
High-beam flasher
:
High-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= High-beam flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To switch on: turn the SmartKey in the
ignition lock to position 1 or 2 or start the
engine.
X Pull the combination switch briefly in the
direction of arrow =. Hazard warning lamps
X
To switch on the hazard warning lamps:
press button :.
All turn signals flash. If you now switch on
a
turn signal using the combination switch,
only the turn signal lamp on the
corresponding side of the vehicle will flash.
X To switch off the hazard warning
lamps: press button :. The hazard warning lamps automatically
switch on if:
R
an air bag is deployed
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices are
triggered, or
R the vehicle is slowed down rapidly from a
speed of over 45 mph (70 km/h) and
comes to a halt
The hazard warning lamps switch on
automatically if an air bag or the Emergency
Tensioning Devices are triggered and the
SmartKey
is in position 1 in the ignition lock.
The hazard warning lamps switch off
automatically if the vehicle reaches a speed
of over 6mph (10km/h) again after a full
brake application.
i The hazard warning lamps still operate if
the ignition is switched off. Cornering light function
The cornering light function improves the
illumination of the road over a wide angle in
the
direction you are turning, enabling better
visibility in tight bends, for example. The
cornering light function can only be activated
if the low-beam headlamps are switched on
and the fog lamps are switched off.
Active: if you are driving at speeds below
25 mph (40 km/h) and switch on the turn
signal or turn the steering wheel
Not active: if you are driving at speeds above
25 mph (40 km/h) or switch off the turn 104
Exterior lighting
Lights and windshield wipers

signal or turn the steering wheel to the
straight-ahead position
The
cornering light function may remain lit for
a short time, but is automatically switched off
after no more than three minutes. Headlamps and indicator lamps
fogged up on the inside
The
headlamps and the indicator lamps in the
exterior mirrors may fog up on the inside if
there is high atmospheric humidity.
X Drive with the headlamps switched on.
The level of moisture diminishes,
depending
on the length of the journey and
the weather conditions (humidity and
temperature).
If the level of moisture does not diminish:
X Have the headlamps checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. Interior lighting
Overview of interior lighting
Front overhead control panel
:
p
Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; c Switches the front interior lighting
on
= t Switches the cargo compartment
lamp/rear interior lighting on/off
? |
Switches the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off A
p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
B Switches the automatic interior lighting
control on Rear-compartment overhead control panel
:
p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
; p
Switches the left-hand reading lamp
on/off Interior lighting control
General notes In order to prevent the vehicle's battery from
discharging,
the interior lighting functions are
automatically deactivated after some time
unless the SmartKey is in position 2 in the
ignition lock.
The brightness of the ambient lighting may be
set using the control on the instrument
cluster (Y page 209). Interior lighting
105
Lights and windshield wipers Z

Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient
clearance for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats. G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage
of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with
limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released
when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train. !
Avoid high engine speeds when the
engine is cold. The engine's service life
could
otherwise be significantly shortened.
Do not use the engine's full performance
until it has reached operating temperature.
! AMG vehicles: at low engine oil
temperatures below 68 ‡ (+20 †), the
maximum engine speed is restricted in
order to protect the engine. To protect the
engine and maintain smooth engine
operation, avoid driving at full throttle when
the engine is cold. SmartKey positions
g
To remove the SmartKey
1 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
2 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
starting the engine or lights up while driving,
see ( Y page 249).
If the SmartKey is in position 0 in the ignition
lock for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the ignition lock. The
steering is then locked. To unlock, remove the
SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.
The steering is locked when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Driving
139
Driving and parking Z

gearshift program appears in the
multifunction display.
i Only change from automatic drive
program E or S to manual drive program
M when the vehicle is stationary. Steering wheel paddle shifters
In the automatic drive program, you can
restrict or derestrict the shift range by using
steering wheel paddle shifters
: and ;
(Y page 150).
In the manual drive program you can change
gears manually using steering wheel paddle
shifters : and ;(Y page 151).
i You can only change gear with the
steering wheel paddle shifters when the
transmission is in position D. Automatic drive program
Drive program E (drive program C on AMG
vehicles) is characterized by the following:
R comfort-oriented engine and transmission
settings
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully R
increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example
R the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin
Drive program S is characterized by the
following:
R sporty engine and transmission settings
R the vehicle pulling away in first gear
R the automatic transmission shifting up
later
R the fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic
transmission shift points Shift ranges
Introduction When the automatic transmission is in
position D, it is possible to restrict or
derestrict the shift range.
The shift range selected is shown in the
multifunction display. The automatic
transmission
shifts only as far as the selected
gear.
Driving situations =
You can use the engine's braking
effect.
5
The braking effect of the engine can
be utilized on downhill gradients or
when driving:
R
on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 4
The braking effect of the engine can
be utilized on extremely steep
downhill gradients and long
downhill stretches.150
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Restricting the shift range
X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Y page 150).
The automatic transmission shifts down
one
gear and restricts the shift range to the
relevant gear.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
i If
the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up in order to prevent the engine
from overrevving, even if the shift range is
restricted.
Derestricting the shift range X
Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Y page 150).
The automatic transmission shifts up one
gear and restricts the shift range to the
relevant gear.
Clearing the shift range restriction X
Pull and hold the right-hand steering wheel
paddle
shifter (Y page 150) until D is shown
again in the multifunction display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
Selecting the ideal shift range X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter
(Y page 150) and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows optimum acceleration
and deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears.
i The automatic transmission cannot shift
down beyond second gear. To shift to first
gear, you have to pull the left steering
wheel paddle shifter. Manual drive program
Introduction In drive program M, you can change gear
manually using the steering wheel paddle
shifters.
For this, the transmission must be in
position D. The gear currently selected and
engaged is shown in the multifunction
display.
Manual drive program M differs from drive
programs E and S with regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes.
Switching on the manual drive program X
Press the program selector button
(Y
page 149) repeatedly until M appears in
the multifunction display.
Upshifting (except AMG vehicles) X
Pull the right-hand paddle ( Y page 150).
The
automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
Shifting up (AMG vehicles) !
In
manual drive program M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
X Pull the right-hand paddle ( Y page 150).
The
automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the
multifunction display.
X If the color in the speedometer
multifunction display changes to red and Automatic transmission
151
Driving and parking Z

the UP display message is shown, shift up
a gear.
Downshifting X
Pull the left-hand paddle ( Y page 150).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
i If you slow down or stop without shifting
down, the automatic transmission
automatically shifts down.
Selecting the optimal gear for
maximum acceleration X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter until the transmission selects the
optimum gear for the current speed.
Kickdown You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive program
M.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Shift back up once the desired speed is
reached.
i Vehicles with an AMG engine: it is not
possible to use kickdown in manual drive
program M.
i Vehicles
without an AMG engine: if you
apply full throttle, the automatic
transmission shifts up to the next gear
when the maximum engine speed is
reached. This prevents the engine from
overrevving.
Switching off the manual drive program X
Press the program selector button
(Y page 149) repeatedly until E (C in AMG
vehicles) or S appears in the multifunction
display. 152
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with
limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. Switching off the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with
limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral position N when you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
Vehicles with automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock ( Y page 139) and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
X Apply the parking brake firmly.
X Turn the steering wheel until the steering
wheel lock engages.
i If you turn off the engine with the
SmartKey and then remove it from the ignition lock or open a front door, the
automatic transmission shifts to
P
automatically.
i The
SmartKey can only be removed if the
automatic transmission is in position P. Parking brake
G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer
and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the
vehicle when the service brake is faulty. Do
not apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again. G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P
R starting the engine.
They could also operate the vehicle's
equipment.
There is a risk of an accident and
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. Parking
157
Driving and parking Z

i
When you apply parking brake ; to brake
the vehicle, the brake lamps do not light up.
X To apply: pull parking brake ; up firmly.
Parking brake ; is applied.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the F (USA only) or
J (Canada only) indicator lamp is lit in
the instrument cluster.
X To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.
X Pull parking brake ; up firmly.
X Press release button : on parking
brake ;
and move parking brake ; down
to the stop.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the F (USA only)
or ! (Canada only) indicator lamp goes
out in the instrument cluster.
i If you pull away with parking brake ;
applied, a warning tone sounds. Parking the vehicle for a long period
If
you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharge.
X Connecting a trickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop.
If
you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
six weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as
a result of lack of use.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice. Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Always remember that you must concentrate
primarily on driving the vehicle. The driver's
concentration must always be directed
primarily at road traffic. For your own safety
and that of others, we recommend that you
stop the vehicle at a safe place and in
accordance
with the traffic conditions before
making or accepting a phone call.
Comply with all legal requirements if you use
the telephone while driving. Use the hands-
free system and only use the telephone when
road, weather and traffic conditions permit. In
some jurisdictions, it is forbidden for drivers
to use mobile phones while driving.
Only operate COMAND (Cockpit Management
and Data System) in compliance with all legal
requirements and when the road, weather and
traffic conditions permit. You may otherwise
not be able to observe the traffic conditions,
endangering yourself and others.
Remember that your vehicle covers a distance
of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) a second when
it is traveling at only 30 mph (approximately
50 km/h). G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with
limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. 158
Driving tips
Driving and parking