30 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
285
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
39
3
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
52,
187
4
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS) switch
1
1Only available on E 63 AMG.
262
5
Vehicle level control switch
1
265
Item
Page
6
Thumbwheel for setting
distance for Distronic*
257
7
Distance warning function*
on/off switch
258
8
Program mode selector
switch for automatic
transmission
193
39 Getting started
Unlocking
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is inside
the vehicle, pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button on the gear selector le-
ver corresponds to turning the SmartKey
to the various starter switch positions.
If you firmly depress the brake pedal dur-
ing pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button, the engine starts automatically.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO start/
stop button, the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status 0 (as with SmartKey
removed).
Position 1
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.
i
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button
once again, the ignition (position2) is
switched on
twice, the power supply is again switched off
40 Getting startedUnlockingIgnition (or position 2)
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
twice.
This supplies power for all electrical
consumers. All lamps in the instrument
cluster (except low beam headlamp in-
dicator lamp, high beam headlamp
indicator lamp, and turn signal indica-
tor lamps unless activated) come on. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster fails to
come on when the ignition is switched
on, have it checked and replaced if nec-
essary. If a lamp in the instrument clus-
ter remains on after starting the engine
or comes on while driving, see “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 378).For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 53).
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power supply is
again switched off.
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except low beam head-
lamp indicator lamp, high beam headlamp
indicator lamp, and turn signal indicator lamps
unless activated) in the instrument cluster come
on. The indicator and warning lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps if activated) should go out when the en-
gine is running. This indicates that the respective
systems are operational.
46 Getting startedAdjustingEasy-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 activat-
ed or deactivated in the
Convenience
sub-
menu of the control system (
page 181).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 39) once
with the driver’s door closedWith 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 position 0
or 1 or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 39) in position 1
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
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.
Press one of the memory position
buttons (
page 139).
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.i
The last set steering wheel position is stored
when
the ignition is switched off (
page 63)
the position is stored in memory
(page 139)
i
If the current position for the steering wheel
is in the uppermost tilt position, the steering
wheel will no longer be able to move upward
when the easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly interrupted
when the engine is started.
53 Getting started
Driving
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.
For information on turning off the engine
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 64).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Depress the brake pedal during the
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
once.
The engine starts if the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is in the vehicle.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 the
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.
Warning!
G
As long as the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is in your vehicle, the vehicle can be started.
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.
57 Getting started
Driving
The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Switch on the ignition (
page 37).
i
To signal minor directional changes such as
changing lanes, press combination switch only
to point of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three times.
!
Do not operate the windshield wipers when
the windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/or
damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on
a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the
windshield wipers in dry weather conditions, al-
ways operate the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid (
page 59).
!
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
position0, same as with SmartKey re-
moved from starter switch)
before attempting to remove any blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on again.
61 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.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
Vehicles with Airmatic: If you have selected
the Comfort suspension tuning
(page 262), the vehicle lowers slightly
when it is locked. You should therefore
make sure that no one is standing near the
wheel arches or lying underneath the vehi-
cle when it is being locked. Otherwise, per-
sonal injury could result.
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 drivetrain, as a result
of vehicle movement, before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle always:
Keep right foot on brake pedal.
Firmly depress parking brake pedal.
Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.
Slowly release brake pedal.
When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.
Turn the SmartKey to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
start / stop button (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*).
Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* and lock vehicle when
leaving.
!
Vehicles with Airmatic: If you have selected
the Comfort suspension tuning (
page 262),
the vehicle lowers slightly when you lock it within
approximately 60 seconds after switching off the
engine. When parking, make sure that your vehi-
cle cannot come into contact with other objects,
such as a curb, while lowering. Your vehicle
could otherwise be damaged.
64 Getting startedParking and lockingTurning off with KEYLESS-GO*
Place the gear selector lever inP.
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 38).
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(page 50).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
Locking
i
If you hear a warning signal, you have tried
to turn off the engine while the gear selector le-
ver was not in positionP.
In addition, the message
Gear selector le-
ver in Park position appears in the multi-
function display.
Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
!
Make sure the seat belt retracts fully so that
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 Limited 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 that there
is no possibility of someone getting caught
in a door during closing.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you, and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. A child’s unsupervised access to a vehi-
cle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.