XPress button \0004 on the key twice.XPress and hold button \0005 on the key for
approximately two seconds.
or
XPull the release handle in handle
recess \000F of the lower tailgate.
The upper tailgate is unlocked.
XSwivel the upper tailgate upwards to
open.
Observe the information on loading the
vehicle (Y page 113).
For information on vehicle weights, see
“Vehicle specification” (Y page 215).
Opening the lower tailgate on the
coupé
GWarning!
High outside temperature, stop-and-go
traffic, driving on long uphill grades, or
driving at high engine speed may increase
the temperature in the engine
compartment. Therefore the area around the
air slots in the rear apron may be hot. Let
the engine cool off before touching this
area to prevent burns.
XOpen the upper tailgate (Y page 54).XPull either of the release levers \000F
backwards.
The lower tailgate is unlocked.
XSwivel the lower tailgate downwards to
open.
The lower tailgate is held in the
horizontal position by means of the two
retaining straps.
! When folded down, the lower tailgate
can bear loads up to maximum of 220 lbs
(100 kg).
Observe the information on loading the
vehicle (Y page 113).
For information on vehicle weights, see
“Vehicle specification” (Y page 215).
Closing the tailgate(s) on the coupé
GWarning!
To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from the
cargo compartment opening when closing
the tailgate(s). Be especially careful when
small children are around.
XSwivel the lower tailgate upwards to
close. Allow the two release levers to
engage audibly.
XSwivel the upper tailgate downwards to
close.
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with
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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.
Opening and closing the retractable
soft top (cabriolet only)
You can fully open the retractable soft top
with the key.
Key with remote control
00460038 Lock button00470035 Opening the retractable soft top008A0034 Unlock buttonXOpening: Press button 0035 on the key for
approximately two seconds.
The retractable soft top opens.
i Pressing symbols 0034, 0038 or 0035 on the
key with remote control while opening
the retractable soft top will interrupt
the opening procedure.
XClosing: Press symbol 0055 on the
retractable soft top switch ( Y page 73).GWarning!
When closing the retractable soft top, make
sure there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
i The remote control has an operating
range of approximately 50 ft (15 meters).
Take care that you do not open your
vehicle’s retractable soft top
inadvertently.
Opening the tailgate on the cabriolet
GWarning!
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving.
Among other dangers, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
GWarning!
High outside temperature, stop-and-go
traffic, driving on long uphill grades, or
driving at high engine speed may increase
the temperature in the engine
compartment. Therefore the area around the
air slots in the rear apron may be hot. Let
the engine cool off before touching this
area to prevent burns.
XPress button 0034 on the key twice.XPull the release handle in handle
recess 0046 of the tailgate.
The tailgate is unlocked.XSwivel the tailgate downwards to open.
Opening and closing the rear soft top
(cabriolet only)
You can open the rear soft top to ease
loading and unloading.
56Opening and closing>> Controls.
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005DFor removing key004AIgnition (power supply for all
electrical consumers) and driving
position
All lamps (except low‑beam
headlamp indicator lamp,
high‑beam headlamp indicator
lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the
instrument cluster come on. If a
lamp in the instrument cluster fails
to come on when the ignition is
switched on, have it checked and
replaced if necessary. If a lamp in
the instrument cluster remains on
after starting the engine or comes
on while driving, refer to “Warning
and indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster” ( Y page 164).004BStarting ( Y page 78)
i
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except
low‑beam headlamp indicator lamp,
high‑beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless
activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except low‑beam headlamp
indicator lamp, high‑beam headlamp
indicator lamp, and turn signal
indicator lamps if activated) will go out
when the engine is running. This
indicates that the respective systems
are operational.
Seats
Safety notes
GWarning!
All seat adjustments, as well as fastening
of seat belts, must be done before the
vehicle is operated.
GWarning!
When adjusting the seat, make sure no one
becomes trapped.
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while
driving. Adjusting the seat while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of the
vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined
position as this can be dangerous. You
could slide under the seat belt in a
collision. If you slide under the seat belt,
it could apply force at the abdomen or neck,
potentially causing serious or fatal
injuries. The seat backrest and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the wearer
is in a position that is as upright as
possible and seat belts are properly
positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt.
Observe the following points:
R Adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.
R Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The
position should be as far back as
possible with the driver still able to
operate the controls properly.
R Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Observe the notes on the air bag system.
GWarning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
58Seats>> Controls.
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To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior
lamp switch to position 0064 when driving
or when traffic and/or ambient lighting
conditions require you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from position 005A to 0064 with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from position 005A to 0064 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.XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
005A .
With the key in starter switch position
1 , the tail and parking lamps, the license
plate lamps, and the side marker lamps
will come on and go out automatically
depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
With the engine running, the low‑beam
headlamps, the tail and parking lamps,
the license plate lamps and the side
marker lamps will come on and go out
automatically depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
Daytime running lamp mode (Canada only)
In Canada, the daytime running lamp mode
is mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
0027 .
i
With the engine running, the low‑beam
headlamps cannot be switched off
manually.
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 0064 to
permit activation of the high‑beam
headlamps.
When the engine is running, and you
R turn the exterior lamp switch to position
006C , the low‑beam headlamps, the tail
and parking lamps, the license plate
lamps and the side marker lamps come on
R turn the exterior lamp switch to position
0064 , the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps come
on ( Y page 65).
Daytime running lamp mode* (USA only)
In the USA, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default.
XActivating: Switch off the ignition.XSwitch on the high-beam flasher and
press button 0038 on the key
simultaneously.
An acoustic signal sounds.
The daytime running lamp mode is
activated.XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
0027 .
i
With the engine running, the low‑beam
headlamps cannot be switched off
manually.
i When the daytime running lamp mode is
activated, the rain-light sensor* is
without function.
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to position 006C
or 0064 , the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps come on
( Y page 65).
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unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
! To avoid damaging the seals, do not
transport any objects with sharp edges
which can stick out of the retractable
soft top.
Do not open the retractable soft top if
there is snow or ice on the roof, as this
could result in malfunctions.
If you cannot open or close the
retractable soft top due to a malfunction
contact Roadside Assistance or an
authorized smart center.
Opening from outside
You can open the retractable soft top
completely with the key.
Key with remote control
0046 0038 Lock button0047 0035 Opening the retractable soft top008A 0034 Unlock buttonXPress button 0035 on the key for
approximately two seconds.
The retractable soft top opens
completely.Opening from the insideXMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.XPress symbol 0047 on the retractable soft
top switch until the desired position is
reached or the retractable soft top is
opened completely.
or
XPress symbol 0047 on the retractable soft
top switch briefly.
The retractable soft top opens
completely.
i Pressing symbol 0046 or 0047 on the
retractable soft top switch while
opening the retractable soft top will
interrupt the opening procedure.
Closing
For safety reasons, you can only close the
retractable soft top using the retractable
soft top switch inside the vehicle.
XMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.XPress symbol 0046 on the retractable soft
top switch until the retractable soft top
is closed.
i To avoid draining the battery, leave the
engine running when opening and
closing the retractable soft top.
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\000FSide window driver’s door\000GSide window passenger doorXMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
XOpening: Press and hold the top of the
respective switch.
The corresponding side window moves
downwards until you release the switch.
XClosing: Pull and hold the top of the
respective switch.
The corresponding side window moves
upwards until you release the switch.
XAutomatic opening: Press the top of the
respective switch briefly.
The corresponding side window opens
completely.
XStopping during automatic opening:
Press or pull the top of the respective
switch again.
The corresponding side window stops
immediately.
Driving and parking
Starting
GWarning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of motion.
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 acceleration or braking
maneuvers, the objects could get caught
between or beneath the pedals and restrict
your ability to brake or accelerate. This
could lead to accidents and/or injury.
GWarning!
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains
carbon monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can
cause unconsciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while
driving, have the cause determined and
corrected immediately. If you must drive
under these conditions, drive only with at
least one window fully open at all times.
Gearshift pattern for transmission
\000FRelease button\000`Park position\000aReverse gear\000_Neutral position\000^Drive position\000fManual gearshifting\000gUpshifting\000XDownshifting78Driving and parking>> Controls.* optionalBA 451 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 4, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-11T15:12:26+02:00 - Seite 78
Starting the engine
! Shift the transmission into park
position P or reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped in order to avoid
damaging the transmission.
XMake sure the gear selector lever is set
to park position P.
The transmission position indicator
should be on P.XDo not depress the accelerator pedal.XTurn the key to starter switch position
2 and release it.
The engine starts automatically (“touch-
start” function).
Driving
XDepress the brake pedal.XPress release button 0046 (Y page 78) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.XMove the gear selector lever to drive
position D.
D appears in the transmission position
indicator.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.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.
GWarning!
It is dangerous to shift the 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.
! Do not run a cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
! Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brakes reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.
Reversing the vehicle
! Shift the transmission into reverse
gear R only when the vehicle is stopped
in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.
You can drive in reverse gear at a speed
of up to 9 mph (15 km/h).
XDepress the brake pedal.XPress the release button ( Y page 78) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.XMove the gear selector lever to reverse
gear R.
R appears in the transmission position
indicator.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
Parking
GWarning!
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system. These materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Vehicle movement can cause serious
personal injury or damage to the vehicle or
the vehicle drivetrain. Therefore, always
do the following before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle:
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RKeep right foot on the brake pedal.
R Engage the parking brake.
R Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
R Slowly release the brake pedal.
R When parked on an incline, always turn
the front wheels towards the curb.
R Turn the key to starter switch position 0
and remove the key from the starter
switch.
R Take the key with you and lock the vehicle
when leaving.GWarning!
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and
steering* systems. In this case, it is
important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
Adapt your driving accordingly.
XProperly stop and park the vehicle.XDepress the brake pedal.XEngage the parking brake ( Y page 80).
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp 0027 (USA only) or 004D (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster comes on.XRelease the brake pedal.
Parking brake
The parking brake serves to secure the
vehicle against rolling away when it is
stationary or parked.
GWarning!
Engaging the parking brake while the
vehicle is in motion can cause the rear
wheels to lock up. You could lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident. In
addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not
light up when the parking brake is engaged.
XReleasing: Depress the brake pedal.XPull up slightly on parking brake
lever 0047 and press release button 0046.XPush parking brake lever 0047 down as far
as it will go.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp 0027 (USA only) or 004D (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster goes out.XEngaging: Pull up parking brake
lever 0047 firmly.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp 0027 (USA only) or 004D (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster comes on.GWarning!
Getting out of your vehicle with the
transmission not fully engaged in park
position P is dangerous. When the engine is
shut off and the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely with the gear
selector lever in all positions except park
position P. Also, when parked on an incline,
park position P alone may not prevent your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting
people or objects.
Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park position P.
When parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the curb.
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with
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