Page 4 of 769

Contents
Introduction.......................................  13
Product information .............................  13
Operator’s Manual ...............................  14
Service and warranty information ..  14
Important notice for California retail 
buyers and lessees of 
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ..........  15
Maintenance ..................................  16
Roadside Assistance ......................  16
Change of address or ownership....  16
Operating your vehicle outside the 
USA or Canada...............................  17
Where to find it ....................................  18
Symbols ...............................................  19
Operating safety ..................................  20
Proper use of the vehicle ...............  20
Problems with your vehicle ..................  21
Reporting safety defects......................  22
Reporting safety defects ................  22
Vehicle data recording.........................  23
Information regarding electronic 
recording devices...........................  23
At a glance.......................................... 25
Exterior view ......................................... 26
Cockpit ................................................. 28
Instrument cluster ................................ 30
Control systems ................................... 32
Storage compartments ......................... 34
Center console ..................................... 36
Overhead control panel ........................ 37
Driver’s door control panel ................... 38Safety and Security............................ 39
Occupant safety ................................... 40
Air bags........................................... 42
Occupant Classification System ..... 48
Seat belts........................................ 53
Preventive occupant safety 
(PRE-SAFE
®).................................... 56
Children in the vehicle .................... 57
Blocking of rear side 
window operation ........................... 63Panic alarm ..........................................  64
Activating........................................  64
Deactivating....................................  64
Driving safety systems .........................  65
ABS .................................................  65
Adaptive Brake ...............................  66
Adaptive Brake Lights (CL 600 and 
CL 65 AMG, USA only) ....................  67
BAS .................................................  67
BAS Plus* .......................................  68
EBP .................................................  70
ESP
®...............................................  70
PRE-SAFE
® Brake* (vehicles with 
DISTRONIC Plus* only) ...................  75
Anti-theft systems ................................  79
Immobilizer .....................................  79
Anti-theft alarm system ..................  79
Canceling the alarm ........................  80 
     
        
        Page 37 of 769
36 At a glanceCenter console
Item
Page
1
Thumbwheel for air volume 
control for left center air vent
490
2
Thumbwheel for air volume 
control for right center air 
vent 
490
3
AUTO mode for air distribu-
tion and volume, left
493
4
Temperature control, left
494
5
Manual fan speed adjust-
ment, left
494
6
Front defroster
494
7
Air recirculation
496
8
Climate control on/off
493
9
Residual engine heat and 
ventilation (REST)
498
a
Rear window defroster 
496
Item
Page
b
Manual fan speed adjust-
ment, right
494
c
Temperature control, right
494
d
AUTO mode for air distribu-
tion and volume, right
493
e
Alarm system indicator lamp
80
f
Cup holder
513
g
Cover of compartment with:
Ashtray
Lighter
516
517
h
Cover of compartment with
CD/DVD changer
PCMCIA card slot
116
117 
     
        
        Page 40 of 769
39 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Panic alarm
Driving safety systems
Anti-theft systems 
     
        
        Page 65 of 769

64 Safety and SecurityPanic alarm1Â button
Activating
Press and hold  button for at least 
1 second. 
An audible alarm and flashing exterior 
lamps will operate briefly.
Deactivating
Press  button again.
or 
Insert the SmartKey or the SmartKey 
with KEYLESS-GO* in starter switch.
or 
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop 
button (
page 366).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must 
be inside the vehicle.
i
USA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and 
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device 
could void the user’s authority to operate the 
equipment.
i
Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry 
Canada. Operation is subject to the following 
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device 
could void the user’s authority to operate the 
equipment. 
     
        
        Page 80 of 769

79 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized 
persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
with you, and lock the vehicle. The engine 
can be started by anyone with a valid 
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
that is left inside the vehicle.
Activating
With the SmartKey: Remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch.
With the KEYLESS-GO*: Turn off the 
engine (
page 366) and open the driv-
er’s door.
Deactivating
Switch on the ignition (
page 365).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a 
visual and audible alarm is triggered when 
someone opens:
a door
the trunk
the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating 
element (a door, for example) is immedi-
ately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered 
when
the vehicle is opened with the 
mechanical key
a door is opened from the inside 
To cancel the alarm after it has been trig-
gered, see “Canceling the alarm” 
(
page 80).
i
Starting the engine will also deactivate the 
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the ve-
hicle’s battery is charged), the system is not op-
erational. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the 
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada). 
     
        
        Page 81 of 769

80 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systems1Indicator lamp
Arming: Lock your vehicle with the 
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash three times 
to indicate that the vehicle is locked. 
The indicator lamp1 flashes to indi-
cate that the alarm system is armed.
Disarming: Unlock your vehicle with 
the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*.
The turn signal lamps flash once to in-
dicate that the alarm system is dis-
armed.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm, do one of the follow-
ing:
Insert the SmartKey or SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch.
Press the Œ or ‹ button on the 
SmartKey or SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO*.
In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Grasp an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must 
be within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton (
page 366).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must 
be inside the vehicle.
i
If the alarm stays on for more than 
30 seconds, a call to the Response Center is ini-
tiated automatically by the Tele Aid system 
(
page 522) provided Tele Aid service was sub-
scribed to and properly activated, and that nec-
essary mobile phone, power supply and GPS 
coverage are available.
i
If the turn signal lamps does not flash three 
times one of the following elements may not be 
properly closed:
a door
the trunk 
Close the respective element and lock the vehi-
cle again.
i
The alarm system will rearm automatically 
again after approximately 40 seconds if no door 
was opened. 
     
        
        Page 355 of 769

354 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingFactory setting
Global unlocking: Press buttonŒ.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic signal sounds once.
The locking knobs in the doors 
move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.The vehicle will lock again automatically 
and rearm the anti-theft alarm system 
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:
neither a door nor the trunk is opened
the SmartKey is not inserted in the 
starter switch
the central locking/unlocking switch is 
not activated
Global locking: Press button‹.
With the trunk and both doors closed:
All turn signal lamps flash three 
times.
An acoustic signal sounds three 
times.
The locking knobs in the doors 
move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is 
armed.
i
When unlocking or locking the vehicle with 
the SmartKey an acoustic signal sounds. The 
acoustic signal is activated at the factory. If you 
wish to deactivate the feature, or adjust its signal 
volume, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center. 
     
        
        Page 356 of 769

355 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish 
to reprogram the SmartKey so that press-
ing buttonŒ only unlocks the driver’s 
door and the fuel filler flap.
Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹ 
simultaneously for about 5 seconds un-
til battery check lamp5 (
page 352) 
flashes twice.
The SmartKey will then function as fol-
lows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel fill-
er flap: Press buttonŒ once.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic signal sounds once.
The locking knob in the driver’s 
door moves up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Global unlocking: Press buttonŒ 
twice.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic signal sounds once.
The locking knobs in the doors 
move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Global locking: Press button‹.
With the trunk and both doors closed:
All turn signal lamps flash three 
times.
An acoustic signal sounds 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 352) 
flashes twice.