309 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Remember that the engine can be
started by anyone with a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO that is left inside the
vehicle.
Possibility 1: (One SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO in the vehicle, one
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO outside
the vehicle):
If you leave the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO behind when exiting and
locking the vehicle, no message
appears in the multifunction display.
Possibility 2: (One SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO in the vehicle, no
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO outside
the vehicle):
When exiting and trying to lock the ve-
hicle, the message “Key still in vehicle”
appears in the multifunction display.
The vehicle will not be locked.Factory setting
Global unlocking: Grasp an outside
door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
and reactivate the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:
neither a door nor the trunk is opened
the central locking switch is not acti-
vated1Outside door handle
Global locking: close all doors and
touch outside of door handle1. Do
not keep your hand in the door handle
recess.
With the trunk and all doors closed, all
turn signal lamps flash three times. The
locking knobs in the doors move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is armed.
i
If the vehicle has been parked for more than
72 hours, you must pull an outside door handle
in order to activate the KEYLESS-GO function.
i
The vehicle could inadvertently be unlocked
if the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is within 3 ft.
(1 m) of the vehicle and:
an outside door handle is splashed with wa-
ter, or
you attempt to clean an outside door handle.
310 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingSelective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO so when you, grasp the driv-
er’s outside door handle only the driver’s
door and the fuel filler flap unlocks.
Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about 6 seconds un-
til battery check lamp5 (
page 306)
flashes twice.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO will
then function as follows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel fill-
er flap: Grasp the driver’s outside door
handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knob in the driver’s door moves
up. The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Global unlocking: Grasp any outside
door handle other than the driver’s out-
side door handle.All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Global locking: close all doors and
touch outside of door handle1. Do
not keep your hand in the door handle
recess.
With the trunk and all doors closed, all
turn signal lamps flash three times. The
locking knobs in the doors move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is armed.
Restoring to factory setting: Press
and hold buttonsŒ and‹ si-
multaneously for about 5 seconds until
battery check lamp5 (
page 306)
flashes twice.Global locking using lock button on
trunk lid
1Lock button on trunk lid
Close all doors and press lock
button1.
With the trunk and all doors closed, all
turn signal lamps flash three times. The
locking knobs in the doors move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is armed.
i
You can also lock the vehicle using the lock
button on trunk lid (
page 310) or, vehicles
with trunk opening/closing system*,
KEYLESS-GO locking/closing switch
(
page 440).
i
To prevent a possible inadvertent lockout,
the trunk will open automatically if a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO is recognized inside the vehi-
cle or in the trunk.
315 Controls in detail
Starter switch positions
Starter switch positions
SmartKeyStarter switch
0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary.
If a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 544).
3Starting positionFor information on starting the engine us-
ing the SmartKey, see “Starting with the
SmartKey” (
page 359).
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.
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning lamps (ex-
cept high beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) should go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational.
i
When the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch and the automatic transmission is
in a position other thanP, the automatic trans-
mission automatically shifts to P.
!
If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be sufficient-
ly charged.
Check the battery and charge it if necessary
(page 634).
Get a jump start (
page 639).
To prevent accelerated battery discharge or a
completely discharged battery, always remove
the SmartKey from the starter switch when the
engine is not in operation.
317 Controls in detail
Starter switch positions
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.
Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status 0 (as with
SmartKey removed).Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.
Ignition (or position 2)
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
This supplies power for all electrical
consumers.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 544).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see “Starting with KEYLESS-GO*”
(
page 360).
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button
once again, the ignition (position2) is
switched on
twice, the power supply is again switched off
i
If you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power supply is
again switched off.
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning lamps (ex-
cept high beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) should go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational.
347 Controls in detail
Lighting
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in
the direction2.
Corner-illuminating lamps
The corner-illuminating lamps improve illu-
mination of the area in the direction into
which you are turning.
Corner-illuminating lamps will operate
with:
the engine running
during darkness
the headlamps switched on
Switching on corner-illuminating lamps
Depending on whether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 342).The respective corner-illuminating
lamp comes on and illuminates the
area in the direction into which you are
turning.Switching off the corner-illuminating
lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating lamps if they were acti-
vated by switching on the left or right turn
signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and corner-illu-
minating lamp can be switched off by
returning the combination switch to its
original position.
i
The corner-illuminating lamps function is not
available at a vehicle speed above 25 mph
(40 km/h).
i
The corner-illuminating lamps will come on
automatically up to a speed of approximately
25 mph (40 km/h) depending on the steering
angle, even if you did not switch on either turn
signal. If the corner-illuminating lamps came on
automatically, they will also go out automatically
depending on the steering angle.
i
If you have switched on the turn signal for
one side but turn the steering wheel in the other
direction, the corner-illuminating lamp lights up
on the side of the turn signal.
i
The corner-illuminating lamps temporarily
light up on both sides of the vehicle if you turn
the steering wheel in one direction and then in
the other direction shortly thereafter.
i
When you shift the automatic transmission
in reverse gearR, the inverse corner-illuminating
lamp comes on automatically depending on the
steering direction and steering angle.
The turn signal has no influence on the corner-il-
luminating lamp on the outside of the curve.
i
If you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h) when activating the turn signal indica-
tor, the corner-illuminating lamp function is
switched off.
i
The corner-illuminating lamp may remain lit
for a short time. The corner-illuminating lamp
lights up for no more than 20 seconds with the
vehicle standing still. It is then switched off even
if the turn signal is still switched on or you have
turned the steering wheel to full lock.
348 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 is automatical-
ly switched on if
an air bag has been triggered
S 600 and USA only: you brake the ve-
hicle strongly at a speed of more than
50 mph (70 km/h) and bring it to a
complete stop.
1Hazard warning flasher switch
Switching on: Press hazard warning
flasher switch.
All turn signals will flash.
Switching off: Press hazard warning
flasher switch again.
Interior lighting
i
With the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective left or right turn
signals will operate when the SmartKey in the
starter switch is in position1 or2 or the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (
page 317) is
pressed once or twice.
i
If the hazard warning flasher was activated
automatically, also press hazard warning flasher
switch 1 to switch off the hazard warning flash-
er.
i
When you lock the vehicle from the outside,
the interior lighting is switched off. As soon as
one of the interior lighting buttons inside the ve-
hicle is pressed, however, the selected lamp
comes on and all of the lamps inside the vehicle
that are not switched on via a button are activat-
ed.
If you do not lock the vehicle, all lamps will be
switched off after 30 minutes. When you open
the door, you can still use the lighting for the
storage compartment, glove box and vanity mir-
ror without in the starter switch in position1 or2
or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 317) pressed once or twice.
362 Controls in detailDriving and parking
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 479).
Turn signalsCombination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch up1 or
down2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampL orK flashes in the in-
strument cluster (
page 28).
The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires
An ignition cable may be damaged.
The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.
Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
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 le-
ver out of P or N if the engine speed is high-
er than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accel-
erate 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.!
Shift the automatic transmission toP or R
only when the vehicle is stopped in order to avoid
damaging the transmission.
!
Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high engine
speeds may shorten the service life of the en-
gine.
!
Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
i
To signal minor directional changes, e.g.
passing or changing lanes, move combination
switch to point of resistance only and release.
The corresponding turn signal flashes three
times.
437 Controls in detailTrunk
Vehicles with trunk opening/closing
system*
1Remote trunk opening/closing* switch
Press and hold switch1 until the
trunk is opened.
The indicator lamp in switch1 comes
on and remains lit until the trunk
closed.
To interrupt the closing procedure:
Release switch1.Trunk opening-height restriction*
Vehicles with trunk opening/closing sys-
tem*:
The trunk lid opening height can be limited
when transporting goods on a roof rack
(e.g. presence of an optional MB sport lug-
gage container). When activated, the trunk
opens to approximately the height of the
roof edge.
Activate the limiting opening height of
trunk lid using the COMAND system
(page 227).
Closing trunkClosing trunk from outside manually
1Handles
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
handles1.
Close trunk lid with hands placed flat
on trunk lid.
The power closing assist automatically en-
sures that the lid is pulled closed com-
pletely (
page 313).
i
Do not place the SmartKey in the open
trunk. You may lock yourself out.
i
If the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk will lock automatically after
closing it. All turn signal lamps flash three times
to confirm locking.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To prevent a possi-
ble inadvertent lockout, the trunk will open auto-
matically if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
recognized inside the vehicle or in the trunk. The vehicle is only locked when the turn signals
flash three times. If you are carrying a second
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you, you can
still lock the vehicle.