
Trailer tow hitch
Ball position  ................................... 359
Trailer towing
Active Blind Spot Assist ................. 192
ESP ®
 ................................................ 64
PARKTRONIC  ................................. 196
Transfer case
General notes 
................................ 198
Shifting  .......................................... 199
Shifting (general notes) .................. 199
Shifting (important safety notes) ... 199
Shifting to neutral  ..........................200
Shift range  ..................................... 198
Switching off the off-road gear
ratio ............................................... 200
Switching on the off-road gear
ratio ............................................... 199
Transmission
see Automatic transmission                    
Transmission positions  ....................148
Transporting the vehicle .................. 312
Traveling uphill Brow of hill ..................................... 168
Trip computer (on-board
computer) .......................................... 213
Trip odometer Calling up ....................................... 212
Resetting (on-board computer) ...... 214
Turn signals
Changing bulbs (front) ................... 111
Display message  ............................ 232
Switching on/off ........................... 103
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating)
(definition)  ......................................... 340
Type identification plate see Vehicle identification plate                 U
Unlocking Emergency unlocking  .......................75
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button)  ............................. 74 V
Vanity mirror Sun visor ........................................ 269
Variable SPEEDTRONIC
Function/notes  ............................. 174
Vehicle
Correct use 
...................................... 23
Data acquisition  ............................... 24
Display message  ............................ 245
Emergency locking ........................... 76
Emergency unlocking  .......................75
Equipment ....................................... 21
Individual settings  ..........................218
Limited Warranty  ............................. 24
Loading  .......................................... 328
Locking (SmartKey) .......................... 68
Lowering ........................................ 344
Maintenance  .................................... 21
Parking for a long period ................ 158
Pulling away  ................................... 140
Raising ........................................... 342
Reporting problems  .........................24
Securing from rolling away  ............341
Towing away .................................. 310
Tow-starting  ................................... 310
Transporting .................................. 312
Unlocking (SmartKey)  ......................68
Vehicle data ................................... 357
Vehicle data ....................................... 357
Vehicle dimensions  ...........................357
Vehicle identification number see VIN                                                     
Vehicle identification plate  ..............349
Vehicle tool kit  .................................. 302
Ventilation Setting the airflow ......................... 131
Video
Operating the DVD ......................... 216
VIN ...................................................... 349 W
Warning and indicator lamps ABS  ................................................ 250
Brakes  ........................................... 249
Check Engine  ................................. 256
Coolant 
.......................................... 25618
Index 

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note  that 
your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: ( Y page 23).Panic alarm
X
 To activate:  press 0033 button 0043 for at
least one second.
An alarm sounds and the indicator lamp
flashes.
X To deactivate:  press 0033 button 0043
again.
or
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
i USA only:
This device complies with part  15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,
and
2. this  device 
must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device. Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
The Product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
i Canada only:
This device complies with the RSS-210
Rules of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,
and
2. this device must 
accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
The Product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey. Occupant safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Modifications to or work improperly
conducted on restraint system components
or their wiring, as well as tampering with
interconnected electronic systems, can lead
to  the restraint  systems 
no longer functioning
as intended.
Air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices
(ETDs), for example, could deploy
inadvertently or fail to deploy in accidents
although the deceleration threshold for air
bag deployment is exceeded. Therefore,
never modify the restraint systems. Do not
tamper with electronic components or their
software.
In this section, you will learn the most
important facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle. 38
Occupant safety
Safety   

If the 
0073007C indicator lamp does not go
out, please consult an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. Driver's air bag 
0043 deploys in front of the
steering wheel; front-passenger front air
bag  0044 deploys in  front 
of and above the glove
box.
The front air bags increase protection for the
driver's and front-passenger's head, neck and
chest.
They are deployed:
R in the event of certain frontal impacts
R if the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R independently of other air bags in the
vehicle
R depending on whether the seat belt is being
used
If the vehicle rolls over, the front air bags are
generally not deployed. If the system detects
high vehicle deceleration in a longitudinal
direction, the front air bags are deployed.
Your vehicle is equipped with a dual-stage
driver's air bag and a single-stage front-
passenger front air bag. In the event of a
collision, the air bag control unit evaluates the
vehicle deceleration. In the first deployment
stage, the driver's air bag is filled with enough
propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries.
The front-passenger front air bag, however, is
immediately filled with the maximum amount
of propellant gas. The driver's air bag is fully deployed if a second deployment threshold is
exceeded within a few milliseconds.
The 
lighter the 
front 
passenger, the higher the
vehicle deceleration rate required (predicted
at the start of the impact) for triggering the
front-passenger front air bag.
The front air bags will not deploy in impacts
with vehicle deceleration or acceleration
rates which do not exceed the system’s
preset deployment thresholds for vehicle
deceleration or acceleration. You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belt.
Front-passenger front air bag  0044 will only
deploy if:
R the front-passenger seat is occupied.
R the  00730074 indicator lamp on the center
console is not lit (Y page 44)
R the impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
The front-passenger air bag is automatically
activated and deactivated. Both driver and
passenger should always check whether the
front-passenger air bag is activated or
deactivated.
The deployment of the driver's air bag does
not mean that the front-passenger air bag will
also deploy. If the system recognizes that the
front-passenger seat is empty, the front-
passenger air bag does not deploy even if the
impact fulfills the criteria and the driver's air
bag has deployed.
If the system detects that the front-passenger
seat is occupied, the  00730074 indicator
lamp lights up for approximately six seconds
if:
R you turn the SmartKey to position  1 or 2 in
the ignition lock.
R the engine is running and then you switch
it off.
This indicates the operational readiness of
the front-passenger air bag.
Note that objects placed on the front-
passenger seat may cause the system to
recognize the seat as occupied. This can
result in the deployment of the front- Occupant safety
43
Safety Z   

Your vehicle is equipped with a BabySmart™
system.
Special child restraint systems which are
compatible with BabySmart™ are necessary
for deactivating the front-passenger air bag.
When the special BabySmart™-compatible
child restraint system is installed correctly
and is recognized 
by 
the sensor system in the
front-passenger seat, the front-passenger air
bag is deactivated. In this case,  00730074
indicator lamp  0043 lights up. If you have any
questions regarding the special BabySmart™-
compatible child restraint systems, consult
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the SmartKey has been removed from the
ignition lock or is in position 0, 00730074
indicator lamp  0043 does not light up.
The system does not disable:
R the window curtain air bag
R the Emergency Tensioning Device
System self-test G
WARNING
Do not leave any switched on notebooks,
mobile phones, electronic tags (e.g. a ski
pass) or similar electronic devices on the
front-passenger seat. Signals emitted from
such devices can interfere with the
BabySmart™ air bag deactivation system.
Such interference can lead to the  00730074
indicator lamp not  lighting 
up during the self-
test.
If the  007E SRS warning lamp and the
0073007C indicator lamp light up simultaneously in the instrument cluster, the
system is malfunctioning. The front-
passenger air bag 
could 
deploy without cause,
or may fail to deploy in the event of an
accident.
Have the system checked as soon as possible
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The  00730074 indicator lamp lights up when
the SmartKey is turned to position  1 or 2 in
the ignition lock.
The 00730074 indicator lamp goes out after
approximately six seconds.
If the  00730074 indicator lamp does not light
up or is always lit, then the system is
malfunctioning. Have the BabySmart™
system checked at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center before transporting a child on
the front-passenger seat.
For further information, see "Problems with
air bag deactivation system" ( Y page 47).46
Occupant safety
Safety   

abdomen, it could cause serious injuries in
the event of an impact.
R Never route the seat belt over rigid or
fragile objects in or on your clothing, such
as eyeglasses, pens,  keys 
etc, as this could
cause injuries.
R Always ensure that the seat belt is routed
correctly. This is particularly important if
you are wearing loose clothing.
R Only one person should use each seat belt
at any one time. Never use a seat belt to
restrain more than one person or route the
belt around additional objects.
R Never wear seat belts when they are
twisted. Otherwise, in the event of an
impact, the full width of the seat belt is
unavailable to distribute the force of the
impact. The twisted seat belt routed across
your body could cause injuries.
R Pregnant women should also wear a three-
point seat belt. The lap belt must always
pass across your lap as low down as
possible, i.e. across your hips; not across
your abdomen.
R The seat backrest should be set as close to
vertical as possible.
R Check the seat belt during the journey in
order to make sure that it is correctly
positioned.
R Never rest your feet on the dashboard or
the seat. Always keep both feet on the floor
in front of the seat.
R When using a seat belt to secure an infant
restraint system, child restraint system or
a child on a booster seat, always follow the
child seat manufacturer's instructions. G
WARNING
Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do  not allow  the 
seat belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the seat belt. Never attempt to make modifications to seat
belts. This could impair the effectiveness of
the seat belts.
Fastening seat belts Important safety notes
G
WARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on  the 
front-passenger seat. Thus,
we strongly recommend that children be
placed in the rear seat whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriately sized
child restraint system or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see the
"Children in the vehicle" section.
A child's risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint. G
WARNING
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-
Benz authorized BabySmart™ compatible
child seat, which operates with the
BabySmart™ system installed in the vehicle
to  deactivate  the 
front 
passenger front air bag
when it is installed properly. Otherwise they
will be struck by the air bag when it inflates in
a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal injury
will result. 50
Occupant safety
Safety 

! 
If the front-passenger seat is not
occupied, do not engage the seat belt
tongue in the buckle on the front-
passenger seat. Otherwise,  the 
Emergency
Tensioning Device could be triggered in the
event of an accident.
X In order to ensure that the pyrotechnic
Emergency Tensioning Devices have not
been triggered, always have the seat belts
checked after an accident.
If the Emergency Tensioning Devices have
been triggered, they must be replaced.
The seat belts for the front seats and rear
outer seats are  equipped 
with ETDs and seat
belt force limiters.
The ETDs on the driver's and front-passenger
seat consist of pyrotechnic belt buckle
tensioners and belt anchor installation
tensioners that are triggered together. The
belt buckle tensioner is mounted on the B-
pillar and the belt anchor installation is
mounted on the side of the seat. After
deploying, both tensioners must always be
replaced.
The ETDs tighten the seat belts in an accident,
pulling them close against the body.
The ETDs do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
When triggered, seat belt force limiters help
to reduce the peak force exerted by the seat
belt on the vehicle occupant.
The front seat belt force limiters are
synchronized with the front air bags, which
take on a part of the deceleration force. Thus,
the force exerted on the occupant is
distributed over a greater area.
The ETDs can only be activated when:
R the SmartKey is in position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" ( Y page 39). R
the belt tongue  is 
engaged in the buckle on
each of the lap-shoulder belts in the front.
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side
The Emergency Tensioning Devices are
triggered depending on the type and severity
of an accident, if:
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
direction during the initial stages of the
impact
R if, in the event of a side impact, on the side
opposite the impact the vehicle
decelerates or accelerates rapidly in a
lateral direction
R in certain situations where the vehicle
overturns and the system determines that
it can provide additional protection
If the ETDs are deployed, you will hear a bang,
and a small amount of powder may also be
released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard. The  0075 SRS warning lamp
lights up. Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes G
WARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating
position. Thus, we strongly recommend that
children  be placed  in 
the rear seats whenever
possible. Regardless of seating position,
children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropriate
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight of
the child. 54
Children in the vehicle
Safety 

G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, 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. The children
could:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts. G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger  compartment or  trunk 
unless they
are firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
We recommend that all infants and children
be properly restrained using the infant or
child restraint systems at all times while the
vehicle is in motion. Always use a child restraint system that is
compatible with BabySmart™ on the front-
passenger seat.
The use of 
infant 
or child restraints is required
by law in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, all U.S. territories and all Canadian
provinces.
Infants and small children must be seated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint system
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. The infant or child restraint system
must be properly secured in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions. All infant or
child restraint systems must comply with U.S.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 210.2.
An information label on the child restraint
system indicates whether it meets these
standards. This confirmation can also be
found in the installation instructions that are
included with the child restraint system.
Always read and follow the manufacturer's
instructions when using an infant or child
restraint system or booster seat.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle
interior or on the infant or child restraint.
If an infant or child is traveling in the vehicle:
X Secure the child with a child or infant seat
restraint system appropriate to 
the age and
weight of the child.
X Make sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Special seat belt retractor G
WARNING
Observe "Important safety notes"
(Y page 54). G
WARNING
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in  motion, 
since the special seat belt
retractor will be deactivated. 56
Children in the vehicle
Safety 

X
Tension Top Tether belt 0087. Comply with
the manufacturer's installation
instructions when doing so.
X Move head restraint back down again
slightly if necessary ( Y page 86). Make
sure that you do not interfere with the
correct routing of Top Tether belt  0087. Child-proof locks
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When children ride on the vehicle's rear seats,
activate the override switch. Otherwise, the
children could be injured, e.g. by trapping
themselves in the rear side window. G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, 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. The children
could:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
Child-proof locks for the rear doors G
WARNING
Children could open a rear door from inside
the vehicle. This could result in serious
injuries or an accident. Therefore, when
children ride in  the 
rear always secure the rear
doors with the child-proof locks.
You secure each door individually with the
child-proof locks on the rear doors. A door
secured with a child-proof lock cannot be
opened from inside the vehicle. When the
vehicle is unlocked, the door can be opened
from the outside. X
To activate:  press the child-proof lock
lever down in the direction of arrow 0044.
X Make sure that the child-proof locks are
working properly.
X To deactivate:  press the child-proof lock
lever up in the direction of arrow  0043.
Override feature for the rear side
windows G
WARNING
When children ride on the vehicle's rear seats,
activate the override switch. Otherwise, the
children could be injured, e.g. by trapping
themselves in the rear side window. Children in the vehicle
59
Safety Z