
25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Automatic transmission*:
Steering wheel gearshift 
control*163
2Multifunction steering 
wheel28,
122
3Horn
4Instrument cluster26,
118
5Overhead control panel31,
116
6Glove box253
CD changer*216,
253
7Center console29, 30
8Sun sensor for automatic 
climate control*
9Starter switch37
ItemPage
aSteering wheel adjustment 
release handle, manual43
bSteering wheel adjustment 
stalk, electrical*44
Heated steering wheel 
stalk* (SLK 280, 
SLK 350, Canada only)276
cHood lock release lever294
dExterior lamp switch55,
109
eCombination switch
High beam55
Turn signals55
Windshield wipers56
fPower window switches235
gInside door handle98
hCruise control lever248 

33 At a glance
Storage compartments
ItemPage
1Glove box253
2Door pocket
3Trunk
Vehicle tool kit, jack, spare 
wheel389
Luggage cover241
Trunk load450
Load limit309
4Door pocket
5Cupholder255
ItemPage
6Parcel net in passenger 
footwell254
7Ashtray255
Cigarette lighter256
8Storage tray
9Storage/telephone* 
compartment253
aStorage compartment 
between seat backrests254 

70 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The air bags will not deploy in impacts 
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protect-
ed by the fastened seat belts.The passenger air bag will only be de-
ployed if
the system, based on OCS weight sen-
sor readings, senses that the front pas-
senger seat is occupied
the 75indicator lamp in 
the center console is not lit 
(
page 74)
the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment threshold
Knee bags
The driver-side knee bag is located on the 
driver’s side lower instrument panel. The 
passenger-side knee bag is located on the 
passenger side below the glove box. They 
are designed to operate together with the 
front air bags in certain frontal impacts 
exceeding a preset threshold. The knee 
bags operate best in conjunction with 
properly positioned and fastened seat 
belts.Head-thorax air bags
1Head-thorax air bag
The head-thorax air bags are deployed
in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold
on the impacted side of the vehicle
independently of the front air bags
The head-thorax air bags are not deployed 
in impacts which do not exceed the 
system’s deployment threshold.
iThe front air bags in this vehicle have been 
designed to inflate in two stages. This allows 
the air bag to have different rates of inflation that 
are based on the rate of relevant vehicle deceler-
ation as assessed by the air bag control unit.
On the passenger side, the front air bag 
deployment is additionally influenced by the 
passenger’s weight category as identified by the 
Occupant Classification System (OCS) 
(
page 71).
The lighter the passenger side occupant, the 
higher the vehicle deceleration rate required for 
the second stage inflation of the air bag. 

90 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized 
persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the 
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. 
The engine can be started by anyone with 
a valid SmartKey that is left inside the 
vehicle.
Activating
Remove the SmartKey from the starter 
switch.
Deactivating
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
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 lid
the hood
the glove box
the storage/telephone* compartment 
in the center console
The alarm system will also be triggered 
when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle
unlocking and opening the driver’s 
door or the trunk with the mechanical 
key
someone opens a door from the inside
someone opens the trunk lid with the 
emergency release buttonArming the alarm system
The alarm system indicator lamp is located 
in the locking switch in the center console.
1Alarm system indicator lamp
iStarting the engine will also deactivate the 
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the 
vehicle’s battery is charged), the system is not 
operational. Contact an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center or call 
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or 
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iThe alarm will stay on, even if the activating 
element (e.g. a door) is immediately closed.
iIf the alarm stays on for more than 
30 seconds, a call to the Response Center is 
initiated automatically by the Tele Aid* system 
(
page 262), provided Tele Aid* service was 
subscribed to and properly activated, and that 
necessary cellular service and GPS coverage are 
available (
page 262). 

94 Controls in detail
In the “Controls in detail” section you will 
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed in your vehicle. 
If you are already familiar with the basic 
functions of your vehicle, this section will 
be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the 
basic functions of the vehicle, refer to the 
“Getting started” section of this manual. 
The corresponding page numbers are 
given at the beginning of each segment.
For more information on unlocking and 
locking, see (
page 36) and (page 59).
Locking and unlocking
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two 
SmartKeys, each with remote control and 
a removable mechanical key.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is 
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when 
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:
the doors
the trunk
the fuel filler flap
the glove box
the storage/telephone* compartment 
under the armrest
SmartKey with remote control
1‹Lock button
2
ŠUnlock button for the trunk 
(
page 99)
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ŒUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6ÂPanic button (
page 83) 

97 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, the storage/telephone* compart-
ment under the armrest, the glove box, and 
the fuel filler flap.
Press and hold buttonsŒand‹  
simultaneously for about 5 seconds 
until battery check lamp5 
(
page 94) flashes twice.
The SmartKey will then function as fol-
lows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler 
flap
Press buttonŒ once.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic warning sounds once.
The locking knob in the driver’s 
door moves up.
The anti-theft alarm system is 
disarmed.Global unlocking
Press buttonŒ twice.
All turn signal lamps flash once.
An acoustic warning sounds once.
The locking knobs in the doors 
move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is 
disarmed.
Global locking
Press button‹.
With all doors and the trunk closed:
All turn signal lamps flash three 
times.
An acoustic warning 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 buttonsŒand‹ 
simultaneously for about 5 seconds 
until battery check lamp5 
(
page 94) flashes twice.
Checking the batteries
Press button‹orŒ.
The battery check lamp (
page 94) 
comes on briefly to indicate that the 
SmartKey batteries are in order.
iIf the battery check lamp (page 94) does 
not come on briefly during check, the SmartKey 
batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (page 398).
You can obtain the required batteries at any 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within signal 
range of the vehicle, pressing 
button‹orŒ will lock or unlock the 
vehicle accordingly. 

103 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the 
trunk from the inside using the central 
locking or unlocking switch. This can be 
useful, for example, if you want to lock the 
vehicle before starting to drive.
The central locking switch and central 
unlocking switch do not lock or unlock the 
fuel filler flap or the interior storage com-
partments, such as the glove box.1Central locking switch
2Central unlocking switch
Locking
Press central locking switch1.
If all doors are closed, the vehicle 
locks.
Unlocking
Press central unlocking switch2.
The vehicle unlocks.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it 
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s 
unsupervised access to a vehicle could 
result in an accident and/or serious 
personal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from the inside. 
Open door only when conditions are safe to do 
so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked 
using the SmartKey, it will not unlock using the 
central unlocking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the 
central locking switch
and the SmartKey is set to factory settings, 
the complete vehicle is unlocked when a 
door is opened from the inside
and the SmartKey is set to selective settings, 
only the door opened from inside is unlocked 

212 Controls in detail
Audio system
Operating the single CD player in the 
audio system unit
Loading a CD
The single CD player in the audio system 
unit has capacity for one CD. The CD slot 
for loading the drive is located underneath 
the soft keys.
Make sure the system is switched on.
Insert CD into CD slot. The label side of 
the CD must face upwards.
The system automatically pulls the CD 
into the CD slot. The audio CD begins 
to play.Ejecting a CD
Make sure the system is switched on.
Press gbutton.
The system ejects the CD. 
Remove CD0 
will appear in the display.
Remove CD from slot.
With the CD removed, 
NO CD will appear 
in the display.Operational readiness of CD changer*
If a CD changer has been installed in the 
vehicle, it can be operated from the front 
control panel of the audio system.
The CD changer is located in the glove box.
1CD loading slot
2Magazine slot button
A magazine is integrated into the CD 
changer as a fixed element. It holds a 
maximum of six CDs.
The CD changer features six magazine slot 
buttons2 for controlling the loading 
procedure.
!If a CD is already loaded, it must be ejected 
before inserting a new CD. Inserting a second 
CD in the slot with another CD still loaded will 
cause damage to the CD drive not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. 
iIf a CD has been inserted incorrectly or 
cannot be read, 
WRONG CD0 will appear in the 
display.
iIf you do not take the CD out of the CD slot 
within approximately 15 seconds, the system 
automatically pulls the CD back in and plays it.
If a CD is pulled back in, press gbutton, the 
CD will then be ejected.