132 Controls in detail
Lighting
Low beam headlamps
The low beam headlamps can be switched
on and off with the exterior lamp switch
using the manual headlamp mode.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The following lamps switch on:
Low beam headlamps
Tail and parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically 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
position U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button pressed once, the
tail and parking lamps, the license
plate lamps, and the side marker lamps
will switch on and off depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
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 depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate 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 position U to B with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from U 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.
iCanada only:
High beam headlamps are only available with the
exterior lamp switch in position B.
133 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
In Canada the daytime running lamp mode
is mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
In the USA the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default. Activate the day-
time running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 163).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions,
the following lamps will switch on
additionally:
Tail and parking lamps
Side marker lamps
License plate lampsCanada only:
When the engine is running and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP
with the vehicle at a standstill, the low
beam headlamps will switch off with a
delay of 3 minutes.When the engine is running and you
turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam head-
lamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
license plate and the side marker
lamps switch on.
turn the exterior lamp switch to
position B, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 131).
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
positionM 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 position B to permit activation
of the high beam headlamps.
134 Controls in detail
Lighting
USA only:
When the engine is running and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to position
Cor B, the manual headlamp mode
has priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 131).Locator lighting and night security
illumination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section, see “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 164) and “Setting night security il-
lumination” (
page 164).Fog lamps
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM, 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 position B or U to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.
Warning!G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position U to B with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from U 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.
iThe fog lamps cannot be switched on with
the exterior lamp switch in position U. To
switch on the fog lamps, turn the exterior lamp
switch to position B first.
138 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
The interior lighting controls are located in
the overhead control panel.
1Left reading lamp on/off
2Right reading lamp on/off
3Interior lighting on/off
4Slide switch for interior lighting controlDeactivating automatic control
Slide switch4 to the right.
The interior lighting and the entry/exit
lamps remain switched off in darkness,
even when you
unlock the vehicle
remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
open a door
open the trunk
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.
iIf the hazard warning flasher was activated
automatically, press hazard warning flasher
switch1 once to switch it off.
!An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving the interior lighting switch in the ON
position for extended periods of time with the
engine turned off could result in discharged
batteries.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.
162 Controls in detail
Control system
Press button æ or ç enable or
disable this feature.
When you set this feature to
On, the time
displayed in the multifunction display is
automatically synchronized with the time
of the COMAND system.Setting the time (hour)
This function is only available if the func-
tion
Time Synchron. With Head Unit
(
page 161) has been set to Off. The time
is then not set automatically by the
COMAND and must be set manually if
required.
Move the selection marker with
theæ or ç button to the
Time
submenu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until the message
Set Time Hour
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the hour
setting.
Press button æ or ç to set the
hour. Setting the time (minutes)
This function is only available if the func-
tion
Time Synchron. With Head Unit
(
page 161) has been set to Off. The time
is then not set automatically by the
COMAND and must be set manually if
required.
Move the selection marker with
theæ or ç button to the
Time
submenu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until the message
Set Time Minute(s)
appears in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the minute
setting.
Press button æ or ç to set the
minutes.
iFor information on setting the time, refer to
the separate COMAND operating instructions.
163 Controls in detail
Control system
Lighting submenu
Access the
Lighting submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Lighting sub-
menu to change the lamp and lighting set-
tings on your vehicle. The following
functions are available:Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with
buttonæ or ç to the
Lighting
submenu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until the message
Light Circuit
Headlamp Mode
appears in the multi-
function display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press button æ or ç to select
manual operation (
Manual) or daytime
running lamp mode (
Constant).With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM or U the low beam head-
lamps are switched on when the engine is
running.
In low ambient light conditions the follow-
ing lamps will switch on additionally:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime run-
ning lamp mode, see “Lighting”
(
page 131).
FunctionPage
Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)163
Setting locator lighting164
Setting night security illumina-
tion164
Setting interior lighting delayed
switch-off 165
iThis function is not available in countries
where the daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
iFor safety reasons, resetting to factory
settings (
page 158) while driving will not
deactivate the daytime running lamp mode.
The following message appears in the multifunc-
tion display:
Cannot be fully reset to
factory settings while driving.
227 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving with Distronic
This section describes a number of driving
situations where special precaution is
required on the part of the driver.
Be prepared to brake in such situations.
This will deactivate the Distronic system.The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty sensor (located behind
the hood grille), especially at times of snow
and ice or heavy rain. In such a case,
Distronic will switch off, and the message
DISTRONIC Currently Unavailable See
Oper. Manual
appears in the multifunction
display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic sen-
sor, see “Cleaning the Distronic* system
sensor cover” (
page 336).
Warning!G
Distronic works to maintain the speed se-
lected by the driver unless a moving obsta-
cle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g. fol-
lowing another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance. This means that:
Your vehicle can pass another vehicle
after you have changed lanes.
While in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, Distronic could
lose sight of the preceding vehicle. Your
vehicle could then accelerate to the pre-
viously set speed.
Distronic regulates only the distance be-
tween your vehicle and those directly ahead
of it, but does not register stationary objects
in the road, e.g.:
a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
a disabled vehicle
an oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be alert, observe all
traffic and intercede as required by means
of steering or braking the vehicle.
Warning!G
Distronic should not be used in snowy or icy
road conditions.
iIf the message DISTRONIC Currently
Unavailable See Oper. Manual
disappears
from the multifunction display during driving, the
dirt (e.g. slush) has dissolved. Distronic is avail-
able again if you reactivate it (
page 223).
482 Index
Storage compartments 238
Armrest 239
Cup holder 243
Glove box 238
In door 238
Locking compartments
separately 240
Locking storage compartments 240
Parcel net 241, 242
Rear 240
Seats 239
Telephone* compartment 239
Unlocking compartments
separately 241
Unlocking storage
compartments 241, 404
Ventilated glove box 200
Storing tires 293
Submenus 147
Convenience 166
Instrument cluster 160, 161
Lighting 163Selecting 158
Settings menus 158
Time 161
Vehicle 166
Summer opening feature 206
Sun blind see Sunshade
Sun visors 186
Sunshade 213
Closing 213
Opening 213
Suspension tuning
For regular driving style 233
For sporty driving style 233
Suspension tuning (ABC) 230
Switching on headlamps 57
Symbol
Distance warning function* 222
Synchronizing
ESP
®367
Power windows 203
Synchronizing time with head unit 161T
Tachometer 29, 142
Tail lamps 410, 414
Cleaning lenses 336
Technical data
Electrical system 454
Main dimensions 455
Rims and tires 449
Weights 456
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system 465
Tele Aid 250
Emergency calls 252
Information 254
Initiating an emergency call
manually 253
Messages in the multifunction
display 396
Roadside Assistance 253
SOS button 33, 253
Tele Aid system 251