.
In low ambient light conditions the
following lamps will switch on additionally:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime run-
ning lamp mode, see “Lighting”
(
page 126).Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU, the following lamps will
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked using buttonŒ on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after
approximately 40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Surround lighting
function
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the locator lighting function
On or Off
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position U when exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is
activated.
iFor safety reasons, resetting the Lighting
submenu to factory settings (
page 154) while
driving will not deactivate the daytime running
lamp mode.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Lighting - Cannot be completely reset
to factory settings while driving.
Page 163 of 505

162 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off feature)
Use this function to set whether you would
like the exterior lamps to remain on for
15 seconds during darkness after exiting
the vehicle and closing all doors.
With the headlamps delayed shut-off
feature activated and the exterior lamp
switch in positionU before the engine
is turned off, the following lamps will
switch on when the engine is turned off:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
If after turning off the engine you do not
open a door or do not close an opened
door, the lamps will automatically switch
off after 60 seconds.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Headlamps delayed
shut-off
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the headlamps delayed shut-off feature
Onor Off.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position U before turning off the
engine.
The headlamps delayed shut-off
feature is activated.You can temporarily deactivate the head-
lamp delayed shut-off feature:
Before exiting the vehicle, turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0.
Then turn it to position2 and back
to0.
The headlamp delayed shut-off feature
is deactivated. It will reactivate as soon
as you reinsert the SmartKey in the
starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the gear selector lever
(
page 38).
Page 164 of 505

163 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting interior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether you would
like the interior lighting to remain on for
10 seconds during darkness after you have
removed the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Interior lamp de-
layed shut-off
appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to switch
the interior lighting delayed shut-off
feature
On or Off.Vehicle submenu
Access the
Vehicle submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Vehicle submenu
to make general vehicle settings.
The following function is available:
Selecting audio search function
Use of the
Audio Search function to
select a radio station (
page 149) will
enable you to start a frequency scan
(
Freq.) or select a radio station stored in
memory (
Memory).
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ orç to the
Vehicle
submenu.
Press buttonj ork repeatedly
until the message
Audio Search function appears in the
multifunction display.The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ or ç to set the
audio search function to
Freq.
or
Memory.
To select a radio station, see “Selecting ra-
dio station” (
page 149).
FunctionPage
Selecting audio search function163
Setting automatic locking164
Page 175 of 505

174 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
Leave the transmission in gear.
Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop for a longer period of time
with the engine idling and/or on a hill:
Set the parking brake.
Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:
Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.
Accelerate gently.
Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Working on the vehicle
Warning!G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move gear selector lever
to park positionP. Otherwise the vehicle
could roll away.
Page 186 of 505

185 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when
the ignition is switched on,
and
incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror.
The rear view mirror will not react if
reverse gear R is engaged
the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the wind screen is
installed.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
!Electrolyte drops coming into contact with
the vehicle paint finish can be completely re-
moved only while in the liquid state and by apply-
ing plenty of water.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
Page 187 of 505
186 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
Swing sun visor4 down when you
experience glare.1Vanity mirror lamp
2Vanity mirror cover
3Mounting
4Sun visor
To use the illuminated vanity mirror, lift
up mirror cover2.If sunlight enters through a side window:
disengage sun visor from mounting3.
pivot sun visor to the side.
The sun visors are extendable.
Adjust the sun visors by pushing or
pulling in the direction of the arrows.
Warning!G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the vanity mirrors in the sun visors
closed while vehicle is in motion. Reflected
glare can endanger you and others.
iIf sun visor4 is disengaged from
mounting3 with vanity mirror cover2 open,
vanity mirror lamp1 will switch off.
!Close vanity mirror cover2 (if open) before
you disengage the sun visor4 from
mounting3 and pivot it to the side.
Page 193 of 505

192 Controls in detail
Climate control
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls2 and3
(
page 189) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Turn temperature control2
and/or3 (
page 189) slightly clock-
wise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.Decreasing
Turn temperature control2
and/or3 (
page 189) slightly coun-
terclockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution control4
(
page 189) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are located on the
controls:
iIf you turn the temperature control fully
clockwise for one side of the vehicle, you are in-
creasing the temperature for the other side of
the vehicle as well.
iIf you turn the temperature control fully
counterclockwise for one side of the vehicle, you
are decreasing the temperature for the other
side of the vehicle as well.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the center,
side and rear passenger
compartment air vents
ZDirects air to the windshield
and the side defroster vents
bDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
YDirects air to the footwells