Page 6 of 473

Contents
Automatic transmission* ................... 155
Gear selector lever ....................... 155
Shifting procedure ....................... 156
Gear selector lever positions ....... 157
Driving tips ................................... 159
Gear ranges ................................. 160
Automatic shift program .............. 161
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 162
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* ............... 163
Manual shift program* ................. 165
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 167
Good visibility .................................... 168
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 168
Rear view mirrors ......................... 168
Sun visors .................................... 170
Rear window defroster ................. 170Climate control ................................... 172
Switching climate control
system on/off ............................... 175
Setting the temperature................ 175
Adjusting air distribution............... 176
Adjusting air volume ..................... 177
Basic settings ............................... 177
Front defroster.............................. 177
Air recirculation mode .................. 178
Air conditioning............................. 180
Residual engine heat utilization .... 181
Automatic climate control* ................ 182
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 185
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 186
Setting the temperature................ 186
Adjusting air distribution............... 187
Adjusting air volume ..................... 188
Front defroster.............................. 188
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 189
Air recirculation mode .................. 189
Air conditioning............................. 191
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 192Audio system...................................... 193
Audio and telephone*, operation .. 193
Operating safety ........................... 193
Operating and display elements ... 194
Button and soft key operation ...... 196
Operation...................................... 196
Radio operation ............................ 199
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 203
CD mode....................................... 208
GSM network phones ................... 219
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 226
Emergency calls “911” ................. 233
Power windows .................................. 235
Opening and closing the windows 235
Synchronizing power windows ...... 239
Retractable hardtop ........................... 240
Opening and closing the
retractable hardtop ....................... 240
Wind screen* ................................ 246
Driving systems .................................. 247
Cruise control ............................... 247
Page 26 of 473
25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Automatic transmission*:
Steering wheel gearshift
control*163
2Multifunction steering
wheel28,
122
3Horn
4Instrument cluster26,
118
5Overhead control panel31,
116
6Glove box252
CD changer*216,
252
7Center console29, 30
8Sun sensor for automatic
climate control*
9Starter switch37
ItemPage
aSteering wheel adjustment
release handle, manual43
bSteering wheel adjustment
stalk, electrical*44
Heated steering wheel
stalk* (SLK 280,
SLK 350, Canada only)276
cHeadlamp cleaning button*168
dHood lock release lever294
eExterior lamp switch55,
109
fCombination switch
High beam55
Turn signals55
Windshield wipers56
gPower window switches235
hInside door handle99
jCruise control lever247
Page 30 of 473
29 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper partItemPage
1Cup holder254
2Audio system
or
COMAND* system
(see separate operating
instructions)193
3AIRSCARF* switch,
passenger-side105
4Seat heating* switch,
passenger-side104
5Central unlocking switch102
6Hazard warning flasher
switch115
7Central locking switch102
Alarm system indicator
lamp92
ItemPage
8ESP® switch86
9Seat heating* switch,
driver’s side104
aAIRSCARF* switch,
driver’s side105
bPassenger front air bag off
indicator lamp71,
354
cClimate control
Automatic climate control*
Rear window defroster
switch172
182
170
dCigarette lighter256
eAshtray255
Page 94 of 473
93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control*
Audio system
Power windows
Retractable hardtop
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features
Page 172 of 473

171 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Switching on
Press the rear window defroster
switchF in the control panel of
the climate control (
page 174) or
the automatic climate control*
(
page 184).
The indicator lamp on the rear window
defroster switchF comes on.Switching off
Press the rear window defroster
switchF again in the control panel
of the climate control or the automatic
climate control*.
The indicator lamp on the rear window
defroster switchF goes out.
!The rear window defroster cannot be
switched on when the retractable hardtop is
open. The indicator lamp starts flashing if the
hardtop is open.
Close the retractable hardtop first.
The rear window defroster can be switched on
again.
!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, this
means that too many electrical consumers are
operating simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster automatically turns itself
back on.
Page 173 of 473
172 Controls in detail
Climate control
Page 174 of 473
173 Controls in detail
Climate control
Item
1Right center air vent, adjustable
2Thumbwheel for air volume control
for fixed/adjustable right center air
vents
3Right center air vent, fixed
4Right side defroster air vent, fixed
5Right side air vent, adjustable
6Thumbwheel for air volume control
for adjustable right side air vent
7Climate control panel
Item
8Left center air vent, fixed
9Thumbwheel for air volume control
for fixed/adjustable left center air
vents
aLeft center air vent, adjustable
bThumbwheel for air volume control
for adjustable left side air vent
cLeft side air vent, adjustable
dLeft side defroster air vent, fixed
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the sliders
for center air vents and side air vents to the
middle position.
Page 175 of 473

174 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel
The climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. 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 interior through the air distribu-
tion system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/Cmode is deactivated
(
page 174).
Item
1Temperature control, left side
2Air volume control, climate control
on/off
3Air distribution control
4Temperature control, right side
5Rear window defroster (page 170)
6Front defroster
7AC cooling on/off,
Residual heat/ventilation
8Air recirculation
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 to 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
distribution controls (
page 174) to direct
the air to air vents in the vehicle interior
that are not in the immediate area of un-
protected 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.