
12
At a glanceDashboard
Dashboard
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. For this reason, descrip- tions will be given of some equipment that may 
not be available in a vehi
cle, for example due to 
the special options or  national-market version 
selected. This also app lies to safety related 
functions and systems.
Around the steering wheel : controls and displays
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13
Dashboard
At a glance
4
Exterior mirrors fo lding in and out55
5 Adjusting exterior mirrors, automatic curb 
monitor 55
9 Instrument cluster 14 12
Ignition lock 62
13 Buttons on the steering wheel
15 Horn, entire surface
16 Adjusting the steering wheel 56
18 Releasing the hood 256
19 OBD socket 261
20 Opening the trunk lid 37
1
Convertible: opening and closing 
windows jointly
41 
2 Convertible: opening and closing 
rear windows
41 
3 Opening and closing front 
windows
41 
6 Parking lamps 110
Low beams 110
Automatic head lamp control110
Adaptive Light Control 111
High-beam Assistant 112
7 Fog lamps 113
8 Turn signals 72
High beams, headlamp 
flasher 112
High-beam Assistant 112
Roadside parking lamps 112
Computer 85
Settings and information about the 
vehicle 87
10 Windshield wipers 72
Rain sensor 73
11Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine
62
Telephone: accepting and ending 
a call; dialing the selected phone 
number; redialing if no phone 
number is selected
Convertible: microphone on 
steering column
Volume
Activating/deactivating the voice 
activation system 27
Convertible: microphone on 
steering column
Changing the radio station
Interrupting a traffic bulletin
Selecting a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source
Recirculated air mode 117
14 Steering wheel heating 57
17 Cruise control 76
Active Cruise Control 76
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27
Voice activation system
At a glance
Voice activation system
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. For this reason, descrip-
tions will be given of some equipment that may 
not be available in a vehi
cle, for example due to 
the special options or  national-market version 
selected. This also app lies to safety related 
functions and systems.
The concept
> The voice activation system can be used 
to control most functions by spoken 
commands.
> Functions that can only  used when the vehi-
cle is stopped cannot be operated using the 
voice activation system.
> The system includes a special microphone 
on the driver's side.
> In the Owner's Manual,  {...} indicates com-
mands for the voice activation system.
> In the Owner's Manual,  {{...}}  indicates the 
answers from the voice activation system.
Prerequisite
On the Control Display, set a language that is 
also supported by the vo ice activation system 
to permit identification of the commands to be 
spoken.
Setting the langua ge, refer to page95.
Saying commands
Activating voice activation system
1.Press the  button on the steering wheel.
2. Wait for the acoustic signal.
3. Say the command.  This symbol on th
e Control Display and 
an acoustic signal notify you that the voice 
activation system is activated.
If no additional commands are possible, 
continue by operating the function via iDrive.
Finishing voice input
Press the  button on the steering wheel
or
Possible commands
Most menu items on the Control Display can be 
spoken as commands.
The available commands depend on which 
menu is currently selected on the Control 
Display.
There are short commands  for functions of the 
main menu.
Some list entries such as phone book entries 
can also be selected using the voice activation 
system. Make sure to say list entries the same 
way as they appear in the respective list.
Having the possible commands read 
aloud
To have the available commands read aloud:
{ Cancel }
{ Voice commands }
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28
At a glanceVoice activation system
For example, if the "Settings" menu is dis-
played, the commands relating to settings are 
read aloud.
Performing functions using short 
commands
Functions from the main menu can be per-
formed directly by means of short commands, 
essentially regardless of  which menu item is 
selected, e.g. { Vehicle status}.
List of short command of the voice activation 
system, refer to page 283.
Help dialog for voice activation system
Accessing help:
Other commands for the help dialog:
>{Help with examples }: information about 
the current control options and the most 
important commands relating to them are 
read aloud.
> {Help with voice activation }: information 
about the principle operation of the voice 
activation system is read aloud.
Example: playing back a CD
Via the main menu
1. If necessary, switch on entertainment audio 
output.
2. Press the  button on the steering wheel.
Via short commands
The CD playback can also be started via a short 
command.
1.If necessary, switch on entertainment audio 
output.
2. Press the  button on the steering wheel.
Setting the voice dialog
You can set whether the system uses the 
standard dialog or a short version.
In the short version of  the voice dialog, the 
responses from the system are given in 
abbreviated form.
On the Control Display:
1. "Settings"
2. "Language/Units"
3. "Speech mode:"
4. Select a setting.
Adjusting volume
Turn the volume knob during the spoken 
instruction to select the desired volume.
>The volume remains the same, even if the 
volume of other audio sources is changed.
> The volume is stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
{
Help }
3. {C D and multimedia }
The system plays the last media played.
4. {C D }
5. {C D drive}
The CD is played.
6. Press the  button  on the steering 
wheel again in order to select the 
particular track.
7. {Track … } e.g. CD track 4.
3.{C D drive Track … } e.g. CD track 4.
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48
ControlsAdjustments
Adjustments
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all pr oduction, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. As a result, some equip-
ment described may not be available in a partic-
ular vehicle, for example due to the options or 
national-market version  selected. This also 
applies to safety related functions and systems.
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital 
contribution to relaxed,  fatigue-free driving. In 
conjunction with the safety belts, the head 
restraints and the airbags, the seated position 
has a major influence on your safety in the event 
of an accident. To ensure that the safety sys-
tems operate with optimal efficiency, we 
strongly urge you to observe the instructions 
contained in the following section.
For additional information on transporting 
children safely, refer to page 58.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance 
between yourself and the airbags. Always 
grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your 
hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, 
to minimize the risk of injury to the hands or 
arms in the event of the airbag being triggered 
off. 
No one and nothing shou ld come between the 
airbags and the seat occupant. 
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the 
front passenger side as a storage area. Make 
sure that the front passeng er is sitting correctly, 
e.g. not resting feet or legs on the dashboard; 
otherwise, leg injuries  can occur if the front 
airbag deploys.
Make sure that passengers keep their heads 
away from the side airbag and do not lean  against the cover of the head airbag; otherwise, 
serious injuries can result if the airbag 
deploys.
<
Even if you follow all the instructions, injuries 
resulting from contact with airbags cannot be 
fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may 
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This  effect is usually only 
temporary.
For airbag locations and additional information 
on airbags, refer to page 107.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the 
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way 
that its center is at approx. ear level. 
Otherwise, there is an increased risk of injury in 
the event of an accident. <
Head restraints, refer to page 51.
Safety belt
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants 
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the 
safety belt as an additi onal safety device, but 
they do not repres ent a substitute.
Your vehicle has four seats, each of which is 
equipped with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to 
wear a single safety  belt. Never allow 
infants or small children to ride in a passenger's 
lap. Make sure that the be lt in the lap area sits 
low across the hips and does not press against 
the abdomen. 
The safety belt must not rest against the throat, 
run across sharp edges, pass over hard or frag-
ile objects or be pinched.  Fasten the safety belt 
so that it sits as snugly as possible against the 
lap and shoulder  without being twisted. Other-
wise, the belt could slide over your hips and 
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56
ControlsAdjustments
Passenger side mirro r tilt function – 
automatic curb monitor
Activating
1. Push the switch to the position for the 
driver's side mirror, arrow  1.
2. Shift into reverse or mo ve the selector lever 
into the R position.
The glass of the mirror on the passenger 
side tilts slightly down. This allows the 
driver to see the area immediately adjacent 
to the vehicle, e.g. a curb, when backing into 
a parking space.
Deactivating
Push the switch to the position for the passen-
ger side mirror, arrow  2.
Interior rearview mirror
Turn the knob to reduce glare from the head-
lamps of cars behind you when driving at night.
Interior and exte rior mirrors, 
automatic dimming feature
The automatic dimming feature of the interior 
and exterior mirrors is  controlled by two photo 
cells in the interior re arview mirror. One photo 
cell is in the mirror frame, see arrow; the other is 
on the back of the mirror.
In order to ensure that  the system functions 
correctly, keep the photo cells clean, do not 
cover the area between  the interior rearview 
mirror and windshield, and do not affix adhesive 
labels or stickers of an y kind to the windshield 
directly in front of the mirror.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel position 
while the car is in mo tion; otherwise, there 
is a risk of an accident due to unexpected 
movement. <
1. Fold the lever down.
2. Move the steering wheel to the preferred 
height and angle to suit your seated 
position.
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57
Adjustments
Controls
3.
Swing the lever back up.
Do not use force to swing the lever 
back up; otherwise, the mechanism 
will be damaged. <
Steering wheel heating
Press the button.
The LED in the button lights up when the 
steering wheel heating is switched on.
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66
ControlsDriving
A lock prevents you from inadvertently engag-
ing selector lever positions R and P. To cancel 
the lock, press the butto n on the front of the 
selector lever, see arrow.
P Park
Select this only when th e vehicle is stationary. 
The rear wheels are locked.
R Reverse
Select this only when th e vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can select this in a car wash, for example. 
The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All 
forward gears are selected automatically.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel 
consumption is lowest when you are driving in 
position D.
Kickdown
Kickdown enables you to achieve maximum 
performance. 
Press the accelerator  pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Sport program and manual mode 
M/S
Move selector lever from  position D toward the 
left into the M/S shifting slot; the Sport program 
is activated. This positi on is recommended for a 
performance-oriented driving style.
DS is displayed in the instrument cluster.
To deactivate the spor t program or manual 
mode M/S, move the selector lever to the right 
into position D.
Shifting gears via the selector lever
Move selector lever from  position D toward the 
left into the M/S shifting slot:
When you press the selector lever forwards or 
backwards, the manual mode is activated and 
Steptronic changes gear.
The engaged gear, e.g. M1 is displayed in the 
instrument cluster.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combination 
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, 
a downshift that would cause the engine to 
overrev will not be executed by the system.
The gear selected is br iefly displayed in the 
instrument cluster, followed again by the gear 
actually in use.
Changing gears using shifting paddles 
on steering wheel
The shift paddles allow you to shift gears 
quickly since both hands can remain on the 
steering wheel.
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