27 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
2vESP® warning lamp345
3Speedometer
4Multifunction display139
5lDistance warning lamp
Vehicles without Distronic*:
Warning lamp without func-
tion. It illuminates with the
ignition on. It should go out
when the engine is running.351
6KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
7Coolant temperature indica-
tor with:
•Coolant temperature
warning lamp350
8Tachometer with:
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp 353
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator
lamp344
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp, de-
pending on vehicle
production date55
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp130
9Main odometer with:
Selector lever position51
Program mode175
aClock with:157
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only347
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only347
ItemPage
úEngine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, USA
only348
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp, Cana-
da only348
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale,
USA only354
Low tire pressure
telltale, Canada only354
bFuel display with:
AFuel tank reserve
warning lamp351
cReset button for:
Resetting trip odometer137
Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination136
Confirming new time
settings157
55 Getting started
Driving
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
Exterior lamp switch
1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The low beam headlamps, the green in-
dicator lamp C in the exterior lamp
switch and the low beam headlamp in-
dicator lampB
1 in the instrument
cluster come on.High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasher
Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1.
The high beam headlamps and the high
beam headlamp indicator lampA in
the instrument cluster come on
(
page 26).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 126).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press combination switch in direction
of arrow1 or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp L or K in the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 26).
The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
1Depending on vehicle production date.
62 Getting started
Parking and locking
Locking with the SmartKey
After exiting the vehicle, press lock
button‹ on the SmartKey
(
page 36).
With the trunk and all doors closed:
All turn signal lamps flash three
times.
An acoustic signal sounds three
times.
For more information, see “Factory
setting” (
page 106).
The locking knobs in the doors
move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 100).
Locking with KEYLESS-GO*
1Lock button
After exiting the vehicle, press lock
button1 at the outside door handle or
on the trunk lid.
With the trunk and all doors closed:
All turn signal lamps flash three
times.
An acoustic signal sounds three
times.
For more information, see “Factory
setting” (
page 106).
The locking knobs in the doors
move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 100).
iIf you hear a warning signal you have forgot-
ten to switch off the low beam headlamps or the
parking lamps before opening the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch Off Lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the low beam headlamps or the park-
ing lamps.
If the message
Switch Off Lights or
Remove Key
appears in the multifunction dis-
play remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or switch off the automatic headlamp
mode.
!Failure to switch off the exterior lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
126 Controls in detail
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 55)
and see “Turn signals” (
page 55).
Exterior lamp switch
Exterior lamp switch
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country
where the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iVehicles equipped with active Bi-Xenon*
headlamps: The active Bi-Xenon headlamps
monitor your steering angle and driving speed,
then automatically shift their beams to either
side to better follow the curvature of the road
ahead, increasing usable illumination over con-
ventional headlamps.
1‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
2ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left
one stop)
3MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 128)
4UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 128)
5CParking lamps (also tail lamps, li-
cense plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
6BLow beam headlamps or high
beam headlamps
7‡Front fog lamps
8†Rear fog lamp
iIf you hear a warning signal you have forgot-
ten to switch off the low beam headlamps or the
parking lamps before opening the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch Off Lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the low beam headlamps or the park-
ing lamps.
If the message
Switch Off Lights or
Remove Key
appears in the multifunction dis-
play remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or switch off the automatic headlamp
mode.
!Failure to switch off the exterior lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
127 Controls in detail
Lighting
Low beam headlamps
The low beam headlamps can be switched
on and off with the exterior lamp switch us-
ing the manual headlamp mode.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:
Low beam headlamps
Tail and parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button pressed once, only
the parking lamps and the side marker
lamps will switch on and off automati-
cally.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright
ambient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.
the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others, acti-
vate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch to B when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU to B with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromU to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.
iUSA only:
With the automatic headlamp mode activated
you can switch on the high beam headlamps in
low ambient lighting conditions.
128 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly:
Tail and parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Canada only
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a 3-minute delay.
When the engine is running, and youturn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps and
the side marker lamps switch on addi-
tionally.
turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime run-
ning lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 126).USA only
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)” (
page 159).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to position C
orB, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 126).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, the low beam head-
lamps cannot be switched off manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in position
M or U, you cannot switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving you should turn the exterior
lamp switch to positionB to permit activa-
tion of the high beam headlamps.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the exterior lamp switch in
position M, you cannot switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving you should turn the exterior
lamp switch to positionB or U to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.
129 Controls in detail
Lighting
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the “Control sys-
tem” section, see “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 160) and “Setting night security il-
lumination (Headlamps delayed shut-off)”
(
page 161).
Fog lamps
Front fog lamps
Switch on the low beam
headlampsB (
page 55).
Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps switch on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(
page 126).
Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps are switched off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Switch on the low beam
headlampsB (
page 55).
Pull out exterior lamp switch to second
stop.
The front fog lamps and the rear fog
lamp switch on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(
page 126).
Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Warning!G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU to B with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromU to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps on. Fog
lamps should only be used in conjunction with
low beam headlamps. Consult your State or
Province Motor Vehicle Regulations regarding
permissible lamp operation.
iFog lamps cannot be switched on with the
exterior lamp switch in positionU. To switch
on the fog lamps, turn the exterior lamp switch
to positionB first.
130 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 126).
Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.Corner-illuminating front fog lamps*
(CLS 550 with Bi-Xenon* headlamps
only)
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the area in the direc-
tion into which you are turning.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps will op-
erate with the engine running and with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 126)
or
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 126)
or
the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 128)
iWith the automatic headlamp mode activat-
ed: The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.