126 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the tailgate from the outside
You can unlock and open the tailgate
simultaneously from the outside when the
vehicle is at a standstill.
Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* until the tailgate unlocks
and opens.
While the tailgate is opening, an
acoustic signal sounds.
or
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Pull on the handle (
page 124).
The entire vehicle is unlocked and the
tailgate opens. While the tailgate is
opening, an acoustic signal sounds.Opening the tailgate from the inside
You can unlock and open the tailgate si-
multaneously from the driver’s seat when
the vehicle is at a standstill.The switch is located on the door control
panel.
1Remote tailgate switch with indicator
lampPull remote tailgate switch1 until
tailgate begins to open.
The tailgate opens. The indicator lamp
in the remote tailgate switch comes on
and remains lit until the tailgate is
closed. While the tailgate is opening, an
acoustic signal sounds.
Warning!G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted remote tailgate switch or
with the Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. Monitor the
opening procedure carefully to make sure
no one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the opening procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
127 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Limiting opening height of tailgate*
In vehicles with power tailgate*, the tail-
gate opening height can be limited when
transporting goods on a roof rack* (e.g.
presence of an MB roof cargo container*).
When activated, the tailgate opens to
approximately 6.6 ft (2.00 m).
Activate the limiting opening height of
tailgate using the control system
(
page 184).
Closing the tailgate from the inside
You can close the tailgate from the inside
using the remote tailgate switch.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Press remote tailgate switch1
(
page 126) until tailgate begins to
close.
The tailgate closes. While the tailgate is
closing an acoustic signal sounds. The
indicator lamp in the remote tailgate
switch goes out.
To interrupt the closing procedure:
Press or pull remote tailgate switch1
(
page 126).
Warning!G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted switch. Monitor the
closing procedure carefully to make sure no
one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the closing procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the remote tailgate switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
128 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate from the outside
You can close the tailgate from the outside
using the tailgate closing switch or the
Šbutton on the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*. In vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*, you can also simultaneous-
ly lock the vehicle.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high) the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*
1Tailgate closing switch
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
1Tailgate closing switch
Press tailgate closing switch1 or the
Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* briefly.
The tailgate closes and an acoustic
warning sounds.
Warning!G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:
Press tailgate closing switch1
(
page 128).
Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch*1 (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*) (
page 129).
Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
(
page 114) or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 117).
Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
on the driver’s door (
page 126).
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the tailgate closing switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
129 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate and locking the
vehicle from the outside (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with power tailgate and
KEYLESS-GO*, you can close the tailgate
and lock the vehicle simultaneously from
the outside using the KEYLESS-GO*
locking/closing switch.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has
been piled too high), the closing procedure
is stopped and the tailgate reopens.
Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you.1KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing switch
Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch1 briefly.
The tailgate closes automatically. Once
the tailgate is closed, the vehicle locks
if doors are closed. The turn signals
flash three times to confirm locking.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
iDo not place the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the open cargo compartment.
You may lock yourself out.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automatically after
closing it. The turn signals will flash three times
to confirm locking.
Warning!G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following:
Press tailgate closing switch1
(
page 128).
Press KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch*1 (
page 129).
Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* (
page 117).
Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
on the driver’s door (
page 126).
130 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the tailgate lock automati-
cally when the ignition is switched on and
the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
For information on towing the vehicle, see
“Towing the vehicle” (
page 540).
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system
(
page 183).
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate from inside using the central lock-
ing or unlocking switch. This can be useful,
for example, if you want to lock the vehicle
before starting to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or un-
locked with the central locking or unlock-
ing switch.Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the tailgate
closing switch can be operated. Therefore,
do not leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A
child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lockout,
the tailgate will open automatically if a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* is recognized inside the
vehicle.
iYou can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact exceeds a
preset threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when the ignition
is switched on and the wheels are turning at
vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h) or more. You could therefore lock
yourself out when the vehicle
is pushed or towed
is on a test stand
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
131 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
The switches are located in the front-door
control panels.
1Central unlocking switch
2Central locking switch
Locking
Press central locking switch2.
If all doors and the tailgate are closed,
the vehicle locks.Unlocking
Press central unlocking switch1.
The vehicle unlocks.
iYou can open a locked door from inside at
any time. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO*, it will
not unlock using the central unlocking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the
central locking switch:
and the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is set to factory settings, the
complete vehicle is unlocked when a front
door is opened from the inside
and the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is set to selective settings,
only the front door opened from the inside is
unlocked
iWith the passenger-side door opened, you
cannot lock the vehicle with the central locking
switch.
134 Controls in detail
Seats
Return seat into its original position
(
page 134).
The message in the multifunction dis-
play disappears.
For setting the front passenger seat back
into the stored position, see “Recalling po-
sitions from memory” (
page 144).
For information on how to fold down the
second-row seats completely, see “Folding
second-row seats” (
page 308).
Returning second-row seats to their
original positionFold seat (page 133) back until it au-
dibly engages.
Fold seat backrest (page 132) back
into original position until it engages.
To make sure the seat backrest has en-
gaged, lean firmly against the backrest.Emergency exit for third-row seats
1Emergency release
2Seat backrest
Warning!G
When occupants have entered or exited the
vehicle using the easy-entry/exit feature,
before driving off make sure
the seats are properly locked
the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition and are properly locked
If a seat and seat backrest are not properly
locked, the seat could move forward and the
seat backrest could fold. You could slide un-
der the seat belt during braking, vehicle ma-
neuvers, or in an accident. If you slide under
it, the belt would apply force at the abdomen
or neck. That could cause serious or even fa-
tal injuries.
iIf, due to an accident or other situation, it is
not possible for you to exit the vehicle on the
side of the easy-entry seat (
page 132), you
can fold the left side of the seat backrest in the
second row of seats down in order to open the
left rear door.
!Make sure that the head restraint is pushed
all the way down (
page 137).
152 Controls in detail
Lighting
1Front left reading lamp switch
2Rear interior lighting switch
3Automatic control switch
4Front interior lighting switch
5Front right reading lamp switch
6Front right interior lamp
7Front right reading lamp
8Front left reading lamp
9Front left interior lampAutomatic control
Deactivating
Press switch3.
The switch engages in the recessed
position.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 179) remain switched
off even when you
unlock the vehicle
open a door
open the tailgate
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switchActivating
Press switch3.
The switch disengages from its
recessed position back to its original
position.
The interior lighting and the locator
lighting (
page 179) come on when
you
unlock the vehicle
open a door
open the tailgate
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
The interior lamps go out following an
adjustable time delay (
page 180).
!An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving an interior lamp switch in the ON
position for extended periods of time with the
engine turned off could result in a discharged
battery.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.
iIf a door remains open, the interior lamps
switch off automatically after approximately
5 minutes when the SmartKey is removed or in
starter switch position0.