MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class SEDAN 2012 W212 Owner's Manual

Useful information ............................130
Overview of climate control sys-
tems ................................................... 130
Operating the climate control sys-
tem ..................................................... 134
Setting the air vents .........................140129Climate control

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 Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 25).
Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval. A clogged
filter will reduce the air volume to the interior
and the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.
Have a blocked filter replaced at a Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.
GWARNING
Follow the recommended settings for heating
and cooling given on the following pages.
Otherwise, the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
The automatic climate control adjusts the
temperature and the humidity of the vehicle
interior and filters undesired substances from
the air.
The automatic climate control is only
operational when the engine is running. 15
Optimum operation is only achieved if you
drive with the side windows and sliding
sunroof/panorama roof with power tilt/
sliding panel closed.
i Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather, e.g. using the
convenience opening feature ( Y page 91).
This will speed up the cooling process and
the desired vehicle interior temperature
will be reached more quickly.
i The integrated filter can filter out most
particles of dust and completely filters out
pollen. A clogged filter reduces the amount
of air supplied to the vehicle interior. For
this reason, you should always observe the
interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Service Booklet. As it
depends on environmental conditions, e.g.
heavy air pollution, the interval may be
shorter than stated in the Service Booklet.
i It is possible that the residual heat
function may be activated automatically an
hour after the SmartKey is removed. The
vehicle is then ventilated for 30 minutes to
dry the air-conditioning system.15 Automatic climate control: the residual heat function can only be activated/deactivated when the ignition
is switched off.130Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

Control panel for dual-zone automatic climate control
Canada only
:To activate/deactivate air-recirculation mode (Y page 139);To defrost the windshield ( Y page 138)=To switch the ZONE function on/off ( Y page 137)?DisplayATo set climate control to automatic ( Y page 135)BTo activate/deactivate cooling with air dehumidification ( Y page 134)CTo switch the rear window defroster on/off ( Y page 139)DTo switch climate control on/off ( Y page 134)ETo set the temperature, right ( Y page 136)FTo set the air distribution ( Y page 137)GTo set the airflow ( Y page 137)HTo set the temperature, left ( Y page 136)
USA only
:To set climate control to automatic ( Y page 135);To defrost the windshield ( Y page 138)=To switch the ZONE function on/off ( Y page 137)?To activate/deactivate air-recirculation mode ( Y page 139)ATo switch maximum cooling MAX COOL on/off ( Y page 138)BTo activate/deactivate cooling with air dehumidification ( Y page 134)Overview of climate control systems131Climate controlZ

CTo switch the rear window defroster on/off (Y page 139)DTo switch climate control on/off ( Y page 134)ETo set the temperature, right ( Y page 136)FTo set the air distribution ( Y page 137)GTo set the airflow ( Y page 137)HTo set the temperature, left ( Y page 136)IDisplayNotes on using dual-zone automatic
climate control
The following contains notes and
recommendations on optimum use of dual-
zone automatic climate control.
R Activate climate control using the à and
¿ buttons. The indicator lamps above
the à and ¿ buttons light up.
R Set the temperature to 72 ‡ (22 †).
R Only use the "defrosting" function briefly
until the windshield is clear again.
R Only use "air-recirculation" mode briefly,
e.g. if there are unpleasant outside odors
or when in a tunnel. The windows could
otherwise fog up as, in air-recirculation
mode, no fresh air is drawn into the vehicle.
R Use the ZONE function to adopt the
temperature settings on the driver's side
for the front-passenger side as well. The
indicator lamp above the á button goes
out.132Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

Control panel for 3-zone automatic climate control
Canada only
Front control panel:To set climate control to automatic (Y page 135);To defrost the windshield ( Y page 138)=To switch the ZONE function on/off ( Y page 137)?DisplayATo activate/deactivate air-recirculation mode ( Y page 139)BTo activate/deactivate the residual heat function ( Y page 140)CTo activate/deactivate cooling with air dehumidification ( Y page 134)DTo switch the rear window defroster on/off ( Y page 139)ETo switch climate control on/off ( Y page 134)FTo set the temperature, right ( Y page 136)GTo set climate control to automatic (FOCUS/MEDIUM/DIFFUSE) ( Y page 135)HTo set the airflow ( Y page 137)ITo set the air distribution ( Y page 137)JTo set the temperature, left ( Y page 136) Rear control panelKTo increase the temperature ( Y page 136)LDisplayMTo increase the airflow ( Y page 137)Overview of climate control systems133Climate controlZ

NTo reduce the airflow (Y page 137)OTo reduce the temperature ( Y page 136)Notes on using 3-zone automatic
climate control
The following contains instructions and
recommendations to enable you to get the
most out of your automatic climate control.
R Activate climate control using the à and
¿ buttons. The indicator lamps above
the à and ¿ buttons light up. You
can also set the airflow and air distribution
of the automatic climate control to one of
three levels (FOCUS/MEDIUM/DIFFUSE).
You can set the desired level using button
G . The MEDIUM level is recommended.
R Set the temperature to 72 ‡ (22 †).
R Only use the "defrosting" function briefly
until the windshield is clear again.
R Only use "air-recirculation" mode briefly,
e.g. if there are unpleasant outside odors
or when in a tunnel. The windows could
otherwise fog up as, in air-recirculation
mode, no fresh air is drawn into the vehicle.
R Use the ZONE function to adopt the
temperature settings on the driver's side
for the front-passenger side and the rear
compartment as well. The indicator lamp
above the á button goes out.
R Use the residual heat function if you want
to heat or ventilate the vehicle interior
when the ignition is switched off. The
"residual heat" function can only be
activated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off.Operating the climate control system
Activating/deactivating climate
control
Important information
GWARNING
When the climate control system is
deactivated, the outside air supply and
circulation are also deactivated. Only choose
this setting for a short time. Otherwise the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility and
endangering you and others.
i Switch on climate control primarily using
the à button ( Y page 135).
Activating/deactivating
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo switch on: press the à button.
The indicator lamp above the à button
lights up. Airflow and air distribution are set
to automatic mode.
or
XPress the ^ button.
The indicator lamp above the ^ button
goes out. The previously selected settings
come into effect again.XTo switch off: press the ^ button.
The indicator lamp above the ^ button
lights up.
Activating/deactivating cooling with
the air dehumidification function
Important information
The cooling with air dehumidification function
is only available when the engine is running.
The air inside the vehicle is cooled and
134Operating the climate control systemClimate control

dehumidified according to the temperature
selected.GWARNING
If you switch off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.
Condensation may drip from the underside of
the vehicle when it is in cooling mode. This is
normal and not a sign that there is a
malfunction.
i The cooling with air dehumidification
function uses refrigerant R134a. This
coolant does not contain
chlorofluorocarbons, and therefore does
not damage the ozone layer.
Activating/deactivating
XTo activate: press the ¿ button.
The indicator lamp above the ¿ button
lights up.XTo switch off: press the ¿ button.
The indicator lamp above the ¿ button
goes out. The cooling with air
dehumidification function has a delayed
switch-off feature.
Problems with the cooling with air
dehumidification function
When you press the ¿ button, the
indicator lamp in the button flashes three
times or remains off. You can no longer switch
on the cooling with air dehumidification
function.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
Setting climate control to automatic
GWARNING
If you switch off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.
In automatic mode, the set temperature is
maintained automatically at a constant level.
The system automatically regulates the
temperature of the dispensed air, the airflow
and the air distribution.
Automatic mode will achieve optimal
operation if cooling with air dehumidification
is also activated. If desired, cooling with air
dehumidification can be deactivated.XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XSet the desired temperature.XTo activate: press the à button.
The indicator lamp above the à button
lights up. Automatic air distribution and
airflow are activated.
i 3-zone automatic climate control: when
automatic mode is activated, you can
select a climate mode setting
( Y page 136).
XTo deactivate: press the air distribution
button.
Dual-zone automatic climate control: press
button F(Y page 131).
3-zone automatic climate control: press
button I(Y page 133).
The indicator lamp above the à button
goes out.
or
XPress the airflow button.
Dual-zone automatic climate control: press
button G(Y page 131).
3-zone automatic climate control: press
button H(Y page 133).
The indicator lamp above the à button
goes out.Operating the climate control system135Climate controlZ

Adjusting the climate mode settings
(AIR FLOW)
This function is only available with 3-zone
automatic climate control.
The climate mode settings are especially
effective at high temperatures.
You can select the following climate mode
settings in automatic mode:FOCUShigh airflow that is set slightly
coolerMEDIUMmedium airflow, standard settingDIFFUSElow airflow that is set slightly
warmer and with less draftXTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress the à button.XPress button G up or down and select the
desired level ( Y page 133)
Setting the temperature
2-zone automatic climate control
Different temperatures can be set for the
driver's and front-passenger sides.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo increase/reduce: press button E or
H up or down ( Y page 131).
Only change the temperature setting in
small increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).3-zone automatic climate control
Automatic climate control climate zones
You can select different temperature settings
for the driver's and front-passenger sides as
well as for the rear compartment.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo increase/reduce the temperature in
the front compartment: press button F
or J up or down ( Y page 133).
Only change the temperature setting in
small increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).XTo increase/reduce the temperature in
the rear compartment using the front
control panel: press the á button.
The indicator lamp above the á button
goes out.XPress button F or J up or down
( Y page 133).
Only change the temperature setting in
small increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).XTo increase/reduce the temperature in
the rear compartment using the rear
control panel: press button K or
O (Y page 133).
Only change the temperature setting in
small increments. Start at 72 ‡ (22 †).136Operating the climate control systemClimate control

Setting the air distribution
Air distribution settings¯Directs air through the defroster ventsPDirects air through the center and side
air ventsODirects the airflow through the
footwell air ventsSDirects the airflow through the center,
side and footwell air vents 16bDirects the airflow through the
defroster, center and side air vents 17
.aDirects air through the defroster and
footwell vents
i Regardless of the air distribution setting,
airflow is always directed through the side
air vents.. The side air vents can only be
closed when the controls on the side air
vents are turned downwards.
Dual-zone automatic climate control
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress switch F up or down repeatedly until
the desired symbol appears in the display
( Y page 131).
3-zone automatic climate control
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress switch I up or down repeatedly until
the desired symbol appears in the display
( Y page 133).Setting the airflow
Dual-zone automatic climate controlXTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo increase/reduce: press button G up
or down ( Y page 131).
3-zone automatic climate control
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo increase/reduce front-
compartment airflow: press button H up
or down ( Y page 133).XTo increase/reduce the rear airflow:
press button M or N(Y page 133).
Switching the ZONE function on/off
XTo switch on: press the á button.
The indicator lamp above the á button
lights up.
Dual-zone automatic climate control: the
temperature setting for the driver's side is
not adopted for the front-passenger side.
3-zone automatic climate control: the
temperature setting for the driver's side is
not adopted for the front-passenger side
and the rear compartment.
When the buttons for temperature, airflow or
air distribution are activated, the temperature
setting for the driver's side is not adopted for
the other climate control zones.
XTo switch off: press the á button.
The indicator lamp above the á button
goes out.
Dual-zone automatic climate control: the
temperature setting for the driver's side is
adopted for the front-passenger side.
3-zone automatic climate control: the
temperature setting for the driver's side is16 USA only.
17 Coupe: Canada only.Operating the climate control system137Climate controlZ

adopted for the front-passenger side and
the rear compartment.
Defrosting the windshield
You can use this function to defrost the
windshield or to defrost the inside of the
windshield and the side windows.
i You should only select the defrosting
function until the windshield is clear again.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo activate: press the ¬ button.
The indicator lamp above the ¬ button
lights up.
The climate control system switches to the
following functions:
R cooling with air dehumidification on
R high airflow 18
R high temperature 18
R air distribution to the windshield and
front side windows
R air-recirculation mode offXTo switch off: press the ¬ button.
The indicator lamp above the ¬ button
goes out. The previously selected settings
come into effect again. The cooling with air
dehumidification function remains on. Air-
recirculation mode remains deactivated.
or
XPress the à button.
The indicator lamp above the ¬ button
goes out. Airflow and air distribution are set
to automatic mode.
or
XAutomatic climate control: press
temperature button E or H up or down
( Y page 131).
Automatic climate control: press
temperature button F or J up or down
( Y page 133).orXDual-zone automatic climate control:
press switch G up or down ( Y page 131).
3-zone automatic climate control: press
button H up or down ( Y page 133).
MAX COOL maximum cooling
The MAX COOL function is only available in
vehicles for the USA.
MAX COOL is only operational when the
engine is running.
When you activate MAX COOL, climate
control switches to the following functions:
R maximum cooling
R maximum airflow
R air-recirculation mode on
XTo activate: press the Ù button.
The indicator lamp above the button lights
up.XTo deactivate: press the Ù button
again.
The indicator lamp goes out. The previously
selected settings come into effect again.
Defrosting the windows
Windows fogged up on the inside
XActivate the cooling with air
dehumidification function ¿.XActivate automatic mode Ã.XIf the windows continue to fog up, activate
the defrosting function ( Y page 138).
i
You should only select this setting until
the windshield is clear again.
Windows fogged up on the outside
XSwitch on the windshield wipers.XAutomatic climate control: press switch
F up or down ( Y page 131) until the18
Depending on the outside temperature.138Operating the climate control systemClimate control