Page 118 of 474

117 Controls in detail
Lighting
Activating
Press automatic control switch2 until 
it is flush to the other switches.
The interior lighting switches on in 
darkness, when you
unlock the vehicle
remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch
open a door
The interior lighting switches off automati-
cally following a preset time delay.
For more information, see “Setting interior 
lighting delayed shut-off” (
page 145).Manual control
Switching interior lighting on and off
Press interior lighting switch1.
The interior lighting switches on.
Press interior lighting switch1 again.
The interior lighting switches off.
Switching reading lamps on and off
The standard reading lamps are located to 
the left and right of the overhead control 
panel. Reading lamps as part of the interior 
lighting package* are located on the lower 
edge of the interior rear view mirror.
Press reading lamp switch3or4 to 
switch on the desired reading lamp.
Press reading lamp switch3or4 
again to switch off the respective 
reading lamp.
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the 
corresponding door entry lamps will switch 
on in darkness when you open a door and 
the automatic control is activated.
The door entry lamps switch off when the 
corresponding door is closed.
iIf the door remains open, the interior lighting 
switches off automatically after approximately 
5minutes.
iThe footwell lighting* is switched on and off 
simultaneously with the manual control.iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter 
switch to position0 and switch off the exterior 
headlamps, the door entry lamps will remain lit 
for approximately 5 minutes. 
     
        
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121 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. The control system 
enables you to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control 
system to find out when your vehicle is 
next due for service, to set the language 
for messages in the instrument cluster 
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current program mode 
(automatic transmission* only)
4Status indicator (outside 
temperature/digital speedometer)
5Current gear selector lever posi-
tion/gear range 
(automatic transmission* only)
iThe displays for the audio systems (radio, 
CD player) 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, se-
lecting 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 (approximately 14 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 131 of 474
130 Controls in detail
Control system
Press button j repeatedly until the 
RACETIMER appears in the 
multifunction display.
1Gear indicator
2RACETIMER
3Lap numberStarting the RACETIMER
Press button æ.
The timer starts.
Displaying intermediate time
Press button ç while the timer is 
running.
The intermediate time is shown for 
5 seconds.Stopping the RACETIMER
Press button æ.
The timer stops.
iYou can start the RACETIMER when the 
engine is running or the starter switch is in 
position2 (
page 37).
iWhile the RACETIMER is being displayed, 
you cannot adjust the audio volume using 
buttonsæ or ç.
iWhen you stop the vehicle and turn the 
SmartKey to position 1 (
page 37), the 
RACETIMER stops timing. Timing is resumed 
when you switch the ignition back on 
(
page 37) or restart the engine (page 51) 
and then press the æbutton.
 
     
        
        Page 135 of 474

134 Controls in detail
Control system
Selecting satellite radio station*
The Sirius satellite radio is treated as a 
radio application.
Select satellite radio with the corre-
sponding soft key (SAT) in the radio 
menu.
1SAT mode and preset number
2Channel name or number
Press buttonjork repeatedly 
until the desired channel is found.Operating the CD player
Switch on the radio and select the 
CD player (
page 212).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to the separate operating instruc-
tions.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly 
until the settings for the CD currently 
being played appear in the multifunc-
tion display.
1Current CD
(
CD0 for single CD drive in head unit, 
CD1 through CD6 for CD in 
CD changer*)
2Current track
Press buttonjork repeatedly 
until the desired track is selected.
iFor more information on satellite radio 
operation, see “Introduction to satellite radio*” 
(
page 203).
Vehicles with COMAND*:
Refer to separate operating instructions.
iTo select a CD from the magazine, press a 
number on the audio system or the COMAND* 
system key pad located in the center dashboard. 
     
        
        Page 137 of 474

136 Controls in detail
Control system
If conditions have occurred causing status 
messages to be recorded, the number of 
messages appears in the multifunction dis-
play:
1Number of recorded status messages
Press buttonjork.
The stored messages will now be dis-
played in the order in which they have 
occurred. For malfunction and warning 
messages, see “Vehicle status messag-
es in the multifunction display” 
(
page 360).
Should the vehicle’s system record any 
conditions while driving, the number of 
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display when the SmartKey in the 
starter switch is turned to position0 or 
removed from the starter switch:
Settings menu
In the 
Settings menu are two functions:
The function To reset, push reset 
button for 3 seconds.
 for resetting all 
settings to factory standard.
A collection of submenus for perform-
ing individual settings for your vehicle.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly 
until the 
Settings menu appears in the 
multifunction display.The following settings and submenus are 
available in the 
Settings menu:
Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of most of 
the submenus to the factory settings.
For safety reasons, the function 
Headlamp 
Mode
 in the Lighting submenu cannot be 
reset while driving.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly 
until the 
Settings menu appears in the 
multifunction display.
iThe vehicle status message memory will be 
cleared when you turn the SmartKey in the 
starter switch to position1or2.
You will then only see high-priority messages in 
the multifunction display (
page 360).
FunctionPage
Resetting all settings136
Submenus in the Settings menu137
Instrument cluster submenu139
Time/date submenu141
Lighting submenu143
Vehicle submenu146
Convenience* submenu147
 
     
        
        Page 145 of 474

144 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated 
and the exterior lamp switch in 
positionU, the following lamps will 
switch on during darkness when the vehi-
cle is unlocked with the SmartKey:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the 
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking 
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps 
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.
Move the selection marker with 
buttonæorç to the 
Lighting 
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly 
until the message 
Surround Lighting 
Function
 appears in the multifunction 
display.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press buttonæorç to switch 
the locator lighting function 
On or Off.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionU when exiting the vehicle 
(
page 55).
The locator lighting feature is 
activated.Setting night security illumination 
(Headlamps delayed shut-off)
Use this function to set whether you would 
like the exterior lamps to remain on for 
15 seconds during darkness after exiting 
the vehicle and closing all doors. 
With the headlamps delayed shut-off 
feature activated and the exterior lamp 
switch in positionU before the engine 
is turned off, the following lamps will 
switch on when the engine is turned off:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps 
     
        
        Page 146 of 474

145 Controls in detail
Control system
If after turning off the engine you do not 
open a door or do not close an opened 
door, the lamps will automatically switch 
off after 60 seconds.
Move the selection marker with 
buttonæorç to the 
Lighting 
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly 
until the message 
Headlamps Delayed 
Shut-off
 appears in the multifunction 
display.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press buttonæorç to switch 
the headlamps delayed shut-off feature 
On or Off.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionU before turning off the 
engine (
page 55).
The headlamps delayed shut-off 
feature is activated.
You can temporarily deactivate the 
delayed shut-off feature:
Before exiting the vehicle, turn the 
SmartKey in the starter switch to 
position0.
Then turn it to position2 and back to 
position0.
The delayed shut-off feature is deacti-
vated. It will reactivate as soon as you 
reinsert the SmartKey in the starter 
switch.Setting interior lighting delayed shut-off
Use this function to set whether you would 
like the interior lighting to remain on for 
10 seconds during darkness after you have 
removed the SmartKey from the starter 
switch. 
Move the selection marker with 
buttonæorç to the 
Lighting 
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly 
until the message 
Interior Lighting 
Delayed Shut-off
 appears in the 
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current 
setting.
Press buttonæorç to 
switch the interior delayed shut-off 
feature 
On or Off. 
     
        
        Page 149 of 474

148 Controls in detail
Control system
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up 
statistical data on your vehicle.
The following information is available:Fuel consumption statistics since start
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly 
until the message 
From Start appears 
in the multifunction display.
1Statistics called up: since start
2Time elapsed since start
3Average fuel consumption since start
4Average speed since start
5Distance driven since startFuel consumption since last reset
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly 
until the message 
From Start appears 
in the multifunction display.
Press buttonjork repeatedly 
until the message 
From Reset appears 
in the multifunction display.
1Statistics called up: since last reset
2Time elapsed since last reset
3Average fuel consumption since last 
reset
4Average speed since last reset
5Distance driven since last resetFunctionPage
Fuel consumption statistics 
since start148
Fuel consumption statistics 
since last reset148
Resetting fuel consumption 
statistics149
Calling up range 
(distance to empty)149
iAll statistics stored since the last engine 
start will be reset approximately four hours after 
the SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to 
position0 or removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the SmartKey 
back to position1or2 within this time period.