Page 94 of 509

93 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Steering wheel
Make sure
you can reach the steering wheel with 
your arms slightly bent at the elbows
you can move your legs freely
all displays (including malfunction and 
indicator lamps) on the instrument 
cluster are clearly visible
Steering wheel adjustment, manualThe handle for steering wheel adjustment 
is located below the steering column.
1Steering wheel adjustment release 
handle
2Steering wheel up/down
3Steering wheel in/out
To unlock the steering wheel, pull 
handle1 down to its stop limit.
The steering wheel is unlocked
Move steering wheel to the desired 
position.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing, or driving without the steering wheel 
adjustment feature locked could cause the 
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
(Canada only) from the starter switch, take 
it with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from 
the starter switch or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* (Canada only) removed from 
the vehicle, the electrical steering wheel ad-
justment feature can be operated. There-
fore, do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. A child’s unsupervised access to a vehi-
cle could result in an accident and/or 
serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Only adjust the steering wheel with the 
vehicle at a standstill with the parking brake 
engaged and make sure the steering wheel 
is securely locked in place before driving off.
Driving without the steering wheel locked 
may cause unexpected steering wheel 
movement which could result in the driver 
losing control of the vehicle. Make sure the 
steering wheel is securely locked by trying 
to move it up and down, and in and out be-
fore driving off.
 
     
        
        Page 95 of 509

94 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
To lock the steering wheel, push 
handle1 all the way up until it 
engages.
The steering wheel is locked into posi-
tion again.
Make sure the steering wheel is 
securely locked by trying to move it up 
and down, and in and out before driving 
off.Steering wheel adjustment, electrical* 
(Canada only)
1Adjusting steering wheel, up or down
2Adjusting steering wheel, in or out
Adjusting steering wheel in or out: 
Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow2 until a comfortable 
steering wheel position is reached with 
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering wheel up or 
down: Move stalk up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1. 
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have 
properly locked the steering wheel.
iThe memory function* is operational at any 
time. Seat and steering wheel adjustment is al-
ways possible.
The memory function* (
page 102) lets you 
store settings for the steering wheel together 
with the settings for the seat position and the 
exterior rear view mirrors.
 
     
        
        Page 96 of 509

95 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
Easy-entry/exit feature* (Canada only)
This feature allows for easier entry into and 
exit from the vehicle. When entering and 
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in 
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activat-
ed or deactivated in the 
Convenience sub-
menu of the control system (
page 174).With the easy-entry/exit feature activated 
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you:
remove the SmartKey from the starter 
switch, 
or
open the driver’s door with the 
SmartKey in starter switch position0 
or1 or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button in position1
Warning!G
You must make sure no one can become 
trapped or injured by the moving steering 
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is 
activated. 
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of 
the following:
Move steering wheel adjustment stalk.
Press one of the memory position but-
tons or the memory buttonM.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Children could open the driver’s door and 
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit 
feature, which could result in an accident 
and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Let the system complete the adjustment 
procedure before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. All steering wheel adjustments must be 
completed before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. Driving off with the steering wheel still 
adjusting could cause the driver to lose con-
trol of the vehicle.
iIf the current position for the steering wheel 
is in the uppermost tilt position, the steering 
wheel will no longer be able to move upward 
when the easy-entry/exit feature is activated. 
The adjustment procedure is briefly interrupted 
when the engine is started. 
     
        
        Page 97 of 509
96 Controls in detail
Steering wheel
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated, 
the steering wheel will return to their last 
set memory position when you:
close the driver’s door with the ignition 
switched on,
or
insert the SmartKey into the starter 
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO* 
start/stop button once with the driv-
er’s door closed.
iThe last set steering wheel positions are 
stored when 
the ignition is switched off 
the position is stored in memory 
(
page 102) 
     
        
        Page 99 of 509

98 Controls in detail
Mirrors
Power folding exterior rear view 
mirrors*
Folding exterior rear view mirrors in 
and out manually
The exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if 
they are not folded out completely.
1Folds the exterior mirrors in and out
Switch on the ignition.
Folding in: Press button1.
Folding out: Press button1 again.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is 
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear) or 
forcibly pushed rearward (hit from the front), re-
position it by applying firm pressure until it snaps 
back into place. The mirror housing is then prop-
erly positioned and you can adjust the mirror in 
the usual manner.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior 
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
iCanada only:
The memory function* (
page 102) lets you 
store the setting for the exterior rear view mir-
rors together with the setting for the steering 
wheel and the seat positions.
!Before driving the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, fold the exterior mirrors in. Oth-
erwise they may get damaged.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is 
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear), repo-
sition it manually by applying firm pressure until 
it snaps back into place.
If an exterior rear view mirror housing is forcibly 
pushed rearward (hit from the front), press 
button1 to fold mirrors in, then press 
button1 again to fold mirrors out. Do not force 
mirrors by hand as this may damage the 
adjustment mechanism.
The mirror housing is then properly positioned 
and you can adjust the mirror in the usual 
manner.
 
     
        
        Page 103 of 509

102 Controls in detail
Memory function* (Canada only)
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver 
should check and adjust the seat height, 
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate 
control, reach, and comfort. The head re-
straint should also be adjusted for proper 
height. See also the section on air bags 
(
page 36) for proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to 
ensure adequate control, reach, operation 
and comfort. Both the inside and outside 
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for 
adequate rear vision.Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with 
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.
With the memory function you can store up 
to 3 different settings.Each stored position on the driver’s side 
includes the following settings:
Seat position
Steering wheel position
Exterior rear view mirrors position
On passenger side, the seat position is 
stored on each memory position.
Warning!G
Do not activate the memory function while 
driving. Activating the memory function 
while driving could cause the driver to lose 
control of the vehicle. 
     
        
        Page 104 of 509

103 Controls in detail
Memory function* (Canada only)
MMemory button
1 2 3Memory position buttons
Storing positions into memory*
Adjust the seat (page 85) to the de-
sired position.
On the driver’s side: Adjust the steering 
wheel (
page 93) and the exterior rear 
view mirrors (
page 97) to the desired 
position.
Press memory buttonM.
Release memory buttonM and press 
one of the memory position buttons 
within 3 seconds.
An acoustic signal sounds to confirm. 
The settings are stored with the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory*
Press and hold memory position 
button until the seat, steering wheel 
and exterior rear view mirrors have 
completely moved to the stored 
positions.
iThe memory function* is operational at any 
time. Seat and steering wheel adjustment is al-
ways possible.
!Do not operate the power seats using the 
memory position button if the seat backrest is in 
an excessively reclined position. Doing so could 
cause damage to front or rear seats.
First move seat backrest to an upright position.
iReleasing the memory position button 
immediately stops movement to the stored 
positions. 
     
        
        Page 114 of 509

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on corner-illuminating front 
fog lamps
Switch on the left or right turn signal 
(
page 108), depending on whether 
you are turning left or right.
The respective corner-illuminating 
front fog lamp comes on and illumi-
nates the area in the direction into 
which you are turning.
or
Turn steering wheel in desired 
direction.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp 
on the side of your steering direction 
comes on.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.
iIf you have switched on the turn signal for 
one side but turn the steering wheel in the 
opposite direction, the corner-illuminating front 
fog lamp comes on for the side indicated by the 
turn signal.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp remains lit 
for a maximum of 3 minutes. Afterward, it goes 
out even if the turn signal is still switched on.
iThe corner-illuminating lamps temporarily 
come on both sides of the vehicle if you turn the 
steering wheel in one direction and then in the 
other direction shortly thereafter.
iThe corner-illuminating lamps will come on 
automatically depending on the steering angle, 
even if you did not switch on either turn signal. If 
the corner-illuminating lamps came on automat-
ically, they will also go out automatically depend-
ing on the steering angle.
iWhen you shift the transmission in reverse 
gear, the corner-illuminating lamp opposite to 
your steering direction comes on.
The turn signal has no influence on the 
corner-illuminating lamp on the outside of the 
curve.
iThe corner-illuminating lamp may remain lit 
for a short time. The corner-illuminating lamp 
comes on 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.