Contents
Instrument cluster ............................. 148
Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination .................................. 148
Coolant temperature indicator ..... 149
Trip odometer .............................. 149
Tachometer .................................. 149
Outside temperature indicator ..... 150
Control system .................................. 151
Multifunction display .................... 151
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 152
Menus .......................................... 154
Standard display menu ................ 157
AMG menu ................................... 157
AUDIO menu ................................ 161
NAV* menu .................................. 163
Distronic* menu........................... 163
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 164
Settings menu .............................. 166
Trip computer menu..................... 179
TEL* menu ................................... 181
Automatic transmission ..................... 184
Gear selector lever ....................... 184
Shifting procedure ....................... 185
Gear selector lever positions ....... 186
Driving tips ................................... 188Gear ranges .................................. 189
Automatic shift program ............... 190
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting ................................... 191
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* ................ 192
Manual shift program E 63 AMG ... 194
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ....................... 197
Good visibility ..................................... 198
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 198
Rear view mirrors .......................... 198
Sun visors ..................................... 201
Rear window sunshade* ............... 202
Roller sunblind* in the rear doors
(Canada only) ................................ 202
Rear window defroster .................. 203
Dual-zone automatic climate control .. 204
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 209
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 209
Setting the temperature................ 210
Adjusting air distribution............... 211
Adjusting air volume ..................... 212
Front defroster.............................. 212Maximum cooling MAX COOL
(USA only) ..................................... 214
Air recirculation mode .................. 214
Air conditioning ............................ 217
Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only)................................ 218
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 219
4-zone automatic climate control ....... 220
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 225
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode ........... 226
Setting the temperature ............... 227
Adjusting air distribution .............. 228
Adjusting air volume ..................... 229
Front defroster ............................. 229
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
(USA only) ..................................... 230
Air recirculation mode .................. 231
Air conditioning ............................ 233
Residual heat and ventilation
(Canada only)................................ 234
Rear climate control ..................... 235
ContentsPower windows .................................. 237
Opening and closing the windows 237
Synchronizing power windows ..... 239
Summer opening feature .............. 239
Convenience closing feature ........ 240
Power tilt/sliding sunroof .................. 242
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof ....................... 242
Synchronizing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof ....................... 244
Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel* .............................. 245
Opening and closing the roller
sunblinds for the panorama roof
with power tilt/sliding panel ........ 245
Opening and closing the
panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel........................... 246
Synchronizing the panorama
roof with power tilt/sliding panel . 248
Driving systems ................................. 249
Cruise control............................... 249
Distronic*..................................... 252
Airmatic DC (Dual Control)
(only available on E 550,
E 550 4MATIC, E 63 AMG) ........... 265Parktronic system
(Parking assist)*........................... 269
Loading .............................................. 273
Roof rack*.................................... 273
Ski bag* (Canada only) ................ 274
Split rear bench seat* .................. 276
Expanding the cargo area*........... 279
Loading instructions..................... 279
Cargo tie-down rings* .................. 280
Retaining hooks ........................... 281
Useful features .................................. 282
Storage compartments ................ 282
Cup holders.................................. 284
Ashtrays ....................................... 287
Cigarette lighter ........................... 288
Power outlet................................. 289
Heated steering wheel
(Canada only) ............................... 289
Floormats ..................................... 290
Telephone* .................................. 291
Tele Aid ........................................ 294
Garage door opener ..................... 301
Operation......................................... 307
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ........ 308
Driving instructions ........................... 309
Drive sensibly – save fuel............. 309
Drinking and driving ..................... 309
Pedals .......................................... 309
Power assistance ......................... 310
Brakes.......................................... 310
Driving off .................................... 312
Parking......................................... 313
Tires ............................................. 313
Hydroplaning................................ 314
Tire traction ................................. 314
Tire speed rating .......................... 315
Winter driving instructions ........... 316
Standing water............................. 317
Passenger compartment .............. 317
Driving abroad ............................. 317
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 318
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine).......................... 318
Oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) 319
Emission control .......................... 319
Coolant temperature.................... 320
25 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch
Turn signals
57
Windshield wipers
58
High beam
57
2
Cruise control lever
Cruise control
249
Distronic*
252
3
Instrument cluster
26,
148
4
Multifunction steering
wheel
28,
152
5
Horn
6
Lever for Voice Control
System*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
7
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
269
8
Dual-zone automatic
climate control
204
4-zone automatic climate
control*
220
9
Overhead control panel
31
a
Mobile phone/Glasses box
282
b
Glove box lid release, glove
box lock
282
c
Glove box
282
d
COMAND system, see sepa-
rate operating instructions
e
Center console
29
Item
Page
f
Starter switch
38
g
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
45
Heated steering wheel
(Canada only)
289
h
Headlamp cleaning button*
198
j
Parking brake pedal
55, 62
k
Hood lock release
325
l
Parking brake release
55
m
Door control panel
34
n
Exterior lamp switch
137
o
Steering wheel gearshift
control*
192
27 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2
vESP
® warning lamp
381
3
Speedometer
4
Multifunction display
151
5
lDistance warning lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates when the
ignition is on. It should go out
when the engine is running.
387
6
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
7
Coolant temperature
indicator with:
149
•Coolant temperature
warning lamp
386
Item
Page
8
Tachometer with:1Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)
indicator lamp
390
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp
380
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp
56
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
142
9
Main odometer with:
Gear selector lever
position
52
Program mode
190
a
Clock with:
171
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
383
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
383
Item
Page
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
384
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
384
HLow tire pressure tell-
tale*, Canada only
391
qPreglow indicator
lamp, diesel engine
only
53
b
Fuel display with:AFuel tank reserve
warning lamp
387
c
Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer
149
Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination
148
Confirming new time
settings
171
30 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
287
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
39
3
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
52,
186
4
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
272
5
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS) switch
1
1Only available on E550, E 550 4MATIC and
E63AMG.
265
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control switch
1
266
7
Thumbwheel for setting
distance for Distronic*
261
8
Distance warning function*
on/off switch
261
9
Program mode selector
switch for automatic
transmission
190
102 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsSwitching off the ESP
®
Switching off the ESP
®
(except E 63 AMG)
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:
when driving with snow chains
in deep snow
in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®
the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle
the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip
the traction control will still apply the
brakes to a spinning wheel
the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are braking
you cannot activate the cruise control
or the Distronic*
the cruise control or Distronic* switch
off if currently activatedThe switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1ESP
® switch
With the engine running, press ESP
®
switch1 until the ESP
® warning
lampv in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ESP
® is switched off.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in driving
maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
Warning!
G
Switch on the ESP
® immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply any-
more. Otherwise the ESP
® will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.
i
When the ESP
® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP
® warn-
ing lamp v in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the ve-
hicle.
103 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Switching off the ESP
® (E 63 AMG only)When you switch off the ESP
®
the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle
the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin
the traction control will still apply the
brakes to a spinning wheel
the ESP
® operates while you are brak-
ing
you cannot activate the cruise control
or the Distronic*
the cruise control or Distronic* switch
off if currently activated
Warning!
G
When the ESP
® warning lamp v is
illuminated continuously, the ESP
® is
switched off or is not operational due to a
malfunction. Vehicle stability in standard
driving maneuvers is reduced.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an ex-
tended period with the ESP
® switched off. This
may cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving. Disabling of the system will
result in the following:
no restriction to engine torque
loss of system supported traction
control
“ESP® O F F ” i s d e s i g n e d f or driving on closed
tracks when the vehicle’s natural oversteer
and understeer characteristics are desired
and requires a highly skilled and experi-
enced driver able to handle these critical
driving situations.
You could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Please be aware of these limits when you
switch off the ESP
®.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
i
When the ESP
® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP
® warn-
ing lamp v in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the ve-
hicle.
155 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Standard display
AMG
1
1AMG vehicles only.
AUDIO
NAV*
Distronic*
(page 157)
(page 157)
(page 161)
(page 163)
(page 163)
Commands/submenusDigital speedometer
Engine oil temperature
Selecting radio station
Show route guidance in-
structions, current direc-
tion traveled
Calling up settings
Calling up maintenance
system display
Vehicle supply voltage
Selecting satellite radio
station*
RACETIMER
Operating CD player
Overall analysisLap analysis