2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E63AMG warning light

62 Getting startedParking and lockingParking brake
1Release handle
2Parking brake pedal

Step firmly on parking brake pedal2.
When the engine is running, the warn-
ing lamp ; (USA only) or 3
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
will be illuminated.
Warning!
G
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to
lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident. In addition, the vehi-
cle’s brake lights do not light up when the
parking brake is engaged. Make sure not to
endanger any other road users when you en-
gage the parking brake.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take
it with you and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake and/or
move the gear selector lever from
positionP, either of which could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.

63 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(page 56).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 137).
Turning off engine 
Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.

Apply the parking brake (
page 62).Turning off with the SmartKey

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
(page 38) to position0 and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP.
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
i
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels towards the
road curb.
i
The SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the gear selector lever in
positionP.

65 Getting started
Parking and locking

Exit the vehicle and close all doors and
the trunk.
Locking with the SmartKey

After exiting the vehicle, press lock
button‹ on the SmartKey
(page 36).


All turn signal lamps flash three
times.


An acoustic signal sounds three
times.


The locking knobs in the doors
move down.


The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see the “Controls in
detail” section (
page 110).Locking with KEYLESS-GO*
1Lock button

After exiting the vehicle, press lock
button1 on an outside door handle.

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.


An acoustic signal sounds three
times.


The locking knobs in the doors
move down.


The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 113).
i
If you hear a warning signal you have forgot-
ten to switch off the headlamps before opening
the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the headlamps.

87 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In such cases, the following systems are
automatically activated:

The front seat belts are pre-tensioned
electrically.


If the vehicle is in a severe skid or is
spinning, the door windows and the
tilt/sliding sunroof close until a small
gap remains.
Vehicles with front passenger seat memo-
ry function*:


If the seat is in an unfavorable position,
it will be adjusted to a better position.If the seat belts do not release:

Adjust the backrest or seat slightly to
the rear until the seat belt tension is di-
minished.
The locking mechanism releases.
Active head restraints
The active head restraints are intended to
offer the driver and front passenger in-
creased protection from whiplash type in-
juries. In the event of a rear-end collision,
the active head restraints on the driver’s
and front passenger’s seats are designed
to move forward in the direction of travel,
providing the head with increased support
earlier on in the collision sequence. The ac-
tive head restraints move forward whether
the seat is occupied or not.
i
If the closing procedure of the tilt/sliding
sunroof or door window is blocked, the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof or door window will stop and open
slightly.
i
The PRE-SAFE
® system is activated in the
previously described circumstances only at
speeds exceeding 20 mph (30 km/h).
When the critical driving dynamic situation has
passed without an accident occurring, the
pre-tensioning on the seat belts is deactivated.
You can then adjust the seat, the door windows
and the tilt/sliding sunroof to their previous po-
sition.
Warning!
G
Do not attach any objects (e.g. hangers) to
the head restraint posts. Otherwise, the ac-
tive head restraints may not function prop-
erly or offer the degree of protection they
were designed for in the event of a collision.

89 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Infant and child restraint systems
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Canada only:
Use only a BabySmart
TM compatible child
restraint for the front passenger seat in
this vehicle.
All lap-shoulder belts except the driver’s
seat belt have special seat belt retractors
for secure fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child
restraint instructions for mounting. Then
pull the shoulder belt out completely and
let it retract. During seat belt retraction, a
ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate
that the special seat belt retractor is acti-
vated. The seat belt is now locked. Push
down on child restraint to take up any
slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. The seat
belt can again be used in the usual man-
ner.The use of infant or child restraints is
required by law in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be
seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system properly secured in
accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions for the child restraint, that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards 213 and 225 and
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
If children open a door, they could

injure other persons


get out of the vehicle and injure them-
selves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk unless
they are firmly secured in place. For more in-
formation, see “Loading” (
page 273) and
“Useful features” (
page 282).
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the event
of:


strong braking maneuvers


sudden changes of direction


an accident
Warning!
G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.i
Information on child seats with mounting fit-
tings for tether anchorages (
page 92).
For information on LATCH-type child seat an-
chors (
page 94).

97 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)


Adaptive Brake


BAS (B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)


EBP (E
lectronic B
rake P
roportioning)


ESP
® (E
lectronic S
tability P
rogram)


4MATIC (Four Wheel Electronic
Traction System)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even to light brake pressure.
The - indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when you switch on the
ignition. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
Warning!
G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns


Wet and slippery road surfaces


Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, ESP
®, Adaptive Brake, and
4MATIC cannot reduce this risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
i
In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS, the BAS, the EBP, the
ESP®, and 4MATIC is only achieved with winter
tires (page 364), or snow chains as required.
Warning!
G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

98 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsBraking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the
pulsation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.Emergency brake maneuver

Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 380).
Warning!
G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS
and the ESP
® are also switched off.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the brak-
ing distance.
Warning!
G
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency be-
yond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction af-
forded. The ABS cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ABS equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner which could jeop-
ardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.

120 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Front doors
Pull on door handle2 on the respec-
tive front door to open door.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
Rear doors

Pull up locking knob1 on the
respective rear door to unlock door.

Pull on door handle2 on the
respective rear door to open door.
Opening the trunk
You can open the trunk if the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
A minimum height clearance of 5.90 ft
(1.80 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
i
If the vehicle has previously been locked
with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, opening a
door from the inside will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:


Press button Œ or ‹ on the SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.


Insert the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch.
In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*


Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 39).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
inside the vehicle.


Pull an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
i
If you hear a warning signal you have forgot-
ten to switch off the headlamps before opening
the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the headlamps.
Warning!
G
Make sure the trunk is closed when the en-
gine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, such as blocked visibility, ex-
haust fumes may enter the vehicle interior.
These fumes are damaging to your health.!
The trunk lid swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.