Contents
Settings menu .............................. 146
Trip computer menu..................... 157
TEL menu ..................................... 159
Automatic transmission ..................... 162
Gear selector lever ....................... 162
Shifting procedure ....................... 163
Gear selector lever positions ....... 164
Driving tips ................................... 166
Gear ranges ................................. 167
One-touch gearshifting................. 168
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 169
Transfer case ..................................... 170
Transfer case position .................. 170
Switching transfer case................ 170
Differential locks ............................... 173
A few words about differentials
and differential locks.................... 174
Switching differential locks on
and off.......................................... 175
Good visibility .................................... 177
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 177
Rear view mirrors ......................... 177
Sun visors .................................... 179
Windshield defroster .................... 180
Rear window defroster ................. 181Climate control ................................... 182
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 185
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 185
Setting the temperature................ 185
Adjusting air distribution............... 186
Adjusting air volume ..................... 186
Front defroster.............................. 187
Air recirculation mode .................. 188
Air conditioning............................. 189
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 190
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 191
Power windows .................................. 192
Opening and closing ..................... 192
Summer opening feature .............. 193
Convenience closing feature......... 194
Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 195
Opening and closing ..................... 195
Driving systems .................................. 197
Cruise control ............................... 197
Rear Parking Assist ....................... 200
Rear view camera ......................... 203Loading .............................................. 206
Roof rack ...................................... 206
Expanding cargo compartment ..... 206
Split rear seat bench .................... 206
Loading instructions ..................... 208
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 209
Partition net* (MB Accessory) ...... 210
Cargo compartment cover blind ... 214
Useful features ................................... 215
Storage compartments ................. 215
Ashtrays........................................ 220
Cigarette lighter ............................ 222
Electrical outlet............................. 223
Floormats ..................................... 224
Heated steering wheel .................. 225
Telephone* ................................... 226
Tele Aid ......................................... 229
Garage door opener ...................... 236
31 At a glance
Center console
Lower partItemPage
1Storage tray
2Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission54,
162
3Transfer case switch170
4Parking brake lever55,
62
54 Getting started
Driving
Starting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral position
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 162).Starting
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to park positionP.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 (
page 39) and release it
again immediately. The engine starts
automatically.
For information on turning off the engine,
see “Turning off engine” (
page 64).
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 the SmartKey from
the starter switch and reinsert.
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 and repeat the starting
procedure.
Warning!G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open.
56 Getting started
Driving
After a cold start, the transmission shifts at
a higher engine revolution. This allows the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 245).
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 253).
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch
1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The low beam headlamp indicator
lampB in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
iOnce the vehicle is in motion, the automatic
central locking system engages and the locking
knobs drop down.
The automatic door lock feature can be deacti-
vated (
page 155).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP or N if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Do not run cold engine at high engine speed.
Running a cold engine at high engine speed may
shorten the service life of the engine.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
99
Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Transfer case
Differential locks
Good visibility
Climate control
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features
162 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
For more information on driving with an
automatic transmission, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 54).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its shift program.
Gear selector lever
The gear selector lever is located on the
lower part of the center console.
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral position
DDrive position
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the catalytic
converter to heat up more quickly to operating
temperature.
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedal’s range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
163 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:
gear selector lever positionD
(
page 164) with gear ranges
(
page 167)
transfer case position (HIGH or LOW)
(
page 170)
the position of the accelerator pedal
(
page 166)
the vehicle speedWhen the gear selector lever is in drive
positionD, you can influence transmission
shifting by:
limiting the gear range
changing gears manually
iThe current gear selector lever positionP,
R,N, orD appears in the multifunction display
(
page 164).
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out of park positionP or neutral
positionN if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
164 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear selector lever positions
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the multifunction display.
1Current gear selector lever positionEffect
ìPark position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in park
positionP only when vehicle is
stopped. The park position is not
intended to serve as a brake
when the vehicle is parked.
Rather, the driver should always
set the parking brake in addition
to placing the gear selector lever
in park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
Effect
The SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
park positionP. With the
SmartKey removed, the gear
selector lever is locked in park
positionP.
If the vehicle’s electrical system
is malfunctioning, the gear
selector lever could remain
locked in park positionP
(
page 373).
íReverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.