219 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cup holdersCup holder next to armrest
1Cupholder
2Cupholder base
Place bracket of cup holder1 into
recess (indicated by arrow) of
cupholder base2.
If the cup holder is no longer in use, it can
for example, be stored in the glove box or
storage compartment below the armrest.
Warning!G
In order to help prevent spilling liquids on
vehicle occupants and/or vehicle equip-
ment, only use containers that fit into the
cup holder. Use lids on open containers and
do not fill containers to a height where the
contents, especially hot liquids, could spill
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an
accident. Liquids spilled on vehicle occu-
pants may cause serious personal injury.
Liquids spilled on vehicle equipment may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
When not in use, keep the cup holder
closed. An open cup holder may cause injury
to you or others when contacted during
braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an acci-
dent.
Keep in mind that objects placed in the cup
holder may come loose during braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or in an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior.
Objects thrown around in the vehicle
interior may cause an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
221 Controls in detail
Useful features
Opening the ashtray
Briefly touch at top of cover plate3.
The ashtray opens automatically.
Removing the ashtray insert
Secure the vehicle from movement by
setting the parking brake.
Move the gear selector lever to neutral
positionN.
Now you have more room to take out
the ashtray insert.
Turn off the engine.4Sliding button
5Astray insert
Push sliding button4 to the right.
Ashtray insert5 disengages and
protrudes a short distance.
Remove ashtray insert5 from ashtray
frame in direction of the arrow.Reinstalling the ashtray insert
Push ashtray insert5 down into the
ashtray frame until it engages.
Push at top of cover plate3 to close
the ashtray.
Cover plate3 engages.
Ashtrays in the rear passenger
compartment
There is located one ashtray on each rear
passenger door.
1Cover
2Catch
3Ashtray insert
Warning!G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Set the parking brake to secure the
vehicle from movement. Move gear selector
lever to neutral positionN. With the gear se-
lector lever in neutral positionN turn off the
engine.
222 Controls in detail
Useful features
Opening the ashtray
Pull at top of cover1.
Removing the ashtray insert
Push down on catch2.
Pull out ashtray insert3.
Reinstalling the ashtray insert
Position ashtray insert3.
Push at top of cover1 to close the
ashtray.
Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition (page 39).1Cigarette lighter
Briefly touch at top of the cover plate.
The ashtray opens automatically.
Push in cigarette lighter1.
The cigarette lighter will pop out
automatically when hot.
Warning!G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the cigarette lighter; they are extremely hot.
Hold the knob only.
Make sure that any children traveling with
you do not injure themselves or start a fire
with the hot cigarette lighter.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey 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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
224 Controls in detail
Useful features
Power outlet in rear passenger footwell
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).Power outlet in cargo compartment
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigarette lighter type).
Floormats
NN
Warning!G
Whenever you are using floormats, make
sure there is enough clearance and the
floormats are securely fastened.
Floormats should always be securely fas-
tened using the eyelets and retainer pins.
Before driving off, check that the floormats
are securely in place and adjust them if
necessary. A loose floormat could slip and
hinder proper functioning of the pedals.
Do not place several floormats on top of
each other as this may impair pedal move-
ment.
iTo install or remove the floormat more
easily, move the driver’s seat or front passenger
seat as far to the rear as possible (
page 42).
226 Controls in detail
Useful features
Telephone*
Radio transmitters, such as a portable tele-
phone or a citizens band unit, should only
be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
The external antenna must be approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
for information on the installation of an
approved external antenna. Refer to the
radio transmitter operation instructions
regarding use of an external antenna.When the mobile phone is inserted in the
cradle, you can operate the telephone
using the following devices:
mobile phone keypad
COMAND system (see separate
operating instructions)
buttonss andt on the multi-
function steering wheel (
page 134)
Voice Control System* (see separate
operating instructions)
Warning!G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system,
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle.
A driver’s attention to the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we
recommend that you pull over to a safe
location and stop before placing or taking a
telephone call.
If you choose to use the telephone
1 while
driving, please use the hands-free device
and only use the telephone when road,
weather and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile telephone while driving a vehicle.
Only operate the COMAND system
1 if road,
weather and traffic conditions permit.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just
30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your
vehicle is covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.
1Observe all legal requirements.
iVarious mobile phone cradles can be
installed in the front center armrest, see
separate installation instructions for the mobile
phone cradle. These mobile phone cradles can
be obtained from an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
The functions and services available to you while
using the mobile phone depend on your service
provider and the type of mobile phone you are
using. See also separate operating manual for
instructions on how to use the mobile phone.
230 Controls in detail
Useful features
System self-check
Initially, after switching on the ignition,
malfunctions are detected and indicated
(the indicator lamps in the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• and the
Information button¡ stay on longer
than 10 seconds or do not come on). The
message
Tele Aid inoperative appears
in the multifunction display.Emergency calls
An emergency call is initiated auto-
matically following an accident in which
the emergency tensioning devices (ETDs)
or air bags deploy.
An emergency call can also be initiated
manually by opening the cover next to the
interior rear view mirror labeled SOS, then
briefly pressing the button located under
the cover. See (
page 231) for
instructions on initiating an emergency call
manually.
Once the emergency call is in progress, the
indicator lamp on the SOS button will
begin to flash. The message
Connecting
call
appears in the multifunction display.
When the connection is established, the
message
Call connected appears in the
multifunction display. All information
relevant to the emergency, such as the
location of the vehicle (determined by the
GPS satellite location system), vehicle
model, identification number and color are
generated.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated,
the COMAND system audio is muted and the
selected mode (radio, CD etc.) pauses.
The optional cellular phone (if installed) inserted
in cradle switches off. If you must use this
phone, we recommend that you use it only with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Remove the phone from the cradle and place the
call. The navigation system (if engaged) will con-
tinue to run. The display in the instrument cluster
is available for use, and spoken commands are
only available by pressing the RPT button on the
COMAND system. A pop-up window will appear
in the COMAND system display to indicate that a
Tele Aid call is in progress. After the Tele Aid call
has ended, the optional cellular phone inserted
in the cradle switches on again. A PIN entry
might be necessary.
Warning!G
If the indicator lamps on the SOS button, on
the Roadside Assistance button, and/or on
the Information button remain illuminated
continuously in red and/or the message
Tele Aid inoperative is displayed in the
multifunction display after the system
self-check, a malfunction in the system has
been detected.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined
above, the system may not operate as
expected. Have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
as soon as possible.
231 Controls in detail
Useful features
A voice connection between the Response
Center and the occupants of the vehicle
will be established automatically soon
after the emergency call has been
initiated. The Response Center will
attempt to determine more precisely the
nature of the accident provided they can
speak to an occupant of the vehicle.
The Tele Aid system is available if
it has been activated and is
operational. Activation requires a
subscription for monitoring services,
connection and cellular air time
vehicle battery power is available
the relevant cellular phone network
and GPS signals are available and pass
the information on to the Response
CenterInitiating an emergency call manually
1Cover
2SOS button
Briefly press on cover1.
The cover opens.
Press SOS button2 briefly.
The indicator lamp in SOS button2
will flash until the emergency call is
concluded.iLocation of the vehicle on a map is only
possible if the vehicle is able to receive signals
from the GPS satellite network and pass the
information on to the Response Center.
Warning!G
If the indicator lamp in the SOS button is
flashing continuously and there was no
voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could
not initiate an emergency call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network is not available).
The message
Call failed appears in the
multifunction display for approximately
10 seconds.
Should this occur, assistance must be
summoned by other means.
232 Controls in detail
Useful features
Wait for a voice connection to the
Response Center.
Close cover1 after the emergency
call is concluded.Roadside Assistance button•
The Roadside Assistance button• is
located below the center armrest cover.
1Button to open telephone tray
2Armrest cover
3Roadside Assistance button•
Press button1 and lift up armrest
cover2.
Press and hold button3 (for longer
than 2 seconds).
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance dispatcher will be initiated.
The button will flash while the call is in
progress. The message
Connecting
call
will appear in the multifunction
display.
When the connection is established, the
message
Call connected appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and
location (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
Warning!G
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle,
vehicle in a dangerous road location), please
do not wait for voice contact after you have
pressed the emergency button. Carefully
leave the vehicle and move to a safe loca-
tion. The Response Center will automatically
contact local emergency officials with the
vehicle’s approximate location if they
receive an automatic SOS signal and cannot
make voice contact with the vehicle
occupants.
iWhile the call is connected you can change
to the navigation menu by pressing the NAV
button on the COMAND system headunit.