Page 127 of 585

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.
 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 128 of 585
127 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.
i
You can open a locked door from the inside. 
Open door only when conditions are safe to do 
so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked 
with the SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*, it will not unlock using the central 
unlocking switch1.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the 
central locking switch2:
While in the selective remote control mode, 
only the front door opened from the inside is 
unlocked.
While in the global remote control mode, the 
vehicle is unlocked completely when a front 
door is opened from the inside.
i
With the passenger-side door opened, you 
cannot lock the vehicle with the central locking 
switch. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 138 of 585

137 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking 
lamps can be switched on and off with the 
exterior lamp switch.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionB.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of 
the ambient light:
Low beam headlamps
Tail and parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch 
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO* 
start/stop button pressed once, only 
the parking lamps and the side marker 
lamps will switch on and off automati-
cally.
When the engine is running, the low 
beam headlamps, the tail and parking 
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the 
side marker lamps will switch on and 
off automatically.
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright 
ambient light, for example light from 
oncoming traffic
the headlamps will not be automatically 
switched on under foggy conditions
To minimize risk to you and to others, 
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp 
switch toB when driving or when traffic 
and/or ambient lighting conditions require 
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only 
switch from positionU toB with the 
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location. 
Switching fromUtoB will briefly 
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while 
driving in low ambient lighting conditions 
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an 
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for 
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all 
times. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 143 of 585

142 Controls in detailLightingHazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be 
switched on at all times, even with the 
SmartKey removed from the starter switch 
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on 
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is 
located on the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher 
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1 
again.
Interior lighting
The controls for interior lighting are locat-
ed in the overhead control panel.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 lampi
With the hazard warning flasher activated 
and the combination switch set for either left or 
right turn, only the respective turn signals will 
operate when the ignition is switched on.
i
If the hazard warning flasher has been 
activated automatically, press hazard warning 
flasher switch1 once to switch it off. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 144 of 585

143 Controls in detail
Lighting
Automatic control
Deactivating
Press switch3.
The switch engages in the recessed 
position.
The interior lighting and the locator 
lighting (
page 172) 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 172) 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 173).Manual control
Switching front interior lighting on and 
off
Press front/rear interior lighting 
switch4 or2 to switch on the 
respective interior light.
Press front/rear interior lighting 
switch4 or2 again to switch off the 
respective interior light.
Switching front reading lamps on and off
Press front reading lamp switch1 
or5 to switch on the respective front 
reading lamp.
Press front reading lamp switch1 
or5 again to switch off the respective 
front reading lamp.
!
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.
i
The interior lighting is factory-set to 
automatic mode.
i
If a door remains open, the interior lamps 
switch off automatically after approximately 
5 minutes when the SmartKey is removed or in 
starter switch position0.
i
An interior lamp switched on manually does 
not go out automatically. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 145 of 585
144 Controls in detailLightingSwitching rear interior reading lamps on 
and off
The rear interior reading lamps are located 
above the side windows.
1Rear interior reading lamp
Press on reading lamp1 in direction 
of arrow.
The reading lamp comes on.
Press on reading lamp1 in direction 
of arrow again.
The reading lamp goes out.
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the 
corresponding door entry lamps comes on 
when you open a door and the automatic 
control is activated.
The door entry lamps will switch off when 
the corresponding door is closed.
Cargo compartment lamp
The cargo compartment lamp comes on 
when the tailgate is opened.
If you leave the tailgate open for an extend-
ed period of time, the cargo compartment 
lamp will switch off automatically after ap-
proximately 5 minutes.
i
If you turn the SmartKey in the starter 
switch to position0 or remove the SmartKey 
from the starter switch, the door entry lamps will 
remain lit for approximately 5 minutes. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 148 of 585

147 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as 
the SmartKey in the starter switch is 
turned to position1 (
page 40) or as 
soon as the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton* is in position1 (page 42). The con-
trol system enables you to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next 
due for maintenance service, to set the 
language for messages in the instrument 
cluster display, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
3Transmission position indicator
4Current transmission program mode
1
5Status indicator (outside temperature 
or digital speedometer)
For more information on menus displayed 
in the multifunction display, see “Menus” 
(page 150).
i
The displays for the audio systems (radio, 
CD player) will appear in English, regardless of 
the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic 
conditions must always be his/her primary 
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
1AMG vehicles only. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 158 of 585

157 Controls in detail
Control system
RACETIMER
The RACETIMER allows you to time and 
save driving stretches in hours, minutes 
and seconds.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly 
until you see the AMG menu.
Press buttonj repeatedly until you 
see the RACETIMER.
1Gear indicator
2RACETIMER
3LapStarting the RACETIMER
Press buttonæ.
The timer starts.
Displaying intermediate time
Press buttonç while the timer is 
running.
The intermediate time is shown for five 
seconds.
Stopping the RACETIMER
Press buttonæ.
The timer stops.
Warning!
G
The RACETIMER feature is only for use on 
roads and in conditions where high speed 
driving is permitted. Racing on public roads 
is prohibited under any circumstances and 
the driver is and must always remain re-
sponsible for following posted speed limits.
i
You can start the RACETIMER when the 
engine is running or the starter switch is in 
position2 (
page 40).
i
While the RACETIMER is being displayed, 
you cannot adjust the volume using 
buttonsæ orç.
i
When you stop the vehicle and turn the 
SmartKey to position 1 (
page 40) or, in vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*, turn off the engine and 
do not open the driver’s door, the RACETIMER 
stops timing. Timing is resumed when you switch 
the ignition back on (
page 40) or restart the 
engine (
page 54) and then press the 
æbutton.