key MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 2018 User Guide

Introduction The printe d Operator's Manual provide s infor-
mation about th e saf e operation of your vehicle.
The Digital Operator's Manual provide s compre-
hensiv e and specifically adapted information on
your vehicle's equipmen t and multimedia sys-
tem. You can call up th e Digital Operator's Man -
ual via th e multimedia system.
i You will no t incur any cost s when calling up
th e Digital Operator's Manual. The Digital
Operator's Manual works without connecting
to th e Internet .
Ther e are three ways to access th e topic s of th e
Digital Operator's Manual: R
Visua l search
The visual search allows you to explor e your
vehicl e "virtually". Starting from either th e
vehicl e exterio r vie w or interio r view, you can
access man y of th e differen t topic s covered
by th e Digital Operator's Manual. To access
th e vehicl e interio r section , select th e "Vehi-
cle interior" view. R
Keywor d search
The keyword search allows you to search for a
keyword by enterin g characters.R
Content s
You can select individual section s in th e con-
tents.
i The Digital Operator's Manual is deactiva-
te d for safet y reason s while driving .
Operation
Calling up the Digital Operator's Man-
ual X
Press th e

Panic alarm X
To arm: press 3 button C for approx-
imately one second.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed. X
To disarm: press 3 button C again.
or X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
or, on vehicles with KEYLESS ‑ GO:X
Press the Start/Stop button.
The SmartKey must be in the vehicle.
Occupant safety
Introduction to the restraint system The restraint system can reduce the risk of vehi-
cle occupants coming into contact with parts of
the vehicle's interior in the event of an accident.
The restraint system can also reduce the forces
to which vehicle occupants are subjected during
an accident.
The restraint system comprises: R
seat belt system R
air bags R
child restraint system R
child seat securing systems
The components of the restraint system work in
conjunction with each other. They can only
deploy their protective function if, at all times, all
vehicle occupants: R
have fastened their seat belts correctly
( Y
page 44) R
have adjusted their seat and head restraint
properly ( Y
page 93). As the driver, you also have to make sure that
the steering wheel is adjusted correctly.
Observe the information relating to the correct
driver's seat position ( Y
page 93).
You also have to make sure that an air bag can
inflate properly if deployed ( Y
page 46).
An air bag supplements a correctly worn seat
belt. As an additional safety device, the air bag
increases the level of protection for vehicle
occupants in the event of an accident. For exam-
ple, if, in the event of an accident, the protection
offered by the seat belt is sufficient, the air bags
are not deployed. When an accident occurs, only
the air bags that increase protection in that par-
ticular accident situation are deployed. How-
ever, seat belts and air bags generally do not
protect against objects penetrating the vehicle
from the outside.
Information on restraint system operation can
be found under "Triggering of the Emergency
Tensioning Devices and air bags" ( Y
page 53).
For information on children traveling with you in
the vehicle and on child restraint systems, see
"Children in the vehicle" ( Y
page 58).
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Modifications to the restraint system may
cause it to no longer work as intended. The
restraint system may then not perform its
intended protective function and may fail in an
accident or trigger unexpectedly, for example.
This poses an increased risk of injury or even
fatal injury.
Never modify parts of the restraint system.
Never tamper with the wiring, the electronic
components or their software.
If it is necessary to modify components of the
restraint system to accommodate a person
with disabilities, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for details. USA only:
for further information contact our Customer
Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1 ‑ 800 ‑ 367 ‑ 6372).
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use
driving aids which have been approved specifi-
cally for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.Occupant safety 41
Safety Z

cle. The child restraint system must be appro-
priate to the age, weight and size of the child R
always observe the instructions and safety
notes on "Children in the vehicle"
( Y
page 58) in addition to the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation and oper-
ating instructions R
be sure to observe the instructions and safety
notes on the "Occupant classification system
(OCS)" ( Y
page 49)
G WARNING
The seat belts may not perform their intended
protective function if: R
they are damaged, modified, extremely
dirty, bleached or dyed R
the seat belt buckle is damaged or
extremely dirty R
the Emergency Tensioning Devices, belt
anchorages or inertia reels have been modi-
fied.
Seat belts may be damaged in an accident,
although the damage may not be visible, e.g.
due to splinters of glass. Modified or damaged
seat belts may tear or fail, e.g. in an accident.
Modified Emergency Tensioning Devices
could accidentally trigger or fail to deploy
when necessary. This poses an increased risk
of injury or even fatal injury.
Never modify the seat belts, Emergency Ten-
sioning Devices, belt anchorages and inertia
reels. Make sure that the seat belts are
undamaged, not worn out and clean. Follow-
ing an accident, have the seat belts checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Only use seat belts that have been approved for
your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
Proper use of the seat belts
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt
( Y
page 43).
All vehicle occupants must be wearing the seat
belt correctly before beginning the journey. Also
make sure that all vehicle occupants are always
wearing the seat belt correctly while the vehicle
is in motion. When fastening the seat belt, always make sure
that: R
the seat belt tongue is only inserted to the belt
buckle belonging to that seat. R
the seat belt is tight across your body.
Avoid wearing bulky clothing, e.g. a winter
coat. R
the seat belt is not twisted.
Only then can the forces which occur be dis-
tributed over the area of the belt. R
the shoulder section of the belt is always
routed across the center of your shoulder.
The shoulder section of the belt must not
come into contact with your neck or be routed
under your arm. Where possible, adjust the
seat belt to the appropriate height. R
the lap belt passes tightly and as low down as
possible across your lap.
The lap belt must always be routed across
your hip joints and not across your abdomen.
This applies particularly to pregnant women.
If necessary, push the lap belt down to your
hip joint and pull it tight using the shoulder
section of the belt. R
the seat belt is not routed across sharp, poin-
ted or fragile objects.
If you have su ch i tems located on or in your
cl
othing, e.g. pens, keys or eyeglasses, store
these in a suitable place. R
only one person is using a seat belt at a time.
Infants and children must never travel sitting
on the lap of a vehicle occupant. In the event
of an accident, they could be crushed
between the vehicle occupant and seat belt. R
objects are never secured with a seat belt if
the seat belt is also being used by one of the
vehicle's occupants.
Also ensure that there are never objects
between a person and the seat, e.g. cushions.
Seat belts are only intended to secure and
restrain vehicle occupants. Always observe the
"Loading guidelines" for securing objects, lug-
gage or loads ( Y
page 242).
Fastening and adjusting the seat belts
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt
( Y
page 43) and the notes on correct use of seat
belts ( Y
page 44).44
Occupant safety
Safety

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp C
shows you whether the front-passenger front air
bag is deactivated. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock or on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
press the Start/Stop button once or twice.
The system carries out self-diagnostics.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
must light up for approximately six seconds.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
then displays the status of the front-passenger
front air bag. If the status of the front-passenger
front air bag changes while the vehicle is in
motion, an air bag display message may appear
in the instrument cluster ( Y
page 210). When
the front-passenger seat is occupied, always
pay attention to the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp. Be aware of the status of the
front-passenger front air bag both before and
during the journey.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp: R
is lit : the front-passenger front air bag is
deactivated. It will then not be deployed in the
event of an accident. R
is not lit : the front-passenger front air bag is
enabled. If, in the event of an accident, all
deployment criteria are met, the front-
passenger front air bag is deployed.
G WARNING
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is lit, the front-passenger front air bag is
disabled. It will not be deployed in the event of
an accident and cannot perform its intended
protective function. A person in the front-
passenger seat could then, for example, come
into contact with the vehicle's interior, espe-
cially if the person is sitting too close to the
dashboard. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
When the front-passenger seat is occupied,
always ensure that: R
the classification of the person in the front-
passenger seat is correct and the front-
passenger front air bag is enabled or disa- bled in accordance with the person in the
front-passenger seat R
the front-passenger seat has been moved
back as far back as possible. R
the person is seated correctly.
Make sure, both before and during the jour-
ney, that the status of the front-passenger
front air bag is correct.
G WARNING
If you secure a child in a child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat and the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
off, the front-passenger front air bag can
deploy in the event of an accident. The child
could be struck by the air bag. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that the front-passenger front air
bag has been disabled. The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.
G WARNING
If you secure a child in a forward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat
and you position the front-passenger seat too
close to the dashboard, the child could, in the
event of an accident: R
come into contact with the vehicle's inte-
rior if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-
cator lamp is lit, for example R
be struck by the air bag if the PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is off
This poses an increased risk of injury or even
fatal injury.
Move the front-passenger seat as far back as
possible. Always make sure that the shoulder
belt strap is correctly routed from the vehicle
belt sash guide to the shoulder belt guide on
the child restraint system. The shoulder belt
strap must be routed forwards and down-
wards from the vehicle belt sash guide. If nec-
essary, adjust the vehicle belt sash guide and
the front-passenger seat accordingly. Always
observe the child restraint system manufac-
turer's installation instructions.50
Occupant safety
Safety

Aut oma tic measures after an acci-
dent Immediately after an accident, th e followin g
measures are implemented, depending on th e
typ e and severity of th e impact :R
th e hazard warning lamp s are activatedR
th e emergenc y lighting is activatedR
th e vehicl e door s are unlocke dR
th e fron t side windows are loweredR
vehicles wit h a memory function : th e electri-
call y adjustable steering whee l is raisedR
th e engin e is switched off and th e fuel supply
is cut off R
vehicles wit h mbrace : automatic emergenc y
call
Children in the vehicle
Import ant safety notesAcciden t statistics sho w that children secured
in th e rear seat s are safer than children secured
in th e front-passenger seat . Fo r this reason ,
Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you instal l
a child restrain t system on a rear seat . Children
are generally bette r protected there .
If a child younger than twelve years old and
under 5 ft (1.5 0 m) in height is traveling in the
vehicle: R
always secure the child in a child restraint
system suitable for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The child restraint system must be appropri-
ate to the age, weight and size of the child R
be sure to observe the instructions and safety
notes in this section in addition to the child
restraint system manufacturer's installation
instructions R
be sure to observe the instructions and safety
notes on the "Occupant classification system
(OCS)" ( Y
page 49)
G WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example: R
release the parking brake. R
shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P .R
start the engine. In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. 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.
G WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected
to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.
G WARNING
If the child restraint system is subjected to
direct sunlight, parts may get very hot. Chil-
dren may burn themselves on these parts,
particularly on the metal parts of the child
restraint system. There is a risk of injury.
If you leave the vehicle, taking the child with
you, always ensure that the child restraint
system is not exposed to direct sunlight. Pro-
tect it with a blanket, for example. If the child
restraint system has been exposed to direct
sunlight, let it cool down before securing the
child in it. Never leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
Always ensure that all vehicle occupants have
their seat belts fastened correctly and are sitting
properly. Particular attention must be paid to
children.
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt
( Y
page 43) and the notes on correct use of seat
belts ( Y
page 44).
A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper seat belt positioning for children over
41 lbs (18 kg) until they reach a height where a
three-point seat belt can be properly fastened
without a booster seat.
Special seat belt retractor
G WARNING
If the seat belt is released while driving, the
child restraint system will no longer be58
Children in the vehicle
Safety

You can thus avoid the risks that could arise as
a result of: R
an incorrectly categorized person in the front-
passenger seat R
the unintentional deactivation of the front-
passenger front air bag R
the unsuitable positioning of the child
restraint system, e.g. too close to the dash-
board
Rearward-facing child restraint system If it is absolutely necessary to install a rearward-
facing child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat, always make sure that the
front-passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Only if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is permanently lit ( Y
page 42) is the front-
passenger front air bag deactivated.
Always observe the child restraint system man-
ufacturer's installation and operating instruc-
tions.
Forward-facing child restraint system If it is absolutely necessary to install a forward-
facing child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat, always move the front-
passenger seat as far back as possible. The
entire base of the child restraint system must
always rest on the seat cushion of the front-
passenger seat. The backrest of the child
restraint system must lie as flat as possible
against the backrest of the front-passenger
seat. The child restraint system must not touch
the roof or be subjected to a load by the head
restraint. Adjust the angle of the seat backrest
and the head restraint position accordingly.
Always make sure that the shoulder belt strap is
correctly routed from the vehicle belt outlet to
the shoulder belt guide on the child restraint
system. The shoulder belt strap must be routed
forwards and downwards from the vehicle belt
outlet. If necessary, adjust the vehicle belt out-
let and the front-passenger seat accordingly.
Always observe the child restraint system man-
ufacturer's installation and operating instruc-
tions. Child-proof locks
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If children are traveling in the vehicle, they
could: R
open doors, thus endangering other people
or road users R
exit the vehicle and be caught by oncoming
traffic R
operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always activate the child-proof locks and
override feature if children are traveling in the
vehicle. When leaving the vehicle, always take
the key with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unattended in the vehicle.
Override feature for: R
the rear doors ( Y
page 63)R
the rear side windows ( Y
page 63)
G WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example: R
release the parking brake. R
shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P .R
start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. 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.
G WARNING
If persons, particularly children are subjected
to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle.62
Children in the vehicle
Safety

i The immobilizer is always deactivated when
you start the engine.
In the event that the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle's battery is charged), the sys-
tem is not operational. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA) or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
ATA (anti-theft alarm system) X
To arm: lock the vehicle with the SmartKey or
KEYLESS-GO.
Indicator lamp C flashes. The alarm system
is armed after approximately 15 seconds. X
To disarm: unlock the vehicle with the Smart-
Key or KEYLESS-GO.
or X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
or X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: press the
Start/Stop button.
The SmartKey must be in the vehicle.
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open: R
a door R
the vehicle with the mechanical key R
the trunk lid R
the hood X
To stop the alarm with the SmartKey:
press the 6 or 7 button on the Smart-
Key.
The alarm is stopped.
or X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
( Y
page 124). X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The alarm is stopped. X
To stop the alarm using KEYLESS-GO:
grasp the outside door handle. The SmartKey
must be outside the vehicle.
The alarm is stopped.
or X
Press the Start/Stop button on the dash-
board. The SmartKey must be inside the vehi-
cle.
The alarm is stopped.
The alarm is not switched off, even if you close
the open door that triggered it, for example.
i If the alarm continues for more than
30 seconds, the mbrace emergency call sys-
tem automatically notifies the Customer
Assistance Center. This is done either by text
message or data connection.
The emergency call system sends the mes-
sage or data provided that: R
you have subscribed to the mbrace service. R
the mbrace service has been activated
properly. R
the necessary mobile phone network is
available.Protection against theft 75
Safety Z

SmartKey
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could: R
open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users. R
get out and disrupt traffic. R
operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they: R
release the parking brake. R
shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position PR
Start the engine.
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 or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children.
G WARNING
If you attach heavy or large objects to the
SmartKey, the SmartKey could be uninten-
tionally turned in the ignition lock. This could
cause the engine to be switched off. There is a
risk of an accident.
Do not attach any heavy or large objects to the
SmartKey. Remove any bulky key rings before
inserting the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
! Keep the SmartKey away from strong mag-
netic fields. Otherwise, the remote control
function could be affected.
Strong magnetic fields can occur in the vicin-
ity of powerful electrical installations.
Do not keep the SmartKey: R
with electronic devices, e.g. a mobile phone
or another SmartKey. R
with metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal foil. R
inside metallic objects, e.g. a metal case.
This can affect the functionality of the Smart-
Key. SmartKey functions
C
7 To lock the vehicleD
T To unlock the trunk lid

tions of KEYLESS-GO with those of a conven-
tional SmartKey. Unlock the vehicle by using
KEYLESS-GO, for instance, and lock it using the
7 button on the SmartKey.
When locking or unlocking with KEYLESS-GO,
the distance between the SmartKey and the cor-
responding door handle must not be greater
than 3 ft (1 m).
A brief radio connection between the vehicle
and the SmartKey determines whether a valid
SmartKey is in, or in the direct vicinity of, the
vehicle. This occurs, for example: R
when the external door handles are touched R
when starting the engine R
while the vehicle is in motion
X
To unlock the vehicle: touch the inner sur-
face of the door handle. X
To lock the vehicle: touch sensor sur-
face C .X
Convenience closing feature: touch
recessed sensor surface D for an extended
period.
Further information on the convenience clos-
ing feature ( Y
page 88).X
To unlock the trunk lid: pull the handle on
the trunk lid.
The vehicle only unlocks the trunk lid.
Deactivating and activating If you do not intend to use a SmartKey for an
extended period of time, you can deactivate the
KEYLESS-GO function of the SmartKey. The
SmartKey will then use very little power, thereby
conserving battery power. For the purposes of
activation/deactivation, the vehicle must not be
nearby. X
To deactivate: press the 7 button on the
SmartKey twice in rapid succession.
The battery check lamp of the SmartKey
( Y
page 79) flashes twice briefly and lights
up once, then KEYLESS-GO is deactivated. X
To activate: press any button on the Smart-
Key.
or X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
KEYLESS-GO and all of its associated features
are available again.
Changing the settings of the locking
system You can change the settings of the locking sys-
tem. This means that only the driver's door and
the fuel filler flap are unlocked when the vehicle
is unlocked. This is useful if you frequently travel
alone. X
To change the setting: press and hold down
the 6 and 7 buttons simultaneously
for approximately six seconds until the bat-
tery check lamp ( Y
page 79) flashes twice.
If the setting of the locking system is changed
within the signal range of the vehicle, pressing
the 7 or 6 button: R
locks or R
unlocks the vehicle
The SmartKey now functions as follows: X
To unlock: press the 6 button once.X
To unlock centrally: press the 6 button
twice. X
To lock centrally: press the 7 button.
The KEYLESS-GO function is changed as fol-
lows: X
To unlock the driver's door: touch the inner
surface of the door handle on the driver's
door. X
To unlock centrally: touch the inner surface
of the door handle on the front-passenger
door or the rear door. X
To lock centrally: touch the outer sensor
surface on one of the door handles. X
To restore the factory settings: press and
hold the 6 and 7 buttons simultane-
ou
sly fo r approximately six seconds until theSmartKey 77
Opening and closing Z

battery check lamp ( Y
page 79) flashes
twice.
Mechanical key
General notes If the vehicle can no longer be locked or
unlocked with the SmartKey, use the mechani-
cal key.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door or the trunk lid, the anti-
theft alarm system will be triggered. Switch off
the alarm ( Y
page 75).
If you unlock the vehicle using the mechanical
key, the fuel filler flap will not be unlocked auto-
matically. X
To unlock the fuel filler flap: insert the
SmartKey into the ignition lock.
Removing the mechanical key
X
Push release catch C in the direction of the
arrow and at the same time remove mechan-
ical key D from the SmartKey.
For further information about: R
unlocking the driver's door ( Y
page 83)R
unlocking the trunk ( Y
page 86)R
locking the vehicle ( Y
page 83)
Inserting the mechanical key X
Push mechanical key D completely into the
SmartKey until it engages and release
catch C is back in its basic position. SmartKey battery
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Batteries contain toxic and corrosive substan-
ces. If batteries are swallowed, it can result in
severe health problems. There is a risk of fatal
injury.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children. If
a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention
immediately.
H Environmental note
Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately
and recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. National guide-
lines must be observed during disposal. In Cal-
ifornia, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm .
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
batteries replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.78
SmartKey
Opening and closing