Page 6 of 457

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 
     
        
        Page 31 of 457
30 At a glance
Center console
Upper partItemPage
1Seat heating, driver’s side112
2Windshield defroster switch180
3Rear window wiper/washer 
switch60
4Electronic Stability Program 
(ESP®) switch
94
5Differential lock switches175
6Central unlocking switch107
Central locking switch107
7Alarm system indicator lamp97
Tow-away alarm off switch98
8Seat heating, front passenger 
side112
ItemPage
9Hazard warning flasher switch124
aFront passenger front air bag 
off indicator lamp81,
337
bCOMAND system, see 
separate operating 
instructions
cClimate control182
dAshtray220
Cigarette lighter222 
     
        
        Page 100 of 457
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 
     
        
        Page 182 of 457

181 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Activating
Press switch1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
Deactivating
Press switch1 once more.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large 
amount of power. To keep battery drain to 
a minimum, switch off the rear window 
defroster as soon as the rear window is 
clear.
The rear window defroster switches off 
automatically after approximately 6 to 
17 minutes of operation depending on the 
outside temperature.
Switch on the ignition (
page 39).Activating
Press button1 orF on the 
respective climate control panel 
(
page 183).
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on.
Deactivating
Press button1 orF once more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out.!If too many electrical consumers are 
operating simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery, indicator lamp2 in 
windshield defroster switch1 starts flashing. 
After approximately 30 seconds the system 
responds automatically by switching the 
windshield defroster off.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be 
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired, 
endangering you and others.
!If the rear window defroster switches off too 
soon and the indicator lamp in button1 
orF starts flashing, too many electrical 
consumers are operating simultaneously and 
there is insufficient voltage in the battery. The 
system responds automatically by switching the 
rear window defroster off.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the 
rear window defroster switches back on auto-
matically. 
     
        
        Page 183 of 457
182 Controls in detail
Climate control 
     
        
        Page 184 of 457

183 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel (U.S. vehicles)
Climate control panel (Canada vehicles)
Item
1Left side defroster air vent, fixed
2Left side air vent, adjustable
3Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for left side air vent
4Left front defroster air vent
5Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for left center air vent
6Left center air vent, adjustable
7Right center air vent, adjustable
8Thumbwheel for air volume control 
for right center air vent
9Right front defroster air vent
aThumbwheel for air volume control 
for right side air vent
bRight side air vent, adjustable
cRight side defroster air vent, fixed
dRight footwell air vent
eClimate control panel
fLeft footwell air vent
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders 
for the center air vents and side air vents to the 
middle position.Item
1Air volume control
2Left side temperature control
3Right side temperature control
4Air distribution control
5Rear window defroster (page 181)
6AC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
7Air distribution and air volume 
(automatic mode)
8Air recirculation
9Front defroster 
     
        
        Page 185 of 457

184 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. You can oper-
ate the climate control system in either the 
automatic or manual mode. The system 
cools or heats the interior depending on 
the selected interior temperature and the 
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and 
odors are filtered out before outside air 
enters the passenger compartment 
through the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no 
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated 
(
page 189).
Warning!G
When operating the climate control, the air 
that enters the passenger compartment 
through the air vents can be very hot or very 
cold (depending on the set temperature). 
This may cause burns or frostbite on unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air 
vents. Always keep sufficient distance 
between unprotected parts of the body and 
the air vents. If necessary, use the air distri-
bution control (
page 186) to direct the air 
to air vents in the vehicle interior that are 
not in the immediate area of unprotected 
skin.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for 
heating and cooling given on the following 
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up, 
impairing visibility and endangering you and 
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollution) 
may require replacement of the filter before its 
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce 
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior 
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (
page 193). The climate control will then 
adjust the interior temperature to the set value 
much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris. 
     
        
        Page 186 of 457

185 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating the climate control 
system
Deactivating
Set air volume control1 (page 183) 
to position0.
Reactivating
Make sure the ignition is switched on 
(
page 39).
Set air volume control1 (page 183) 
to any speed.
The previous settings are once again in 
effect.Operating the climate control system 
in automatic mode
Activating
Press buttonU (page 183) while 
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button 
comes on. The air volume and air 
distribution are adjusted automatically.
Use temperature controls2 and3 
(
page 183) to separately adjust the 
air temperature on each side of the 
passenger compartment.
The interior air temperature is adjusted 
automatically.Deactivating
Press buttonU (page 183) once 
more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes 
out. The automatic operation of the air 
volume and air distribution switches 
off.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls2 and3 
(
page 183) to separately adjust the air 
temperature on each side of the passenger 
compartment. You should raise or lower 
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C). 
The climate control will adjust to the set 
temperature as fast as possible.
Warning!G
When the climate control is switched off, the 
outside air supply and circulation are also 
switched off. Only choose this setting for a 
short time. Otherwise the windows could 
fog up, impairing visibility and endangering 
you and others.
iWhen operating the climate control system 
in automatic mode, you will only rarely need to 
adjust the temperature, air volume and air 
distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify is 
switched on. This function can be switched off 
by pressing button9 if necessary 
(
page 189).