
GWARNING
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving systems such as the BAS or the ESP
®are also switched
off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that may come on as well as messages in the mul-
tifunction display that may appear.
If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing the steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
GWARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that
the wheels do not lock when you brake. This
allows you to continue steering the vehicle when
braking.
Provided that the differential locks are not
active, ABS works from a speed of approx-
imately 5 mph (8 km/h) upwards, regardless of
road-surface conditions. ABS works on slippery
surfaces, even if you only brake gently.
The yellow !ABS warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up when the ignition is
switched on. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal.
XIf ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking sit-
uation is over.
XTo make a full brake application: depress
the brake pedal with full force.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions, and functions as a
reminder to take extra care while driving.
Off-road ABS
An ESP®system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated.
At speeds below 37 mph (60 km/h), the front
wheels lock cyclically during braking. The dig-
ging-in effect achieved in the process reduces
the stopping distance on off-road terrain. This
limits steering capability.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
GWARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
BAS operates in emergency braking situations.
If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS
automatically boosts the braking force, thus
shortening the stopping distance.
XKeep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
Adaptive brake lights
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
30 mph (50 km/h) or if braking is assisted by
BAS, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way,
traffic traveling behind you is warned in an even
more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
45 mph (70 km/h) to a standstill, the hazard
warning lamps are activated automatically. If
the brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning lamps
are deactivated automatically if you drive faster
than 6 mph (10 km/h). You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning button (
Ypage 89).
56Driving safety systems
Safety

ESP®(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
GWARNING
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, ESP®is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP
®checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
!Only operate the vehicle for a maximum of
ten seconds on a brake test dynamometer.
Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP
®may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
!A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a two-axle dynamometer.
Before you operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
workshop. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
ESP
®monitors the driving stability and the trac-
tion. Traction is the power transmission
between the tires and the road surface.
ESP
®is deactivated if the åwarning lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up continuously
when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarning
lamp are lit continuously, ESP
®is not available
due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(
Ypage 207) and display messages which may
be displayed in the instrument cluster
(
Ypage 185).
If ESP®detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. If
necessary, the engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP
®assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP®can
also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
If ESP
®intervenes, the ÷warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster. If ESP
®intervenes:
XDo not deactivate ESP®under any circum-
stances.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
iOnly use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP®function properly.
iIf differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP®switch off automatically.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP®.
XIf appropriate for the driving conditions,
engage the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(
Ypage 162).
Traction control is part of ESP
®.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP
®.
Traction control is no longer active above a
speed of approximately 37 mph (60 km/h).
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Deactivating/activating ESP®
GWARNING
If you deactivate ESP
®, ESP®no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP
®in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
!Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP®deactivated. You
could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Driving safety systems57
Safety
Z

XTo deactivate:press button:until the
å warning lamp lights up in the instrument
cluster.
XTo activate: press button :until the å
warning lamp goes out in the instrument clus-
ter.
ESP
®is activated automatically when the engine
is started.
iVehicles with the ECO start/stop func-
tion: the ECO start/stop function automati-
cally switches the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop. The engine starts automati-
cally when the driver wants to pull away again.
ESP
®remains in its previously selected sta-
tus. For example, if ESP®was deactivated
before the engine was switched off, ESP®
remains deactivated when the engine is
switched on again.
It may be best to deactivate ESP
®in the follow-
ing situations:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
If you deactivate ESP®:
RESP®no longer improves driving stability.
Rthe engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of the wheels results in a cutting action, which pro-
vides better grip.
Rtraction control is still activated.
RESP®still provides support when you brake.
Rand are driving at above 37 mph (60 km/h)
(on AMG vehicles above 62 mph (100 km/h)),
ESP
®still intervenes when one wheel reaches
its grip limit even though it is deactivated.
iIf ESP®is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the ÷warning lamp in the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP
®will not stabilize the vehicle.
iIf ESP®is deactivated, it is reactivated auto-
matically if you are driving at above 37 mph
(60 km/h) (on AMG vehicles above 62 mph
(100 km/h)) or you exceed a certain lateral
acceleration.
Trailer stabilization
GWARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv-
ing. Trailers with a high center of gravity can
tip over before ESP
®can detect this. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Trailer stabilization does not work if ESP
®is
deactivated because of a malfunction.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer com-
bination) begins to lurch, you can only stabilize
the vehicle/trailer combination by depressing
the brake firmly.
In this situation, ESP
®assists you and can
detect if the vehicle/trailer combination begins
to lurch. ESP
®slows the vehicle down by brak-
ing and limiting the engine output until the vehi-
cle/trailer combination has stabilized.
Trailer stabilization is active above speeds of
about 37 mph (60 km/h).
EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
GWARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the
risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
58Driving safety systems
Safety

The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Check your
national disposal guidelines. In California, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
batteries replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Checking the battery
XPress the&or% button.
The battery is working properly if battery
check lamp :lights up briefly.
If battery check lamp :does not light up
during the test, the battery is discharged.
XChange the battery (Ypage 62).
iYou can obtain a battery at any qualified
specialist workshop.
iHave the batteries replaced at a qualified
specialist workshop.
iIf the SmartKey battery is checked within
the signal reception range of the vehicle,
pressing the &or% button:
Rlocks or
Runlocks the vehicle
Replacing the battery
You require a CR 2025 3 V cell battery.
XTake the mechanical key out of the SmartKey
(Ypage 61).
:Battery compartment cover
;Mechanical key
XPress mechanical key ;into the opening in
the SmartKey in the direction of the arrow
until battery tray cover :opens. Do not hold
the cover closed while doing so.
XRemove battery tray cover :.
=Battery
XRepeatedly tap the SmartKey against your
palm until battery=falls out.
XInsert the new battery with the positive ter-
minal facing upwards. Use a lint-free cloth to
do so.
XMake sure that the surface of the battery is
free from lint, grease and all other forms of
contamination.
XInsert the front tabs of battery tray cover :
and then press to close it.
XInsert the mechanical key into the SmartKey.
XCheck the function of all SmartKey buttons on
the vehicle.
62SmartKey
Opening and closing

Steering wheel
Important safety notes
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt before starting the engine.
GWARNING
Children could injure themselves if they
adjust the steering wheel. There is a risk of
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
The electrically adjustable steering wheel can
still be adjusted when there is no SmartKey in
the ignition lock.
Adjusting the steering wheel
:To adjust the steering wheel height
;To adjust the steering wheel position (fore-
and-aft adjustment)
iIf the driver's door is open, the steering
wheel can be adjusted for up to 30 minutes
after the ignition has been switched off.
iFurther related subjects:
REASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature (Ypage 79)
RStoring settings (Ypage 82)
Steering wheel heating
Activating/deactivating
:To switch on the steering-wheel heating
;To switch off the steering-wheel heating
=Indicator lamp
The steering-wheel heating heats the leather
areas of the steering wheel.
XTo activate: make sure that the SmartKey is
in position 1or 2in the ignition lock.
XTurn the catch in the direction of arrow :.
Indicator lamp =lights up.
XTo deactivate: make sure that the SmartKey
is in position 1or 2in the ignition lock.
XTurn the catch in the direction of arrow ;.
Indicator lamp =goes out.
iThe steering wheel heating does not switch
off automatically.
iThe steering wheel heating may switch off
temporarily if:
Rthe temperature in the vehicle interior is
above 86 ‡ (30 †)
Rthe temperature of the steering wheel is
above 95 ‡ (35 †)
Indicator lamp =remains on.
iThe steering wheel heating is deactivated if
you remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
78Steering wheel
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Useful information
i
This Operator's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle available at the time of publica-
tion of the Operator's Manual. Country-spe-
cific 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.
iRead the information on qualified specialist
workshops: (Ypage 23).
Exterior lighting
Important safety notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched on
even during the daytime. In some countries,
operation of the headlamps varies due to legal
requirements and self-imposed obligations.
Light switch
Operation
!Switch off the parking lamps and low-beam
headlamps when you leave the vehicle. This
prevents the battery from discharging.
!If the battery has been excessively dis-
charged, the parking lamps or standing lamps
are automatically switched off to enable the
next engine start. Always park your vehicle
safely and sufficiently lit according to legal
standards. Avoid the continuous use of the
T parking lamps for several hours. If pos-
sible, switch on the Xright or the Wleft
standing lamp.
1 WLeft-hand standing lamps
2XRight-hand standing lamps
3TParking lamps, side marker lamps,
license plate and instrument cluster
lighting
4ÃAutomatic headlamp mode/daytime
running lamps
5LLow-beam/high-beam headlamps
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
XTurn the light switch to Ã.
The turn signals, high-beam headlamps and the
high-beam flasher are operated using the com-
bination switch (
Ypage 88).
The exterior lighting (except the parking/stand-
ing lamps) switches off automatically if you:
Rremove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
Ropen the driver's door with the SmartKey in
position 0in the ignition lock.
Low-beam headlamps
1 WLeft-hand standing lamps
2XRight-hand standing lamps
3TParking lamps, side marker lamps,
license plate and instrument cluster
lighting
84Exterior lighting
Lights and windshield wipers

4ÃAutomatic headlamp mode/daytime
running lamps
5LLow-beam/high-beam headlamps
XTo switch on the low-beam headlamps:
turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to posi-
tion 2or start the engine.
XTurn the light switch to L.
The L indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Daytime running lamps
Daytime running lamps in Canada
1 WLeft-hand standing lamps
2XRight-hand standing lamps
3TParking lamps, side marker lamps,
license plate and instrument cluster
lighting
4ÃAutomatic headlamp mode/daytime
running lamps
5LLow-beam/high-beam headlamps
The daytime running lamps function is required
by law in Canada. It cannot therefore be deac-
tivated.
XTurn the light switch to Ã.
With the engine running: depending on the
ambient light, the daytime running lamps or
the low-beam headlamps are switched on.
When the low-beam headlamps are switched
on, the Lindicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
When the engine is running and the vehicle is
stationary: if you move the selector lever from a
drive position to P, the daytime running lamps/
low-beam headlamps go out after three
minutes.
When the engine is running, the vehicle is sta-
tionary and in bright ambient light: if you turn the light switch to
T, the daytime running lamps
and parking lamps switch on.
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to L, the manual settings take prec-
edence over the daytime running lamps.
Daytime running lamps in the USA
1 WLeft-hand standing lamps
2XRight-hand standing lamps
3TParking lamps, side marker lamps,
license plate and instrument cluster
lighting
4ÃAutomatic headlamp mode/daytime
running lamps
5LLow-beam/high-beam headlamps
In the USA, the daytime running lamps are deac- tivated upon delivery from the factory.
XTo activate the daytime running lamps:
activate the daytime running lamps function
in the on-board computer (
Ypage 179).
XTurn the light switch to Ã.
With the engine running: depending on the
ambient light, the daytime running lamps or
the low-beam headlamps are switched on.
When the low-beam headlamps are switched
on, the Lindicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to TorL, the manual settings
take precedence over the daytime running
lamps.
Automatic headlamp mode
GWARNING
When the light switch is set to Ã, the low-
beam headlamps may not be switched on
automatically if there is fog, snow or other
causes of poor visibility due to the weather
Exterior lighting85
Lights and windshield wiper s
Z

conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
L.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an aid.
The driver is responsible for the vehicle's light-
ing at all times.
1 WLeft-hand standing lamps
2XRight-hand standing lamps
3TParking lamps, side marker lamps,
license plate and instrument cluster
lighting
4ÃAutomatic headlamp mode/daytime
running lamps
5LLow-beam/high-beam headlamps
XTo switch on automatic headlamp mode:
turn the light switch to Ã.
SmartKey in position 1in the ignition lock: the
parking lamps are switched on or off auto-
matically depending on the brightness of the
ambient light
With the engine running: if you have activated
the daytime running lamps function in the on-
board computer, the daytime running lamps
or the low-beam headlamps are switched on
or off automatically depending on the bright-
ness of the ambient light.
When the low-beam headlamps are switched
on, the Lindicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Rear fog lamp
1 WLeft-hand standing lamps
2XRight-hand standing lamps
3TParking lamps, side marker lamps,
license plate and instrument cluster
lighting
4ÃAutomatic headlamp mode/daytime
running lamps
5LLow-beam/high-beam headlamps
BRRear fog lamp
XTo switch on the rear fog lamp: turn the
SmartKey in the ignition lock to position 2or
start the engine.
XTurn the light switch to LorÃ.
XPress the Rbutton.
The yellow Rindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
XTo switch off the rear fog lamp: press the
R button.
The yellow Rindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
86Exterior lighting
Lights and windshield wipers