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With SmartKey XTurn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0.
XRemove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the automatic
transmission in park position P.
With KEYLESS-GO
XPress the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button.
With the driver’s door closed, the starter
switch is now in position 1. With the driver’s
door opened, the starter switch is set to
position 0, same as the SmartKey removed
from the starter switch (Y page 76).
If an acoustic warning sounds, you have tried
to turn off the engine with the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button while the automatic
transmission was not in park position P.
Read and observe messages that may appear
in the multifunction display (Y page 267).
iIn an emergency you can turn off the
engine while driving by pressing and
holding the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
for approximately 3 seconds.
If you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and cannot
turn it off as described above:
XRemove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from the starter switch.
XInsert the SmartKey into the starter switch.
The engine turns off. The starter switch is
in position 0 (Y page 76).
Automatic transmission
Introduction
For information on driving with an automatic
transmission, see “Driving and parking”
(Y page 98).
GWarning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the pedals
still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between or
under the pedals. You could then no longer
brake or accelerate. This could lead to
accidents and injury.
! Allow the engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature has
been reached.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces.
This may cause serious damage to the
engine and the drivetrain which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more quickly
to operating temperature.
Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission
jPark position with gear selector lever lockkReverse gearAutomatic transmission103Controls in detailX204_AKB; 3; 23, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-16T19:16:58+02:00 - Seite 103Z
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iNeutral positionhDrive positionGWarning!
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of park position P or neutral
position N if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Only shift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R or park position P when the
vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be damaged.
iShifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P is only possible with the
brake pedal depressed.
Only depressing the brake pedal releases
the gear selector lever lock.
iThe current gear selector lever position
corresponds with the current transmission
position.
The current transmission position P, R, N,
or D appears in the multifunction display
(Y page 104).
There are additional indicators on the cover
of the shifting gate showing the current gear
selector lever position.
The indicators come on when you insert the
SmartKey into the starter switch, and go out
when you remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch.
Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects individual
gears automatically, depending on
Rthe selected gear range (Y page 106)
Rthe selected program mode C/S
(Y page 106)
Rthe position of the accelerator pedal
Rthe vehicle speed
With drive position D selected, you can
influence transmission shifting by limiting or
extending the gear range.
Transmission positions
The current transmission position appears in
the multifunction display.
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EffectBPark position
Shift the automatic transmission
into park position P only when the
vehicle is stopped. The park position
is not intended to serve as a brake
when the vehicle is parked. Rather,
the driver should always engage the
parking brake in addition to shifting
the automatic transmission into
park position P to secure the
vehicle.
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in park position P.
With the SmartKey removed from
the starter switch, the gear selector
lever is locked in park position P.
If the vehicle’s electrical system is
malfunctioning, the gear selector
lever could remain locked in park
position P. To unlock the gear
selector lever manually, see
“Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever” ( Y page 301).CReverse gear
Shift the automatic transmission
into reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped.EffectANeutral position
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle can
be moved freely (pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the
transmission, never shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N while driving.
Exception: If the ESP ®
is switched
off or malfunctioning, shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N if the vehicle is in danger
of skidding.
! Coasting the vehicle, or driving
for any other reason with the
automatic transmission in neutral
position N can result in
transmission damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.7Drive position
The automatic transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears are
available.
Driving tips
Kickdown
Use the kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
XU.S. vehicles: Fully depress the
accelerator pedal.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear.XCanada vehicles: Depress the accelerator
pedal past the point of resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
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Working on the vehicleGWarning!
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift the automatic
transmission into park position P. Otherwise
the vehicle could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Towing a trailer
XWhen you tow a trailer, shift into a lower
gear range manually if the automatic
transmission hunts between gears on
inclines.
A lower gear range and reduction of speed
reduces the potential to overload or to
overheat the engine.
For more information on trailer towing, see
“Trailer towing” (Y page 246).
Gear ranges
With the automatic transmission in drive
position D, you can limit or extend the gear
range, see “One-touch gearshifting”
(Y page 107).
The current gear range appears in the
multifunction display.
:Gear range indicator Effect=With this selection you can use the
braking effect of the engine.
5Allows the use of the engine’s
braking effect when driving
Ron steep downgrades
Rin mountainous regions
Runder extreme operating
conditions
4For maximum use of the engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.
Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
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The current program mode appears in the
multifunction display.:Program mode indicator
You should only change the program mode
when the automatic transmission is in park
position P.
Automatic program mode S will not be stored.
When the engine is turned off with the
automatic program mode S selected, the
automatic transmission will go to the
automatic program mode C when the engine
is restarted.
XPress the program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the desired
program mode appears in the multifunction
display.
Selecting program mode C means:
RThe vehicle starts out more gentle, both
forward and reverse, except when driving
off with full throttle.
RTraction and driving stability are improved
on icy roads.
RUpshifts occur earlier even when you give
more gas. The engine then operates at
lower revolutions and the wheels are less
likely to spin.
Selecting program mode S means that
upshifts occur later.
One-touch gearshifting
With the automatic transmission in drive
position D, you can limit or extend the gear
range using the gear selector lever.
Limiting gear range
GWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
XBriefly press the gear selector lever to the
left in the D- direction.
The automatic transmission will shift into
the next lower gear as permitted by the
shift program. This action simultaneously
limits the gear range of the automatic
transmission.
iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting, the automatic transmission
will not shift into a lower gear if the engine’s
maximum speed would be exceeded.
Extending gear range
XBriefly press the gear selector lever to the
right in the D+ direction.
The automatic transmission will shift into
the next higher gear as permitted by the
shift program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the automatic
transmission.
iIf you press on the accelerator pedal
when the engine has reached the
revolution limit of the current gear range,
the automatic transmission will upshift
beyond any gear range limit selected.
Canceling gear range limit
XPress and hold the gear selector lever to
the right in the D+ direction until the gear
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range indicator disappears from the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission will shift from
the current gear range directly into drive
position D.
Shifting into optimal gear range
XPress and hold the gear selector lever to
the left in the D- direction.
The automatic transmission will select the
gear range suited for optimal acceleration
and deceleration automatically. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
Emergency operation (limp-home
mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less
responsive or sluggish or the automatic
transmission no longer shifts, the automatic
transmission is most likely operating in limp-
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear R
can be selected.
XStop the vehicle in a safe location.XShift the automatic transmission into park
position P.XTurn off the engine.XWait at least 10 seconds before restarting.XRestart the engine.XShift the automatic transmission into drive
position D (for second gear) or reverse gear
R .XHave the automatic transmission checked
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Transfer case
This section applies to vehicles equipped with
all-wheel drive (4MATIC) only. Both the front
and rear axles are powered at all times when
the vehicle is being operated.
! Only conduct operational or performance
tests on a two-axle dynamometer. If such
tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake
system or the transfer case which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
! Because the ESP ®
operates
automatically, the engine and ignition must
be shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
position 0 or 1) when
R the parking brake is being tested on a
brake test dynamometer
R towing the vehicle with the front or rear
axle raised (not permissible for vehicles
with 4MATIC)
Active braking action through the ESP ®
may otherwise seriously damage the brake
system which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Instrument cluster
Introduction
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
( Y page 28).
GWarning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
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If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.
The language setting for the multifunction
display can be changed with the audio system
(Y page 136) or with the COMAND system.
Vehicles with COMAND system: Refer to
separate operating instructions.
Activating the instrument cluster
The instrument cluster is activated when you
Ropen the driver’s door
Rswitch on the ignition
Adjusting the instrument cluster
illumination
XTo brighten illumination: Turn
dimmer : clockwise.
XTo dim illumination: Turn dimmer :
counterclockwise.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit
ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also
be adjusted automatically when you switch
on the vehicle’s exterior lamps.
Coolant temperature gauge
The coolant temperature gauge is located on
the left side in the instrument cluster
(Y page 28).
GWarning!
Driving when your engine is overheated can
cause some fluids which may have leaked into
the engine compartment to catch fire. You
could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns which can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
During severe operating conditions, e.g. stop-
and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may
rise close to 248‡ (120†), i.e close to the
red zone of the temperature gauge.
! Excessive coolant temperature triggers a
warning in the multifunction display.
The engine should not be operated with a
coolant temperature above 248‡ (120†),
i.e. in the red zone of the coolant
temperature gauge. Doing so may cause
serious engine damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(Y page 28) denotes excessive engine speed.
! Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds,
as it may result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply is
interrupted if the engine is operated within
the red marking.
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Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature indicator is
displayed in the multifunction display
(Y page 112).
GWarning!
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
Fuel gauge
The fuel gauge is on the left-hand side of the
instrument cluster (Y page 28). Once the fuel
level has fallen below the reserve mark, the
yellow fuel tank reserve warning lamp 8
for the fuel reserve comes on.
Control system
Introduction
The control system is activated as soon as the
starter switch is in position 2.
The control system enables you to call up
information about your vehicle and to change
vehicle settings.
For example, you can use the control system
to find out when your vehicle is next due for
maintenance service, to call up statistical
data on your vehicle, and much more.
GWarning!
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,
selecting 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.
The control system relays information to the
multifunction display.
Multifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display and
the settings in the control system are
controlled by using the buttons on the
multifunction steering wheel.
:Multifunction display;Press button~to end a call
to reject an incoming call
6to answer a call
to dial7
to redial7
8to mute7Function only available in telephone menu.110Control systemControls in detail
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