119 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
A minimum height clearance of 7.0 ft
(2.13 m) is required to open the tailgate.
Vehicles with vehicle level control*:
Depending on the set vehicle level a mini-
mum height clearance of 7.2 ft (2.20 m) is
required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens slightly.
Pull tailgate upwards to open.
The tailgate can also be opened using the
SmartKey (
page 108).Opening the tailgate from the inside
electrically*
In vehicles with power tailgate* you can
open the tailgate from the inside if the ve-
hicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 7.0 ft
(2.13 m) is required to open the tailgate.
Vehicles with vehicle level control*:
Depending on the set vehicle level a mini-
mum height clearance of 7.2 ft (2.20 m) is
required to open the tailgate.
i
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked (
page 38).
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
When opening the tailgate, the vehicle is globally
unlocked.
!
The tailgate swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
Vehicles with power tailgate*:
To stop the opening procedure, press
buttonŠ on the SmartKey. The tailgate stops
moving.
i
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automatically after
closing it (
page 121). The turn signals will
flash three times to confirm locking.
120 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingThe switch is located on the door control
panel.
1Remote tailgate switch with indicator
lamp
Pull 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.Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Vehicles with power tailgate*:
The tailgate opening height can be limited
when transporting goods on a roof rack*
(e.g. presence of an MB roof cargo contain-
er*). 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 177).
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*.!
The tailgate swings open upwards automat-
ically. Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance. To stop the opening procedure,
press or pull remote tailgate switch1 or press
the Šbutton on the SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*. The tailgate stops moving.
i
The tailgate can also be opened using the
buttonŠ on the SmartKey (
page 108) or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* (page 112).
121 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate
Closing the tailgate from the inside
electrically*
In vehicles with power tailgate* you can
close the tailgate from the inside using the
remote tailgate switch.
Press remote tailgate switch1
(page 120) 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 120).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.
i
You can also close the tailgate manually
(
page 122).
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.
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
i n t h e v e h i c l e , o r w i t h a c c e s s t o a n u n l o c k e d
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the
vehicle interior.
122 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingClosing the tailgate from the outside
manually
1Handle
Lower tailgate by pulling firmly on
handle1.
Close tailgate with hands placed flat on
it.
Once the tailgate touches the latch, the
tailgate will pull itself shut automatical-
ly.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo
compartment opening when closing the tail-
gate. Be especially careful when small chil-
dren are around.
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. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the
vehicle interior.i
To prevent an inadvertent lockout, do not
place the SmartKey in the cargo compartment.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To prevent a
possible inadvertent lockout, the tailgate will
open automatically if a SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is recognized inside the vehicle.
i
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, the tailgate
will lock automatically after closing it. The turn
signals flash three times to confirm locking.
123 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate from the outside
(vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with power tailgate* you can
close the tailgate from the outside using
the tailgate closing switch or the
Šbutton on the SmartKey.
1Tailgate closing switch
Press tailgate closing switch1 briefly.
The tailgate closes and an acoustic
warning sounds.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.
i
You can also close the tailgate manually
(
page 122).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.
Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey.
Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
(on the driver’s door).
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the tailgate closing switch
can be operated. Therefore, 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.Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehi-
cle interior.i
Do not place the SmartKey in the open
cargo compartment. You may lock yourself out.
i
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automatically after
closing it. The turn signals will flash three times
to confirm locking.
124 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingClosing the tailgate from the outside
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with power tailgate* and
KEYLESS-GO*, you can close the tailgate
separately from the outside using the tail-
gate closing switch or the Šbutton on
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
1Tailgate closing switch
Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you.
Press tailgate closing switch1 briefly.
The tailgate closes and an acoustic
warning sounds.
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.
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.
Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO.
Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
(on the driver’s door).
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 ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehi-
cle interior.i
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automatically after
closing it. The turn signals will flash three times
to confirm locking.
i
You can also close the tailgate manually
(
page 122).
125 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 or the Šbutton
on the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
1KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing switch
Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you.
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.
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 KEYLESS-GO* locking/closing
switch1.
Press the Šbutton on the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*.
Press or pull the remote tailgate switch
(on the driver’s door).
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 ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as,
among other dangers such as blocked
visibility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehi-
cle interior.
126 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingIf 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.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.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.For information on towing the vehicle, see
“Towing the vehicle” (
page 518).
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system
(
page 176).
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.
i
To prevent a possible inadvertent lockout,
the tailgate will open automatically if a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* is recognized inside the
vehicle.
i
The 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. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.