135 Controls in detail
Lighting
Driving in reverse
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Place the gear selector lever in
positionR.
The front fog lamp opposite to your
steering direction comes on.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Place the gear selector lever out of
positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
Hazard 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 signal lamps are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
iWith 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 ignition is switched
on (
page 40).
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard warning
flasher switch1 once to switch it off.
138 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 28).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you
open a door
switch on the ignition (page 40)
press the reset button1
switch on the exterior lamps
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 158).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use the reset button1 to adjust the
illumination brightness for the instrument
cluster.
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button1 clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button1 counterclock-
wise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do so
with added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit am-
bient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.
139 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature indicator
The coolant temperature indicator is on
the right side in the instrument cluster
(
page 28).
Resetting trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the stan-
dard display in the multifunction dis-
play (
page 147).
If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel repeatedly until the standard dis-
play appears (
page 142).
Press and hold the reset button on the
instrument cluster (
page 138) until
the trip odometer is reset.
Warning!G
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
f r o m t h e e n g i n e i f y o u s e e o r h e a r s t e a m
coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
!Excessive coolant temperature triggers a
warning in the multifunction display
(
page 406) and the red coolant warning lamp
in the instrument cluster comes on
(
page 383).
The engine should not be operated with the cool-
ant temperature above 248°F (120°C). Doing so
may cause serious engine damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iDuring severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may
rise close to 248°F (120°C).
140 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(
page 28) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Clock
In vehicles with Audio 20, the clock can be
set via the control system (
page 160).
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is indicated in the
multifunction display (
page 141).The outside temperature sensor is located
in the front bumper area. Due to its loca-
tion, the sensor can be affected by road or
engine heat during idling or slow driving.
This means that the accuracy of the dis-
played temperature can only be verified by
comparison to a thermometer placed next
to the sensor, not by comparison to exter-
nal displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the time in COMAND,
refer to the separate COMAND operating
instructions.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
141 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 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button is in
position1. The control 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 service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Current shift program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever posi-
tion/gear range
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(
page 144).
iThe displays for the audio systems (radio,
CD player etc.) 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,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit 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 (approxi-
mately 14 m) every second.
146 Controls in detail
Control system
Menu5Menu6Menu7Menu8
Commands/submenus
Vehicle status message
memory1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
SettingsTrip computerTEL*
(page 154)(page 155)(page 167)(page 169)
Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memoryReset to factory settingsFuel consumption statistics
since startLoad phone book
Instrument cluster submenuFuel consumption statistics
since the last resetSearch for name in phone book
Time/Date submenuCall up range
Lighting submenu
Vehicle submenu
Convenience submenu
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the sys-
tem and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays.
The first function displayed in each menu will au-
tomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.
149 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 the AMG menu appears in the
multifunction display.
Press buttonj repeatedly until the
RACETIMER appears in the
multifunction display.1Gear indicator
2RACETIMER
3Lap
Starting the RACETIMERPress buttonæ.
The timer starts.Displaying intermediate time
Press buttonç while the timer is
running.
The intermediate time is shown for
5 seconds.
Stopping the RACETIMER
Press buttonæ.
The timer stops.
Saving lap time and starting a new lap
Press buttonç while the timer is
running.
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 all circumstances and
the driver is and must always remain re-
sponsible for following posted speed limits.
iYou can start the RACETIMER when the
engine is running or the starter switch is in
position2 (
page 38).
iWhile the RACETIMER is being displayed,
you can not adjust the volume using buttonæ
orç.
iWhen you stop the vehicle and turn the
SmartKey to position1 (
page 38) 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 38) or restart the
engine (
page 52) and then press
theæbutton.
iYou can save up to 9 laps.
154 Controls in detail
Control system
Vehicle status message memory menu
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the
system. Such messages appear in the
multifunction display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored.
Press buttonè orÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message
memory appears in the multifunction
display.
If the vehicle status message memory
menu does not appear, then there are
no messages stored.Vehicle status messages have been
recorded
If conditions have occurred causing status
messages to be recorded, the number of
messages appears in the multifunction
display:
1Number of messages
Press buttonk orj.
The stored messages will now be
displayed in the order in which they
have occurred.
For malfunction and warning messag-
es, see “Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display” (
page 392).
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 392).