
Resume function ............................ 147
Setting current speed  ....................145
Cup holders  ........................................ 209
Curb weight  ....................................... 255
Customer Assistance Center (CAC)  ... 23
Customer Relations Department  ....... 23
D
Dashboard see Instrument cluster                              
Data recording  ..................................... 24
Date, Setting  ...................................... 135
Daytime running lamp mode  .............. 99
Switching on or off ......................... 136
Deep water
see Standing water                                   
Defroster  
Rear window  .................................. 191
Windshield  ............................. 179, 189
Delayed shut-off  
Exterior lamps ................................ 137
Interior lighting  .............................. 138
Department of Transportation
see DOT                                                    
Diesel engine  
Preglow indicator lamp  ....................29
Diesel fuel
see Fuel                                                     
Differential locks  ............................... 121
A few words about  .........................122
Messages in the multifunction
display  ................................... 123, 302
Switching  ....................................... 122
Difficulties  
While driving  .................................. 111
With starting  .................................. 110
Digital clock
see Clock                                                  
Digital speedometer  ......................... 129
Dimensions (vehicle) see Vehicle specification                          
Direction of rotation (tires)  .............. 246
Displays  
Digital speedometer  ......................129
Distronic  ........................................ 149
Maintenance service indicator  .......273
Messages in the multifunction
display  ........................................... 287
Multifunction display  .....................127
Outside temperature  .............129, 135
Symbol messages  ..........................299
Text messages  ............................... 288
Trip computer  ................................ 141
Vehicle status message memory  ...131
Vehicle system settings  .................132
Distronic  ............................................ 147
Cleaning system sensor cover  .......278
Control system  .............................. 131
Distance warning function  .............155
Distance warning
lamp  ...................................... 149, 319
Driving with .................................... 153
Menu  ............................................. 150
Messages in the multifunction
display  ........................................... 294
Resume function  ............................ 152
Sensor cover .................................. 278
Speed settings  ............................... 151
Door control panel  .............................. 34
Door handles  ........................................ 34
Doors  
Child safety locks  ............................ 60
Locking/unlocking (KEYLESS-GO)  ...71
Locking/unlocking (SmartKey)  ........70
Messages in the multifunction
display  ........................................... 304
Opening from inside ......................... 74
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid)  .......219
Unlocking (Mechanical key)  ...........323
DOT (Department of
Transportation)  .................................. 255
Downhill Speed Regulation see DSR                                                    
Drinking and driving  ......................... 259
Driving  
Abroad  ........................................... 272
Hydroplaning  ................................. 262
Instructions  ........................... 108, 259
In winter  ........................................ 258
Off-road  ......................................... 262
Problems  ....................................... 111
Safety systems  ................................ 61
Systems  ......................................... 144Index7X164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 7 

Interior lighting 
Delayed shut-off  ............................ 138
Emergency lighting  ........................102
Front  .............................................. 101
Front reading lamps  .......................101
Rear  ............................................... 102
Rear reading lamps  ........................102
Interior rear view mirror  ..................... 93
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors ....... 94
Interior storage spaces
see Storage compartments                      
Intermittent wiping  
Rain sensor  .................................... 103
J
Jack  ..................................................... 286
Jump starting  ..................................... 350
K
Key, Mechanical  
Loss of  ............................................. 73
Replacing  ......................................... 74
Unlocking/locking manually  ..........323
Key, SmartKey  
Battery check lamp  ..........................73
Checking batteries  ...........................73
Factory setting ........................... 71, 72
Global locking (KEYLESS-
GO)  .................................................. 73
Global locking (SmartKey) ................ 71
Global unlocking (KEYLESS-
GO)  ............................................ 72, 73
Global unlocking
(SmartKey)  ....................................... 71
Important notes on KEYLESS-GO  .....72
Locking/unlocking ........................... 70
Loss of  ............................................. 73
Messages in the multifunction
display  ........................................... 304
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof  .........................107
Opening and closing the windows . 107
Remote control  ................................ 70
Replacing  ......................................... 74
Replacing batteries  ........................326
Restoring to factory setting  .......71, 73
Selective setting  ........................71, 73
Starter switch positions  ...................80
KEYLESS-GO  
Starter switch positions  ...................80
Kickdown  ........................................... 117
Kilopascal (air pressure unit)  ........... 255
Knee bag  .............................................. 40
L
Labels  
Certification  ................................... 360
Emission control information  .........361
Tire and Loading Information
placard ........................................... 242
Tire inflation pressure  ....................236
Lamps, exterior  
Exterior lamp switch  ........................97
Front  .............................................. 329
Messages in the multifunction
display  ........................................... 310
Rear  ............................................... 329
Switching on/off .............................. 97
Lamps, indicator and warning  
ABS .......................................... 28, 315
Brakes  ..................................... 28, 316
Center console  ................................ 31
Differential locks ............................ 123
Distance warning
lamp  .............................. 149, 155, 319
Engine malfunction  ..................29, 320
ESP ®
 ........................................ 28, 318
Fog lamps  ........................................ 99
Front passenger front air bag off
(Canada only)  .......................... 46, 322
Front passenger front air bag off
(USA only) ................................ 42, 322
Fuel tank reserve  .....................29, 320
High-beam headlamps  .............29, 100
Instrument cluster  ...................28, 314
Low-beam headlamps  ................29, 98
Low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale  ..................28, 321
Seat belt telltale  ................29, 51, 317
SRS .................................... 29, 36, 318
Turn signals  ..................................... 28
Language, selecting  .......................... 134
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Brake pads ..................................... 299
Coolant  .......................................... 306
Cruise control  ................................ 294
Differential locks  ...................123, 302
Distronic  ........................................ 294
Doors  ............................................. 304
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)  ..303
EBP  ................................................ 300
Engine oil  ....................................... 308
ESP ®
 ...................................... 289, 300
Fog lamps  .............................. 310, 312
Front passenger front air bag  ........291
Gas cap .......................................... 309
High-beam lamps  ........................... 311
Hood  .............................................. 304
License plate lamps  .......................311
Light sensor  ................................... 311
Low-beam lamps ............................ 312
LOW RANGE mode ......................... 303
Parking brake  ................................ 300
Parking lamps  ................................ 311
PRE-SAFE ®
 .................................... 290
Reserve fuel  ................................... 309
Reverse lamp  ................................. 310
Side marker lamps  .........................311
SmartKey  ....................................... 304
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO  ..........304
SRS  ................................................ 301
Tailgate  .......................................... 304
Tail lamps  ...................................... 312
Tele Aid  .......................................... 301
Tire inflation pressure  ............297, 313
Tire pressure monitor  ....................297
Tires  ...................................... 297, 313
Trailer brake lamps  ........................312
Trailer tail lamps  ............................ 312
Trailer turn signal lamps  ................312
Turn signals  ................................... 313
Washer fluid  ................................... 305
Multifunction steering wheel  
Adjustment  ...................................... 91
Buttons  .......................................... 125
Cleaning ......................................... 280
Easy-entry/exit feature  ...........92, 139
Gearshift control  ............................ 118
Heating  ............................................ 93
Memory function .............................. 96
Overview  .......................................... 30N
Navigation menu  ............................... 130
Navigation system see Separate operating instructions         
NECK-PRO active front head
restraints  ............................................. 53
Resetting  ....................................... 325
Nets, parcel  ....................................... 200
Night security illumination  .............. 137
Normal occupant weight  .................. 256
Number, vehicle identification
(VIN)  ................................................... 361
O
Occupant Classification System see OCS (Occupant Classification
System)                                                     
Occupant distribution  ....................... 256
Occupant safety  
Air bags  ........................................... 37
BabySmart™  .................................... 46
Children and air bags  .......................37
Children in the vehicle  .....................55
Child seat anchors – LATCH-type  ....59
Fastening the seat belts ................... 50
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp (Canada
only)  ........................................ 46, 322
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp (USA only)  ........42, 322
Infant and child restraint systems .... 56
Introduction  ..................................... 36
OCS (Occupant Classification
System)  ........................................... 42
PRE-SAFE ®
 ....................................... 52
Seat belts  .................................. 39, 48
OCS (Occupant Classification
System)  ................................................ 42
Self-test  ........................................... 45
Odometer  ........................................... 127
Off-road driving  ................................. 262
Checklist  ............................... 264, 268
Crossing obstacles  ........................267
Driving instructions ........................ 262
Driving on sand  .............................. 267
Driving through water  ....................266
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Upper part (Vehicles with enhanced 
off-road package)
FunctionPage:COMAND system, see
separate operating
instructions
;Climate control system172Rear window defroster191=Seat heating, front
passenger side90
?Seat ventilation, front
passenger side90
ARotary switch for
differential locks122
BSwitch for LOW RANGE
mode120
CSwitch for Downhill Speed
Regulation (DSR)155
DRotary switch for vehicle
level control159
EAlarm system indicator
lamp67
FunctionPageFSeat ventilation, driver’s
side90
GSeat heating, driver’s side90HAdaptive Damping System
(ADS) switch159
IElectronic Stability
Program (ESP®) switch64
JParktronic system
deactivation switch168
KHazard warning flasher
switch101
LFront passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp (USA
only)
42,
322
Front passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp
(Canada only)
46,
322
32Center consoleAt a glance
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Vehicle equipment ..............................70
Locking and unlocking .......................70
Starter switch positions .....................80
Seats ....................................................82
Multifunction steering wheel .............91
Mirrors .................................................93
Memory function .................................96
Lighting ................................................97
Wipers ................................................103
Power windows .................................105
Driving and parking ..........................108
Automatic transmission ...................114
Transfer case ....................................119
Differential locks ..............................121
Instrument cluster ............................124
Control system ..................................125
Driving systems ................................144
Overview of climate control sys-
tem functions and air vents .............172
Climate control .................................175
3-zone automatic climate control ...181
Rear window defroster .....................191
Power tilt/sliding sunroof ...............192
Loading and storing ..........................194
Useful features .................................209
69Controls in detailX164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 69   

Switching LOW RANGE mode 
Switching LOW RANGE mode on 
(switching from HIGH RANGE to LOW 
RANGE)
! The shifting procedure can only be
performed when the following conditions
are met:
RThe engine is running.
RThe automatic transmission is in neutral
position N.
RThe vehicle speed does not exceed
25 mph (40 km/h).
iThere is no reset to HIGH after the ignition
has been switched off.
XPress LOW RANGE switch :.
Indicator lamp ; flashes.
If the system senses that all conditions are
met, it will switch from HIGH RANGE to
LOW RANGE. A chime sounds and LOW
RANGE indicator = appears in the
multifunction display.
Indicator lamp ; on LOW RANGE
switch : comes on continuously,
indicating that the LOW RANGE mode has
been activated.
iYou can cancel the procedure by pressing
the LOW RANGE switch again while the
indicator lamp is flashing.
Switching LOW RANGE mode off 
(switching from LOW RANGE to HIGH 
RANGE)
! The shifting procedure can only be
performed when the following conditions
are met:
RThe engine is running.
RThe automatic transmission is in neutral
position N.
RThe vehicle speed does not exceed
43 mph (70 km/h).
iThere is no reset to LOW after the ignition
has been switched off.
XPress LOW RANGE switch :.
Indicator lamp ; flashes.
If the system senses that all conditions are
met, it will switch from LOW RANGE to
HIGH RANGE. A chime sounds and LOW
RANGE indicator = disappears from the
multifunction display.
Indicator lamp ; on LOW RANGE
switch : goes out, indicating that the LOW
RANGE mode has been deactivated.
iYou can cancel the procedure by pressing
the LOW RANGE switch again while the
indicator lamp is flashing.
For messages in the multifunction display,
see the “Practical hints” section
(Y page 303).
Differential locks
Vehicles with enhanced off-road package are
equipped with automatic locks for the center
Differential locks121Controls in detailX164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 121Z     

and rear axle differential to improve vehicle
traction.
The center differential compensates for
differences in wheel rotation between the
front and rear axle.
The rear axle differential compensates
differences between the rear wheels.
i At the front axles, the 4-ETS system
compensates for any traction problems.
For more information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” ( Y page 262).
A few words about differentials and 
differential locks 
When a vehicle negotiates a turn, wheels on
the outside of the curve must travel farther
and rotate faster than the inside wheels. The
differential, the operation of a set of gears
that allows the powered wheels in a vehicle
to turn at different speeds, makes this
essential function possible.
The drawback is that the differential also
sends most of the engine’s power to the
wheel with the least load or strain on it. For
example, if one of a vehicle’s powered wheels
sits on a patch of snow and spins because
there is no traction, all of the engine’s power
will go to that wheel because the power will
take the path of least resistance. Meanwhile,
the opposite wheel, sitting on dry pavement
where it could get enough grip to start the
vehicle moving, sits idle because it receives
no power.
The 4-ETS addresses this problem and
provides for good control and steering ability
by automatically slowing the slipping wheel
and thus increasing the power to the other
non-slipping drive wheels to get the vehicle
moving. The ESP ®
 and the 4-ETS in this
vehicle feature such intelligent limited-slip
differential technology, ideally suited for on-
road and light off-road driving. Transfer case
position LOW  (Y  page  120) also enhances off-
road driving capabilities.
More extreme off-road conditions may call for
another solution, engaging a differential lock
or preventing the differential from operating
altogether. This vehicle comes with two
differential locks: transfer case (center) and
rear. Each can be engaged simply by
operating the rotary switch located on the
center console ( Y page 123). When the
transfer case (center) differential is locked,
the combined (or average) speed of the front
wheels is identical to the combined rear
wheel speed. When the rear differential is
locked, both rear wheels turn at the same
speed, independent of the individual torque.
Please be aware that engaging the differential
locks will significantly reduce the steering
ability of the vehicle.
For your safety and the safety of others and
to prevent damage to the vehicle, the
differential locks must not be engaged when
driving on paved roads. It is important to
understand that during on-road/paved
driving, differentials are absolutely necessary
for providing the essential control and
steering ability of the vehicle. The differential
locks, therefore, must not be engaged when
driving on paved roads and should only be
used to the extent necessary to negotiate off-
road conditions which cannot be handled by
the systems (the 4-ETS, the ESP ®
, and the
transfer case in LOW RANGE mode) this
vehicle comes equipped with.
Switching differential locks 
!  If the differential locks are engaged,
accelerate gently when setting the vehicle
in motion.
Only operate the vehicle on a single axle
dynamometer if the axle not being driven is
jacked up or the associated propeller shaft
is disconnected.
Otherwise the transmission could be
damaged.
122Differential locksControls in detail
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You can select between three locking modes.
Rotary switch for differential locks
:Rotatable outer adjustment ring with
indicator lamp 
2AUTO mode: center differential is
automatically locked
3Center differential is completely locked4Center and rear axle differential are
completely locked
AUTO mode
The AUTO mode is adequate for most driving
situations since the center differential is
locked and released as required.
iAt speeds up to 19 mph (30 km/h), it is
possible to manually lock the differential
locks for driving on rough terrain.
XStart the engine.
The center differential lock is in AUTO
mode. The indicator lamp on adjustment
ring : above symbol à is on.
A message indicating that the center
differential lock is in AUTO mode appears in
the multifunction display when the off-road
menu is selected. For selecting the off-road
menu, see the “Controls in detail” section
(Y page 131).
Center and rear axle differential locksGWarning!
Never drive on a paved surface with the center
and rear axle differential locks manually
engaged. Ability to steer the vehicle is greatly
reduced when the differential locks are
manually engaged, increasing the risk of an
accident.
For safety reasons, the locks are
automatically released at a vehicle speed
above 31 mph (50 km/h). Nevertheless, you
should only manually lock the differential if
absolutely necessary because engaged locks
will restrict the vehicle drivetrain while
cornering and cause the vehicle to chatter.
This could cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident.
! The differential locks must not be
engaged manually when towing the vehicle
or spinning the wheels.
The differential locks should only be engaged
manually if traction is insufficient in AUTO
mode.
The differential locks can be engaged in the
sequence 3, 4 (Y page 123) up to a speed
of 19 mph (30 km/h).
Engage differential locks:
Rfor off-road driving
Rfor driving through water
Rwhen driving on deep snow and icy or
fouled surfaces
XStart the engine.XTo select the desired locking mode, rotate
adjustment ring : to position 3 or 4
(Y page 123).
The indicator lamp on adjustment ring :
at the respective symbol comes on.
A message indicating that the respective
differential is completely locked appears in
the multifunction display when the off-road
menu is selected. For selecting the off-road
Differential locks123Controls in detailX164_AKB; 5; 31, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-09-11T12:30:16+02:00 - Seite 123Z